"CNN's 'Reliable Sources' is one of television's only regular programs to examine how journalists do their jobs and how the media affect the stories they cover." -- from CNN's "Reliable Sources" website [emphasis added].
When it comes to "how journalists do their job," the story of the week was Wolf Blitzer's spectacular failure to do his. Going into Thursday's debate, the big question was how Hillary was going to deal with the inevitable grilling over her flip-flopping on the issue of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. But when Blitzer finally got around to the issue, well into the debate, he didn't bother to ask a single follow-up question to Hillary's terse "no" answer.
So surely Reliable Sources's host Howard Kurtz would put that question squarely on the table on today's show, right? Wrong.
Incredibly, he never raised it. Instead of focusing on the issue of Blitzer's glaring failure to ask relevant questions, Kurtz played a medley of questions that Wolf and the other moderators did ask. The closest anyone came to the mystery of Wolf's dog-that-didn't-bark was WaPo's Chris Cillizza, who observed "the first question was sort of about Hillary's position on driver's license and illegal immigration, but not really. She was able to not really answer that."
And that was that. Just as Blitzer failed to follow up with Hillary, Kurtz displayed an astounding lack of curiosity about Cillizza's comment. We were never even shown that seminal moment, the monosyllabic Hillary "no."
For that matter, check out how Kurtz tried to cover for Blitzer with the screen graphic for the segment: "Hillary Hits Back, Prodded by Anchors." Prodded? With what, a comfy down pillow?
If Blitzer's failure to follow-up was the story of last week, then Kurtz's abdication of his journalistic responsibility today should be the story next weeek. Just don't count on Reliable Sources to raise it.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Clinton News Network
November 18, 2007 - 15:38 ET by Jerry MackThe Clinton News Network keeps chugging along!
And another in-kind
November 18, 2007 - 16:05 ET by motherbeltAnd another in-kind contribution to the Clinton campaign.
The other day there was a posting here about an anchor (I forget which one) saying no one has ever found bias in his newscast.
I commented that he could say that with a clear conscience, because what you hear is only half the story...a lot of times the bias comes in what is NOT reported.
This is a good example of that non-coverage.
That would be
November 19, 2007 - 01:06 ET by Scout FinchTom Brokaw.
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November 18, 2007 - 16:18 ET by dahliatravers[cue ominous music]
Will no one stop these fiends?! The Clinton Machine has gotten to Blitzer ... and now Kurtz!
Seriously, suppose it had been a Republican who had committed this spectacular flip-flop at the height of the campaign? Would s/he have gotten this tactful, hands-off treatment?
P.S. I shudder to think how they are planning to get back at Russert.
The Clinton Machine has not
November 18, 2007 - 16:48 ET by Sonny LykosThe Clinton Machine has not gotten to anyone. Blitzer and Kurtz were always part of the "machine", and the Clintons just reminded them of that fact.
Sonny... Exactly
November 18, 2007 - 20:56 ET by bigtimerSonny...
Exactly right....this isn't new for CNN or Howie for that matter, I saw the show this morning did not expect anything other than the usual dribble...they did not disappoint either...anymore than Wolfie did with the exception that Wolf demeaned any seriousness to himself he could ever have in the eyes of others as far as I am concerned when it came to the debate and not following through with one single question, he made it all but obvious he is a shill.
They are in bed for the Clintoons and aways will be...that is until she is knocked on her rear next Nov.
Tim Russert is safe
November 18, 2007 - 17:14 ET by Lame CherryDo not shudder Dahlia as Russert is safe. He would not have entered the deep waters without massive cover from the Rockefellers and their boy tuna Al Gore in the waters.
Russert is the old Dan Pat Moaner patricians. He is that ilk which tolerates the Clintons, but when push comes to shove he always answers like Richard Armitage to the Rockefeller cooing.
Russert is fine as the Rockefellers are always the whale in the water protecting their own. Russ just got the green light to go help Al Gore.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
I think you're getting a bit
November 18, 2007 - 17:19 ET by Mark FinkelsteinI think you're getting a bit deep into the conspiracy theories, LC. Can't it be just good old liberal media bias at work?
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November 18, 2007 - 20:10 ET by dahliatraversThanks, Lame Cherry.
Howie Kurtz and the Skeleton Hillary rattles
November 18, 2007 - 17:09 ET by Lame CherryLeftists are as big a bunch of glory oinkers as any group of people, but Howie Kurtz in not even examining the Wolf turned lap puppy for Hillary is but another saga of, "Did Howie get the skeletons of perversion rattled in his closet or did Howie just play the CNN media card designed to drive viewers to MSNBC which is pushing Al Gore".
All kinds of things are going on with these people, but people should know very well the people who get programs all got them from being backstabbers who lie well..........and have enough information on them to be blackmailed so they are always good little puppets.
I will post again the synopsis of the conversation Ron Brown had before he bit the European dust in what was a murder to cover up his bribery by Asians. Brown during the last months of his life would not email, text nor speak on the phone as "the Clinton's had all communications under their watch". All illegal, but Brown stated it as fact.
The Clinton's had a group monitoring all the conversations of reporters and government officials. It was like a ghost group running off of NSA peaking at all the information coming in.
Richard Clark was rewarded profusely with media contracts, because he covered up the Iranian downing of Flight TWA 800.
The Clintons have a proven record in stealing FBI records in blackmailing people. It is why the Senate from the impeachment trial. All those bright smiling faces are crooks and perverts and Howie Kurtz falls into the category of being ordered what to do by the cartel. How they keep him in line is .........well how they keep him in line. There is obviously something there and it was quite career destroying like Blitzer's is as no one wants to look like a complete ass kissing moron in public and yet Kurtz did it today to survive.
It must be misery as Kurtz's face shows to know your whole occupation is always in the balance if someone goes beyond rattling the skeletons in your closet and starts coming up with the documents and the pictures.
Kurtz is a comrade liberal, but even he is kept in company man line to not rock his gravy train boat.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
DNCNN
November 18, 2007 - 17:17 ET by fitzfong"I'm Hillary Clinton, and I approved these questions."
Good one, fitz. LOL.
November 18, 2007 - 17:18 ET by Mark FinkelsteinGood one, fitz. LOL.
Kurtz
November 18, 2007 - 18:26 ET by KC MulvilleThe purpose of journalist shows is not to focus criticism on journalists but to diffuse it away from them.
I must say, though, that Kurtz and Blitzer are usually in the Not-So-Bad category. I mean, everyone has a bad day now and again, but these guys are usually reasonable. That's why this current wave of obvious Hillary-Helping is surprising and annoying.
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November 18, 2007 - 19:43 ET by dahliatraversExactly, KC, especially Kurtz.
What did you expect?
November 18, 2007 - 18:44 ET by superconCNN is in the tank for the Cintons and the DNC.Always have been. Does anyone remember the show Cross Fire?Does anyone remember how CNN let those two Clinton hacks James Carville and Paul Begala turn that show into the we hate George Bush hour?
They were so in the can for Kerry that they made absolute fools of themselves with their lies and distortions. It sucked so bad that it got canceled.
CNN nedds to change it's slogan to the "The most busted name in news".
Clinton hacks...everyone of them.
Victory in Iraq.
Watched it for years.
November 18, 2007 - 20:07 ET by JerWatched it for years. It's a shame it was canceled. Spirited debate...truly fair and balanced.
Jer
Give CNN some credit:
November 18, 2007 - 19:26 ET by Mark FinkelsteinGive CNN some credit: they've linked to this item at their politics page [see blogs at bottom of page].