Liberal CNN Host Accuses Conservative Editor of Bias
CNN's Carol Costello, on Thursday's American Morning, scolded the editor of conservative publication Human Events for not providing the same critical coverage of both Republicans and Democrats. Costello – who has her own history of liberal bias – interviewed Jason Mattera of Human Events over his confrontation with Vice President Joe Biden, and asked him why he wasn't tougher on Republican candidates.
"So you're tough with Joe Biden. So why not be a bit tougher with Republican candidates, even though you work for a conservative web site?" Costello posed, apparently unaware that since Human Events is a conservative publication it markets itself to a more conservative Republican audience. [Video below the break. Click here for audio.]
Mattera affirmed that Human Events has a conservative worldview and does hit Republicans, but from the right. "Yeah, well I'm a conservative, unapologetic conservative," he answered Costello. "I have a world view that I'm looking to advance conservative ideas and expose liberal lies. We are tough at 'Human Events' on Republicans when they need to be."
Later in the interview, Costello lectured Mattera about his history of ambush interviews. "That's where gotcha journalism fails, I think," she told him, "because we want truth from both sides of the aisle, don't we?"
And she kept peddling her point that Americans want balanced news coverage and that CNN is the place for that – except when it's not. "Well, to me, I think the audience wants a lot of information," Costello preached. "And they want the truth from both sides of the aisle so that they can make a decision when they go into that voting booth."
A transcript of the segment, which aired on October 27 at 7:43 a.m. EDT, is as follows:
[7:43]
CAROL COSTELLO: So you're tough with Joe Biden. So why not be a bit tougher with Republican candidates, even though you work for a conservative web site?
JASON MATTERA, editor, Human Events: Yeah, well I'm a conservative, unapologetic conservative. I have a world view that I'm looking to advance conservative ideas and expose liberal lies. We are tough at "Human Events" on Republicans when they need to be.
COSTELLO: In the same way that you are tough on Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders?
MATTERA: Well no, because I don't think the Republicans you just showed are ruining the country. I do think that Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and liberalism in general is very destructive to this country as we've seen over the last three and a half years, and I'm going to do everything in my power as a conservative journalist to bring awareness and attention.
COSTELLO: And see, that's – that's where –
(Crosstalk)
MATTERA: And I think I've been pretty successful in doing so.
COSTELLO: That's where gotcha journalism fails, I think, because we want truth from both sides of the aisle, don't we? And wouldn't it behoove those who read your stories or watch your stories online to know the truth from both sides?
MATTERA: Well, I'm a conservative first. It's not shilling for any particular party. But if I have to – first of all, this exchange with Joe Biden was impromptu. I didn't expect to get him, but I took the opportunity that was afforded to me. The media, though, has a bias and a presupposition. They hide it well. It's a veneer.
COSTELLO: I know. I know.
(Crosstalk)
MATTERA: At least I'm – at least I'm out with it –
(Crosstalk)
COSTELLO: I know. I know.
MATTERA – and say, hey, this is my world view. This is my standard. And I'm going to ask questions that comport with my world view. But at least I'm up front about it.
COSTELLO: You are up front about it, and that is true. Jason Mattera, thank you so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.
MATTERA: Thank you very much.
COSTELLO: You knew that was going to come up, didn't you?
ALI VELSHI: Yeah, but I think there, what we have – the discussion here is, is he a journalist or is he a partisan?
CHRISTINE ROMANS: And it's advocacy journalism. And some people like to say it's advocacy journalism, and this is the kind of journalism where you have – you wear your affiliations on your sleeve.
(Crosstalk)
COSTELLO: But you're only going around and you're targeting people just to make them look silly. Or provide those gotcha moments, like how much can people really learn from that? Especially when you're selectively using parts of things that you have done with politicians.
(Crosstalk)
ROMANS: Well, maybe if your audience only wants one kind of news, then that's what they want. They just want that.
COSTELLO: Well, to me, I think the audience wants a lot of information. And they want the truth from both sides of the aisle so that they can make a decision when they go into that voting booth.
VELSHI: And that's why we're here because we think you guys want lots of information.
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Comments
Is He a Journalist?
Submitted by Bill W. on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 7:50pm.
WTF? See, these people on the Left are dumb and blinded by their own ideology. Gotcha journalism? They revel over the smallest missteps of a Sarah Palin when she's asked "trick" questions. And, these debates? Goodness.
I would watch one debate --- and Newt gets close to this --- where ONE candidate would respond to the moderator's gotcha question like this: "Well, Anderson, I know you think that is an important question (about gay marriage) but I'm going to ask myself a question and answer it according to my understanding of what is important to the American people. So, what specifically would I do to reduce government spending..."
Costello says : Don't mess with Joe!
Submitted by kata on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 7:54pm.
Why would anyone need to use gotcha journalism on Biden - all that's ever been required, is to let him talk.
"I know I know" - translation - "Lalalala!! Not listening!!"
That slut Costello has been
Submitted by buddyc on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 8:04pm.
That slut Costello has been one of the most partisan liberal hacks on CNN for 30 years. I think she is in her late 60s.
If she wasn't screwing Ted Turner or not advocating liberal talking points she wouldn't have a job there.
Congratulations
Submitted by grammajane on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 8:05pm.
Mr. Mattera!! You are a very refreshing and smart young man. Keep up your excellent work, as we ALL appreciate truth and tough questions. It is about time Conservatve reporters get out there instead of always having to hear libs babbleing 24/7 Thank you
Yep. Mr. Mattera should go
Submitted by ant on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 8:37pm.
Yep. Mr. Mattera should go after conservative politicians because, God knows, we don't have enough 'journalists' doing that. Poor Dems are ALWAYS being nit-picked./sarc
Carol is discribing?":
Submitted by Jerry Mack on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 8:53pm.
Too bad that we are not asked to print a caption to CCs hand positions.
But Carol, we are a
Submitted by pockets64 on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 9:17pm.
But Carol, we are a conservative magazine. One would expect us to treat the conservatives better than the liberals. Now, what is CNN's excuse for not hitting Biden as hard as you have hit this mere editor of a conservative news site?
CNN, on the other hand, is
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 9:40pm.
CNN, on the other hand, is supposedly a "news" organization. What's their excuse? Mr. Mattera simply asked Biden if he regretted using a rape reference.
The Costello broad is a jerk.
Submitted by cristo on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 9:34pm.
The Costello broad is a jerk. She's not a journalist. She just a pushy, opinionated woman with a lot of time on her hands.
CNN advocating for objective journalism???
Submitted by stage9 on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 10:24pm.
REALLY??
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner." — Malcolm Muggeridge
Costello is the Mika of CNN...
Submitted by gruyere cheese on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 10:42pm.
I have watched this woman a few times in the morning (accidentally while flipping channels) and quite frankly, the expression "airhead" comes to mind. She never offers a coherent opinion about the subject she is discussing while on camera, all I hear is blah, blah, blah....not worth the time.
Carol the Journalist
Submitted by NotFondOfLibs on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:29am.
Well, once again Carol Costello had discredited CNN's claim to be fair and objective. Trouble is, she does it every time she opens her mouth.
CNN..
Submitted by greggy on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 1:59am.
The network that slandered Rush Limbaugh, claiming that he said vile racist things that he never actually said. The idea that Carol Costello thinks any of US are dumb enough to miss her liberal bias (or that of colleague Velshi) is laughable.
Also laughable - the suggestion that the question Jason asked was unfair or unwarranted. Biden made a strident, divisive, crass, vicious statement/accusation, that cried out to be questioned and challenged. Just because the collaborating "mainstream" press refused to challenge Biden's disgusting statement, doesn't mean no one else had the right to raise a question that needed to be asked. If Jason hadn't asked it, who would have? Carol Costello sure as hell wasn't going to ask it.
I would like to have seen Jason come on the air prepared with specific examples of Carol's history of liberal bias - and as soon as she started her childish "I know, I know", and her stupid, fake, self-delighted grin, confront her directly on it.
Jason wasn't doing anything wrong asking Biden the question - he was simply doing the work that the Carol Costellos, Al Veshis, and so on refuse to do.
When she asked why he wasn't going after Republicans the same way, I would have liked for Jason to ask her how many MSNBC hosts she's had on her show to ask why they aren't going after Democrats the same way they do Republicans.
Of course, who's the king of the ambush interviews? Michael Moore. Has she had him on the show to ask why he doesn't go after liberals the same way?
OF COURSE NOT..
That's because her pretense, and the premise of her question, are a fraud.
Costello's autobiography is coming out next year - it's called "Carrying Water For Liberals - My Career As A Compromised Journalist"..
Then there's Christina Romans, complaining about "advocacy journalism", during a story in which she, Costello, and Velshi are practicing "advocacy journalism".
Basically what they're saying is, "Hey - you can't be doing that! Only WE can do that!"
Yep
Submitted by ant on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 2:13am.
What was the administration's comment to the CBS reporter (sorry, forget her name at the moment) who's been reporting on the "Fast and Furious" scandal? Something like, "Why can't you be reasonable?". All the rest are being 'reasonable'.
I'm willing to bet Kurtz set the record straight about Rush...
Submitted by Jer on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 2:24am.
he's defended him on several occasions in the past.
Jer
The pot is...
Submitted by GeneralAl on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 5:51am.
The pot is calling the kettle black in this case. In every instance i know where i have talked with a liberal, there's their rules of conduct and our rules of conduct [Which they write for us!]. It is the same as the kid on the block playing sand lot baseball or football. He adjust the rules as the game progresses to assure himself of a win. This is the calling card of the average liberal, especially in the media!
"Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away"!
Do liberals ever listen to themselves?
Submitted by johnsonl on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 7:57am.
Or do they just regurgitate the liberal mantra, as required by Chuck Schumer?
Liberals are the most educated idiots I've ever seen.
She reminds me of an annoying high school teacher who is
Submitted by Lipton on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:15pm.
making up excuses for giving you a bad grade on an assignment she didn't bother to read.