CNN's Jim Acosta Plays Up Romney 'Falling off Message' on Obama and Treason
When a lone attendee at a Mitt Romney rally said President Obama should be tried for treason, Romney ignored and later disagreed with the statement. CNN correspondent Jim Acosta played up the incident big time on Tuesday's The Situation Room, using it as an example of the Romney campaign being "straight off script."
Of course, CNN is helping the Romney campaign to be "off script" by hammering them for a non-story. "I don't correct all the questions that get asked at me," Romney explained to a reporter after the event, and added that he "obviously" didn't agree with the woman. However, this prompt correction was not enough for Acosta, who insisted the campaign had veered off course. [Video below the break. Audio here.]
CNN showed far less discretion than Romney back in 2006, when reporter Susan Roesgen described a figure of President Bush's face with horns and a Hitler moustache as simply a "look-alike" of Bush. She did not denounce the despicable display, but instead put it on the air as a Bush "look-alike."
During Acosta's Tuesday report, the headline blared "Trying Obama for Treason? Romney camp falling off message," which implies the Romney campaign is either saying Obama should be tried for treason or wasting valuable time on the topic – neither of which is accurate. However, Democrats said it was an issue, and CNN reported that.
"Democrats said Romney failed the John McCain test, noting how the Arizona senator handled an unruly supporter four years ago," reported Acosta after he mentioned the incident at the rally. And he added that "Democrats sensed another gift" before covering Romney taking credit for the recovery of the U.S. auto industry.
CNN then aired an auto union worker criticizing Romney for taking credit. The United Auto Workers union is one of the biggest donors to Democrats so the criticism does not come as a surprise, and CNN did not disclose that the UAW is a Democratic heavy-hitter.
More grace was shown to Vice President Biden later in the hour for his Tuesday morning statement that drove headlines, that when Obama took office America was "the problem" in dealing with Iran.
With a headline titled "Not Your Typical Vice President," CNN's Gloria Borger noted the "difficult transition" Biden had to make from being a Senator to being a Vice President. White House correspondent Jessica Yellin admitted that "he causes headaches" but "he's perceived as far more help than hurt."
"He's a very smart guy. He's going to play a significant role as a strategist, shall we say, in the re-election campaign," said anchor Wolf Blitzer.
A transcript of the segment, which aired on May 8 on The Situation Room at 4:01 p.m. EDT, is as follows:
[4:01]
WOLF BLITZER: But we begin this hour with the Romney campaign having some trouble staying on message. Let's go straight to our national political correspondent Jim Acosta. He's on the campaign trail with the presumptive Republican nominee. You're in Lansing, Michgan right now. Tell us what's going on, Jim.
[HEADLINE: Trying Obama for Treason? Romney camp falling off message]
JIM ACOSTA, CNN national political correspondent: Wolf, earlier today Mitt Romney accused President Obama of governing to the left of Bill Clinton and bringing big government back with a vengeance. It is a new message for a campaign that is sometimes straight off script in recent days.
(Video Clip)
ACOSTA: (voice-over) In Michigan, Mitt Romney tried to steer his campaign back on message.
MITT ROMNEY: America's going in the wrong direction. Not forward, but sideways. Or worse.
ACOSTA: He not only hit the President's campaign slogan "Forward," but also slammed the fictional character on Mr. Obama's website "Julia," who's shown receiving help from government programs all her life.
ROMNEY: What does it say about a president's policies when he has to use a cartoon character rather than real people to justify his record?
ACOSTA: But keeping his campaign on script hasn't been easy this week. Take Monday's townhall in Ohio, where a supporter suggested the President is a traitor.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Yeah I do agree he should be tried for treason.
ACOSTA: Romney didn't correct her.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Is there a reason you didn't correct her or say that you wouldn't?
ROMNEY: I answered the question.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Okay. But you don't agree with her answer?
ROMNEY: I don't correct all the questions that get asked at me. I obviously don't agree with her.
ACOSTA: Democrats said Romney failed the John McCain test, noting how the Arizona senator handled an unruly supporter four years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: He's an Arab. He is not – no?
Sen. JOHN MCCAIN (R-Ariz.): No. No ma'am. No ma'am. He's – he's a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with.
ACOSTA: Democrats sensed another gift when shortly after Romney's townhall, he claimed credit for the survival of the U.S. auto industry.
ROMNEY: I pushed the idea of a managed bankruptcy, so I'll take a lot of credit for the fact that this industry has come back.
ACOSTA: But just across the street from Romney's event in Michigan, protesters reminded the GOP contender he opposed the auto bailout.
RANDY FREEMAN, United Auto Workers: I don't know how he can take credit for anything.
(End Video Clip)
ACOSTA: Now the offscript bug may be catching. Just ask the director of Hispanic outreach for the Republican National Committee. She held a briefing with reporters earlier today, and when asked about Mitt Romney's position on immigration, she said quote, "To my understanding, he's still deciding what his position on immigration is. And on that same conference call, or in that same briefing with reporters, an RNC press secretary said we never said that the governor is still deciding on immigration. So sort of correcting one of their own officials with the RNC, Wolf.
But there were other offscript moments, moments that did not go the Romney campaign's way in the last 24 hours. Consider the endorsement of Rick Santorum. It came at 11:00 last night, caught a lot of reporters off guard. And Santorum doesn't get around to endorsing Romney until the 13th paragraph of the endorsement.
But keep in mind, the Democrats have their own off-message man in Vice President Joe Biden. Earlier today, as you're going to report in just a few moments, Joe Biden said we were the problem, talking about the United States when it came Iran, dealing with Iran. The Romney campaign blasted out a statement to reporters earlier this afternoon, Wolf, accusing the Obama administration of having a blame America first policy when it comes to Iran, Wolf.
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Comments
if
Submitted by grammajane on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 6:29pm.
cnn blabs about un-truths am sure it will be williams lead off story also. These networks must sit all day and compose BS and then use it for their continuing campaign for their chosen one. Can't believe how reporting is so horrible and worse yet,how they get by with it
CNN refused to report on the
Submitted by kg on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 7:04pm.
CNN refused to report on the group at Obama's "Campaign Kick Off" Saturday that yelled Romney commits treason. Ironic, isn't it.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
Acosta
Submitted by ferv888 on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 8:22pm.
When he asks Hitler, better known as Axelrod about those contract killers, the Koch Bros and Rove, I will feel like their might be an un-biased moment, until then, stand by as The Wolf likes to say, for an a$$ kicking in Nov.
The media had you believing that the GOP Primary had killed their chances of overtaking THE IDIOT, well low and behold, it did not, oh my they are in a supposed tie, well pay very close attention to the split on who gets called and you find it is too heavy to the DIMWITS and it skews the poll to Obama.
The media is waking up just now to the fact that their guy does not have the cakewalk they thought and now comes the scramble to cover his butt. It will get a lot worse believe me.
FERV888
THE WAR WITHIN...ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION?
Submitted by Brittanicus on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 8:58pm.
Here is what the Constitutional TEA PARTY immigration reform Americans want: 1) an end to mass LEGAL immigration to the US annually; according to NumbersUSA, over a million more legal immigrants are admitted; and 2) an end to family reunification visas; chain migration refers to the endless and often-snowballing chains of foreign nationals who are allowed to immigrate because the law allows citizens and lawful permanent residents to bring in their extended, non-nuclear family members; and 3) abolish sanctuary city policies and punish all the perpetrators; and 4) improve security over voting and introduce mandatory government photo ID, to cast a vote in all elections; and 5) make it a mandatory felony on stealing or impersonating a U.S. citizen to gain work or use their credit; and 6) Enact mandatory E-Verify nationwide that employers must use or be heavily fined or face imprisonment; and 7) an amendment to the 14th amendment that only children born in the United States, must have at least one parent who is already a citizen, to gain birthright citizenship; and 8) secure our border.
Arizona and a number of other states have been caught up in the illegal alien invasion financially, while other states like California, New York, Nevada who prefer to ignore the consequences forced on them by ‘Unfunded Mandates” by the courts still carry heavy billion dollar deficits. Arizona has been incessantly hit hard by foreign nationals crossing the borders and taking advantage of welfare programs, but the U.S. government has always remained invulnerable to public outcry and believes they are blameless? With Arizona carrying a burden of $2.4 billion payout for uncompensated health care, education and other free assistance programs, that undermines citizen’s rights by pampering elected officials for unwelcome invaders. All 50 states should stand their ground and its legitimate residents should undertake to evict all lawmakers from their seats in the federal or state capitals, and replace them with TEA PARTY leadership.
Mitt Romney better be carefully aware, that part of the deciding vote will depend on the gargantuan TEA PARTY vote. Flip Flopping on any immigration enforcement, could have consequences. He had already inspired thousands of usually non voters by stating that self deportation or ‘Attrition through Enforcement’ would be his illegal immigration banner, so he cannot renege upon this ultimatum. Agricultural and farming owners should pay towards Guest Workers who pick crops and furnish the labor a fair wage and well regulated immigration system of temporary workers and that they must leave when their visa expires. In addition, only a special allowance of the most highly credentialed scientists, engineers of this caliber should be allowed expedited and visa fraud must be eliminated and the culprits held responsible. Such is an example of Senator Grassley outlining concerns of abuse within the H-1B visa program that raises questions about Boeing's use of B-1 visas, to bring Russian contract engineers into the country?
If you cherish your liberty from the corruption in Congress that benefits all of us, we need a balanced tax code with no subsidies, loopholes for corporations, sugar industry or anybody else; a right to drill on the Peoples public lands and sea with its massive reservoirs of oil, natural gas for the consumer and to alleviate our out-of-control 16 trillion dollar deficit. No more government bail outs for the friends of the Oval Office. Throw out all the profiteering lawmakers and clean house; put familiar TEA PARTY leaders in their place. Introduce a waste and reduction law, which begins the process of shrinking the size of government. Voters need to insist from Congress, specifically from GOP House speaker, John Boehner of Ohio and Dave Camp of Michigan, as the Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee to stop blocking the 50-state E-Verify bill. Call the Washington switchboard at 202-224-3121 Washington, DC. For further truth, not propaganda on this crisis matter, check with NumbersUSA website, where even Congress consults on immigration matters.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has introduced a major piece of legislation that would require most employers to use E-Verify within two years of enactment. Large employers, federal, state, and local agencies and federal and state contractors would need to conform within six months. The bill would also make the E-Verify program permanent and reinstate the no-match letter program to help identify the 7 million illegal aliens currently holding non-agriculture jobs. "E-Verify is a flourishing program to help ensure that jobs are reserved for citizens and legal workers," Rep. Smith said. But it’s only on a voluntary basis at this time. It takes just a few minutes to use and easily confirms 99.5% percent of work-eligible employees. There is no other legislation that can be enacted that will create more jobs for American workers." There is a total 79 Sponsors and we need every American, who believes in the “Rule of Law” to aggressively call their Senators and House Representatives to pass this law.
The United States government currently recognizes any person born on American soil as a “natural born” citizen and ignores the Constitutional requirement that one must also be “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States in order to automatically gain citizenship. The U.S. is one of only two industrialized nations (Canada) to still grant automatic citizenship to newborns. Despite several media reports, the U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled on whether or not children born to illegal-alien parents, or to parents visiting the United States with temporary visas, are entitled to birthright citizenship. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) has introduced the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 that would, eliminate the practice of Birthright Citizenship by requiring at least one parent of children born in the United States to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Birthright citizenship for illegal aliens not only rewards illegal immigration and adds to the population growth, it also acts as a “foothold” for illegal-alien family members to remain in the United States and eventually legalize their status. There are 87 Sponsor for the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 (H.R.140) and needs every patriotic American assistance to get this amendment passed.