On CNN, Guests Favoring Obama's Immigration Announcement Outnumber Those Opposed 3 to 1
After the Obama administration announced it would not deport young illegal immigrants who met certain criteria, CNN jumped all over the story and gave a podium to multiple illegal immigrants who were overjoyed at the President's announcement.
From 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., CNN interviewed eight guests who favored President Obama's new immigration policy, and only one guest who opposed it and appeared three times. The airtime for guests in favor totaled over twice as much as the time given to the one guest who opposed the policy.
The lone opposing guest was Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, who was interviewed once in the morning and immediately before and after President Obama's press conference in the Rose Garden. All in all he received about 13 minutes of airtime, compared with over 32 minutes given to the other guests.
In addition, CNN also had live coverage of President Obama's address in the Rose Garden on the matter, which totaled just under nine minutes.
The list of guests included multiple illegal immigrants, such as journalist Jose Antonio Vargas who "outed" himself last year as an illegal and penned Time magazine's latest cover piece on immigration. CNN twice had live coverage of immigrant demonstrations in Los Angeles, where correspondent Paul Vercammen reported the immigrants' "absolute joy" upon hearing the news of Obama's announcement.
Interviews were also given to Democratic politicians who supported Obama's decision. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa received airtime in the morning and afternoon, respectively.
Most of the interviews given to illegal immigrants and their supporters were quite soft, allowing the guests to express their unvarnished enthusiasm for President Obama's policy. Such questions as "When you heard about this, what emotions went through your head?" led to answers such as this one: "I was just like, I just want to cry."
"I'm just so happy that it's not just me but all my DREAMers, they are now having the opportunity to get permission to work legally, and that, you know, we won't be deported," raved undocumented student Katherine Tavaras.
Twice CNN asked illegal immigrant students what their "plans" were after the policy change was announced. Anchor Wolf Blitzer even asked one immigrant how he felt that Obama's policy didn't go as far as the Democratic-sponsored DREAM Act would have. "It's an important step for a lot of these young people," Blitzer noted.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Joe Arpaio was asked a tough question that would be expected of a normal interview. Blitzer pressed him on why he thought Obama's decision was just about politics.
"They were brought here mostly by their parents," Blitzer said of the immigrants who would be affected by the new decision. "What's wrong with giving them an opportunity now to have legal status so they can study, work, and be productive members of America?"
It should be noted that the coverage wasn't completely soft for those supporting Obama's decision. Anchor Brooke Baldwin asked some tough questions of Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, for instance. However, most of the 33 minutes of airtime given to supporters of Obama's announcement was soft coverage.
- Matt Hadro's blog
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Comments
I'm just surprised the Communist News Network had anybody on...
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 6:25pm.
...that was opposed to the Dear Ruler's back door amnesty proclamation.
And just how many more times is this disgrace of a bogus POTUS going to defecate on the Constitution before congress finally acts?
This is beyond ridiculous.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Gee, I can't wait to hear from the construction unions on this.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 6:35pm.
All you stupid asses in the construction trades are already on the ropes.
So let's hear it, Carpenters, Laborers and Bricklayers. How's your boy looking now?
With Gov Brewer caught up in the middle of Obama's Friday dump .
Submitted by Gary Hall on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 7:15pm.
With AZ Gov Brewer caught up in the middle of Obama's Friday dump of the "rule of law," allow me to repost a poll.
Back when the boycotts were in ramping up and AG Holder was suing AZ to block the law, the liberal/progressive Pew Center conducted a national poll. The Pew folks literally summarized those supposedly two most contentious measures in the bill and found that nationally:
73% said they backed a measure requiring people to produce documents verifying their legal status if police ask for them,
while 67% approve of allowing police to detain anyone who cannot verify that they are in the country legally.
And
just 25% support President Obama's immigration policy, which includes legalizing millions of unauthorized migrants
Here in CA, a few months back, the LAT's polled statewide and found that 55% of the state opposed the CA DREAM Act (pretty much what we're talking about here) - while only 40% supported it.
The LAT's buried their findings - Gov. Brown signed it into law.
Some democracy of the people.
Because of the extreme bias of our national media, it strikes me that the majority don't know that they are in the majority on these issues.
(;~/ gary
And this is the very essence
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 7:27pm.
And this is the very essence of liberal bias in the news. Not so much the open partisanship of MSNBC - but the quieter, slightly more subtle, stacking of the deck in reporting, analysis and debate.
Hi, Chris. Long time no see
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 9:17pm.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
So, this iteration of Baracka's Dream Act
Submitted by UpNorth on Fri, 06/15/2012 - 8:46pm.
applies to those here illegally, between the ages of 16 and 30? Strange, but that is just about the exact demographic for the membership of MS-13, the Latin Kings, Spanish Lords, La Raza(the street gang), the Latin Disciples, Spanish Cobras and Latin Eagles, just to name a few of the predominant Latin street gangs.
And, anyone want to bet that this "order" doesn't stop all deportations for the forseeable future(election day)?
About equal in CNN terms
Submitted by James Youngblood on Sat, 06/16/2012 - 3:07pm.
10 to 1 in guests interviewed and 3 to 1 in time allotted in favor of Obama's message, this is as close to equal as CNN
gets to both sides being represented.
J. Youngblood