CNN commentator Jack Cafferty, true to his form over the past several weeks, launched another attack on Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Tuesday’s The Situation Room. During his regular "Cafferty File" segment during the 4 pm Eastern hour of the CNN program,he played a clip from the latest interview the Alaska governor did with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, in which she partially answered her critics’ questioning of her readiness to be vice president by repeating the list of offices that she has held over the years. After she concluded with her past position of Alaska oil and gas commissioner/regulator, the CNN veteran condescended, "A regulator of oil and gas. How can -- how can anybody, including John McCain, take this woman seriously?... When this is over they all write books. Hers will be titled, ‘How I Committed Political Suicide on the CBS Evening News.’"
When he returned at the end of the hour to read some of the viewer responses to the question, Cafferty read nothing but negative responses to the question, with one exception, and he continued his condescension after reading it. A woman named Trudy wrote, "Within three minutes, you remind me why I don't watch the opinionated news on CNN.... Your condescending attitude towards Sarah Palin is another example of the lock-step Left trying to portray a Republican as less intelligent." Caffery then replied, "Trudy, when it comes to Sarah Palin, that's not much of a reach."
In fact, Cafferty is so eager for the destruction of Sarah Palin’s political career that when he read the viewer responses to his question during the 5 pm Eastern hour, he graphically described his anticipation for the vice-presidential debate on Thursday evening. When a viewer suggested that all three senators on the two main presidential tickets return to Washington, DC to work on the financial bail-out, he quipped in reply, "[A]s long as they don't compromise the debate on Thursday. I would crawl through a barbed wire fence nude to get a seat in front of a TV set for that."
After the commentator read two more viewer responses, substitute anchor John Roberts asked half-jokingly, "You [are] enthusiastic about this debate on Thursday?" Cafferty replied, "I can’t wait! I can’t wait!" Roberts cracked, "It's an interesting visual." That’s the understatement of the month, John.
The full transcript of Jack Cafferty’s Cafferty File segment, which began nine minutes into the 4 pm Eastern hour of Tuesday’s The Situation Room; and the transcript of the viewer replies, which aired 57 minutes into the same hour.
-4:09 pm EDT:
JACK CAFFERTY: Last Friday, we ran a piece of tape from an interview that Governor Sarah Palin did with the CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric. She was asked about the bail-out package. Palin rambled on incoherently for a minute or more, about trade and jobs and health care, and all manner of things except the bailout package. Her answer made no sense at all. That segment of The Cafferty File found its way on to YouTube after the broadcast last Friday. As of about an hour and a half ago, it had received one million, one hundred thousand hits. Well, guess what? She's back. Palin did another interview with Couric. This time, she was asked about the first interview. Check this out:
KATIE COURIC: Governor Palin, since our last interview, you've gotten a lot of flak. Some Republicans have said you're not prepared, you're not ready for prime time. People have questioned your readiness since that interview, and I'm curious to hear your reaction.
SARAH PALIN: Well, not only am I ready, but willing and able to serve as vice president with Senator McCain, if Americans so bless us and privilege us with the opportunity of serving them -- ready with my executive experience as a city mayor and manager, as a governor, as a commissioner/regulator of oil and gas --
CAFFERTY: A regulator of oil and gas. How can -- how can anybody, including John McCain, take this woman seriously? Here's the question: is Sarah Palin helping her chances by continuing to do these (laughs) interviews with Katie Couric? When this is over they all write books. Hers will be titled, 'How I Committed Political Suicide on the CBS Evening News.' Go to CNN.com/CaffertyFile. You can post a comment on my blog. It must be embarrassing on some level to John McCain to have to go around sweeping up after her.
JOHN ROBERTS: I talked to him this morning, and we'll actually play some of that later on today, and he still has full confidence in her and her ability to be president should the need, God forbid, ever arise.
CAFFERTY: I'll bet that's not a true statement.
ROBERTS: Check please. Thanks Jack.
CAFFERTY: (Laughs.)
-4:57 pm EDT:
ROBERTS: Jack Cafferty asked a provocative question earlier this hour. He's back now with some of his responses.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, John. The question this hour: is Sarah Palin helping her chances by continuing to do these awful interviews over there at CBS with Katie Couric? They're -- they're just frightful.
Karen Missouri writes, 'No. She didn't do the interview with Katie Couric. Palin and McCain did the interview with Katie Couric. He didn't let her answer a lot of questions that she was supposed to answer. Palin always sounds the same. She sounds like a wind-up doll. Oil and gas regulator? Excuse me?'
Liz in Tucson [Arizona]: 'I have no doubt she fits right in in Alaska but not the world stage. McCain ought to have not asked her. If she were a sincere and honest person, she would not have accepted the place on the ticket. This was clearly not a decision for the betterment of our country.'
Trudy writes, 'Within three minutes, you remind me why I don't watch the opinionated news on CNN. It's difficult for the Republican Party to run against Obama and the entire broadcast media. Your condescending attitude towards Sarah Palin is another example of the lock-step Left trying to portray a Republican as less intelligent.' Trudy, when it comes to Sarah Palin, that's not much of a reach.
Saar, Tel Aviv, Israel: 'In the 1970s, Bette Midler said it best, and this is what John McCain must believe too. Midler said, "Of course, I have standards. They may be exceedingly low, but I do have standards."'
Kay in Tallahassee: 'I think she made it worse in the second interview. She had to bring Daddy McCain along to help her. She looks like she can't talk to the press on her own.'
Carolyn in New York: 'I agree with you completely. I have never before felt frightened for my country, but the idea of Sarah Palin becoming president is truly beyond belief. John McCain put our national interest in last place when making this selection. Country first? Far from it.'
And Kev writes, 'Katie Couric may very well be saving the U.S, and perhaps the world, from the idiotic words of Sarah Palin. Can you imagine four years of her? I'm not sure she's qualified to be governor of Alaska. It's great, though. You couldn't write this stuff.' Indeed, you couldn't. If you -- she makes Tina Fey look legit.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.





















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
How do you keep up with Cafferty
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:06 ET by wiseprinceThe "Cafferty File" has at least one anti-Palin "question" a day. At then he uses five or six replys to bash her even further.
Is this what the media has become in the United States of America?
Yes. It is.
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:10 ET by thebronzeYes. It is.
When Palin wipes the floor with Slow Joe Biden...
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:09 ET by thebronze...Ole Jack will probably have a heart-attack.
Too bad...
Debate!!!
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:14 ET by ConLosRepublicanosNoEspecially when they talk about energy since she
know more about that than any of the candidates running. I think the McCain
camp needs to let the guard off for this debate and let her go after him. They
say Joe is so savvy on foreign affairs but he has been on the wrong side
100/100 times.
Obama: "No, if we're going to ask questions about who is promulgating negative ads that are completely unrelated to the issues at hand, I think I win that contest pretty handily"
don't hold your breath
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:14 ET by JnobleNo matter what Palin says or how well she does Thursday, Jack and the rest of the MSM will still declare Biden the winner and make a huge stink of any gaffe or stutter that Palin says. She's human, she'll say at least one thing that sets off their alarms.
Meanwhile, Biden will be able to get away with saying the sky is pink and grass is blue etc and he'll get a pass.
Jack
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:10 ET by ConLosRepublicanosNoWe all know he hates Sarah Palin. CNN has gone even worse than MSNBC after her. I haven't seen anyone having anything good to say about her on there. Am going make a prediction I bet tomorrow Jack will have a question about Sarah Palin, again.
Obama: "No, if we're going to ask questions about who is promulgating negative ads that are completely unrelated to the issues at hand, I think I win that contest pretty handily"
Where did this tactic of
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:11 ET by Chris NormanWhere did this tactic of calling conservatives stupid start anyway? They call a conservative "stupid" and we get mad. We call a liberal "liberal" and they get mad. Proving one has to add an adjective to "conservative" to make it an insult and with "liberal", the insult is apparently built right in.
McNotObama '08
: ] Finaly, a reason to smile
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:00 ET by general companyBeen a tough day. I hope Palin does well, I think this campaign may hinge on it
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Didn't you get the handbook Chris?
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:10 ET by IamTinmanSays it right there on page 2 (Page 1 explains that liberals are superior beings blessed by Gaia with superior beauty, intellect, and everything good that nature can provide.)
Page 2 explains that conservatives are by nature stupid, bitter, gun clinging rednecks who live in barefoot poverty among the nooks and valleys of Appalachia or huddled in the small towns of middle america and Alaska
Page 3 explains that conservatives must be watched because they want to make their own choices regardless of the number of times they are told what's best for them.
he's senile
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:21 ET by ONUVhe's senile
I quit watching the
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:27 ET by bigtimerI quit watching the Situation Room, I watched it for years, it is very very rare anymore if I can even stomach it anymore, between the robotic repeating words by Wolfie when he speaks a sentence in the same monotone voice, Cafferty is the other reason.
He's a pathetic piece of leftist spewing shite.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Loathsome Old Grumbles Cafferty!
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:33 ET by Captain KirockHey Old Grumbles Cafferty, since you're so keen to use invective and mudslinging againt Republicans, here's an earful for you:
When this election is over, Palin will either be the Vice President or she will go back to being the Governor of Alaska. Either way, she will continue to be a national leader in the GOP for the next 30 years. You? You will continue your slide into the abyss of irrelevance, alcoholism, and impotence.
Whose futre is brighter Jack?
I wonder where Jack get's
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:38 ET by Clear thinkerI wonder where Jack get's his insider info?
Bad news... Palin Is Caught And Her Career Is Over!
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
If Gov. Palin is so ignorant why is Cafferty so wound up?
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:47 ET by Lame CherryThis not PDS people. This is palinphobia in Cafferty's little Mr. Jack in his pants leaps out and attacks Gov. Palin with all his limp might like every other "journalist" who has failed in smearing her.
If Palin has lost this, then why is Cafferty so wound up. Should not all these ranting phobics be celebrating and yet their fury is going into overdrive.
The reason is they know how incompetent Obama is and how inept Biden is.
I will repeat this happening in I actually had one of the Obama's loons track me down and make a blog just to tell me I was full of it in McCain had won the debate.
If McCain had lost why weren't the Obama people celebrating. No instead they were running around ranting.
The Cafferty's KNOW the tracking polls and know Obama has lost this thing major. John Zogby let this slip last week in stating this will break just like in Reagan /Carter into a landslide for McCain Palin.
So please Jack Cafferty just keep ranting, Roberts keep looking like a skunk eating feces and Couric keep up your gotcha as all you are revealing is fear, fear, fear, fear. lol
and who do they have to blame? Hey they tossed Hillary to the side with all women for the incompetent Obama and inept Biden.
Now do you see why they are a phobic and yes insane. They know they are to blame and the Obama they chose is a looser, just like Carter is a looser, just like Mondale is a looser, just like Dukakis is a looser, just like Al Gore is a looser and just like John Kerry is a looser. The only reason Clinton was is they cheated in the bogus Lawrence Walsh indictments.
Barack Obama is a looser and Cafferty is revealing what a looser Obama is.
God bless the brilliant Sarah Palin, who has God given Wisdom, knows the economic factors of prosperity, knows the needs of women, men and children, knows the need for security, knows America.
Sarah Palin is a winner and has accomplished MORE BY THE TIME SHE WAS 24 than Cafferty, Couric, Gibson etc... combined.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
I dig it
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:29 ET by kdizzydazejust one thing. Loser is with one "o", not two.
As in John Kerry is a loser, Bill Maher is a loser, the girls on the view (minus Elizabeth Hasselbeck) are loser's.
Sorry -you are hitting it out of the park with this post, I just have to step in and get this off my chest as I have seen this spelling error from several NB posters.
Don't mean to upset or minimize what you are writing. I make plenty of spelling errors, but for some reason, this one sticks in my craw.
Lame Cherry.....
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 20:41 ET by connmanexactly my feeling on the whole PDS. If she's such a nothing then he should be tickled pink and encourage her more. The situation room is such a loser of a show that Count Jack Dracula has to take email coments from other viewers in other countries! As if anyone of us could give a sh*t what they think!
No way! No how! Nobama! Keep the change! ...Sen. Clinton
Lame, with you on this one
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 21:51 ET by BuffNBoneLame, with you on this one though I usually go for fewer words.
If she's such a ditz why all the fuss?
It could be he's lining himself for a big "I told you so" to resurrect a career with ratings somewhere below that of the Congress and declining. Take your pick. Jack's ratings are lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut. Or so low he's got to look up to see the bottom.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
they better let palin take the gloves off!!!!
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:48 ET by porpoiseboynone of the "being above the fray" shi-ite. i am tired of the mccain campain not being personal enough about attacking the lib ticket. how much more personal does it get than who is the next "leader of the free world"? biden has a lifetime of mistakes and out and out lies that he needs to made to answer to. not the least of which is lying about a drunk driver being responsible for the deaths of his wife and daughter. even freakin' fox has given him a pass on that one. freakin' cowards!! i am not a great mccain fan.....i do like palin, generally. but my vote this year is a vote against obama/biden, who are two of the biggest, lying, cheating, deceiving bastards ever. the msm giving them a pass only exacerbates the whole mess. "WOMAN, WHERE IS MY BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION"!?!?!
More material for McCain campaign ads
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 18:52 ET by krendlerI don't understand why the McCain camp isn't just churning out campaign ad after campaign ad featuring Cafferty and other CNN "reporters" (Roland Martin comes to mind) pumping Obama and bashing McCain/Palin - day after day after day - on supposedly "the most trusted name in news". What a joke.
A missed opportunity I think.
You could easily fill a 60 sec ad with highlights from Cafferty's on-air tantrums.
I'd love to hear Blitzer say something like "Jack, why don't you try acting like a professional for 2 minutes one of these afternoons - instead of the angry, alcoholic / hit-and-run driver that you are?" - and then watch Cafferty's head explode.
Free Sarah the Barracuda!!!
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:06 ET byFree Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah! Free Sarah!
Let the Woman Speak!!!!
Ubercon
Go to HOTAIR and read the Sarah Hugh Hewitt Interview
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 20:41 ET by JayTeeThe lady is a Tiger !!
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
Oh My God...
Wed, 10/01/2008 - 13:06 ET byJT,
I did listen to it. Here's some tidbits of the interview...all from the mouth of a babe...
"We’re putting a lot of faith in other people who are using our money as
investments. We have to count on the federal government to be
overseeing these agencies and entities, making sure that we’re not
going to get screwed on this deal, and that our savings are safe."
"...there’s been a lot of times that Todd and I have had to figure out how
we were going to pay for health insurance. We’ve gone through periods
of our life here with paying out of pocket for health coverage until
Todd and I both landed a couple of good union jobs."
So...(sarc on)...through regulation and good paying union jobs we can get out of this mess? Go, Sarah!
Ubercon
This radio program was from yesterday!!!
Wed, 10/01/2008 - 13:07 ET byWowww!!!
Ubercon
JC and CNN
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:19 ET by GoodieJust another day at the liberal, losing TV channel of CNN. JC is like a cockroach he takes a hit and keeps on crawling. Next?
anyone else tired of smug Tina Fey?
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:24 ET by JnobleOk Tina, we get it...you think Palin is a stupid hick along with the rest of the snobby MSM. Get a new gimmick.
SNL lost me anyway when the Will Ferrell era cast left around 2002. The show is so boring and flat and predictable especially when it comes to politics now.
It especially pisses me off that they act like we're all willing to go along with their line of thinking: Liberals good/Republicans bad. It's so damn arrogant. Back in '92 when Clinton and Bush and Perot were running, they did some really good skits that were evenhanded and clever and funny and never mean-spirited. Not anymore, not since 2000 when they all got BDS.
SNL lost me after the church lady left
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:49 ET by jefflebowskiI remember Tina Fey doing the news and it was painful to watch. It was so unfunny that I felt sorry for her. It was the same watching that lame Norm MacDonald...one of the world's most unfunny comedians. It's like he tried to suck.
SNL bites the big one. Mad TV used to be good but I have just about quit watching network TV because of the liberal slant. I refuse to watch any MSM newscast!
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.com
Lou Dobbs
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:49 ET by Apark559Lou talked about this on his show tonight. He highlighted how the liberal media has rabidly gone after Gov. Palin for any little mistake she makes and amplifies it while Joe Biden has told outright lies and not a peep. The female reporter doing the segment gave the example of the gaffe Biden made about Roosevelt and the public watching it on TV (there was no tv then) and how Biden claimed his helicopter was shot at while visiting Iraq (not true). Hillary was crucified for her "sniper fire" comment, but the media gave Biden a pass.
Lou then stated that the left seems to have a problem with strong, powerful women. I totally agree.
Cafferty is a prime example of a misygonistic, knuckledragging old troll and his bias and hatred is obvious. CNN is right behind MSNBC with their Palin Derangement Syndrome. Lou Dobbs is the only show worth watching on that channel.
My Drunk Uncle, Jack Cafferty
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 19:57 ET by ProssDo people honestly take Jack Cafferty to be newsworthy? He reminds me of my drunk uncle that would stumble around all day mumbling racial slurs and hurling incoherent insults at random. Neither Biden nor Obama seem qualified as POTUS to me. By watching the news and reading these leftist blogs one would assume that Sarah Palin was running for President rather than Vice-President. They (the left) must be really, truly scared of this woman to be attacking her so viciously ever since they caught wind of her nomination. It is sickening!
I am praying that Gov. Palin
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 20:59 ET by cocodrieI am praying that Gov. Palin shows up at the debate as Emma Peel to skin Plagiarism Joe and nail his hide to the wall.
Dementia
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 21:00 ET by dmannCNN spirals into the void with the likes of Cafferty appering in any capacity at all, save pushing Depends!
All Hail the Messiah
I am a gentleman...
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 21:28 ET by AmericanEnergist...unlike Jack Cafferty. That is why I will give him a pass because of the recent death of his wife. Critical is one thing, but outright nasty is unacceptable. He has become a sad joke who continues to drop CNN's credibility every time he on the air.
www.ArmchairEnergist.com
Cafferty
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 21:32 ET by TheAssessorHe's over the top with this outrage. It's pathological and very symptomatic of another condition. Olbermann, Mathews and Cafferty have most likely lost their ability to salute. Sara appears to have brought back a little tingle.
"I have a bracelet too" ..Barak Obama, Political Sociopath
Hardly an opinion limited to liberals
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 21:48 ET by Agrarian-DecentralistSo are George Will, David Brooks, David Frum, and Kathleen Parker also suffering from "Palin Derangement Syndrome"? Or could it possibly be that NewsBusters is suffering from VP Suitability Delusion Syndrome?
A Cafferty Diss of Palin you might have missed
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 22:36 ET by Observer DanObserver Dan from Trickletown
I happened to be listening to todays "Situation Room" with my headphones, relaxing with eyes closed . John Roberts was hosting a segment about "One line zingers" from previous years debates. The audio clip of Ross Perot's running mate, James Stockdale was playing " Who am I? Why am I here?" In my headphones I heard a voice, clearly off microphone say, from off camera, " Sounds like Sarah Palin". I wasn't shocked when following the clip, John Roberts appeared with Gasbag Cafferty sitting next to him.
I have seen this guy...
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 23:35 ET by jawebster1in just bits and pieces when I am channel surfing, but I've seen enough of this guy to know he is one of the most despicable characters on TV. I rank him down there with Olbermann. Jim Webster
Yes. let's talk about executive experience Mr. Cafferty
Wed, 10/01/2008 - 04:05 ET by art341Sarah Palin has more executive experience than Dear Leader has even thought about. It constantly amazes me that people on the left miss this simple point. Obama seems to have gotten his experience seated at Bill Ayers knee.
Obama's "executive positions"?
Wed, 10/01/2008 - 06:40 ET by Blogger Guy00001I must have missed something. As far as I know, Obama has not held any executive positions. The media are not dumping on Obama for not having held any executive positions. Does this mean the media are biased?