CNN anchor Anderson Cooper followed his colleague David Shuster into the gutter on his Anderson Cooper 360 program on Tuesday in making a vulgar “tea-bagging” joke about Republicans/conservatives. After CNN’s senior political analyst David Gergen remarked that Republicans were “searching for their voice” after two electoral losses, Cooper quipped, “It’s hard to talk when you’re tea-bagging.” [audio available here]
Cooper had Gergen and chief business correspondent Ali Velshi on to comment on President Obama’s economic speech earlier that day at Georgetown University. Cooper had asked Gergen about the Republicans’ “positioning” in response to the speech. The analyst touted how the GOP was “in disarray” and that they “have not yet come up with a compelling alternative, one that has gained popular recognition.” Cooper replied, “Tea-bagging. They’ve got tea-bagging.”
Gergen continued by bringing up a recent survey by The Politico about the public’s apparent trust in President Obama concerning the economy:
GERGEN: Well, they’ve got the tea-bagging. But there was an interesting Politico survey -- it was out today that said that, you know, the president -- the trust level in the president on economic issues is extremely high, and, you know, and everybody else in the administration is well below him. But the Republicans are a little below that. So, Republicans have got a way -- they still haven’t found their voice, Anderson. They’re still -- this happens to a minority party after it’s lost a couple of bad elections, but they’re searching for their voice.
Cooper followed this by making his low-brow remark, which Gergen responded to with laughter. You would think the two were still in eighth grade, instead of being two employees of an international television network.
Update [from Managing Editor Ken Shepherd]: Fox News Channel's "Red Eye" host Greg Gutfeld skewers liberal journalists obsessed with making "tea bag" jokes about the Tea Party protests. You can read it here. It should serve as his monologue for tonight's show which airs at 3 a.m. EDT.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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April 15, 2009 - 11:40 ET by Tom Paine“It’s hard to talk when you’re tea-bagging.”
I guess Anderson would know...
Darnit, Tom, you beat me too it.
April 15, 2009 - 11:42 ET by R D Helm:-)
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
roflmao, love this blog I am
April 15, 2009 - 11:55 ET by kangarooroflmao, love this blog I am always laughing out loud
Oh...It's a gay thing.
April 15, 2009 - 12:07 ET by CTOh...It's a gay thing.
Indeed it (usually) is
April 15, 2009 - 14:36 ET by northoneAnd for those of you who are not "in" on the joke, just think of Barney Frank. Think how Bawney talks. Now, imagine trying to talk and teabag at the same time. That may explain how Bawney learned to enunciate so clearly. I'm sure Bawney has had his share of teabags or two (or three) (or many more!)
Juggling More Than Two
April 15, 2009 - 15:04 ET by UtherpendCome on, we all know Anderson is used to talking with balls in his mouth.
"For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security."
Barney has had one too many
April 15, 2009 - 17:40 ET by kgBarney has had one too many teabagging sessions.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
Anderson Cooper
April 15, 2009 - 11:40 ET by merlin61This disgusting verbal obnoxious speech is all
the more reason I won't watch CNN (Communist
News Network) of PMSNBC. I hope they are
aware they are turning off American viewers with
their antics, and will lose even more viewers.
Keep it up and they will all lose their jobs.
Wouldn't that be delicious?
vomitous.
April 15, 2009 - 11:41 ET by katainkentNo more Mr Nice Newsguy, I see. They are all showing their true colors now.
Anderson can't stop talking
April 15, 2009 - 11:45 ET by NonArabOmarAnderson can't stop talking about the conservative teabagging. I guess he likes the taste of conservative teabags.
Kind of funny that it's conservatives teabagging the democrats and they're celebrating.
NonArabOmar...
April 15, 2009 - 11:55 ET by dborschjr68Now THAT was funny. Quite an interesting way to look at it, I must admit.
interesting slip up
April 15, 2009 - 13:07 ET by sawing battawhat would Dr. Freud say????
Sometimes a teabag is just a teabag?
Anderson must be angling for the role "top dog" of the GayDay parade in the Village.
I imagine
April 15, 2009 - 14:13 ET by Tom in NCthat Cooper uses Rocky Mountain Oysters for his teabagging
Well, we're demonstrating
April 15, 2009 - 11:47 ET by CT PatriotWell, we're demonstrating with tea bags instead of revolting with guns.
But don't push it, Cooper.
Don't be so scared of the word Militia. One day, it just might save your life.
gee don't they know what
April 15, 2009 - 11:48 ET by kangaroogee don't they know what teabagging means yet, embarrasing for them isn't
Another perfectly good word
April 15, 2009 - 11:51 ET by Chris NormanAnother perfectly good word ruined for general use by gays.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Nancy Pelosi likes
April 15, 2009 - 11:55 ET by NonArabOmarNancy Pelosi likes conservative teabags.
Time for a revolt against the media
April 15, 2009 - 11:54 ET by xcor057Its time for NB to post the sponsors of these media groups to the forum on a daily basis as was suggested in another thread last night.
And I for one will contact my cable company to have these channels removed. I understand they won't but if enough call the sponsors and cable channels then maybe it will get noticed.
Why continue to fund these channels who only denegrate the 1/2 of the population that disagrees with them and try to call it news.
I would like a current list
April 15, 2009 - 17:42 ET by kgI would like a current list of MSNBC and now CNN sponsors. All I could find was a year old list.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
Wrong again, liberal puppet...
April 15, 2009 - 11:54 ET by dborschjr68Cooper quipped, “It’s hard to talk when you’re tea-bagging.”
Actually, it is easy to talk when you're the one doing the tea-bagging. However, the tea-baggee, so to speak, really can't talk.
I wonder if AC is doing it wrong, or if he's confusing his part in this event as being the tea-bagger and not the tea-baggee?
I'm just saying...
Take it easy, folks. The
April 15, 2009 - 12:00 ET by TexasteacherTake it easy, folks. The libs are just jealous because they don't have enough cojones to fill a teabag (except maybe maddow). They don't realize that with conservative men it's not "teabag" it's "potatosack". I'm guessing is all the frustration with their wives (or 'domestic partners') telling them "it's ok, it happens to alot of guys" on a regular basis. Poor, poor liberals.
obama's notion of bi-partisanship is telling conservatives to shut up and do what he wants.
Texasteacher...
April 15, 2009 - 12:02 ET by dborschjr68LOL! Awesome post!
Sex, sex, sex!
April 15, 2009 - 12:01 ET by moderncommentaries83That's all it's ever about with liberals.
Everything is either a "right" when it comes to sex, or it's perfectly okay to make crude sexual references to belittle or demean someone they disagree with ideologically.
If the US government wants a great source of tax revenue, I vote we put a $1000/word tax on every sexual joke or reference made in the news or on television and in movies. $2000 if the joke is made in connection to conservative women, conservative minoirities, or Christians.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
What these morons fail to
April 15, 2009 - 12:05 ET by mattmWhat these morons fail to understand is that the Tea Parties have nothing to do with the Republican Party. But you can't expect libtard media Obamabots to grasp even the simplest distinctions.
Huh?
April 15, 2009 - 12:11 ET by StogieGuyOK, I'll admit it: I have no idea what this means and don't get the joke. If it's a gay thing, no wonder these liberal New Yorkers know all about it and I'm left out of the "joke."
However, it is another striking example of the level of disdain that they have for anyone who doesn't agree with Chairman Obama (and blessed be his muslim name).
From where I come (the FPS
April 15, 2009 - 12:13 ET by wiwfFrom where I come (the FPS gamer category), tea-bagging is MUCH more vulgar than you think! Certainly the media aren't meme-ing about that particular term of teabag are they?
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
Believe me, they want it to
April 15, 2009 - 12:24 ET by TexasteacherBelieve me, they want it to mean exactly what you think it does.
obama's notion of bi-partisanship is telling conservatives to shut up and do what he wants.
Homosexual Behavior is nothing new to Cooper
April 15, 2009 - 12:25 ET by Daniel Baker-------------------------------------------
Google and Apple officially donated to fight traditional marriage. Good men want freedom, Evil men want license
Good...
April 15, 2009 - 12:47 ET by usinkoreaI think this is good for a few reasons:
It is childish fratboy belittling humor that will turn off many fence-sitters - if they know what it means, which I don't believe most people do, so besure to explain it to them. --- This makes them look like the elitists that they are.
Similarly, it helps the right solidify membership when the media proves - yet again and again and again - that they are nothing more than professional partisan hacks for the left/Democrats.
Next, I think it actually hints that the media is becoming uncomfortable with what they are witnessing since Obama took office: This kind of juvenile slap at someone you don't like is a mask for insecurity.
...and the further they stoop to run themselves through the gutter to try to make political/pseudo-political points, the more insecure they are likely to be.
In short, I think things like this are possibly a sign the media is loosing confidence in Obama's ability to keep the confidence of the American people.
This tea bagging thing is just too trashy and unprofessional to not mean something a little more significant than having fun...
His mother?
April 15, 2009 - 13:33 ET by Solrac7What would you expect from the child of a slut, Gloria Vanderbilt.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04062009/news/columnists/graphic_novel_by_gloria_163148.htm
saw it real time
April 15, 2009 - 13:00 ET by sawing battaand was amazed that he threw that out there...he HAS to know. Frankly, i thought it was funny...and thought for sure his bosses at CNN would reprimand him, if not outright fire him...if I said that at work, i'd get in heap big trouble. Sensitivity training, for sure...
my wife was downright flabbergasted. "How on earth can he get away with saying that??? "cant talk when you're teabagging? on air?" was her take. I think she gets the whole bias on tv thing now. it was an illuminating moment for her, yet another (former) democrat voter.
Anderson Cooper Sucks
April 15, 2009 - 13:02 ET by Captain KirockSince Anderson Copper likes to use sexual puns, I thought I would use one.
Anderson Cooper is the Earl Camembert of cable news.
Cooper, Madcow and Shyster on a "teabagging" frenzy
April 15, 2009 - 13:13 ET by OxyConMust have been the joke of the day on leftwing blogs.
Pity that so called journalists lower themselves with such "shock jock" vulgarity.
rahm emanuel must have
April 15, 2009 - 14:45 ET by Texasteacherrahm emanuel must have demonstrated it on georgie stephonopholos (sp???) at the morning briefing.
obama's notion of bi-partisanship is telling conservatives to shut up and do what he wants.
Like Mother, like Son
April 15, 2009 - 13:28 ET by slickwillie2001Anderson Cooper's mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, writes pornography so I don't expect she expects anything better from her little faggot son. Why should we?
Is this a
April 15, 2009 - 13:29 ET by Delsaa Gay thing????
Anderson go home! and BAG IT!
Cooper must be
April 15, 2009 - 13:31 ET by Pasco Conservativespeaking from experience.
Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.
That Annoying Sound
April 15, 2009 - 13:39 ET by EllenKCooper has always reminded me of the one obnoxious kids that exists in every class. They just seek out ways to attract attention to themselves. And the less people heed them, the more outrageous or profane their rants become. They are the epitome of the axiom "Ten percent of the people cause Ninty percent of the problem." I think the term "smug" probably has a picture of him beside the definition. Also, probably "smut peddler."
"It takes all the running you can do to stay in the same place." -Red Queen to Alice "Alice Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll
CNN Refuses to Report the Tea Parties Fairly
April 15, 2009 - 15:00 ET by Rush FanThis morning CNN's Kyra Phillips asked one of the female CNN reporters at a tea party what was happening. This female "reporter", who was in the midst of the tea party, picked a few people to "interview".
I've put quotes around the word "reporter" and "interview" because she wasn't reporting and it wasn't an interview but a confrontation. During her "interview" with two people, she interrupted them, argued with them continuously, and insinuated they were disrespecting President Obama (one of the people had a sign that read Obama was a fascist.)
The CNN reporter ended the confrontation by saying something to the effect that these people in the crowd did not like her because she was from CNN, and FoxNews was supporting this event.
Am I surprised that CNN is taking this approach? Of course not! What would surprise me (actually it would floor me) is if CNN FAIRLY reported these Tea Parties.
-------------------------------------------------------------
“They have plunged to such depths of incompetence and unprofessionalism and ignorance, it's actually hard for me to come up with accurate words to describe what has happened to them,…” ~ Rush Limbaugh on the media
thing is
April 15, 2009 - 16:32 ET by katainkentreporters have no idea how much they are reviled. This one got a huge dose and had no idea how to respond other than a unnerved little snipe. Like a wet cat backing away from a fight.
Prurient and puerile
April 15, 2009 - 18:16 ET by carolina09I didn't know Cooper was a Vanderbilt? Hey, Coop, I really like your house in Asheville...
Just when you think the MSM can't get any more disgusting...
Anderson Cooper's 'Tea Bagging' remark
April 15, 2009 - 18:43 ET by javajackI think it's time we fight back and let cnn know how we feel. Newsbusters - Can you please provide us with the info to file a complaint against Anderson Cooper? If we let stupid remarks like this go unchallenged, then they (the msm) will continue their insults against conservatives.
Re Complaints
April 15, 2009 - 19:38 ET by slickwillie2001Complaints should go to the FCC in the case of NBC/ABC, and to the advertisers in all cases. Money talks, and they are already hurting.
Anderson Cooper and David Rodham Gergen
April 15, 2009 - 20:41 ET by trahantgNewsbusters,
Please provide us with the pertinent information we need to report how we feel about the way that CNN and MSNBC have used such lewd and inappropriate language on television. I sent several emails to CNN today that will never get read. We need to have FCC, advertisers, etc. Please help us flood them.
Thanks
Nice Try! Cable's Exempt From The FCC!
April 16, 2009 - 01:20 ET by The7SticksFirst of all, you can only fine a terrestrial broadcast if it uses any of the following seven words you can't say on television in any context (viewer discretion advised):
1.) f*ck; 2.) sh*t; 3.) c*nt; 4.) c**ks**ker; 5.) motherf***er; 6.) a**-hole; and 7.) p*ss (though oddly enough, you can say "I'm pissed off right now!" and get away with it.)
If Family Guy can get away with saying Vagina Coastguard freely on broadcast TV, then what makes you think you can get MSNBC or CNN fined for making a double entendre like Tea-Bagging? Maybe if it's said in a way like, for example, "I'd like to f***ing teabag you", it would be appropriate to contact those channels to complain.
But as long as the Obama administration is in power, for better or worse, you can't even get Family Guy pulled off the air because we're up here, and you're waayyyy dooowwwnn thheerreee!
-"You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime!"
-Eminem, "Lose Yourself"
or maybe...
April 16, 2009 - 02:36 ET by JWFIf they were talking about your mom in prison and teabagging. Then we could get it pulled off the air. Or at least have a good laugh.
Coming out?
April 16, 2009 - 07:09 ET by CrashApparently homosexuals can make fag jokes without it being called a hate crime.
Change the word
April 16, 2009 - 08:10 ET by TheConservativeChemistChange the word "homosexuals" with "leftists...don't you love double standards? (the left sure does!)
Ann Coulter said it years ago, but it bears repeating because it's true...while the left always claims to champion gays and claims to accept them and not be judgemental, the #1 insult they ALWAYS go for to attack an opponent is to call them gay, a fag, queer, to imply they're in the closet, they like buggering, gay things (teabagging), etc...
Look how they treated Larry Craig (a creep, sure, but still)...yet Barney Frank, a super-gay who RAN A GAY BROTHEL out of his apartment with his boyfriend in the 1980s, gets a pass...
Ann Coulter in her latest column today (4/16/09) said teabagging isn't what the protests are called, it's what "cocktail hour is called at Barney Frank's condo"...CLASSIC (and probably true)...
On Cooper and 'tea bagging'
April 16, 2009 - 21:26 ET by SFCMAC“It’s hard to talk when you’re tea-bagging.”
Apparently, he can do both at the same time.
"On the Eighth Day God Created the United States Army and the Devil Stood at Attention"
yes well mac....he said it was hard,
April 16, 2009 - 21:30 ET by porpoiseboybut he did not dispute the fact that "practice makes perfect". ya know? ;>)
Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left
http://www.youtube.com/wat
For what its worth I
April 19, 2009 - 23:45 ET by RevolvrFor what its worth I did complain to the FCC. This comment does appear to fit their guidelines for obscene, indecent and profane broadcasts.