CNN’s Ali Velshi, during a segment on Thursday’s Newsroom program, ignored all the past sex scandals involving Democrats in recent years as he focused on “another sex scandal involving a leading Republican.” When his guest, Tony Blankley, tried to counter with how these scandals are being used to try to get the GOP to abandon social issues, Velshi tried hard to brush this aside.
The segment with Blankley, which aired at the end of the 3 pm Eastern hour of the CNN program, began with Velshi recapping the details about the most recent Republican sex scandal involving South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, and how legislators in the state were proceeding with possible impeachment of the executive. He then introduced his main point for the segment: “Okay, I’m going to say it- another sex scandal involving a leading Republican- this is the second in two weeks. It’s hardly helping the party to resurrect its image.”
After introducing his guest, Velshi referred to his point and asked, “I wasn’t the first guy to say that. You’ve heard this a lot in the last few days. You heard it before Mark Sanford. What’s going on with the Republicans and scandals?” Blankley first rebuked Sanford and any Republican who had been caught in marital infidelity. He continued by making his point about the push to give up on family values: “As far as the party is concerned, although there’s hypocrisy when one of its members or two or seven of its members breach the standards it advocates, you can’t give up your values. The party believes in supporting families. You have programs that do that.”
The CNN substitute anchor immediately interrupted at this point: “Well, hold on, hold on- I know you’re going down that road....We’re not talking about whether the Republicans are a good party or whether they have family values.” Velshi wouldn’t let the strategist finish for a while, and pointed out the Republicans who have “been on record as criticizing a type of behavior as...carrying on about that type of behavior, and then coming forward as...being guilty of that sort of behavior....It’s hypocrisy- you said it.”
Blankley finally finished his point: “When you’re for something that’s good and you violate it, that’s hypocritical. Hypocrisy is not a nice thing, but it’s even worse to advocate something bad, as opposed to hypocritically advocating something good.” He added that such behavior wouldn’t make or break the GOP, but if “the Republicans don’t have any message to give to the people and don’t have a candidate, the Republicans will lose.”
When the Republican strategist continued by naming some possible fiscal issues that President Obama may be vulnerable on, such as “the president’s failed to recover the economy” and “if the deficits and the tax increases and the energy increases are a concern to the public,” Velshi shifted to make his point via a different vector: “You’re make- you’re getting to a point that’s close to my heart. I’m a financial journalist, and- and- and Sanford was a- a fiscal conservative, almost libertarian in his...way of talking about things, and there’s a lot of people who say that voice is absent in Washington...Wouldn’t it be easier if the Republicans got down to business on- on the fiscal policies and stayed out of this for a while?” Blankley’s answer was cut short as the program ended.
There wasn’t one point during the segment that the CNN anchor mentioned the impact of any of the diverse sex scandals that have involved Democrats in recent years- from Jim McGreevey and Eliot Spitzer to Kwame Kilpatrick, or even the barely mentioned infidelity of current New York Governor David Paterson.
The full transcript of the segment from the 3 PM EDT hour of the June 25 Newsroom program:
ALI VELSHI: If you’re with us yesterday, you know we spent a lot of time talking about Mark Sanford, the South Carolina governor who admitted to an extramarital affair just moments before we went on-air. Since our show yesterday, a few important things have happened, so let’s fill you in on that. First of all, The State newspaper in South Carolina published intimate e-mails purportedly exchanged between Sanford and his lover in Argentina. CNN has identified the woman as Maria Belen Chapur- little is known about her. The governor’s wife said in statement the couple has embarked on a trial separation- that had started before this adventure. She says she asked Sanford to leave about two weeks ago. Lawmakers in South Carolina are saying that impeachment talks surrounding the governor concerns whether he misused state funds for his illicit encounters, or neglected his duties as governor.
Okay, I’m going to say it- another sex scandal involving a leading Republican- this is the second in two weeks. It’s hardly helping the party to resurrect its image.
Joining me from Washington, Republican Tony Blankley- you’ll probably remember, he was once the chief spokesman for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Tony, thanks for being with us.
TONY BLANKLEY: Delighted to be here.
VELSHI: I wasn’t the first guy to say that. You’ve heard this a lot in the last few days. You heard it before Mark Sanford. What’s going on with the Republicans and scandals?
BLANKLEY: Well, look- I mean, I think anytime that a man breaches his marital vows, he’s acting dishonorably. I think he should be deprecated by society. So, there’s no defense for this conduct. As far as the party is concerned, although there’s hypocrisy when one of its members or two or seven of its members breach the standards it advocates, you can’t give up your values. The party believes in supporting families. You have programs that do that. For instance, the child deduction increase to strengthen families that have children, welfare reform-
VELSHI: Well, hold on, hold on-
BLANKLEY: Wait, wait-
VELSHI: I know you’re going down that road- hold on, that’s not what we’re talking-
BLANKLEY: No, no, no, no- I want- I want to make a point-
VELSHI: We’re not talking about whether the Republicans are a good party or whether they have family values-
BLANKLEY: No, no. I’m making- I’m making a point that-
VELSHI: Yeah-
BLANKLEY: That the party stands for programs that help families. It stands-
VELSHI: No, I understand that- I understand, and I think America understands that.
BLANKLEY: And they can’t- they can’t switch to being in favor of bad policies-
VELSHI: What I’m having a hard time with is Republicans who have been on record- now, Sanford is not the worst offender in this one- but there are people who have been on record as criticizing a type of behavior as-
BLANKLEY: Yeah-
VELSHI: As carrying on about that type of behavior, and then coming forward as- as being guilty of that sort of behavior.
BLANKLEY: Look- look, I understand. When you’re for some-
VELSHI: It’s hypocrisy- you said it.
BLANKLEY: I did. When you’re for something that’s good and you violate it, that’s hypocritical. Hypocrisy is not a nice thing, but it’s even worse to advocate something bad, as opposed to hypocritically advocating something good. But look, this is not what the party is going to win or lose on in 2012. If Obama is popular, and the Republicans don’t have any message to give to the people and don’t have a candidate, the Republicans will lose. On the other hand, if the president’s failed to recover the economy- if the deficits and the tax increases and the energy increases are a concern to the public- if the Republicans-
VELSHI: You’re make- you’re getting to a point that’s close to my heart. I’m a financial journalist, and- and- and Sanford was a- a fiscal conservative, almost libertarian in his-
BLANKLEY: Yeah.
VELSHI: In his way of talking about things, and there’s a lot of people who say that voice is absent in Washington- there’s an absence of a voice of that. Wouldn’t it be easier if the Republicans got down to business on- on the fiscal policies and stayed out of this for a while?
BLANKLEY: No. I think you need to- look, both I think both parties need to talk about all the things that the American public cares about. We care about the economy a lot, and we should. We also care-
VELSHI: Yeah- all right. I’m going to leave you on that because we’re out of time. We got to take it over to Wolf, but Tony, good to talk to you. Thank you for being with us.
BLANKLEY: Good talking with you.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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Comments Policy
Easy to be a "liberal"
June 25, 2009 - 16:47 ET by iveseenitallThe left uses this line of reasoning every time a "conservative" does wrong. Simply say that "wrong" doesn't exist. Gets you off the hook and allows you to do anything you wish to do--- Relativism at its best (or worst).
I once read this about the Fall of Rome. It wasn't that people did wrong. Humans are flawed. It was when they took the easy way out, accepted wrong and mainstreamed it, that the end came rather quickly. I feel so bad for America's children.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
the only way for evil to
June 25, 2009 - 20:15 ET by TruthMongerthe only way for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing
-MLK jr.
This is just a side show.
June 25, 2009 - 20:25 ET by jdhawkThis is just a side show. Don't pay any attention to this matter. There are far more important isues at hand.
The first thing that we all need to concentrate, as conservatives, is defeating the Cap and Trade bill. Here is how:
Just call 877-354-7783 toll free, enter your option 2—listen to the brief instructions, and you will be patched through to your U.S. Representative’s office automatically.
Visit the Partnership for America's Energy Security web site: http://www.partnershipforenergy.com/default.aspx It takes just a few minutes to participate.
Blankley is absolutely
June 25, 2009 - 16:57 ET by bigtimerBlankley is absolutely correct.
Period.
Btw...I can't help it, but Velshi is a joke, as well as CNN.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
bt, not disagreeing with
June 25, 2009 - 18:24 ET by motherbeltbt, not disagreeing with you because I don't know what you think Blankley is right about, but I disagree with him on this:
BLANKLEY:... When you’re for something that’s good and you violate it, that’s hypocritical.
It's not hypocritical. It's called being human. It's called failing. The only way to never violate one's standards is to go down the liberal road and not have any standards.
Now if someone is carrying on an affair for months or years, all the while making a big deal about his "loving" marriage (cough....John Edwards...cough), now that's a hypocrite!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
EXCELLENT POINT hypocracy
June 25, 2009 - 20:23 ET by TruthMongerEXCELLENT POINT
hypocracy involves "do as i say not as i do" over an extended period of time - such as preaching tolerance while maintaining hostility for conservatives or Christians...
anyway having high standards doesn't require perfection to avoid hypocracy - humans are not perfect - but fewer Republicans screw around compared to Democrats because we have the bar set higher
lower the bar and you lower performance right along with it - e.g. democrats
it takes intelligence to understand this - consequently libs can't grasp it
Palin/Prejean 2012
The real motivation behind
June 25, 2009 - 17:00 ET by fitzfongThe real motivation behind Velshi and his line of attack is not social issues. It's an attempt to cover up his own woeful economic illiteracy...this from someone CNN dubs an "expert". Mark Sanford would have the measure of this ignorant clown in a debate regarding economics and the government bailout. Knowing this, Velshi can only hit from behind...attack over this "scandal" because he couldn't hold Sanford's jock in a debate he's supposed to be an "expert" at.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Exactly fitz... That's
June 25, 2009 - 17:15 ET by bigtimerExactly fitz...
That's what I meant when I said above Velshi is a joke.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
We don't need to worry about adultery in politics
June 25, 2009 - 17:11 ET by Lord ErondThanks to Klinton, those are 'personal' matters and have nothing to do with politics or a politicians competency. Why are the Democrats trying to make a big deal about a blow job? Sheesh
"Let him who would move the world, first move himself." -Socrates
"We sit together, the mountain and I, until only the mountain remains." -Li Po
At least MSNBC did a medley
June 25, 2009 - 17:38 ET by Another Dead KennedyAt least MSNBC did a medley that included Clinton, Spitzer, and Kilpatrick.
Yeah but...
June 25, 2009 - 20:23 ET by MightyMouth...only you and the other viewer saw it!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Are you stalking me today?
June 25, 2009 - 20:49 ET by Another Dead KennedyAre you stalking me today? I see you've gone around to respond to all of my posts, yet have failed to make an argument in any of them. If you're attacking my persona, I think you can do better than what you've posted so far.
→ Persona?
June 25, 2009 - 20:54 ET by Cool ArrowA "persona" is an assumed character.
Are you claiming to be other than you represent yourself here?
We will Barry you! - Russian Prophecy
LOL CA... That was
June 25, 2009 - 20:59 ET by bigtimerLOL CA...
That was spot-on.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Someday you're going to have
June 25, 2009 - 21:19 ET by Another Dead KennedySomeday you're going to have to come up with your own argument instead of tacking onto someone else's.
persona |pərˈsōnə|noun
June 25, 2009 - 21:18 ET by Another Dead Kennedypersona |pərˈsōnə|noun ( pl. -sonas or -sonae |-ˈsōnē|)the aspect of someone's character that is presented to or perceived byothers : her public persona.
→ LOL
June 25, 2009 - 21:19 ET by Cool ArrowSee also "facade"
We will Barry you! - Russian Prophecy
Cool, if you can find an
June 25, 2009 - 21:30 ET by Another Dead KennedyCool, if you can find an inconsistency in my posting history, feel free to call me on it. I am what I am what I am.
→ Didn't say that KDW
June 25, 2009 - 23:02 ET by Cool ArrowI simply pointed out your choice of a word was contradictory to the message you tried to convey.
Just words.
We will Barry you! - Russian Prophecy
Persona (in the psychology of C. G. Jung)
June 25, 2009 - 21:42 ET by ParagrouperThe mask or façade presented to satisfy the demands of the situation or the environment and not representing the inner personality of the individual; the public personality (contrasted with anima ).
I'm liking facade too
"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking." - General George Patton Jr
CNN
June 25, 2009 - 22:58 ET by blazermaniacWhat other viewer?
The MSM is estatic!
June 25, 2009 - 18:29 ET by ParagrouperJust think, if they didn't have Governer Sanford to bash about today--what would they have to talk about.
1. Cap & Tx sneak attack in the House
2. Increasing violence in Iraq
3. More restrictive rules of engagement in Afghanistan
4. The disturbingly irrational behavior of a nuclear armed North Korea
5. Increased unemployment figures released
Oh, nevermind...
"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking." - General George Patton Jr
um....
June 25, 2009 - 20:08 ET by candanceSince when was Mark Sanford some big celebrity in the GOP? Did anyone ever think he would run for president in 2012? Most of CNN's viewers had never heard of him a month ago and still don't even know what state he governs.
Why doesn't CNN discuss Mike Easley's corruption in North Carolina and the fact that he forced NC State to offer his wife a high salary? Easley is under federal investigation right now, yet the MSM hasn't touched it.
CNN Biass is showing...
June 25, 2009 - 20:37 ET by GaiusBaltarThis is exactly what I was talking about!!!! CNN has been known to do this:
Check out "THE CNN REPORT"
http://www.firesusan...
I sent a copy of this report to the editors here at NewsBusters.
Hypocrisy is a Sub-set of Trust
June 25, 2009 - 20:38 ET by Retired GeekThe word Hypocrisy is nothing more than a Sub-set of the word 'Trust'.
Trust, when applied to Humans, is the confidence or assurance that one can believe the Character, Values, Integrity or Words of another Human, will produce results that are desirous and beneficial to those who 'Trust' that individual.
I have never granted my 'Trust' easily to any individual, unless they have proven over a long period of 'Time' their Trustworthiness, both in Private and Public life.
Trusting an Individual initially, is based on their record, their associations, their alliances, their 'Dogged' commitment, to do the right thing for all and NOT self serving or for the 'Expediency' of their personal agenda.
Continued Trust, is based on their 'Personal Compass', that guides them back to the original 'Course', even when they stray or become lost.
Initially, Barack Obama has 'Proven' over a long period of time that he CANNOT be 'Trusted' by the aforementioned guidelines and continues to 'Prove', almost daily, that he cannot be 'Trusted' now or in the future.
Living a Perfect Sin Free Life
June 25, 2009 - 20:40 ET by Retired GeekOnly One person in the history of mankind has achieved that.
However, it is possible to live a 'Repentant Life' before God.
God is just and willing to accept repentance and say 'Go and Sin No More'.
This forgiveness by God is for our 'Eternal Life' and unfortunately for us, sometimes does Not affect our Earthly life as much as we would like.
The fact that God is willing to forgive us, does Not give us a license to continue in sin, nor does it necessarily cause those our sins have hurt to grant forgiveness.
God said Not only would He forgive our Sins - He would never remember them against us anymore.
This is a 'Good Deal' and something we humans are incapable of doing, even when the one we have hurt the most is ourselves.
Actually, Jesus commanded us to love our brothers as much as we love ourselves.
If we cannot forgive ourselves, it seems to me that commandment would be impossible.
Many humans have recited or prayed this prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen
Notice that Prayer states, we are asking God to forgive us in the same manner and with the same mercy that we show those who have sinned against us.
That prayer becomes scary and peace giving at the same time.
Even though our God 'forgiven' sins will Not disqualify us from our 'Eternal Life', they may disqualify us from positions in this life e.g husband, friend, employee, politician or any other position of 'Trust'.
Trust Sanford with political power?
June 25, 2009 - 20:45 ET by Retired GeekBreaking the Vows you made to your Spouse is WRONG - no matter who does it or what the reason is.
I want us Conservatives to take back our Country from evil.
I pray that God removes all men like Sanford from our ranks as leaders and potential leaders.
I pray that Sanford is redeemed and his marriage redeemed if that is what his wife wants.
Trust Sanford with political power? That ship has already sailed.
SERVICE
June 25, 2009 - 21:34 ET by jaywlWhen those no good Republicans prove human it is but a public service to make sure the public is aware of that fact. Over and over. On the other hand, the public knows full well that Democrats are empathetic humans. It is the Democrats that care about the people's welfare, understand a woman's right to that particular choice, want the illegals to be legal. The Dems are good, no need to call attention to their humanity. Easy, isn't it?
Bill Clinton's Excellent Argentina Adventure
June 25, 2009 - 22:04 ET by slickwillie2001Update on Bill's latest adventure in Argentina:
Bill Clinton Pays $1000 For a Private Session With Argentine Stripper/Pop Star: http://ace.mu.nu
What is it about Argentina?
Ali Velshi
June 26, 2009 - 07:50 ET by SemusWill someone please ask this and every other leftwing operative the more important question. How did his personal emails get into reporter hands? This is a evil dangerous thing and not uncomman these days.
Re Emails
June 26, 2009 - 10:48 ET by slickwillie2001I have a problem with that as well. I hope South Carolina's state legal apparatus is looking into this. It appears on the surface to be criminal.
democrats
June 26, 2009 - 08:01 ET by jessieHjessieH The democratic party had better stop bad mouthing republicans and start finding ways to keep their own jobs. MSM = Mean spirited Media
I am guessing the reason
June 26, 2009 - 08:27 ET by DEHIIIwhy they didn't talk about the Dems was because in the last two weeks there have been 2 huge GOP sex scandles. It is not like it was just yesterday that Spitzer resigned.
There is certainly a ton of bias on CNN, but I don't think this is one of them.