It appears the Clinton News Network is going to be a little less Clintonian as primary season heats up.
According to Greg Sargent of the Talking Points Memo's Horse's Mouth blog, James Carville and Paul Begala, due to their pro-Hillary positions, will be persona non grata until after the nomination.
Makes one wonder what took CNN so long to come to this obvious conclusion.
Filed in the "Better Late Than Never" section, Sargent reported Thursday (h/t Wizbang):
I've just learned that CNN has told top Dem strategists James Carville, Paul Begala, and Robert Zimmerman -- who are CNN mainstays but are all Hillary supporters -- that they will not be doing any more political analysis on the network until the Democratic primary has reached a conclusion.
I'm also told that this move came after the Obama campaign repeatedly complained to high level officials at CNN about the presence of Carville and Begala on the network.
After I reached him today and pointed out that he hadn't been on CNN in some time, Carville confirmed to me that the network had told him that he wouldn't appear until the Dem primary is resolved.
Sam Feist, CNN's political director, also confirmed the decision to me. "As we got closer to the voting, we made a decision to make sure that all the analysts that are on are non-aligned," Feist said, adding that the decision had been made around the start of December. "Carville and Begala are two of the best analysts around and we look forward to seeing them on CNN plenty of times in the future, once the nominating process has ended."
Take particular note of that last sentence (emphasis added):
"Carville and Begala are two of the best analysts around and we look forward to seeing them on CNN plenty of times in the future, once the nominating process has ended."
So, does that mean that if Clinton wins the nomination, her surrogates will be back on CNN to plug her on a daily basis? As such, it's only unfair for them to be on now because it might hurt another Democrat, but this isn't a problem if it hurts a Republican?
If this is indeed the case, wouldn't this be the best admission of liberal bias yet by CNN?
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
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Comments Policy
"If this is indeed the case,
January 26, 2008 - 17:17 ET by Chris Norman"If this is indeed the case, wouldn't this be the best admission of liberal bias yet by CNN?"
If so, this would be about as blatant as they could get. Unless Balboa wants to step in and tell you where you're wrong and overreacting.
The moment I began to read
January 26, 2008 - 18:02 ET by GregEThe moment I began to read this and read the reason for it, I immediately had no question about this is only temporary. When the Democrat nominee is set, they'll be back, as you've said. If I'm wrong I can surely admit it, but it would be a huge exception for them, definitely not a rule.
And you're right, CNN would be actually show less bias by leaving them in place now, than to move them off now and bring them back for the general election. If they do that, you've said it correctly. It will be blatant bias.
You just can't make this stuff up
January 26, 2008 - 18:24 ET by Reality CheckYep, that appears to be the plan. They're too biased to offer objective coverage of Obama vs. Clinton, but once it's down to a Democrat vs. a Republican, they'll be back. Further proof that to CNN, liberal orthodoxy is truth, and the Right is just wrong.
The fact that they would do something like this says a lot. It especially says a lot about how they view their audience - as a bunch of ignorant sheep, breathlessly awaiting the analysis of The Most Busted Name In News.
Reality Check
Not the best example
January 27, 2008 - 10:28 ET by KC Beach"If this is indeed the case, wouldn't this be the best admission of liberal bias yet by CNN?"
Big admission, but it can never top CNN's admission to knowingly reporting false Saddam propaganda in order to keep the CNN Baghdad offices open prior to the war.
"CNN, the new Tass for the 21st Century"
→ Carnivalle and Beluga
January 26, 2008 - 17:21 ET by Cool ArrowCarnivalle Monkey and Beluga Head will be sorely missed.
♣ a seal
...by liberals nationwide.
January 26, 2008 - 19:29 ET by GregE...by liberals nationwide.
I'll miss 'em, too!
January 27, 2008 - 09:21 ET by sentforth5I used to fix my hair and check my look in beluga's forehead.
Sargent reports that this
January 26, 2008 - 17:26 ET by motherbeltSargent reports that this happened "after complaints from Obama."
And I notice their "recess" is only until after the nomination.
Do you think CNN will listen to Republicans' complaints about their obvious bias when Her Royal Clintoness is the nominee?
Rupublican Complaints
January 26, 2008 - 19:27 ET by ThisnThatDo you think CNN will listen to Republicans' complaints about their obvious bias when Her Royal Clintoness is the nominee?
Yes, they will. And then immediately characterize the Republicans as whiners, with Carville and Begala front-and-center making snide remarks about the complaint.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
CNN could replace Carville
January 26, 2008 - 17:27 ET by fitzfongCNN could replace Carville and the Forehead with countless venerial diseases that would be more popular than they are.
Oh is MSNBC laying off some
January 26, 2008 - 19:32 ET by GregEOh is MSNBC laying off some folks?
LMAO!
January 26, 2008 - 19:58 ET by drillanwrLMAO!
GregE.... ...ROFL too...
January 27, 2008 - 14:58 ET by bigtimerGregE....
...ROFL too...
Positively delicious, N.
January 26, 2008 - 17:29 ET by BlondeGood news, indeed.
Oh, would that ABC follow suit and give Steffy the boot for the duration.
As for an "admission" of bias...it's a liberal admission, unsaid, and not acknowledged as such.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Blonde, if they got rid of
January 26, 2008 - 17:39 ET by motherbeltBlonde, if the nets got rid of everyone with an obvious Dem/lib bias, they would be inviting people in off the streets to read the news and populate their panels.
But it has to make one realize just how far out Beavis and Butthead (and I refuse to designate which) are, for CNN to realize they had to be put into mothballs for a while. But if they are allowed back for the general election, it will just show that they only care about bias toward Democrats, not Republicans.
Rita Braver
January 26, 2008 - 18:04 ET by Lame CherryI was wondering except to defeat Hillary why CNN would bother as Rita Braver's hubby was a Clinton shill, ABC has Stephie von Stephanopolous, CBS has the big chief producing the nightly news and whoever else I care not to remember is peppered throughout the media working for the Clintons.
Whoever though the Republicans do nominate they should demand of the FCC to a full time clause against the Democrats as Bill Clinton got a whole half hour on Nightline on ABC and one can count the hours Democrats got on morning programs compared to the seconds Republicans got.
So file now and file early RNC. Get your free time.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Absolutely, LC, they will
January 26, 2008 - 18:34 ET by motherbeltAbsolutely, LC, they will have to be extremely vigilant. Just look at the morning shows: how many times has Her Royal Clintoness made the rounds of those...all three on the same day, with not a peek of even the other candidates. Every time there's a little ripple, they all have her on to state her case, unopposed. Talk about an in-kind contribution to her campaign!
They are just shameless. And they they say "Biased? Us??? Of course not!"
Right, HRC comes by on her way to wherever, stops in for coffee and a chat....and the cameras just happen to be rolling....
Tears
January 26, 2008 - 19:30 ET by ThisnThatThe networks are building up her "cry" factor, trying to appeal to all the poor women out there who seemingly can't think for themselves, and only see Hillary as a victim.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Do you think Mary and James
January 26, 2008 - 18:07 ET by drillanwrDo you think Mary and James ever have Paul over for dinner ... and does Mary put out the good china, or paper plates?
drill, I think she puts out
January 26, 2008 - 19:09 ET by DaBirddrill, I think she puts out the good trough. Mary pours in the liberal swill and those two swine bury their faces in it.
(In my very bestest
January 26, 2008 - 19:15 ET by drillanwr(In my very bestest loud-mouthed Chris Matthews spit-spraying voice) - Ha!!
LOL @ CNN
January 26, 2008 - 18:23 ET by candanceThey're not doing this to be partial or fair, they're doing this in case Obama gets the nod. All the Republican bashing will stay intact and after the Dem nod is official it will be back to business as usual.
If CNN cared one bit about being fair they would never have hired Clinton advisors in the first place.
After further review...
January 26, 2008 - 19:02 ET by goldenthroatCandance,
You have that right! It will be just like Dana Jacobson's "suspension" at ESPN. Temporary but, rest assured, she'll be back at that network just like Tweedledee and Tweedledum will be welcomed back at CNN.
I'd bet a steak dinner on it.
"Yeah! That's the ticket!" - Tommy Flanagan
Take Out the Trash
January 26, 2008 - 18:45 ET by Del DolemonteI was trying to find the exact wording of Carville's "trailer trash" quote this morning, and came across these Carville quotes-dates unknown. I had to go to the Google cached version as the original link has mysteriously disappeared down the Clinton rabbit hole. Enjoy!
"The Democratic constituency is just like a herd of cows. All you have to do is lay out enough silage and they come running. That's why I became an operative working with Democrats. With Democrats all you have to do is make a lot of noise, lay out the hay, and be ready to use the ole cattle prod in case a few want to bolt the herd."
"Eighty percent of the people who call themselves Democrats don't have a clue as to political reality."
"What amazes me is that you could take a group of people who are hard workers and convince them that they should support social programs that were the exact opposite of their own personal convictions. Put a little fear here and there and you can get people to vote any way you want."
"The voter is basically dumb and lazy. The reason I became a Democratic operative instead of a Republican was because there were more Democrats that didn't have a clue than there were Republicans."
"Truth is relative. Truth is what you can make the voter believe is the truth. If you're smart enough, truth is what you make the voter think it is. That's why I'm a Democrat. I can make the Democratic voters think whatever I want them to.”
That James sure is a
January 26, 2008 - 20:48 ET by motherbeltThat James sure is a fountain of philosoph truths, isn't he?
BTW the Jones quote was:
"Drag a hundred-dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what you'll find."
But if you heard him in person, it was actually "hunnadolla bill"
LOL
mb -
January 26, 2008 - 21:53 ET by drillanwrYeah, he's a regular friggin' Confucius ...
A "hunnadolla bill" ? ... Clinton had to pay that much, huh?
correcting the
January 27, 2008 - 00:14 ET by motherbeltcorrecting the typo:
Should have been "philosophical truths" LOL
Like the Bush tax cuts, this
January 26, 2008 - 22:39 ET by zfLike the Bush tax cuts, this temporary move by CNN needs to be made permanent.
So, does that mean that if
January 26, 2008 - 23:03 ET by Scout FinchSo, does that mean that if Clinton wins the nomination, her surrogates will be back on CNN to plug her on a daily basis? As such, it's only unfair for them to be on now because it might hurt another Democrat, but this isn't a problem if it hurts a Republican?
If this is indeed the case, wouldn't this be the best admission of liberal bias yet by CNN?
Yes.
Asset
January 26, 2008 - 23:10 ET by Jerry MackI can not understand why anyone would consider having the silliest man on television (the forehead) as an asset. Who could he appeal to except other silly *** morons.
Obama would be better served if he told people to watch the forehead to see what kind of people are supporting Hillary.
Coming soon,The Alien and
January 26, 2008 - 23:16 ET by BlazerComing soon,The Alien and the Forehead starring in: Natural Born Shiller's.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
Kurtz/Olbermann
January 27, 2008 - 15:04 ET by bigtimerAs such, it's only unfair for them to be on now because it might hurt another Democrat, but this isn't a problem if it hurts a Republican?
...it has never been a problem if it hurts a republican...nor will it ever be.
You have to be blind to not see the bias on CNN if you watch it more than a few days if you never have before.
Did anyone hear Olbermann on with Howard Kurtz this morning on his show on CNN? Talk about blatant lying and bias, but I expect nothing less from him.