CNN/YouTube Special Features Liberal Videos Disproportionately


On Monday night, CNN aired a special hour promoting the upcoming "CNN/YouTube" presidential debates. CNN is encouraging viewers to record their questions for the presidential candidates and post them on YouTube.com. In anticipation of this historic event, hosts John Roberts and Kiran Chetry shared just a few of the thousands of video submissions CNN has already received. Of the videos aired on Monday, a disproportionate number were distinctly liberal. Of the 19 individual videos shown (excluding some brief, zany clips), 10 were politically neutral, 8 were liberal or critical of conservative and/or Republican policies, and only 1 was clearly conservative.

Video (1:54): Real (1.39 MB) or Windows (1.16 MB), plus MP3 audio (652 kB) 

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Over the course of the special, CNN chose to air two video questions regarding the threat of Global Warming. Interestingly, both submissions featured adults holding small children. Nathan Roberts, surrounded by his four children, posed this question to the presidential candidates: "And with the ill effects of Global Warming being felt throughout the Earth, my question is, how are you going to save the Earth..." His four children followed suit saying, "For me..and me...and me...and me."

Less than ten minutes later, Chetry introduced another video from an environmentally concerned viewer. The woman, identified as Barbara Gonzales, is coddling her infant son, Asa. Gonzales dramatically explains,

Nothing will have a greater impact on Asa’s future and the future of all kids than the world’s ability to deal with global warming...What are you proposing to do that is bold and why should I put Asa’s future in your hands?

Other videos aired by CNN expressed the importance of raising the minimum wage and the need for "low cost or free preventative medicine." One video, addressed to Hillary Clinton, asked if Bill had remained faithful since leaving the White House. Surprisingly, the questioner was not so concerned with the Senator’s personal life, but rather how Clinton might respond to challengers raising the issue.

Senator Clinton, I think you would make a great president, but there’s a question that deserves to be answered before the end of the primaries, because it could effect your ability to run against a strong Republican. Has your husband, Bill Clinton, engaged in adulterous behavior since he’s left office? How do you plan to address the issue, whether real or trumped up, by people that would demean your character by trying to imply that your marriage is politically convenient?

Of the 19 individual videos aired during the hour-long special, only one of them could be called unmistakably conservative: a humorous country music video poking fun at high taxes.


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Good job Michael.

Good job Michael.

I wonder if it is just the

I wonder if it is just the true feelings of the American people. I rarely meet a conservative-extremist anywhere besides here or ... or... well here. Oh, and the Exxon/Mobil shareholder meeting.

Is that meeting the one

Is that meeting the one that you are usually working at, serving drinks and cleaning up the dirty plates?

 

 

Roger, sorry to get personal

Roger, sorry to get personal for a sec.  But any chance of getting you to change your graphic back to the Monty Python?  Or did a horde of attorneys descend on you last time ...?

mod starts the flame

Here we go, mod. Just remember, you started this flame.

Maybe it's because not

Maybe it's because not many conservatives can stomach watching CNN, so didn't know about the program... 

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

Only one conservative

Only one conservative video....

Are we really surprised with it being CNN?

They can say they were fair and balanced that way.... 

LMAO

BT After all one

BT

After all one intelligent video outweighs 20 foolish ones 

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God."     Einstein

Laughing out loud

Laughing out loud bot....

Excellent point you made friend....excellent.

  Bruce, You need to

 

Bruce,

You need to reset your account to accept PMs.

the box was/is checked to

the box was/is checked to allow PM s 

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God."     Einstein

Bruce,Well, I have one

Bruce,

Well, I have one from you that I can't read.  And I've sent a few and they aren't in my sent list.  Hmmmm.

And my allow/disallow switch was turned to off during the conversion.  I changed it, but haven't received anything since then.

 

B I sent some PMs but

B

I sent some PMs but they don't appear in my sent list either 

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God."     Einstein

  Bruce, Alas, the

 

Bruce,

Alas, the changes here appear to be a work in progress.

As much as it makes me crazy, I suppose I'll just have to be patient.

Nice pic, BTW, there, guy.

My ride is Rolex.  I have to find a better picture...but it was all I could think of on short notice.

Blonde

Rolex looks very nice.  i posted a notice on Matts de-bug thread

I will probally have a new avatar in the next week or two.  Unfortunately most all of my pics are digital and too large (way over 30K) 

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God."     Einstein

Bruce, Yes, Rolex is a

Bruce,

Yes, Rolex is a great guy.  When my friend bought him, he weighed about 500 lbs.  Skin and bones and mangy.  The vet didn't even recognize him once he was healthy again.  He's a full blooded Arabian.  And fun to ride.  Whenever we're out, I always get the compliments on having the beautiful horse.

I know what you mean about the pic.  Mine are all really too large.  I had one of my orchids up last nite, but I just don't know.  I'll probably continue to change it.

I like the new features, tho.  Earlier today....there were both sides of the "Buddy List", and it showed which of one's pals were online.  Very cool.

I have to give Matt a big Hurrah!  This site must be a beast to administer.

Blonde it will not only

Blonde

it will not only show which of your buddies are on  line but also give a list of forums with their latest posts

administering the site would be as you say a plusperfect pita

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God."     Einstein

  Bruce, I can see

 

Bruce,

I can see it...but I can't read it.

Alas....

Blonde

try going into your PM, i had one at the top which i could not read so i checked the box and deleted it then when i sent a msg it appeared in my sent list.  there may be code from the update blocking your mailbox

you may have to delete all 'frozen' messages

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God."     Einstein

  Well, that didn't seem

 

Well, that didn't seem to do it....I suppose I could delete the "other" frozen one from you....this is kind of a nuisance, yes?

 BTW, I'm listenening to the Floyd link.

 Excellent.  And the ex burnt me out on Floyd a long, long time ago.  I can't even believe I'm enjoying it.

Probally delete all frozen

Probally delete all frozen ones your ?????? came through

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God."     Einstein

Michael, Did you ever

Michael,

Did you ever entertain the idea that perhaps ALL of the videos on YouTube are disproportionately liberal? 

Seems to me that CNN's sample could be fairly representative of what's going on. 

Just a thought.

Inherent problem

Leon,

I did entertain the idea and you certainly raise a valid point. It is possible that of all the YouTube submissions there was an 8 to 1 liberal-conservative ratio. But if this is in fact the case, and YouTube is inherently biased (and by a wide margin), can it then be called an appropriate forum for a presidential debate? I leave that for you to consider.

-Mike

Mike, I agree with what

Mike,

I agree with what Leon is getting at. Also, I think it is misleading to say the YouTube submissions might be an 8 to 1 liberal-conservative ratio considering you said there were 10 "politically neutral" videos. But in regards to you posing the question that YouTube is "inherently biased," and whether that is an "appropriate forum for a presidential debate," I think you have to realize the demographic here. YouTube is predominantly the younger generation which makes it more liberal compared with the older generation. I think this forum is definitely appropriate because YouTube & the internet has started to become the new generation's form of mass media. That is why Ron Paul is so far ahead the other Republicans in internet traffic, and only trailing Obama in YouTube views, is because he is the type of candidate young people are gravitating towards. Now the question is whether all these young people and "YouTubers" will actually vote. So I think the "inherent bias" is nothing more than "younger adults" which makes it a suitable forum for a presidential debate.

Clarification

Wisdom,

I have only a few qualms with your post. I reject your assertion that I was being misleading. Despite the fact that there were 10 "neutral" videos, the ratio of liberal to conservative videos remains eight to one. As I am only interested in documenting bias, neutral videos have little significance to me. Additionally, just because CNN chose to play a number of neutral videos does not excuse their imbalance concerning the 9 videos that were politically biased. Your point about younger voters being more liberal than their progenitors is well taken but still flawed. Regardless of how liberal my (18-35) generation is perceived to be, we are hardly 8 to 1 in favor of any one ideology. If YouTube accurately reflects the positions of young people, as you suggest, it would still produce a more balanced collection of videos than were aired on CNN. 

Mike, I have to say that

Mike,

I have to say that I disagree with how you are using this "ratio" factor. I understand that, technically, despite the fact that there were 10 "neutral" videos there was still an 8:1 ratio. My point is that you can't discount those videos and make an 8 to 1 argument without being misleading. For instance, if there were 0 "neutral" videos then that argument would be fine. You said you are only documenting bias, and that neutral videos "mean nothing to you." In that case, what if there were 100 neutral videos (along with 8 liberal, 1 conservative), would that still mean nothing and would you still call it a 8 to 1 "bias"? That is why i'm saying the 8 to 1 figure is misleading when you are making the argument that this "bias" is unsuitable as a forum for a presidential debate. I think it accurately represents the views of the "18-35" as well as younger teenagers and others who are participating in this YouTube forum.

Sorry

Sorry if anyone is having difficulty posting today.