Although liberal were successful in their effort to rid the network of Lou Dobbs, some elements are now hung up on also eliminating recently hired contributor Erick Erickson from CNN's programming.
And now a liberal group called Campaign for America's Future (CAF) is attacking CNN for planning to air a documentary called "I.O.U.S.A.: Solutions," suggesting the network is "fanning the flames of deficit hysteria." The group's co-director Roger Hickey is demanding CNN impose a "Fairness Doctrine" on itself.
"This weekend, CNN is giving four hours of free airtime to the leading propagandist fanning the flames of deficit hysteria, Pete Peterson, along with his lackeys," Hickey wrote in an e-mail sent to supporters and also posted on the Huffington Post. "[A]nd if they do go ahead with this programming, tell them to provide balance to Pete Peterson's deficit hysteria. Give equal time to defenders of Social Security, Medicare and public investment."
According to CNN's Web site, the special airing Saturday at 1 p.m. ET and Sunday at 3 p.m. ET is about the national debt. What would satisfy CAF? A special featuring the likes of New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, University of Texas economics professor James Galbraith and Dean Baker, co-director of the liberal Center for Economic and Policy Research - very liberal economists who think fiscal responsibility isn't as big an issue as it is made out to be with
"Whose voices will be shut out this weekend?" Hickey wrote. "The nation's leading economists who are urging our government to use deficits today to invest in long-term prosperity - such as Paul Krugman, James Galbraith and Dean Baker. The fiscal experts who have repeatedly said Social Security is sound and broader health care reform will protect Medicare. All of you who voted for an active government to invest in our future."
According to one report, the two-hour documentary was directed by Patrick Creadon, produced by Christine O'Malley, and presented by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and will include panelists from all over the so-called ideological spectrum.
