CNN did a 180 in its coverage of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter attacking Donald Trump as an "asshole" on Tuesday over the presidential candidate's controversial proposal to ban Muslim immigration to the U.S. On Tuesday's OutFront, Erin Burnett spotlighted how the Democratic mayor "spoke out" against Trump with his crass term, after a pig's head was thrown at the door of a mosque in Philadelphia. Burnett's program ran the soundbite of Nutter uncensored, and an on-screen graphic trumpeted, "Philadelphia Mayor: Trump's An 'Asshole'". [see screen cap above]
Just over 24 hours later, Anderson Cooper confronted the outgoing mayor on his CNN program on Wednesday over the crude retort: "Calling Donald Trump an 'a-hole,' 'madman,' a 'danger to society' — do you stand by what you said?" The anchor also ran the clip from Nutter's press conference without deleting the expletive. However, the accompanying chyron censored the outburst: "Philadelphia Mayor: Trump's An 'A**hole'". Cooper also went after his guest for likening Trump to Hitler. [video below]
Cooper introduced the interview of Mayor Nutter by playing up "the impact of Donald Trump's words on his party and the presidential race." He continued that "beyond that, though, lies something potentially far greater — the effect that some believe his rhetoric may be having on how people behave toward American Muslims...Sunday night, somebody tossed a pig's head at the door of a mosque in Philadelphia....Eating pork, as you know, of course, is forbidden in Islam."
After playing the "blunt," in his words, clip from the Philadelphia politician, the CNN journalist turned to Nutter and asked his "do you stand by what you said" question. The Democrat confirmed that he was standing by his attack: "Well, I said what I said, and I meant it....I did apologize to the clergy who were at that press conference, but that's as far as it goes. It was an impromptu remark." Nutter added, in part, that "it is not helpful...that a presidential candidate proposes to ban Muslims from coming into the United States of America — including those who are already American citizens — some of whom are serving valiantly in our military, and have died for the country. And it is just the most insane kind of idea."
Cooper followed up by confronting the mayor over his Hitler comparison: "In terms of words, though, you also said, at that conference, that — quote, 'He's taken a page from the playbook of Hitler, demonized a group; blamed that group for a country's problems; and then, seek to ban or eliminate that group as some kind of solution to a problem that doesn't exist.' And is that...really? Comparing Donald Trump to Hitler?" Nutter again doubled-down in his reply: "Donald Trump is trying to demonize Muslims...and blame this group of people for the problems of our country; and then, seek to ban or eliminate them from the United States of America. That is an exact page out of that kind of playbook. It is dangerous rhetoric; it is negative at the highest level; and that's not what American politics should be about."
It should be pointed out that Cooper's approach to Nutter's Hitler blast at Trump is the exact opposite of that of his CNN colleague, Chris Cuomo. On Tuesday's New Day, Cuomo held an image of the Philadelphia Daily News's thinly-veiled comparison of the billionaire to the German dictator on their front page: "You can't just throw out notions without any kind of checking of them. You know, this is what got you — wound up on the Philadelphia Inquirer (sic) front page like Hitler! They got you in a personage of Hitler right now."
The full transcript of the Michael Nutter interview from the December 9, 2015 edition of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360:
ANDERSON COOPER: Well, we spoke a moment ago about the impact of Donald Trump's words on his party and the presidential race. Beyond that, though, lies something potentially far greater — the effect that some believe his rhetoric may be having on how people behave toward American Muslims, especially since the killings in Paris and San Bernardino. Sunday night, somebody tossed a pig's head at the door of a mosque in Philadelphia. A security camera caught it happening. Eating pork, as you know, of course, is forbidden in Islam.
Yesterday, at a press conference with local clerics, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter singled out Donald Trump and his plan for some blunt criticism. We want to warn you: he used some rough language to describe the Republican front-runner. Here's what he said:
[CNN Graphic: "Caught On Camera: Pig's Head Tossed At Philadelphia Mosque; Philadelphia Mayor: Trump's An 'A**hole'"]
MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER, (D), PHILADELPHIA (from press conference): He's an asshole. I mean, he — I mean, what do you (audience laughs) — I mean, I apologize, reverends; people in the religious community, I apologize. I mean, how can I take seriously any foreign policy idea from someone like him? I mean, just — it's impossible. So, he has no idea what he's talking about.
COOPER: Mayor Nutter also said that if he could, he'd like to bar Donald Trump from entering his city — his remarks earning him this Trump Tweet: 'Mayor Nutter in Philadelphia, who is doing a terrible job, should be ashamed for using such a disgusting word in referring to me. Low life!'
Mayor Nutter joins us now. Thanks very much for being with us, Mayor. Calling—
NUTTER: Thanks, Anderson—
COOPER: Calling Donald Trump an 'a-hole,' 'madman,' a 'danger to society' — do you stand by what you said?
NUTTER: Well, I said what I said, and I meant it. It was in response to a question about whether President Obama was doing enough, and Donald Trump questioning the President's efforts to fight ISIS and ISIL — and that was my response. I did apologize to the clergy who were at that press conference, but that's as far as it goes. It was an impromptu remark. For the rest of the press conference, I was — you know, fully aboveboard and everything.
But here's the problem: even leading Republicans have denounced the comments by Donald Trump; and, as you led into this story, there was a very serious desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. I had asked Imam — Imam Mohamed Shehata and numerous members of the clergy from a variety of faiths to come, which was the primary reason for that press conference. Donald Trump and his insane remarks were an add-on, because they all happened about the same time.
So, the desecration of the mosque is under investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department, and we're seeking answers, and we want to get the person who did that hateful action. At the same time, it is not helpful, in the rhetoric of — whether to campaign or general commentary — that a presidential candidate proposes to ban Muslims from coming into the United States of America — including those who are already American citizens — some of whom are serving valiantly in our military, and have died for the country. And it is just the most insane kind of idea — way beyond American values. Donald Trump has crossed the Rubicon of traditional American values, and is still in a reality TV mode, and thinks that all of this is just fun and games. It's not—
[CNN Graphic: "Taking On Trump: Pig's Head Tossed At Philadelphia Mosque"]
COOPER: Let me ask you—
NUTTER: When you run for high office to lead — try to lead the United States of America, you have to be much more serious in your words, and much more sensitive in what you say.
COOPER: In terms of words, though, you also said, at that conference, that — quote, 'He's taken a page from the playbook of Hitler, demonized a group; blamed that group for a country's problems; and then, seek to ban or eliminate that group as some kind of solution to a problem that doesn't exist.' And is that — you know, that's — really? Comparing Donald Trump to Hitler?
[CNN Graphic: "Taking On Trump: Philadelphia Mayor: Trump's A 'Danger To Society'"]
NUTTER: The — the comparison was about the playbook. It was about the actions. And that is exactly — as students of history know, that is exactly what happened back at that time — and other atrocities that have taken place in this world over time. He is — Donald Trump is trying to demonize Muslims. He's trying to demonize the Islamic faith, and blame this group of people for the problems of our country; and then, seek to ban or eliminate them from the United States of America. That is an exact page out of that kind of playbook. It is dangerous rhetoric; it is negative at the highest level; and that's not what American politics should be about.
The true Muslim people in the United States of America, and internationally — true followers of Islam — are peaceful people. They are loving people. They take care of their families and their children. They are an important component of American and international society. And he is reckless with his language.
We are trying to seriously conduct a presidential election. We have a standing in the world for the many, many things that America does well — and we don't always do everything right — but we actually have to — people pay attention to what happens in the United States of America. They pay attention to presidential elections. And people who are — you know, quote, unquote, leading in the polls or — you know, sucking up every possible piece of air time — and he is being reckless and irresponsible. People in his own Republican Party are denouncing his activities. He will be in New York at a Pennsylvania-related event — you already talked about what's happened here in Philadelphia — and he should not be a part of that. He needs to apologize to the Muslim community in America and internationally.
COOPER: Mayor, I appreciate your time. Mayor Nutter, thank you.
