This article has just been published, your comments are always welcomed, take care Amo.

Opps, “they did it again”!

by Robert Amoroso

 November 29, 2007

It seems that CNN has once again become the Britney Spears of the cable news industry, they just can’t decide if they want to host a political debate, or become part of the debate.

Last evening (along with co-host You Tube), CNN’s attempt at trying to be innovative and cutting edge rather then responsible and informative, once again became the lead story within the media.

The first attempt at being innovative was on November 15th when CNN hosted what can best be described as a “love fest” disguised as the Democratic Presidential Debate. For almost 128 minutes I watched (with some amusement) moderator Wolf Blitzer, metamorphose into the chairman and CEO of the WWE, Vince McMann.

Not since Hulk Hogan body slammed Andre The Giant, has anyone witnessed such staged drama between the “fan favorite” Hillary Clinton, and “the bad guy” Barack Obama. The crowd at “ringside” had already been primed with full page-ads announcing that “the gloves will come off”. Apparently CNN’s mimicking of the WWE, didn’t end at the opening bell, the winner of the event, it seemed, had already been prearranged, even the audience was slanted heavily in favor of the junior senator from New York. The only props missing were the fireworks and the colorful posters that open the weekly wrestling shows on cable TV.

Even the local seemed a perfect setting, Las Vegas, Nevada. Obviously this debate (if one can call it that), should have stayed in Vegas, and not viewed by the millions of people who tuned in, to see an actual presidential debate and not a side show. Sadly it seems that a once esteemed and professional news organization has regressed into nothing more then tabloid journalism, befitting something along the lines of the E Channel.

However, the prearranged coronation of Hillary Clinton didn’t end with the debate, in reality it had just begun. CNN had (by its own definition) “the best political team on television” to analyze and interpret what had just taken place, at the University of Nevada.

Not even McMann could have scripted a more bizarre and unimaginable finally. There in living color the “ragen cagen” James Carville a lifelong Clintonite and one of Bill and Hillary’s closest friends would now analyze the debate. Of course in keeping with the overall theme of the debate, I was hoping for a little more balance, perhaps an opposing view, someone who could take the fight to Carville, perhaps former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s new and esteemed political buddy, "The Nature Boy" Rick Flair…“WOOOOO”.

One would think that after the negative backlash received in its handling of the first debate, CNN would have learned from its mistakes. Last night, in St. Petersburg, Florida, CNN once again had an opportunity to redeem itself as it hosted The Republication Presidential Debate. However like the “pop tart” herself…they did it again. Rather then having the customary news journalist panel, asking questions, CNN decided to have “regular folks” via video posing questions of the candidates. Of course one would assume that the people asking the questions would have been pre-screened and checked out by CNN, for any conflicts of interest.

In keeping with the “we love Hillary” theme, CNN either forgot, didn’t care or was simply inept in their screening process. It seems that one of those “regular folks” was a Clinton operative, who had worked on a steering committee on behalf of the Clinton campaign.

Obviously, CNN has lost all credibility when it comes to being a fare and balanced news organization, more importantly they do a disservice to those of us who believe that a true democracy can only exist with an honest and unbiased news media. It’s not by accident that in a recent poll, 62% of the populace believes that the federal government had prior warnings of the horrific events leading to 9/11, and chose to ignore them, because we wanted to go to war in the Middle East. Astoundingly as it may sound, 16% of those polled believe that the Twin Towers might have collapsed not because of the hijacked passenger jets that cut into them, but rather explosives secretly placed also by the federal government.

Skepticism in an open and free society towards our government is indeed a “good thing”, and I would imagine that our founding fathers would have approved of a proactive and responsible populace. However, insane crackpot conspiracy theories of this magnitude undermine the very fabric of a free society.

It may sound preposterous to most of us when we hear the likes of a Rosie O’Donnell, accuse our government of some type of involvement, in bringing down the Towers. She seriously asks her audience on national TV, how can “fire melt steel” and astoundingly no one challenges her, for her foolish (and dare I say), stupid remarks.

Half truths, innuendos, rumors, and out right lies seem to be the new wave of dealing with national issues. Sadly we’ve become a polarizing society, where truth for the most part is secondary, we cherry-pick what we want to hear and disregard the rest.

Anonymity has made the internet a wasteland of misinformation, and for some a dangerous tool. Anyone with a computer can now slander with impunity anyone they deem, without fear of being challenged.

In Columbia, South Carolina (a key primary state) the mud slingers are out in full force, anonymous e-mails and letters dropped into mailboxes around the state declaring Hillary Clinton a lesbian, and having an affair with one of her aids. In another mass mailing the “dark secrets” of Mitt Romney’s religion came into play, and in yet another mud slinging attempt at dehumanizing a candidate, Barack Obama was accused of being a Muslim extremist, while Rudy Giuliani’s wife supported the killing of “innocent puppies”.

Of course the candidates themselves deserve some of the blame. In an attempt to be all things; to all people they’ve collectively given up their principles. Hillary Clinton will not answer a direct question, unless it’s been dissected by a focus group, Rudy Giuliani avoids (as best he can) his views on the issue of abortion, Barack Obama would meet with all types of dictators without a prearranged agenda, when pressed further by the media, he would not.

The mainstream media, of which CNN is part of, has an obligation to ferret out the truth, no matter where it lies. They are the gatekeepers, the dividing line between fact and fiction, between truth and rumor, between chaos and order.

Sadly, in an attempt to be cutting edge and I assume entertaining, CNN on two separate occasions gave up all attempts at being a serious news organization, and shamelessly gave up the mantel of respectability. Of course they gave that up long before last night’s attempt, when they decided to end the debate on November 15th, not on a serious policy issue, but as to which Mrs. Clinton preferred…”diamonds or pearls”? Of course Hillary being Hillary, preferred both.

More articles by this author:
» Is Bank of America jeopardizing our national security?
» Christmas in New York
» A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand
» The Politics of Defeat and Deceit

Copyright © 2007  Robert  Amoroso

published in BrooWaha New York