CNN Throws Up its Hands, Shrugs on National Guard Story

[dolstein]

Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable. Aaron Brown basically threw up his hands and said "don't look to CNN to tell you whether or not any of this is true." Aren't these guys supposed to be JOURNALISTS?

Do I detect a theme here? 35 years ago, George Bush received special treatment which (a) allowed him to get into the National Guard and (b) allowed him to be "honorably" discharged despite failing to satisfy even minimal performance requirements. 35 years later, he's still getting special treatment.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Yeah he's getting fellatio from the press

I thought they had a problem with a president getting that while in office...guess not.

[PVnRT]

2. But it wasn't in the Oval Office

Ergo, it is OK.

[kentuck]

5. Not if they are the ones shining his knob...

How can anyone have any faith in the American media? We should stop pretending they are journalists. They are entertainers pretending to be newsmen.

[shivaji]

22. You got that right! It's all ratings and entertainment. n/t

[bo44]

26. you made me laugh. thank you n/t

[LibertyorDeath]

27. Aaron gets an A++ in Knob Shining

[bushwakker]

3. I've been saying for a month that the only way

to really get the cablenets on this was for Kerry himself to ask AWOL to account for being AWOL. This thing will blow over by Monday unless he does it.

[wtmusic]

4. That's what happens when public opinion is split evenly

just throw up your hands. Can't offend *anyone* that way.

[PretzelWarrior]

6. Aaron Brown's a p#ssy. I hate him.

[PaDem]

7. Did CNN have the swiftboat clowns on night after night?

I thought they did. If so, they need to drag this out too.

[Leilani]

13. Aaron Brown did not even report the Swift Boat story

for quite a while, because he said their statements were in question.

After the furor calmed down, he did some good journalism.

[LibertyorDeath]

28. " Aaron Brown did not even report the Swift Boat story"

because the rest of the fucks at CNN were on it 24/7 so Aaron looks all Magnanimous & doesn't report it. Well he didn't have to did he.

They are trying to convince you that Aaron is fair & balanced.

He is a smarmy fucker of a "Journalist" IMO

[buycitgo]

8. WAIT a minute!

Walter Robinson was EXCELLENT

did anybody see that?

that's where I heard the ''Bartlett misspoke'' bit for the second time today

Robinson said many things that put Bush and his handlers in a VERY bad light

Brown, who I loathe, was not happy with what was being said, but he didn't cut him off

he's defending him now with Jeff Greenfield, and they both agree now that people know Bush now, and believe him, so that this will NOT change peoples' views of the president.....buying into the myth of the likable guy; the straight shooter

he makes the OUTRAGEOUS statement that, had the press reported this four years ago, it might have made a difference with an as-yet undefined George Bush

they've already decided that this story has no legs!!!!!

what smug PRICKS!!!

[bushwakker]

11. Greenfield used to work for Bobby Kennedy

who rolls in his grave every time that smarmy little prick fellates the GOP.

[Must_B_Free]

12. NO - Aaron Brown is great

he does what he can for the truth within the limits of his corporate sponsors.

What was presented was the whitehouse gloss, then Brown had the globe reporter on to give the real scoop.

And he even goes to say go on line and judge for yourself.

My guess is that this is the best he is allowed to do. I am thankful for his voice.

[ezee]

18. Iam with YOU

[LTR]

25. Why do I hear so many stories about Brown replying with snotty emails?

I've seen a few replies to critical emails sent to him. He comes off as kind of a prick.

I will say this. At least he answers his own email.

[KharmaTrain]

32. Brown Looks Like He's Chafing

I'm almost certain a memo went down sometime last month that the CNNserative line was to re-select the manchild and this meant to set up a double-standard of coverage. Anything this regime says goes unquestioned unless the evidence or charges are overwhelming and anything that is charged against Kerry is scrutinized as fact unless proved otherwise with similar overwhelming evidence.

I don't need to go into details on this, plenty is presented each day here on DU. But it just astounds me to see how systemic it became and how it's being executed.

Aaron was supposed to be the new Bernie Shaw...the pillar of respectability, the man of words and moment. Then came 9/11 and now it's Wolfie that grabbed that mantle. I've read of battles between CNN New York (Brown, Zahn), CNN Washington (Blitzer, Woodruff) and CNN Atlanta (remaining old guard)...and I suspect this has a lot to play in how this network has turned into a byzantine propaganda machine.

Today showed me how even the few good eggs at CNN are being throttled. Dobbs comment that he's tired of these 35 year old stories sounded like a cop-out to me. He had a look of disgust on his face...not that he wanted to run with the AWOL story, but more that he had gotten the nudge that this dog won't hunt on the network and find something else to deal with. I suspect Brown got the same nudge.

Time will tell if CNNservative's gambit to move to the right and play up to this regime will strengthen it's ratings, add to its bottom line or help push through more deregulation that Time/Warner wants to become the dominant television media power in this country. One day I'm sure we'll hear all the dirt...and chapters will be written that will be used as examples in J school for decades to come.

Cheers!

[Cooley Hurd]

35. Brown even said, at the conclusion of the Robinson interview...

"...this is a great story - good job!" to Robinson.

[GaryL]

9. CNN is in decline.

They've been loosing viewer share and have been shifting hard right these last few months. I expect half these "journalists" to be gone by this time next year. They're too stupid to realize that preaching to the findies is a lost cause. Also, to use a sports metaphor, they're to network news (CBS) as putt-putt is to the Masters. My advice is to turn it off and put them out of business for good.

[AlCzervik]

Cnn is trying to outfox Fox

they should turn 180, it would be good for business, ya know showing both sides.

[redstateblues]

24. Why Does Anyone Watch CNN??

[spooky3]

36. ever since Ted Turner left, it has gotten worse and worse.

[Leilani]

10. Hold on...hold on!!!!

Did I see the same show as you?

Aaron Brown opened his show, telling they would report the story about the latest allegations, concerning Bush & TANG.

Then he said, what it really comes down to is: One man went & one man did not. The man who went, could have gotten out of it, but did not.
The man who did not go, supported the war, & did not go.

Maybe I am nuts, but that sums it up for me.

He also did a good interview with the Boston Globe reporter, & congraulated him twice on fine reporting.

[ezee]

16. I saw the same show you did. Arron is really trying to be objective and

he said that he would report it and let YOU decide. That he did, with out any bias. To those who criticize him, listen to what he says and not what you want to hear. He is very objective on most reports.

[GaryL]

23. Yikes!

Either I'm out of it or I'm too sensitive. He had a number of good moments, but I thought he could have actually delved into the subject matter and offered some perspective say, oh, a tad. I used to read the WP back in the 70's and never had a bitch about their reporting. Now I can barely stomach it. Maybe I have become too sensitive.

[Fleshdancer]

14. I thought it took more than reading Journalism For Dummies to get a job

Jeez, is it too much to ask for these people to, oh, I don't know, check a story out? Do they assume their "journalism" is allowed to be lazy and half-assed just because they're on television? Could you imagine sitting at your desk at work and throwing your hands in the air and say "don't look to me to do my job!"

How much money do these people make?

[NRaleighLiberal]

15. I understand your point...when it is an RNC point, CNN....

helps the viewers decide that those on the * side are right. When it is a DNC issue, it is a "well, you decide for yourselves". I watched the first 30 min of newsnight, and I thought I could see the inner conflict in Aaron Brown - in that he knows that what he reports in support of * and against Kerry is fundamentally wrong, but he is being TOLD what to say...pressure from Rove et al via the CNN management.

Strange, isn't it - we have a brave, courageous, honorable man running to lead his country forward, being beaten up by a weak, cowardly, crooked man who is taking his country backward - and media spin and control are doing a 180....white is black, sun is rain. * has NOTHING to show for his 4 years - Kerry should be out in front by 20 points! This is madness....

[Union Thug]

17. It's an extension of affirmative action for the rich...

It's not just microcephalic george, it's all those born to privelege. Lil' George just so happens to be in the spotlight.

F* 'em all. Bring on the revolution.

[rocktivity]

19. Why should that surprise you? Remember the Yawning Kid?

Some DU-ers thought this wasn't worth getting upset about. But it's too close to being proof that CNN is takes marching orders directly from the Bush White House.

After David Letterman aired a videotape of Tyler Crotty, (age) 13....fighting to stay awake as George (Bush) droned on and on, CNN host Daryn Kagan (said) "...We're being told by the White House that the kid, as funny as he was, was edited into that video..." CNN anchor Kyra Phillips later reran the tape but cautioned viewers: "We're told that the kid was there at that event, but not necessarily standing behind the president."

...Letterman called the White House a bunch of liars...And what do you know? CNN did a sudden turnabout, claiming that the Bush propaganda machine never really called them at all. They vaguely attributed the unfounded allegation to news staff error.

...If you accept this scenario, then a major news broadcaster in the United States lied about a lie twice. They accepted the White House lie, which appeared ludicrous to begin with, and then lied about the White House peddling the lie to them...
From Buzzflash.com

And I'm supposed to believe that a journalist of Aaron Brown's stature and experience is going to just throw up his hands and wail that he can't figure out what the truth is? Is CNN under orders to downplay the story?

:headbang:
rocknation

[zulchzulu]

20. There is always TOMORROW

Actually, Friday is a good day for the shit to hit the fan...Sunday news shows will be plastered all over with it.

[milkyway]

21. Why can't CNN tell us what's true? All documented evidence and witnesses

show that bush has consistently lied and continues to lie about his service record. Likewise, all documented evidence and most every witness showed that Kerry was telling the truth about his service record. What's so tough to figure out?

[Nordic]

31. Because. CNN is pro-Bush.

why the heck do you think they gave so much air time to the swiftboat liars?

The only reason the swiftboat liars got any traction is because the media HANDED it to them on a SILVER PLATTER.

Look at the almost daily scandals, the mega-monumental horrendous scandals coming from the Bush administration, and see how the media has treated THAT. Now look at how the media has treated the swiftboat liars.

They "report." You decide. The conclusion is obvious.

Journalism died a very quiet death in America, sometime in the early 1990's.

Watch that movie "The Insider". That pretty much spells out the death gurgles of American journalism.

[TacticalPeek]

29. Kick

:kick:

Bwaaahahahahahahah!

:evilgrin:

[Nordic]

30. The world has treated Bush like the spoiled stupid baby he is all his life

It blows my mind that he's still getting preferential treatment when he has FAILED at everything he's ever touched.

Failing upwards, that's the George Bush way.

On a road paved with bodies.

[quaoar]

33. Y'all are missing it

CNN got scooped big time on this.
They got their ass handed to them by CBS. When that happens the tendency is to piss all over your competitor's story as being unimportant or old news so you don't look like you were asleep at the wheel: "Oh, that story. We knew about that a week ago but it's nothing."

What else were they going to do? Since CNN didn't have the memos or Barnes all they could do was cite CBS as a source for the information. And they damn sure don't want to do that.

[AP]

34. The only reason they bother to have "news" is for the propaganda value.

We'd all be better off if cable TV were totally devoted to sit com reruns and reality TV programs and if people who wanted news were forced to go look for it from sources other than conglomerates like AOL-TW, ABC-Disney, NBC-Universal-GE, and CBS-Viacom.