CNN Admits: We Shouldn't Have Used Alleged Stripper Biter As Spitzer Commentator

NEW YORK — CNN said it shouldn't have used a former U.S. attorney who quit his job after allegedly biting a stripper as an analyst about New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's prostitution scandal.

No mention of Kendall Coffey's past was made when anchor Tony Harris interviewed him Tuesday on the legal questions surrounding Spitzer's case. Coffey quit his job in May 1996 after being accused of biting a topless dancer on the arm during a visit to an adult club after losing a big drug case.

Coffey talked on CNN about what kind of charges the New York governor could face. Spitzer is accused of having a high-priced call girl visit his hotel room during a visit to Washington last month.

While Coffey's past is known to CNN's booking department, it wasn't to the person who set up Harris' segment. CNN spokesman Nigel Pritchard blamed a "miscommunication."

"Coffey has been a guest on CNN in the past but was probably not the right one for this story," Pritchard said.

The situation was noted by The Miami Herald's "Changing Channels" blog, which said CNN got an analyst with "more experience in the field than he let on." Coffey was identified by the network only as a former U.S. attorney.

At the end of their interview, Harris asked Coffey whether there was any way that Spitzer could ride out the scandal.

"This is not survivable unless the U.S. attorney gets up and says tomorrow they're not going to bring criminal charges," he replied, "and the chances of that happening are basically slim and none."

Video (via TVNewser):

Comments

[Harrier]

11:00 PM on 03/12/2008

Makes you wonder is there is a stripper running CNN-minds in the gutter

[Durango]

04:34 PM on 03/12/2008

There was a scientist down in Key West ,Florida doing longevity studies on porpoises. He discovered that by feeding them a certain kind of sea gull egg he could extend their lives indefinitely.

These sea gulls only nested on a barrier island off the Georgia coast. So the scientist left for Georgia during nesting season where he loaded up his truck bird eggs.

On his way home he got pulled over by the state police and FBI shortly after crossing the Florida state line.

He, like Spitzer, was charged under the Mann Act. He was bring young gulls across state lines for immortal porpoises.

[accountability]

08:31 PM on 03/12/2008

LOL!
I wasn't sure where you were going with this, but thanks, I needed a bit of a giggle with all the garbage flying around HP today.

[darker]

01:52 PM on 03/12/2008

Americans punish SEX but NOT CORRUPTION?
Sex is bad but corruption is --OKAY? Why?

Are Republicans EXEMPT FROM INVESTIGATION?
What's all the FBI, CIA WIRETAPPING all about?
Why are middle-income Americans paying for a FOR PROFIT Iraq invasion that benefits
the "nanny state for the rich & corporate welfare queens" liek Big Oil, war profiteers and Cheney's CORRUPT Halliburton Corp.?

It's time for CORRUPT guys like JOE BRUNO to be swarmed by media and INVESTIGATED BY F.B.I. for his chronic CORRUPTION.

CORRUPT power-guys "on-the-take" for decades, like Joe Bruno who has siphoned out our tax money--WHY is he still boss in ALBANY NY?
How stupid are we?

NYState Legislature's CORRUPT JOE BRUNO shoud go next.

Enough of Bruno's manipulations, posing as the FAKE "innocent farm boy" and his lies and corruption. Bruno has been at his nasty game long enough. He has paralyzed the NYState Legislature for many years.

It's time for Bruno to go. The FBI should INVESTIGATE Bruno's corrupt practices. Or are Republicans EXEMPT FROM INVESTIGATION? What's all the WIRETAPPING all about?
Getting DIRT on everybody else?

The spotlight has been focused on Spitzer, but now it's time to
refocus on JOE BRUNO whose time is way past "over" in the NYS Legislature.

The Spitzer debacle should NOT DISTRACT us from the CORRUPTION we need to oust in Albany NY LEGISLATURE.

[moodyring]

12:48 PM on 03/12/2008

ya think?

[Honza]

11:38 AM on 03/12/2008

The Mrdock chain is a conservative network as usual, they screw up, change comentors if the say the liberal line, they pose questions to guests only to create a controversy, like the guy with a barking dog name WOLF WOLF, your in the shituation room , hell no I would'nt sit with him next to a mens room stall. My remote is used up looking for real news. Same goes for that racist Beck, I'm all for the law to reinistall the FAIRNESS DOCTRAIN, after all the airwaves are supposed to belong to the people.

[Brgotn]

01:03 PM on 03/12/2008

The airwaves belong to all people, not just those who share your beliefs.

[Didi47]

01:22 PM on 03/12/2008

Goes to show the caliber of CNN's "professionalism and reliability" lol !

CNN belongs in the sewer right alongside MSNBC and FOX.

[kylie]

07:52 PM on 03/12/2008

Seems like most of the networks do. They seem to be unconcerned with facts, public opinion, or retribution.

24/7 Hillary promotion and propaganda, focus on Democratic "sinners" as opposed to the large quantity of Republican prospects, race-baiting, fear-mongering, a 10-1 ratio of Republican anchors/hosts.

How do we change network bias, corrupt corporation control of the media?

We need candidates that will demand and create Change. That would be Obama, could have been Edwards. Since Hillary is a partaker of all things media-favored, maybe she would not be a good choice for the democratic candidate-'ya think?

[deke33]

08:37 AM on 03/12/2008

Didn't John Fund of the Wall Street Journal have his own peccadilloes? Yet here he was on one of the cable shows talking via phone about Spitzer's problem. It seems, as I recall Fund had a particular fetish that at the moment eludes me

[kylie]

07:57 PM on 03/12/2008

Where is Vitter? Oh, whoops, he's the Republican senator caught using prostitutes in La.

He is still at work, and No Fuss about his expoits.

Petitions anyone? Equal Time. Equal Treatment.

[uheardme]

09:43 PM on 03/12/2008

I thought Fund was accused of beating up his girlfriend.

[StanTheManic]

07:32 AM on 03/12/2008

Biting? That's completely off MY stripper fee chart!!!

[Brian.Beach]

05:10 AM on 03/12/2008

That's like Dick Morris on FOX News Channel. There shouldn't be Dick Morris explaining anything about Spitzer.

[jnratliff]

08:34 AM on 03/12/2008

What else can you expect from the corporate owned media?
Sorry republican scum.

[nellieh]

09:47 AM on 03/12/2008

Neither CNN or Fox have journalistic ethics or journalists(?) with ethics.. They feel it is best to get a skank to comment on a skank. It is easier for them to find them rather than put on a real journalist. Is there a cable, network, local or amateur broadcast company that would hire Dick Morris other than Fox? Bill Bennett other than CNN or Fox? They find no embarrassment puting these cretins on.

[zigzag1]

02:13 AM on 03/12/2008

Spitzers "connection" with the prostitution ring is through his dick. The news makes it sound like he is running it. He's a john.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

02:50 AM on 03/12/2008

Where Spitzer screwed himself was when he contracted for the hooker to cross state likes. Interstate commerce = FEDERAL JURISDICTION.

[deke33]

08:41 AM on 03/12/2008

I believe that applies to being forced to fornicate. All indications are the model was free not to go. There was no one holding a gun to her head to force her to go except for the monetary rewards.

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

04:43 PM on 03/12/2008

The implication is that he simply couldn't find a whore in Washington, DC. I didn't think you could swing a cat in DC without hitting one.

[johntal]

02:03 AM on 03/12/2008

I have been watching the coverage of Spitzer and it is very weird to see the trailers saying that Spitzer is involved in a " prostitution ring". From what I can tell, he enjoys hookers. If you do not pay attention you would think he ran the thing or enjoyed profits from it.

[gevan]

01:49 AM on 03/12/2008

Everyone knows (or should know) that you can't bite them unless you tie them up in your basement first.

[peachfuzz]

01:28 AM on 03/12/2008

They shouldn't call themselves a news network either.

[DMSmith]

01:09 AM on 03/12/2008

The media - in this case CNN - continue at breakneck speed to show themselves to be absolute idiots.

Too bad. We need better - and should have it!

[elnath]

12:43 AM on 03/12/2008

Where was the bouncer?

[ME08]

01:57 AM on 03/12/2008

Hilarious...CNN has zero cred...having that cow Campbell Brown comment on Dems is and endless annoyance...and that girl who use to work for Bill Frist...are they kidding? What I love is when she preens and primps for the camera...just so funny!

[wadenelson1]

11:47 PM on 03/11/2008

A guy like that should know you can lick but you can't touch.

[ME08]

01:57 AM on 03/12/2008

LOL...this one is going to provide endless jokes for years for late night comics...