CNN Reporter Battles Tea Partiers (VIDEO)

Here's a pair of videos sent to us by our Media Monitors, featuring a CNN reporter in Chicago, interacting with the throng of Teabaggers who've shown up to stammer incoherently and wave provocative signs. I'll leave it to commenters to debate who's the more sinned against and who's the more sinning, here. For my part, I don't think either video depicts a reporter getting "roughed up." Rather, I think that CNN, now routinely finishing behind Fox and MSNBC and Headline News and the Shipping Forecast and YouTubes of that British lady showing Simon Cowell what a good singer she is, is out there at the Tea Parties, working hard to manufacture some controversial footage.

So, yeah. The teabaggers in these segments are just inane. There's one who keeps venting spleen about Obama being a fascist (here I thought this was about Obama being a socialist!), but the reporter keeps interrupting him and picking pointless fights with Fox News. Yes: if you hate Fox News, you will cheer with a giddy frenzy and tell your grandchildren about the day some CNN reporter straight up SERVED Fox News. Other than that, no substance, just a dude with a poster he can't explain articulately.

In the second, some guy is expounding on how Abraham Lincoln just wanted everyone to have liberty, and I was really intrigued by how he'd reconcile the fact that Lincoln's also the guy who forced the Confederate States of America to heel after they went seeking their own form of "liberation," but the reporter just kept interrupting him, defending Obama and denying me the opportunity to watch a guy hang himself with his own poor reasoning.

Anyway, if it weren't for all the TEABAG MADNESS, today's top story would be about TEABAG DULLNESS. No worries, though. Your media won't let that happen! Enjoy.

[WATCH.]

UPDATE:

Looky look! It seems that CNN's attempt to bait Fox worked, as Neil Cavuto and Shepard Smith respond, objecting to the premise that the Teabag Parties are "anti-CNN." Cavuto notably does not counter the intimation that Fox is sponsoring the protests, because how could he? They totally are.

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Comments

[omobob]

You have to admire the carefully worded Fox questionnaires? If you ask a question that points directly to one answer then it calls into question the validity of the poll, the results and the questionnaire?

[HawkeyeD]

This teabagging sometimes seems like it is an opportunity for television to put some nuts in your face.

[kemo5]

Heh - an instance of CNN bias, and Fox is all over it, within minutes. SEE, SEE! They're bias too!

In her defense, that was a hostile crowd (verbally hostile).

[raaf]

Looks likes an invasion of Republicans over here. What's up guys, is the stormfront forum down?

[giantbike]

This reporter,Susan Rosen was hired by CNN from the #3 local station in a 4 station market in New Orleans. She was the female face on the loser morning show that no one ever watched...not a reporter...but hey, why should experence get in the way of reporting these days. CNN, making the news, not reporting it

[plooger]

> I was really intrigued by how he'd reconcile the fact that Lincoln's also the guy who forced the Confederate States of America to heel after they went seeking their own form of "liberation,"

THANK YOU! This is exactly what I've been spewing forth since seeing that video, both that the reporter should have let the guy make his nonsensical point... and that we need reporters who are more than mannequins, who could have then followed-up with your point re: Lincoln's prioritizing the preservation of The Union over "liberty" concerns of those in the seceding states (along with maybe asking the guy if he could identify which President instituted the first federal income tax).

Thanks, Jason. Another good example of why your my preferred HP scribe.

[adoantarel]

Some quick googling taught me that Lincoln's administration (and the opposing confederate government as well) was the first in the U.S. to institute an income tax. Amusingly enough, the taxes were imposed b/c money was needed for, you guessed it, the war.

[redsongia]

So what if the guys fascist message was offensive. He makes no sense to me, but that's his right.

Why is that CNN lady being such a message fascist?

[tvlandman]

That's exactly right! Conservatives are always criticized for "not being tolerant" of other ideas or beliefs. But I think this excuse of a reporter proves that liberals are as bad or even worse.

[moveleft]

Yes, because it's always a smart idea to make sweeping judgements based on the actions of a single person. Boy TVLANDMAN, you sound so smart.

[howcome]

thanks to the CNN in the tank reporter , the liberal MSM in general , the backlash of despicable slanted coverage is really benefiting the cause.... Napolitano is also a gift......The ridicule by the media in its reporting , the underestimates ( there were 7500 in Chicago , not hundreds ) is fanning the flames , where as legitimate reporting would have served the liberalmarxist cause better.... If you cover it , your Christian , pro-life , returning soldiers you are enemies of the Obama administration....

[redsongia]

Yes, that CNN reporter was inartfully showing alot of bias.

Lame as Fox. Hope you're proud CNN for letting Fox news set the bar for journalistic standards and falling to meet them.

[moveleft]

Why is it that everyone of your ilk sound like a bunch of lunatics? You might also want to note that the "underestimates" of crowd size at your silly tea party gatherings are not limited to the media. Police and municipal organizations pretty much gave out the same numbers. Even if you are right, all it proves is that in a city of almost 2.8 million residents, the Right Wing promotional machine (including Fox News) was only able to turn out 7,500 malcontents. Those numbers are as "impressive" as your grasp on reality and history.

[JerryLevy]

If this had been a demonstration against Bush, the Iraq war, for illegal immigrants rights, for government sponsored healthcare, these CNN reporters would have just let them say anything without question. Instead the demonstration is for lower taxes so the CNN reporters decide to aggressively question. It shows the double standard at CNN. Nothing wrong with aggressive questioning, its just the questioning only is directed to conservatives and their causes. Can you spell inconsistent?

[redsongia]

..or whatever. They hate Obama, so what. That's not a huge scoop. Around 40% of the country didn't vote for him and some of those people really really don't like him. So what? I voted for him, made calls for him and donated to the campaign, but if some guy want's to say he's a fascist, that's fine by me.

[plooger]

Ummm... if this had been a demonstration regarding *any* of those issues you mention... CNN would have done no such thing... because it wouldn't have been covered. Exactly how such demonstrations were NOT covered when they occurred in the past, in vastly greater numbers than that of the Teabaggers.

There's no question that the CNN reporter was abysmal. But mostly because she failed to ask a proper followup with the first moran ("please describe fascism and what action Obama has taken that comports to either the classic or your definition of fascism") and because she should have let the 2nd moran finish his point and ask him a couple simple followups, as well (e.g. under which President was the first federal income tax instituted? Would you say that Lincoln's prosecution of the civil war demonstrated that he prized the "liberty" concerns for those in the seceding states, or that he prioritized preservation of the Union over the declaration of independence of the secessionists?)

[americanbabe]

The Tea Parties are GREAT...lawful, free assemblies...what a country! The CNN "reporter" was more interested in her point of view than reporting on the event. Too bad for all.

[roald]

I agree that the reporter was more a commentator than a reporter. She did not do her job.

Personally, I would have explored whether the people being interviewed can define socialism or fascism.

[plooger]

> Personally, I would have explored whether the people being interviewed can define socialism or fascism.

Well, she *tried* doing that with the first guy, but she was either too flustered or to overwhelmed to properly phrase the followup question. She just kept asking "why do you say that?"

[MESGAIN26]

The Republican Party has become the party dedicated to sabotaging the American future, You Republicans are the arsonists who burned down our national home. You combined the failed ideologies of the Religious Right, so-called free market deregulation and the Neoconservative love of war to light a fire that has consumed America. Now you have the nerve to criticize the "architect" America just hired -- President Obama -- to rebuild from the ashes. You do nothing constructive, just try to hinder the one person willing and able to fix the mess you created. They wanted America to fail in order to prove they were right about America's "moral decline , How can anyone who loves our country support the Republicans .Republican Party has the nerve to blame him for the economic and military cataclysm he inherited. You could have backed our president's economic recovery plan. Since we all know that half of our problem is one of lost confidence and perception, nothing would have done more to calm the markets and project resolve and confidence than if you had been big enough to take Obama's offered hand and had work with him -- even if you disagreed ideologically. You had the chance to put our country first. You utterly failed to rise to the occasion

[hippieforlife]

I hate to disappoint you but I vote Republican and my IQ is just fine, in fact, a little above average.
I believe these parties were an expression of the frustration that most hard working, tax payers really feel.

Also, I did not get the feeling that this was strictly a partisan gathering.

The extra $40 I got a month will put a tank of gas in my car so I can continue to go to work. Look at the tax code, it does not care whether you vote Democrat or Republican. Bottom line, the Government wants your money. They don't care what color you are or what party you are. And for all the griping about Fox News, please explain why it is leading in the ratings.

[roald]

Then explain why the protest was against a policy that lowers their taxes and is aimed at boosting the economy in both the short and long term? A better economy will deliver higher tax revenues, allowing paydown of the debt, unless, of course, the revenues are distributed back to the large corporations and the rich.

[tvlandman]

So far, this glorious "plan" seems to promise more than it can deliver. Come on! Do you really think Obama can spend the country into record deficits AND cut taxes on the middle class? Give me a break! Anyone with half a brain knows you can't get a paycut and start spending more. He promises tax breaks now......to soon be followed by tax raises later.

And the majority of the tax raises will affect the "richest 2%". Well, guess who that is? Companies. Like $4 gasoline last summer? You'll love $8 gas next year! Just sit back and watch as more companies go under and prices skyrocket.

Enjoy your tax cut. Next year you can use it to buy a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk.

[plooger]

Ratings do not equate to quality reporting or journalism. Dukes of Hazzard was the top show on television for years, too.

But since you're asking... Fox News does well because their viewers are of an authoritarian mindset, looking for that voice to tell them what to think, delineating all issues as black and white, good and evil, us versus them. That, and the Right Wing has done a spectacular job over the last 3+ decades of creating a cognitive dissonance firewall within the minds of their followers, using concepts like "liberal media", "intellectual elites", etc as rationalizations to ignore the facts, discard reality, when contrary to the ideological fantasy that has been constructed in their minds by Limbaugh et al.

Hell, just look at all the promotion that FNC did for the "FNC Tea Parties"... and then listen to them say that it was all grassroots, ground-up, and that they're just "reporting on them." The lies are endless.

[tvlandman]

"... Fox News does well because their viewers are of an authoritarian mindset, looking for that voice to tell them what to think, delineating all issues as black and white, good and evil, us versus them. That, and the Right Wing has done a spectacular job over the last 3+ decades of creating a cognitive dissonance firewall within the minds of their followers, using concepts like "liberal media", "intellectual elites", etc as rationalizations to ignore the facts, discard reality, when contrary to the ideological fantasy that has been constructed in their minds by Limbaugh et al."

Congratulations!!! That was the biggest piece of crap I have ever seen on here! Not only was it full of lies and distortions, but it also blindly tries to describe conservatism- which it falls very short. Liberals are not the "free-thinkers" you pretend to be. You all say the same worn-out rhetoric over and over again- like you all are linked together.

[kemo5]

They have a dedicated audience of conservative viewers. Conservatives (more than others) prefer to receive news that agrees with them. I like to say they "bathe" in it. I friends that fit the mold and prove my point daily.

And they have people on the left who watch them just for the rush it gives them watching such an outlandish version of "news". Personally I like to have an idea of what they are talking about week to week. Some of it for a good laugh.

Its easy to understand. All Fox has to do is throw away any resemblence of credibility to achieve the ratings. Then they roll right into Beck, O'reilly, Hannity for the freak show version of news.

[Chocolate1950]

I was so excited yesterday watching this FEMALE reporter deliver this SMACKDOWN. I loved it .
One guy could only say that the President is a facist, "JUST BECAUSE HE IS" . So, where did they get that explanation. Rush, O'Reilly, Beck? She asked "fair" questions of the protesters and I'll say she confronted them for their mean spiritedness and she stood "flat-footed" and toe-to-toe with them. When they tried to BUM-RUSH her I wanted to get on a plane and help her . But, that' oksy SHE WAS ONE EMPOWERED SISTER.

Actually, there was a maile reporter on Fox covering various parties earlier in the day who was
unashamedly negative about the President so no one can judge the CNN reporter.

As the CNN anchor (TONY) said after the confrontation. "THAT WAS UNEXPECTED".

[pjcpa]

Yeah right, she showed why people call the media elitist. She was not there to listen to a point of view and report, she was there to further her own and CNN's agenda. No wonder none of the liberal press (ie cnn, msnbc, new york times) has any following. They do not know how to report any longer.

[roald]

I agree that she did not do her job. In all fairness, the conservative press never tried to report the news.

[luvliberty]

I don't trust this whole thing and what the media is doing. During the presidential campaign, Ron Paul's crowds did the same thing and carried the same tone as these tea parties. Why didn't the media cover any of their rallies? The big media isn't to be trusted. Turn off your TV's and turn up the heat on politicians. I say legalize the constitution!

[plooger]

Ha! Excellent example, sir or madam, using a non-Lefty organization to demonstrate that had these protests been anything other than a Fox-driven astroturf effort, you would have heard nothing about them.

Of course, we don't need to look beyond the A New Way Forward gatherings from over the weekend to recognize the differing treatment by the media, as well. http://www.anewwayforward.org