CNN Nails Mine Owner Murray... With a Big Wet Kiss

When will the traditional media stop rolling out the red carpet for Utah mine co-owner Bob Murray? CNN anchor Kyra Phillips treated Murray like a hero on Wednesday, the same day the Salt Lake Tribune reported on documents that prove Murray had pushed for risky mining methods at Crandall Canyon. Risky mining methods Murray has strenuously denied employing, but which may have contributed to turning his mine into a death scene for three rescuers and six miners.

Phillips did show some grit at one point in the interview -- but not to take on Murray. Instead she stood strong in support of the job her network has done covering the story: "I can tell you right now as a journalist here at CNN, and our entire news operation, in no way shape or form have we forgotten what each one of those miners has done."

But no one has suggested that CNN has forgotten what the miners have done. The problem is that they have forgotten what Murray has done to the miners.

It took CNN 12 days, as Arianna pointed out here, to get around to questioning the safety of the Crandall Canyon mine, offering the chyron, "Safety of Rescue Operation Debated." Instead, the network has given endless air time to Murray and Richard Stickler, Bush's mine safety czar, who has offered more protection to the mining industry than to coal miners.

Phillips had the chance to ask Murray the kinds of questions that could expose dangerous mining practices -- and possibly save lives in the future. Instead, she let the interview become yet another opportunity for Murray to buff his image as the grieving surrogate father of the miners that were killed under his supervision.

Phillips ended the softball interview not by pressing Murray on the day's million-dollar question -- Did you place the recovery of more coal from your mine above the safety of your miners? -- but by asking Murray "How are you holding up?"

She then offered Murray the CNN stamp of approval, telling him: "I appreciate your time... and your honesty."

Perhaps in Phillips' lexicon, "honesty" means phony chest-beating from a mine owner looking to cover his tracks -- tracks that have contributed to the deaths of nine brave men.

John Amato has the video and the transcript at Crooks and Liars.

Follow Katharine Zaleski on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kzaleski

Comments

[filmophile75]

The scene: An interview with a doctor, standing at the bedside of a young boy who had just lost a limb during the initial bombing of Baghdad, and the question from our intrepid reporter Kyra Phillips was: Does he understand we are here to make his country free? Does he understand Operation Iraqi Freedom? The featherweight Phillips is but a symtom of a far graver problem, the absolute loss of the unvarnished truth from our mainstream media. CNN? How about the once mighty CBS? once the gold standard of television news reporting. Stop watching all cable news, except for Olberman, turn the television off. Liberal media my ass!

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Murray is so full of shit, I need to put boots on every time he's on TV. He calls the mountain evil and alive but in the next breath declares that he would like to open new shafts. Murray latter changed his position after bad press and anger from the families. The guy should get a Oscar, Mr. who ever and can get pissy eyed on que. The guy is a phony.

[sgs23]

...and on the eighth day god created evil mountains.­..

[DouginCT]

Seriously, who can or even would watch cable news tripe? I saw the clip on Crooks & Liars to see what the buzz was about, and it was godawful; like watching two very bad actors rehearse lines for a pilot that won't even get picked up (well, maybe by the WB). Go outside and breathe some fresh air and cancel your cable. You can rent the Sopranos on DVD.

[kittycago]

Phillips was actually angry compared to Carol Costello.C­ostello actually fretted about Mr Murray's health to him on the air.Not once did she ask about the families of the miners health but after a minute I was wondering if Murray was her sugar daddy.

[alliebuck]

Being a miner for over twenty years it gets me sick to see the news treat this Murray dude with such kid gloves. Why don`t we just make him Governor of Utah or better yet he would fit in as Karl Rove`s replacement. They are birds of a feather. Not my fault type of Americans.

[allpoliticiansaretraitors]

I realize this statement might seem crazy, but...Nucl­ear Power Plants combined w/solar & wind. It seems then we'd need fossil fuels for privately owned cars, which could be taxed by size and weight. Drive a big friggin 4X4 for groceries? You pay double. I'm all for rewarding those who try and help by driving something that uses less and taxing those who insist they must have a Hummer (not get one, republican­s...this is the kind you like!)You pay even more since there's no good reason to have one. Period. Plus I do think Nuclear power has serious advantages that outweigh the negatives IF we had an oversight committee or government that was capable.

[h20bird]

One more example of why CNN is no longer a relevant news source. Why bother?

[Witchitalineman]

CNN really is losing its objectivity in reporting the facts. It has almost become a fluff mouthpiece, and all they do is repeat, repeat of their supposedly investigative special reports on the weekend. I want news, straight news all the time even on the weekends. CNN has gotten to the point where they think news only occurs Monday through Friday. This mine owner and Strickler really are slime bags.

[missette]

The timidity of the MSM coupled with the refusal of the cable news networks to hire true jounalists (with one or two exceptions) means that the Republicanization of the fourth estate is virtually complete. Has anyone really been fooled by their policies of hiring perceived eye candy who ask what they're told to ask and are not required to do any homework on the stories they report? (It's obvious from their interviews they don't do any out of sheer motivation­.) Only Imus was willing to take on these crooks, and helped the WP to put people on the line for Walter Reed. The rest of 'em are fillers who make a token effort from time to time of being indignant but they quickly get over it. And corporate tycoons are laughing all the way to the funerals.

[jdfast]

I just love our mainstream media. They are worthless. They will not ask the hard questions but instead kiss ass just to get an interview and some face time. If the media would have had any ethics and done their job, we would not be in Iraq and Bush would not be on the job. I bet that Murray will soon be on Larry King and will get the same softball questions that King always asks. Its a shame. We have a few good reporters but not nearly enough. Thats the problem. Hey, just do your job and ask the tought questions.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

CNN has one true reporter/c­orresponde­nt: Christine Amanpour. None of their anchors are worth a bucket of warm spit and they clearly aren't hired for their ability to think. The questions they ask are typically fed to them by their producers or staff. It's significant that CNN's major prime time star is Larry King, who hasn't asked a tough question since...si­nce...who has never asked a tough question.

But thank God CNN is the network of record in bringing us the latest news and information to help Americans protect their lives during this War on Terror(TM).

[joja]

You were expecting serious journalism from CNN?

The only professional journalist on CNN is Michael Ware, who has been unofficially silenced by the WH. So much for freedom of the press!

Lou Dobbs suffers the same fate because he isn't PC about immigration issues and refuses to follow the script from Mexico City.

[tandrmcdonald]

Absolutely!

[Picasso]

Are bloggers willing to put a few minutes where their
comments suggest their money is?

What if every blogger annoyed with CNN sent an e-mai
today to the Corporate advertiser of their choice that supports CNN saying that they would not buy their products/services nor turn the dial to CNN until they get an e-mail reply saying that the Corporation is telling CNN to become a useful information source to the voting public?

Take action or stop whining.

Picasso

[BC33]

Picasso,
I agree with you about confronting CNN. I think everyone should take the time to let CNN know how we feel. Here is what I just sent to CNN in response to the Kyra Phillips interview with Bob Murray:

"I can not believe the interview Kyra Phillips had with Bob Murray and her fawning coverage of Crandall Canyon. She most certainly did NOT do a fair and balanced job of exposing the actions and interests of Bob Murray and MSHA. Bob Murray is a crook and is a major contributor to the death of six miners and 3 rescue workers. CNN has lost my viewership since your "news" channel is no better than the FOX "news" channel as being a mouth piece for propaganda. I can no longer trust your "news" as informative.

I will get my REAL news somewhere that does not consider Kyra Phillips a reporter."

[tandrmcdonald]

Good idea, Picasso. I already send out a couple a day.
Gramma Rose

[raker]

This guy's a jerk. Now he's acting all squishy and saying let's make the mountain a memorial. It's a lot cheaper than doing the right thing. I hope the families stay on his ass until he's spent his last cent bringing those miners out of the mountain.