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

[alncarter]

It's been interesting to track the onscreen evolution of Murray during this story. He began as an angry guy, upset about being in the public eye but after the kiss-up media treatment he has turned into a teddy bear--look at how he's grinning on camera now. He's loving it.

MSM, you're doing a heckuva job.

[BushWhackerDC]

Yes, Kyra Phillips is terrible -- and her fawning coverage of Crandall Canyon is nothing new. For good reporting on the mine issue, check out the Salt Lake Tribune, whose staff has done a great job of exposing the actions and interests of Bob Murray and MSHA. And the NewsHour on PBS has been running very good pieces by Brent Hunsaker of the ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City.

I'm infuriated by Phillips's commentary daily. I wrote CNN on Aug. 8 with this observation:

Not for the first time, Kyra Phillips has reminded her viewers that she knows what is best for America.

After visiting Iraq -- apparently not Michael Ware's neigborhood -- she interviewed Gen. Ray Odierno.

Nothing wrong with that. But when she posed this question -- in effect, 'Tell us why it's important for us to stay in Iraq forever and why it's necessary for us to build that massive embassy complex" -- I fumed.

This was Odierno's signal to launch into the Administration line about the Iraqis and their hopes and aspirations, and the strategic location of Iraq’s oil between other Arabs and the evil Persians. He was clearly attempting to influence public opinion in advance of September's progress report by Gen. David Petraeus.

Phillips is politically clueless and/or a partisan cheerleader. It was this very type of coverage -- unquestioning and highly biased -- by the mainstream media across the board, that got us into this quagmire.

After the deaths of almost 4,000 Americans and God only knows how many hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, broken bodies and minds (including Gen. Odierno's son), the theft of billions of dollars thanks to a U.S. administration accountable to no one, the flight of millions of Iraqis, of endless suffering, of our government's lies and incompetence, the rise in Islamic extremism, and the further destabilization of the Middle East, I have a hard time joining Gen. Odierno in saying the Iraqi people are better off and the American people are safer now that Saddam has met his maker.

Odierno should have his say. But Kyra Phillips should keep her opinions to herself.

[tandrmcdonald]

If Ms Phillips was a real journalist she would. 'Nuff said?
Gramma Rose

[KenoshaMarge]

Kyra Phillips is to a "real" reporter what a teevee dinner is to a "real" meal. She's just another teleprompter reading Bimbo that will say anything for a paycheck. Looking for integrity at CNN? Surely you jest!

[blackjack]

I blackjack posted that I watch Keith Olberman on CNN, who I should have said Jack Cafferty, My BIG Mistake.

[tandrmcdonald]

How could I have forgotten Jack Cafferty? Wow, is my face red! He's like a breath of fresh air, or a jolt of two day old java. Wolf? Wolf Who? Is that a person?
Gramma Rose

[anticon]

What else should we expect from the corporate spin machine,aka CNN?I mean if they will pump a illegal war that has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands what is the big deal of playing kissy face with a corporate pig who knowingly sent his workers into a death trap.Anyon­e who depends on CNN or for that matter any main stream media outlet for their information is doomed to be ignorant.T­ake them for what they are.Corpor­ate infomercials that do their best to amuse the simpletons.

[blackjack]

Kyra Phillips, and the whole crew at CNN, are just mouth peaces for BIG CORP:, and Karl Rove and Bush and his Crime Family, the only one that I watch some times is Keith Olbermann, and Remember that big Sloppy Kiss LARRY KING planted on bush after he stole the ELECTION the FIRST time, that was enough for me and CNN.

[WoodyCPM]

There is only one way to pull the plug on CNN and the other lying sycophants pretending to be journalists. TURN THEM OFF! Stop watching them. Get all your friends to stop watching them. Turn off your TV. Turn it off. That's THE most powerful thing you can do. Go outside. Meet your neighbors, go walking, bicycling, gardening. Read a book. Turn off the stupid box!

[punk]

I loathe Kyra Phillips. She is such a drama queen. I'm going to cancel my cable television subscription. It's not worth it anymore.

[tandrmcdonald]

Try MSNBC, only wait until Kieth Olbermann comes on, no one else there has grasped the concept of jouurnalism. CNN? Never happen.
I had hopes for Anderson Cooper but now I wonder. Otherwise, when I want the real news I go to HuffPo.
Gramma Rose

[wndrwrthg]

My memory often does not serve me well, but was it not this same kyra phillips who was boning rush limbaugh not long ago? I long ago lost any faith or respect for cnn, as I have found them to be nothing more than fox news light.

[SeaOats]

It was Daryn Kagan who dated Limbaugh. She left CNN a year ago.

[mirza]

CNN long ago ceased being a "news" network

[roobeer]

As bad as the Kyra tongue bath was, it got worse. Who is the female anchor who followed her and continued the Murray lovefest? At one point, she actually made a frowny-sad face as she once again inquired breathlessly into Murray's mental health. I was watching and couldn't believe my eyes. It was like a kindergarten teacher making a silly/sad face to emphasize with a child.

[peretti]

Nice post, Katharine.

[LIR]

Not surprising­...over and over, the media have been complicit in cowtowing to, excusing and ignoring the numerous scandals Bushco has polluted the country with...fro­m WMD, to Gonezo, to Valerie Plame, you name it, they have given The Bush Crime Family a free pass.

[expatsteve]

I see about an hour of CNN when I go to the local gym. I don't watch television at home. The last time, the entire hour was spent on a program filled with self-righteous political figures and a stripper discussing religion and what is a sin. I could hardly believe my eyes. It seemed, surreal, like a 700 club segment (except for the stripper). Television "news" has gotten even worse than when they did all their segments with American flag back drops, lauding every lie Bush told and applauding every bomb we dropped on the people of Iraq (and Afghanistan). In many ways, they have become worse than FOX. I suggest people turn off your televisions. Television is part of the problem.

[Ranta]

Did you notice how many times she calls Murray "Bob" like they are good buddies. Then in the segue she and the other news reader couldn't help but be worried about "Bob's" health.
What about "Bob" saying on Monday nite that they were going to keep the mine open and mine in other directions. Today he's not talking that way . Why didn't she call him on that?