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

[amanda85]

The Democratic Party isn't doing anything about it either. Congress should be up in arms, Murray should be in jail. Instead, he's hailed by a hero.

More and more evidence the US is ruled by a republicrat corporate party and Joe Average is screwed.

[nunzia]

Here it is, another whining so-called progressive blaming the Democratic party. Hey amanda, they're not in session now. D'ya' know that? dya' know they've already said they're going to hold hearings? dya' remember that in the 7 years of Repub control of congress there were NO hearings about any of this corporate/­Bush/reich­wing corruption. Huh?

[pelosiforpresident]

And why aren't they in session? Because they haven't got the balls to stick around and impeach, like they ought to be doing.
You can consider me another whining so-called progressive.

[Wilbur]

CNN = Conservative News Network

Wilbur

[thicky]

to call the cnn anchors butt-kissers is an insult to butt-kissers everywhere.

i actually heard 2 different cnn anchors, costello and henry, treat murray and the mine disaster story in much the same butt-kissing way. when a family member of one of the trapped miners (mildly)criticized the mine owners and their efforts, henry dismissed it with "it's just semantics" and went on to lick the crack of murray's ass.

what is it with the entire staff of "journalists" at cnn ignoring what appears to be the criminal lack of safety at this mine?

are their pensions invested in this mine company?

did the owners of this mine kidnap all the cnn reporters, hold them hostage, causing them to contract a case of stockholm syndrome?

or is it that mr. murray was quite the cocksman in his day and all the cnn reporters are actually his illegitimate children?

[Anastasia]

The reporters and anchors at CNN, and elsewhere, have little or no control over the script that's handed to them by their producers and directors.

The top brass at Time Warner has been pushing CNN to the right, ever since Bush was elected, and will continue to do so,as long as they believe it's in their financial interest to do so. Without a doubt, T/W has been told in no uncertain terms that the FCC will reward and punish TV news operations according to how well they spin the news for BushCo.

The so-called journalists on TV are mere actors in play, scripted by Karl Rove.

[CountdownToImpeachment]

http://groups.msn.com/impeachbushcheneyusurpation/usurpationattacksenviroment.msnw

[nicho]

Or CNN = Corporate News Network