Truth on CNN! Pundits Defend Obama, Anderson Cooper Is Perplexed (As Usual)

In this seemingly endless presidential campaign, parsed through the drama and hyperbole of media, it is a rare and welcome occasion when reason and honesty eclipse tantrums and untruths. It is particularly rare when pundits buck the popular trend and speak truth to corporate power. Such an occasion, or mitzvah as some might say, occurred on March 20th (2008) on CNN, when veteran political analyst David Gergen, renowned reporter and author Carl Bernstein, and CNN commentator Roland Martin, shredded the race card and taught a lesson in truth to neophyte Anderson Cooper. For the past several days, Anderson Cooper, an unseasoned political observer, has been pushing the race card as far as possible on all things Barack Obama. It's not that Cooper is any worse at assailing Obama than his counterparts at Fox, MSNBC and conservative talk radio. It's just that Cooper as a political anchor, is sorely unskilled. He's fine traversing the planet, reporting from rugged terrain. He loves pitting himself against nature -- be it a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or drought. He's terrific in stories on wildlife, and daring in the throes of war. But a savvy political anchor he is not. Nor is he a host much concerned with the ramifications of his remarks. Sadly, CNN in this election cycle, is nearly as treacherous as Fox. But on one brilliant evening in March, three media pundits put Cooper in his place by refusing to derail Barack Obama. Here's how it happened: On his March 20th AC 360 show on CNN, Anderson Cooper was reporting on Barack Obama's depiction of his grandmother as a "typical white woman." Behind Cooper in the background was a huge image of Obama (see video above) with a prominent graphic that read, "New Race Problem." Cooper played the video of Obama explaining his grandmother's concerns and similar cross-cultural fears existing in America for years. As stated by Obama:

"Some of the fears of street crime and some of the stereotypes that go along with that were responses that I know many people feel. She's [my grandmother's] not extraordinary in that regard... Good people, people who are not in any way racist are still subject to some of these images and stereotypes."

Anderson Cooper's inflammatory response:

"Well, those [Obama's] comments touched off another uproar on the blogs and on some cable commentators who accused him [Obama] of calling all white people racists."

"CALLING ALL WHITE PEOPLE RACISTS"?! How can Cooper imply this from Obama's explanation? Realistically he cannot. But what he can do, and did do, is use the hyperbole of others to divert the furor from himself. The fact is, real journalists don't report hyperbole. Real journalists report fact. Cooper isn't a journalist. He's an adventurer with a prime time slot -- and he got caught. Cooper could have easily taken the high road and accepted the cogent explanation by Obama. Instead Cooper dove head first into the gutter and exploited Obama in tabloid terms. As a result, "host" Anderson Cooper was instantly repudiated by seasoned political analyst and CNN Senior Correspondent, David Gergen, who was guesting on Cooper's show. Gergen responded with:

"Anderson, I have to tell after listening to all this and what he [Obama] further said, I sort of think YOU OUGHT TO GET A GRIP ON REALITY HERE. I mean, he's [Obama's] RIGHT about the fact that certain people have stereotypes in their heads!"

Thank you, David Gergen! What a breath of fresh air! What a remarkable moment when a corporate media pundit FINALLY tells the truth. David Gergen, the adult in the room, refused Cooper's race bait and set the record straight. With corporate media seemingly hell bent on derailing Obama, the importance of Gergen's candor cannot be overlooked. But it didn't stop there. It got even better!! After David Gergen's statement, Cooper turned to renowned journalist Carl Bernstein, a new contributor to CNN. Just like Gergen, Bernstein embraced the veracity of Obama's explanation and echoed Gergen and Obama's contention that stereotypes exist. Bernstein went on to tell Cooper that a higher standard for journalism was in order. Like Gergen, Bernstein deflected the race card and instead spoke the truth. As Bernstein stated:

"The race genie is out of the bottle and Obama has called for an elevated conversation about race -- and what we are seeing here is the bottom of the barrel conversation -- a talk show nation hysteria... As long as we keep pulling these threads out, we're not going to have any kind of meaningful debate in this campaign. And David's absolutely right. He [Obama] spoke a truth! ... "

Throughout Bernstein's criticism of the nit-picking surrounding Obama, Cooper appeared embarrassed. Looking perplexed (as always), Cooper turned to CNN commentator, Roland Martin, who was also on his panel. Cooper, clearly uncomfortable, remarked to Martin:

"It's interesting, you know Roland, that these are not the kinds of conversation that television or radio programs... in this heightened atmosphere does very well. It's a difficult conversation to have and it's a very nuanced conversation to have in a political environment which is all about sound bytes and people yelling on television."

To which Roland Martin responded:

"But we don't have to do what they do. We can call for something different... "

Cooper was completely shut down. Thank you David Gergen and Carl Bernstein, with support from Roland Martin. You did as Barack Obama suggested and elevated the discussion. Rather than lowering the discourse to the race baiting Cooper wanted, you provided a rare opportunity for truth. Thanks to all three of you. Hopefully Anderson Cooper, the not ready for prime time host, will follow your lead. AC 360 has a segment called "Keeping Them Honest." Perhaps Mr. Cooper will apply that standard to himself!

Follow Linda Milazzo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LindaMilazzo

Comments

[boylanhall]

the other night i watched anderson cooper spend a day in the campaign of barack obama. obama
was nothing less than respectful, engaging, honest and well humored with anderson. in turn, anderson took every opportunity to behave like a spoiled, ignorant, naive child. no matter what obama was talking about, anderson had the rev. wright tape running in the background(ad nauseum!). he pointed out the bad food on the campaign plane, had the cameras scan throughout the plane only to land on the one member of the obama team who "happened" to be dressed in foreign garb. as the day came to a close and obama was asked what he did at day's end, obama joked about watching 360. i thought anderson's comments at this point were beyond rude, insulting and embarassing to mostly himself.
he offers that obama is pandering to him and that he(anderson) is not in need of obama pandering. please take this guy off the air and send him back to some boarding school far, far, away from any news show. he is so socially unsophisticated, unintelligent, angry, and seems still like an acting out adolescent.
with many axes to grind.

[Didi47]

boylanhall:

Come on how about telling the truth for a CHANGE! We all know Cooper has been kissing Obama's behind for the past 4 months. Cooper got caught off guard when Wright's racist preachings were aired.. and obviously had a hard time hiding his shock and disappointment. Not to worry, his bosses have him back in the 'get Clinton fold' - so you don't have to go on an another Obama camp lynch campaign with Cooper. He likes his job and isn't about to give it up for ethics.

[realpolitic]

To use the word "lynching" in regard to any disagreements Obama supporters or his camp may have with Cooper is race baiting and racially inciteful in the extreme. I feel sorry that you would stoop so low and be willing to bring us back so far over a contested election. Again, I feel sorry for you.

[victoriajubilee]

I agree with your post ,I ,too ,watched the interview with Senator Obama by Anderson Cooper. At the end of the interview , Cooper asked Senator Obama what was he going to do the rest of the evening ,Senator Obama replied that he was going to get some rest and then watch Anderson Cooper later on his show. Cooper then responded telling Senator Obama " i dont need your pandering ". I thought that was very rude on Coopers part . Cooper is a light weight ,his shows bore me .He is not a good journalist . Also regarding the passport issue , when a CNN moderator asked CNN political reporter Candy Crowley what could possibly be the reason why Senator Obama's passport was being looked at by unauthorized persons,her reply was "uhh it could be that they are trying to see who he met with ,the countries he visited ". Firstly ,let me say this to Candy,your passport records does not show who you met with or even countries you visited . But her statement implied Obama may have met with some undesireable persons or visited off-limits countries. These journalist use every little trick in the book. But we know them,dont we.

[rwt1138]

Cooper is out of his depth here, politics is not something he's really qualified to cover. You guys should cut him some slack. On the bright side: Hurricane season is only a couple months away, maybe Cooper can get back to what he's good at.

[realpolitic]

Cooper seems out of his depth in many areas. Bring back Aaron Brown for mature and insightful commentary.

[ourwinter]

I think, perhaps, just perhaps, you're seeing what you'd like here. A good director of a TV show would have never set up his anchor to fail. I think they set you up to think that there was confrontation but Cooper knew the entire time that they were going to ridicule the Fox line that this was more ammo against Obama. It's actually smart television and seemed scripted. Cooper didn't argue the entire time and seemed poised from the video you posted.

[realpolitic]

He seemed lost like a deer in the headlights, as he often does.

[MegWe]

ourwinter - it is clear that you didn't see the show. Perhaps you should have in order to comment with any authority. I did see the entire show and yes - Anerson was totally shut down. In fact, while he was being verbally spanked by his guests, he tried on several occasions to protest, and they talked over him, pretty much taking over the show. It was a beautiful moment when,at that point, his guests actually did have a constructive conversation about the issue of race.

[DanielAdamSmith]

Finally,

I love when all the pundits say this won't go away while perpetuating it at the same time....
They don't want this to go away because then they would have to cover "Boring" subjects like our economy being in the toilet, and Iraq...I can't believe how much a war that we are involved in has slipped off the front page...

[Didi47]

DanielAdamSmith:

And why should this go away? Is that what you want the country to have??? A nominee that has a very disturbing relationship with an obvious anti white - divisive preacher..­. another disturbing relationship with a slumlord and God only knows what else... a history to date... of lying to the public, over and over again... and that should be ignored?? I would think that is a complete contradiction of what democracy stands for, don't you?

After all you seem to have no problem whatsoever­... with the press having raked Hillary over the coals. i sure didn't hear anyone object to that (ongoing) media ugliness. And yet asking Obama any questions.­.. is being touted as politically incorrect? It's high time - that this Saint Obama nonsense ends. If he can't withstand being vetted - to the same degree Hillary has, then he is not able to run this country. Frankly the more the press panders to him and protects him.... the more the public is recognizing this guy just isn't up to the job.

[Heru1]

Since you're into guilt by association, what does Hillary's long term association with a man who lied about getting a BJ in the Oval Office say about her?

[realpolitic]

So you say Obama has a relationship with an "anti-white" preacher and a slum landlord. Aren't these two extremes? One boasts of black pride and the other preys on the black community. It sounds as if you would say anything, however unthinking and cruel, to harm Obama. You know, this process is an election, it is not a smear campaign. Are there no standards of decency left?

[Dap]

Dear Ms. Milazzo,

That was an excellent article, Kudos! Agape.

[nk007]

POINT84

My Problem with Lou Dobbs is his constant demonization of non white immigrants. Surely, for a country that prides itself for being a nation of immigrants, you would think that a "smart, articulate and witty" journalist would present the complexity and nuances of immigration. Inflaming people against the "illegal" immigrants as well as inflaming people with a 30 seconds snippet (repeated over and over again) of Rev. Wright, clearly presented out context of his entire sermon, has diminished my respect of him as a journalist. He seems to be competing with Glen Beck, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity.

[oracle99]

Lou is too busy polishing his false teeth. ...that's all he cares about...hi­s preening is sickening.

[realpolitic]

Lou is a giant blowhard. The man loves to hear himself talk. If he and O'Reilly got in a room there would be no oxygen left.

[Desiderata]

According to Wikipedia, Aaron Brown "is currently serving as a professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communicat­ion."

Also according to Wikipedia, CNN replaced Brown with Cooper to improve the ratings for the timeslot, but that the ratings have actually declined under Cooper.

[OwenScottIII]

Aaron went the way of Bob Edwards. Wouldn't it be nice to have them back?

[Didi47]

CNN seems to have degraded into a cartoon of its former self. I sure miss Ted Turner! Those were the days I trusted CNN - to report the truth.

[realpolitic]

You know, Desiderate, Aaron Brown was terrific! There are no mature, intelligent points of view remaining on CNN. It is kind of a cartoon now. Anderson Cooper has a "news magazine" hour. I miss Aaron Brown. He was an excellent interviewer who would not let the Bushies get away with vapid and meaningless talking points. Brown has an excellent mind!

[Heartlight3]

The sad thing about this is that so many people are shallow enough to buy this kind of pseudo-journalism and not look any further. I have noticed that the intellectual quality of the commentary is much higher on this site than on many of the cable news sites. When you read many of those you could assume that most Americans don't think.

[realrick]

Thanks for posting this, Linda.


We have to keep in mind a line that William Goldman used for the movie adaptation of "All The President's Men": Follow the money. And, to do that, we have to acknowledge a dirty, little secret:


THESE ARE NOT NEWS NETWORKS; RATHER, THEY ARE CORPORATE INFORMATION OUTLETS.


Keep that in mind like a mantra, folks.


So, when you hear Anderson Cooper or Joe Scarborough say something to smear someone about their views, realize that it is coming from Time/Warner or General Electric. Once you have that down, it's easy to understand what's happening here.


Major corporations do not want to discuss Obama's health care plan, his plan to deal with the mortgage crisis or end the war. Instead, they want to fan the flames of hatred, get a lobbyist/corporate tool like McCain in there, and keep counting their profits. Further, they are so insanely timid and terrified of being labeled as "liberal" by tools like Limbaugh, Bozell, Ingraham, and the rest of the GOPuke goon squad that they don't know which end is up. So, they overcompensate by parroting their talking points, instead of doing more objective analysis. I mean, sometimes, I think they are so lazy and scared that I think most cable outlets simply go to The Drudge Report and use whatever they find on there in the morning as their guide for what they're going to cover any given day.


And, sure, we can have a level-headed commentator/anchor like Olbermann be the exception to the rule occasionally. But, still, he is forced by his editors to cover this crap as well, altho in a much more (yes, I must say it) fair and balanced manner than most other cable hosts.


That's why what we do here---at sites like Huffpo and others--where we engage each other on the internet and call the networks out on their crap--is so vitally important. The internet keeps getting more diverse and extensive with each election cycle. Which is why the telecom giants are so hot to control it and thereby limit its content. However, until that happens, we can be a strong countervailing force against the corrosive influence of corporate ownership of our national media. Meanwhile, the networks, especially cable, keep hemmoraghing audience shares because the public sees through nonsense like this and is simply tuning them out.

[Stranded]

You're so right.

I wish more people would learn to accept the fact that TV news is no longer about being "the best political team on television," it's about getting the best ratings. When CNN sees Fox getting such high ratings, the corporate imperative is to get the Fox audience to switch their allegiance. It's no longer about delivering information, it's about satisfying a niche that wants approval for their pre-conceived ideas.

When you step back and look at these talking heads like Wolf Blitzer it's so pathetic. Do you think he actually spends a second of his day researching anything for himself? What sort of journalism is that? He's just a puppet. He looks like a game show host, standing there with his note cards. "What's behind Pundit #1?!" Anderson Cooper started out with some investigative instincts, not to mention a soul, but that seems to be lost on him now.

I think about Aaron Brown a lot, because I really liked him, and had followed his career since both he and Anderson Cooper were at ABC. Brown is a real journalist. I'd like to think he's better off where he is now, and maybe he can influence young journalists for their future on the web.

[Didi47]

realrick:

LOL! level headed commentator/anchor like Olberman??? Please give me a break! This guy has such a crush on Obama... it's pathetic. He's so far gone... he's become exhausting to watch!

[realpolitic]

Well, try anyway. You may need the intellectual exercise.

[realrick]

Didi:

[DRHoen]

There seems to be a market for intelligence and honesty. Will no one fill it?

[AuntSally]

PBS does a pretty good job.

[kravitz]

Maybe Anderson can go back to singing along with "World News Polka" if only Thalia Assuras comes back too!

[ellasfan]

Who at CNN is reading this?Can you hear us out here????? We want AARON BROWN!!!Some network, somewhere.­..........­please hire AARON BROWN. Thinking people are desperate! I remember when I first starting watching Aaron Brown, back in 2003, was it? Thinking, wow, this guy is really taking his time reporting the news. It was like watching a foreign film......­.he slowed it all down so we thinking people could really hear it and also think about it. Funny, too. Wise. Where are you Aaron? I miss you like crazy.....­........

[sandpiper1]

I miss him too, ellasfan. I think he was let go or quit? when AOL Timer Warner? purchased CNN. It' s been going downhill ever since esp. with lou dobbs and wolf blitzer. Are these people really journalists?

[Didi47]

sandpiper1:

It looks like Lou Dobbs and Blitzer couldn't live with themselves anymore... and jumped off the CNN ordered... "promote Obama at all costs, campaign" and returned to telling the truth... for a change.

[SeriousBlack]

I always though Aaron Brown was a breath of fresh air too. The kind of measured and reflective analysis that is missing nowadays. Sigh.

[vincealy]

CNN has become almost the PR firm for the Clnton crew. If the reason is to prolong this race or to help HRC steal this election is unclear. Ask CNN why they sit on the video that shows Hillary "s trip to Bosnia and her discription of that encounter While they endlessly loop a severely edited version of Rev. Wrights sermons. CNN the Clinton News Network?

[Didi47]

vincealy:

Wow... looks like non of the Obama camp can handle the truth about Obama hitting the airwaves.
You should understand­... the networks lost all credibility for their non stop Obama promotion these past 4 months. So much so, it's the 'international talk of the town'!

[realpolitic]

Why so much hatred of Obama on this fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq?

[mansky]

Does anyone remember when news anchors weren't concerned about their hair?

[Chris7982]

Is there anyway we can all have our voices heard on cable and regular network tv stations that we are tired of the tirades that go on and no meaningful conversations are ever mentioned.­..barak asked for that and mentioned the two seconds of sound bites shown but i am afraid that nitwits like 360 and others do not get it...sensa­tionalism sells in america and somehow we buy it and elect idiots and have endless wars with deficits and unbalanced budgets...­not gorgetting that our image in the world is shattered.­..THe MEDIA THAT SHOULD INFORM THE PUBLIC IS THE CULPRIT!!!! IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY CAN HOLD POLLS ON THEMSELVES­...THEY WILL GET WORSE NUMBERS THAN CONGRESS AND BUSH!!!! CHALLENGE THEM TO THAT!!!!

[PioneerKing]

One show one brief period of time on an entire 24/7 news cycle. Was barely noticed and really did not cause anyone at CNN to pause, the subsequent shows were all hype and distortion.
Paula Zahn tried to address race in a substantive manner and CNN kicked her to the curb.
CNN should renew Paula's contract and restore her show.