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

[realpolitic]

Cooper at many times does not seem very bright. He does not realize the effect of his own words. Many pundits ask people to join in and hurl stones at someone and here gratefully Gergen, Bernstein, and Martin did not join in. Anderson is often a neophyte. He calls his show a "news magazine" and that is exactly what it is. He spends little time on substantive issues and long segments on characters with multiple wives or Britney's latest run in with the press. Anderson does not realize the power of his podium. He is a poor interviewer and seems to have no opinion one way or the other on the war. Aaron Brown, who preceeded Anderson, was far superior. He had a mature point of view and could ask intelligent questions. Anderson has a look of dashing, perpetual youth and little else.

[AngryAfricanOnTheLoose]

You know this gives me a little ray of hope. I wrote a blog earlier today saying that I won't do any more election blogs. I am new to the country - been here for 18 months. And almost everything has been positive. But the way politics are played here is just disgusting. The lowest form of politics. I can't believe a proud country like this can stoop so low. I don't mind the criticism - but everyone is anti something and pro nothing. I go into detail in my blog - but the short of it is that the Founding Fathers would not be proud of what they see in the politics of America today. Knowing that there are people like Gergena nd Bernstein and Martin. Maybe there is still some hope. And maybe I will write about politics again sometime. Just not now. I have no audicity and no hope. http://angryafrican.net/2008/02/13/dont-bitch-about-bush-you-got-zuma/

[Gibbons]

I missed this also and it doesn't bother me a lot.

[wendy82551]

Hooray for real journalists like Carl Bernstein!

If people come away from this election cycle with a clear understanding of exactly how the media is manipulating them and controlling the public debate, then it will have been worth all the nonsense. It is about time that people like Gergen and Bernstein took a stand against sound bite pseudo-journalism and in favor of serious conversations about complex issues.

Who knows, if enough people listen, they might start to appreciate what a "real" conversation sounds like and see how intellectually empty the bellowings of Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Chris Matthews, etc. etc. really are.

[2Nurselady]

I think Carl Bernstein is FAR FROM a "real journalist­." I think he is a Hillary Clinton-hater and I don't even think he is truthful. It is beyond me how anyone can consider this man a "real journalist­." Good grief! Just watch him. I turn the channel when I see that he is on. I can't even stand listening to him.

[PingMama]

What?? Do you realize who Carl Bernstein is??

He and Bob Woodward broke the Watergate story. Research who you are talking about before you attack Carl Bernstein.

[JackW]

The story had me until I read the line about Obama being assailed by MSNBC. OK, Chris Matthes is in love with Obama. He gets shivers in his legs and cries when he speaks, and is all Obama, all the time! Keith Olbermann (Olderman?) is so far into Obama that I think he's running for the job Tony Snow had for GW! He's even letting his hair turn grey so he can attempt to look distinguished (it's nto working, he just looks crankier!). Chuck Todd always skews his numbers Obama's way, even when HRC wins a primary. He still says he won...BUT.­..
David Shuster hates anything Clinton, including Chelsea, so falls all over Obama...
Tim Russert, with those beady little eyes, shows sheer arrogance toward HRC, but smiles when he talks to Obama (see dem debate).
Mika is doing what daddy tells her too, because he's an Obama adviser. Dan swings his judgements virtually every night in Obama's favour and claims, "I just call 'em like I see 'em". Not bad when you have the day to pick and choose the events to moderate.
Andrea Mitchell is pro Obama as are the boys from WaPo.
MSNBC is to the Dems what FOXNews is to the GOP, only a little further out there these days. Thank god for satellite TV!

[nomobull]

nitpicking to prove yourself right does not a good point make.

[presto]

Without nitpicking, MSNBC is pro-Obama. That was the only point he was trying to make.

[majseventh]

Sure sounds like you watch it every day to have them all pegged like that.
They are promoting Obama though.

[the2thdoc]

Yeah...but­, you've got to admit that there are probably as many or more HRC fans on CNN and MSNBC. They are even on FOX. Of course, that's only to get HRC in to run against McCain.

I am happy to see journalists trying to turn away from this ridiculous conversation (i.e. racist words that weren't said). What does this have to do with the price of gas in America!?!? IT'S A DIVERSION! I want to hear about why we allow a president and VP to continue to run this country when their answer is "SO" when reminded about the feelings of the vast majority of Americans regarding this war. I want to know why we bailed out a bank rather than helping home owners. I want to know that our constitution will be restored and not crapped on anymore by my next president. I want to know that I can trust my leaders to make better decisions for Americans and my country and not lead us down a path of destruction. I want to know how we are going to unify this country to solve our problems and become the leader we once were. Let's start talking about the issues again.

[vincealy]

I guess you missed the absolute hatchet job Matthes did on a Obama supporter the night of the Texas primary. The only creditable reporter on MSNBC is Keith Olbermann. Whether the insisent complaning of the Clinton crew has caused this or if the new GM Dan Abrams is the cause is unclear

[MariaHopeful]

Oh Linda, I saw it too! It was one of the few bright spots on TV for the entire week. Brilliant!
I loved Cooper's reporting from New Orleans. I hated his reporting on the Israeli Hezbollah war. While I thought he had earned his own show, I didn't think it should have come at the expense of Aaron Brown (think that was his name). He (Cooper) has been just as mindlessly sensational as Fox News has been. He wasn't on air during the height of the furor and he immediately made up for his absence by playing the same old clips repeatedly. It was simply disgusting and I was too happy when all three commentators firmly, and none too gently repudiated him.

[realpolitic]

Aaron Brown was terrific and is solely missed. He seemed like the only serious voice at CNN next to the pompous Lou Dobbs and the info-tainment specialist Anderson Cooper.

[CitizenE]

Though mainstream media has for a long time now been, as a result of its surface presentation of everything, need to dumb down everything, had these kinds of tendencies as purveyors of current events, I put squarely on the shoulders the hate machine politics that has been part and parcel of the Republican party since Nixon, and most particularly the last eight years in which the Rush Limbaugh, Fox news, Murdoch Tabloidization, Animal Farm view of reality has been accepted in the name of fair and balanced reportage. That Clinton liberals and someone like Cooper, who appears to have forgotten the perspective he had in New Orleans, which catapulted him into his position on CNN today, have bought into this way of doing business reveals a serious symptom that our body politic is to be reduced to a long series of noise machine foodfights highlighting the sensational but trivial as an escape from the real world of trouble everyone just wants to go away or whitewash.

[jhamm1]

"real journalists don't report hyperbole. Real journalists report fact"?

No offense, but you obviously don't get out much if you truly believe that, for the term "journalistic integrity" has been and will always remain the ultimate oxymoron for eternity.

[MPeter]

This was so beautifully done. Thank You. I did not watch it as I have stopped watching CNN because it is very much a Clinton News Network. It is largely because of the lies and distortions it peddles that I stopped. But, thank you for this post, this was a rare moment. Bernstein and Roland have had a history of honest commentary. David was surpring this time...a pleasant surprise.

[jinjinpinti]

We missed this CNN segment as we now miss ALL of CNN's propaganda since we added them to our blocked list along with Faux news. The only reason we still have MSNBC unblocked is for Olberman and a chance to watch Rachel Maddow prove that women are superior. Oh, shut up, only kidding! Once CNN brought us Glen Beck, we knew it had morphed into Fox-lite and with Woof Blister, that old, grumpy neoCON running the CNN machine, we decided that simply listing and boycotting their sponsors wasn't enough. They are history on our sets and we couldn't care less what products or services their sponsors want us to buy.

[politicsnut]

Totally agree with you. CNN makes me sick! Only Olbermann and Rachel Maddow are serious, intelligent, and worth watching. KO always has digs deep for more info that the others don't have and his commentaries and analysis are a joy to watch. How can CNN go so low? Wolf Blizter and crazy moron Lou Dobbs should be fired!

[presto]

Olbermann? THE Olbermann? Seriously?

[Merlin7]

You should have seen CNN this morning when Gloria Berger led a four-member panel in a hatchet-fest aimed at Obama, with only Bill Schneider refusing to join in the pummeling. This blatant partisanship by a CNN anchor was startling, as was the fact that there was no attempt to balance the panel with Obama supporters. It signals a rancorous summer ahead, with the Establishment siding with Hillary and painting Obama as an idealistic loser.

[nomobull]

at least one didn't participate. this may be how this stops one by one they refuse to be drawn in .that and lowering audience numbers.