Anderson Cooper 360 -- more like Barack Obama Shill 360?

by leozh, Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:08:02 AM EST

I was watching Anderson Cooper 360 tonight and they were doing a segment about this story: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/29/o bamas.first.campaign/index.html

Anderson Cooper was interviewing Drew Griffin, the investigative reporter on the story and I found his take on it ridiculous. Instead of coming at the story from a direction of why Obama, who spins all this change rhetoric, used dirty tactics to be the only Democrat on the ballot, instead of winning the race fairly, Cooper's take was that this was proof Obama was a seasoned politican and ready for a Presidential race. I found this spin totally absurd. The report by Griffin was actually good and interviewed those who were knocked off the ballot by Obama. It certainly put Obama and his current spin in a negative light. After the report, Anderson Cooper asked Griffin if this even mattered and why anyone would care. It was amazing, he was getting all defensive about Obama. I have never, outside of this primary seen reporters, and mainstream ones at that be so openly for a certain candidate. Griffin replied that obviously this was important, and then described how the Obama campaign would not provide an adequate answer to his queries about the story, other than to call it a hit job. Cooper then snipped, "well, we'll let the viewers decide." Previously I had heard this line on Fox News, after some ridiculously biased story or a viewpoint Fox didn't agree with.

It just amazes me about how the media is so openly for Obama, and I think this will come back to hurt him either in the general election or at some point later. The media was also sucking up to Bush and didn't vet him properly and look what the last 8 years have been.

Did anyone else see this segment? If so, what did you think?




Tags: anderson cooper 360, anderson cooper, hack, biased (all tags)

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Permalink :: 43 Comments :: Post a Comment


So you think it's bad that the media (2.00 / 1)

gives a Democratic nominee the benefit of the doubt?

You concerned Obama criticis make no sense. You call him weak and inexperienced as a politician then turn around and lambast him for playing the game.


Yawn.
by spacemanspiff on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:11:42 AM EST

Go back and read RK's diary (mine too). (none / 0)


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:12:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Go back and read RK's diary (mine too). (none / 0)

Yeah. I caught it. Concerned Obama critic.

Just wanted to get that out of the way for others.


Yawn.
by spacemanspiff on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:15:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So you think it's bad that the media (2.00 / 1)

Your Obama = Bush talking point is weak.


Yawn.
by spacemanspiff on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:13:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So you think it's bad that the media (2.00 / 2)

The media is not doing their job by giving ANYONE the benefit of the doubt. This is the same as how John McCain is portrayed as a maverick in the media still to this day. They need to dig under the talking points of all the candidates, whether they are Republican or Democrat.

The problem is that eventually someone won't give him the benefit of the doubt and if this happens before November, it could be really bad.

The Clintons have never been given the benefit of the doubt, and I think they are ultimately stronger for this.

Bush, on the other hand, in 2000 was a really fun guy to drink a beer with. He was so "likable". Al Gore was mind-numbingly boring. I remember how the media kept putting this narrative forward. Never mind that if they did any vetting of Bush, they would have seen what a failure he would have been as President.

All I am saying is that it's disturbing to see the media act like this over and over. It's like they are sheep for one candidate or another and not unbiased journalists.

We are choosing the leader of the free world here. I expect the media to investigate all of the candidates. I expect them to try to figure out if their spin is true and if their claims are valid and consistent. Clearly, the media has not and will not live up to those expectations.


by leozh on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:43:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So you think it's bad that the media (none / 0)

spiffy is just a parody troll, don't feed it


by zerosumgame on Fri May 30, 2008 at 10:42:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

he is NOT the nominee. (2.00 / 1)

and he will not be UNTIL he has the delegates, which will likely be 2118 after Saturday.


"there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right in America"-William Jefferson Clinton, forty-second President of the United States
by DiamondJay on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:25:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

i think.... (1.75 / 4)


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that word I reach for my feather Boa!" -- Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:13:26 AM EST

Lazy Town... (2.00 / 2)

Is just plain creepy.


Users who are excessively bashing the Democratic Party, or being Republican trolls, will be banned.
by Massadonious on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:25:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Lazy Town... (2.00 / 1)

my son loves sporticus.


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that word I reach for my feather Boa!" -- Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:31:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Lazy Town... (2.00 / 1)

Yep. I used to watch episodes of Bible Man and Lazy Town on break at work. I actually found Lazy Town more disturbing.


by RP McMurphy on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:19:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Lazy Town... (2.00 / 1)

Scratch that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jsm2v8TJ -8


by RP McMurphy on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:23:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

what the frick is that? (none / 0)

definitely messed up.  how about yo gabba gabba?



"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that word I reach for my feather Boa!" -- Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:30:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Hey cg (2.00 / 1)

check out my new signature, it is about how John McCain supported Bush's veto of SCHIP, pretty poor move on McCain's part isn't it?

BTW the video is great.


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:39:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Now I realize (2.00 / 1)

how sad all the food in the fridge must be...I guess I have to go eat everything in the house now.


by Claritin on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:21:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: i think.... (2.00 / 1)

Seriously, it's almost 3AM and I'm starting to exit my caffeine berzerking. I can't watch stuff like that now.

That's going to give me really disturbing nightmares tonight.

Scary, stylized, obnoxiously colored nightmares.


by TCQuad on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:47:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

That's totally awesome. n/t (2.00 / 1)


by sricki on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:01:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Cooper 360 (none / 0)

I have always found Cooper to be partial to Obama.  It's most demonstrable in the way he frames issues.

That said, he's been talking about that new Trinity Church video for a huge segment of his show.  


Young lifelong Democrat. One of over 3,000,000 voters who kicked McCain and Palin out of Pennsylvania, permanently.
by BPK80 on Fri May 30, 2008 at 02:36:27 AM EST

I think (none / 0)

that Cooper should talk more about John McCain and his polices on health care.  McCain supports the veto of the SCHIP expansion.

Shame on McCain.

(Shameless plug for the Searching for McCain project to get negative articles about John  McCain at the tops of the Google searches for McCain and for John McCain


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:20:32 AM EST

I second that motion. (2.00 / 1)

Hey Student Guy, I just realized...with our sigs, we can now salvage some benefit from troll diaries by posting in them!  It's like recycling, for the netroots!


Wouldn't it be nice if there were no rhetorical questions?
by Elsinora on Fri May 30, 2008 at 04:46:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

That is why I posted it this one (none / 0)

recycling is fun, but I know someone who hates recycling, John McCain.

John McCain is bad.


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Fri May 30, 2008 at 04:59:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You should watch Jack Cafferty (2.00 / 2)

that piece of Clinton-hating shit gets to yap all he wants about how great Barack Hussein Obama is, but there is no pro-Clinton counterpart. In fact, Lou Dobbs is the closest thing in the media to a Clinton supporter you can find. Everyone else on CNN loves Obama, or hates the Clintons. Jammal Simmons and Roland Martin never shut their yaps, as neither does Donna Brazile, Michael Goodwin, Candy Crowley, and now Cooper all hate the Clintons. The problem is us Clinton supporters never protest the way GOPers did to the "liberal" media in demonstrations, and how Obama supporters do.


"there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right in America"-William Jefferson Clinton, forty-second President of the United States
by DiamondJay on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:23:51 AM EST

Lou Dobbs? Really? (none / 0)

Lou Dobbs is a racist, xenophobic piece of garbage.

I wouldn't be proud of his support if I were you.


Users who are excessively bashing the Democratic Party, or being Republican trolls, will be banned.
by Massadonious on Fri May 30, 2008 at 04:27:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Lou Dobbs? Really? (none / 0)

he's no racist, he just doesn't want American jobs going to non-Americans. He's a rational guy on things.


"there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right in America"-William Jefferson Clinton, forty-second President of the United States
by DiamondJay on Fri May 30, 2008 at 12:32:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Louo Dobbs (none / 0)

Now THERE is some great support!  Too bad he wants to deport one of her largest blocks of supporters.


by rf7777 on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:50:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I saw that Anderson Cooper segment. (none / 0)

I thought, while I was watching the report, "What stupid horse shit."  And then Anderson Cooper asked Griffin, after the report, "Does this really matter," and that by itself was a fitting ending to it.

Who would be surprised that the candidates that were removed by the candidate for legal cause might hold hard feelings towards Obama?  I suppose I would have, too.  But that's not a major news story.

And there's nothing so "Chicago-style politics" about having candidates or initiatives removed for having insufficient or improper signatures.  Happens all the time.  Griffin's mock outrage and snide tone about it, though, didn't communicate anything newsworthy.


by Dumbo on Fri May 30, 2008 at 03:47:56 AM EST

You are absolutely correct (2.00 / 2)

I'm pretty damn tired of people either too obtuse, too blind, or too dishonest to bother with the truth of that first campaign.

The FACTS are that:

1. Challenging nominating petitions is done for EVERY RACE in Chicago.  I've volunteered in aldermanic races where I've helped do research for it.  Richard Daley routinely gets his nominating petitions challenged.

2. Alice Palmer PROMISED NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION!   She was the (well-liked, yes) incumbent for the Senate district.  Congressman Mel Reynolds got arrested and she decided to seek his seat in a special election.   Obama specifically got her blessing to run for the seat.  Check the Trib archives, the Reader archives, the Sun-Times archives -- there are even stories with Palmer endorsing Obama, saying her district would be in "good hands" with Obama.

Palmer then lost the special election and reneged on her decision not to run - but it was very late to get on the ballot... and the rest is history.

Obama is running for President - he's never claimed to be running for Jesus.


by zonk on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:53:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You are absolutely correct (2.00 / 1)

and Obama PROMISED HE WOULD SERVE HIS FULL AND ONLY SENATE TERM AND NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT....(I can't do "bold" so I used caps to mirror your "bold")


by jentwisl on Fri May 30, 2008 at 12:43:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You are absolutely correct (none / 0)

For bold put this this on either side of what you want to be bold, but remove the . (periods):

<b.> This is bolded </b.>


by splashy on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:27:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Anderson Cooper 360 -- more like Barack Obama (2.00 / 1)

well: all media ganged up on Hillary for a reason: they want her to lose, because corporate masters want a weaker competitor for McCain, so US voters will be forced to choose (again) between 2 bad choices and McCain will have much more chances in this case.


Landslide of lies
by engels on Fri May 30, 2008 at 07:16:06 AM EST

That's one theory (2.00 / 1)

The other is that they "ganged up on her" because she was the frontrunner.

I'm no expert on frontrunners, but I suspect Howard Dean, Mitt Romney, and any number of others would say that it's not all that unusual for frontrunners to get 'ganged up' on.


by zonk on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:55:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

In a week or two, (2.00 / 1)

we're going to be grateful for any pro-Obama slant we can get in the media (as the enemy will be John McCain). Besides which, there is nothing wrong with challenging petition signatures. I know it's standard practice here in New Hampshire. Would you prefer candidates get onto the ballot with invalid signatures? Why aren't you as incensed about the candidates that were trying to get onto the ballot illegally?


Your old role is rapidly aging. Please get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand, for the times they are a changing.
by Travis Stark on Fri May 30, 2008 at 07:45:15 AM EST

Re: In a week or two, (2.00 / 2)

Well, if you consider what made signatures invalid, like writing your name outside the boxed area, or printing instead of signing, it's merely technicalities that got these people out, not trying to get on the ballot illegally.


by leozh on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:06:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

So the opponent says they were technicalities (2.00 / 1)

Is that a surprise to you? How about having non-registered voters collecting signatures? The fact remains that if your opponent can't gather enough valid signatures to get on the ballot you're right to point that out.


Your old role is rapidly aging. Please get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand, for the times they are a changing.
by Travis Stark on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:37:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So the opponent says they were technicalities (2.00 / 2)

I'm not saying what he did was against the rules, it just flies in the face of what kind of politician he is trying to portray himself as now.


by leozh on Fri May 30, 2008 at 12:18:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This goes to the question (2.00 / 1)

of what "unbiased" coverage truly is. Sean Hannity would tell you the media is remiss for not hammering Wright for the past two months, as Fox does. Yet I doubt many here would consider Hannity unbiased.

Even on AC360 they are going with the "Obama's New Pastor" story, which I (as an O supporter) think is pretty irrelevant. Yet that doesn't seem to give Cooper "journalist" points in your book.

This is a pretty unprecedented contest, that has been incredibly polarizing. The objective middle is razor-thin, and I wonder if any of us know what it is anymore.


by Neef on Fri May 30, 2008 at 08:00:20 AM EST

Re: This goes to the question (none / 0)

You might be right, but while we may not know what it is, I certainly know what it isn't...


by leozh on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:04:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Anderson Cooper 360 -- more like Barack Obama (2.00 / 1)

If you're a Democrat isn't that better than shilling for McCain? We should all be glad it's the Dem candidate getting the favorable treatment. I think Anderson is a Democrat.


by Becky G on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:07:43 AM EST

Re: Anderson Cooper 360 -- more like Barack Obama (2.00 / 2)

No, it's not better because it doesn't make our candidate stronger in the long run. When someone in the media does decide to ask questions about Obama, it will be much harder for him to respond since he's not used to being treated like that. I think his treatment with Wrightgate has been fairly mild too.

I think it's better if the media is unbiased. I don't want to watch news that is tilted toward my point of view, I think it's a good thing to be exposed to opposing viewpoints. If you aren't strong enough in your beliefs to be able to watch news coverage that isn't sometimes critical to them, you're probably a Republican...


by leozh on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:10:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Oh come on (2.00 / 2)

Obama got his opponents ousted for either cheating or being incompetant in that race.  If it were a zany comedy, you'd be cheering that the establishment guys got hoisted on their own petard and that the young smart guy sailed to victory.

What he did was uphold the rules in an environment known for its corruption.  Anderson Cooper is smart enough to realize this... I think his bias is less than you think.


You can't stop the signal.

President "That One"

by Dracomicron on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:31:48 AM EST

Re: Oh come on (2.00 / 1)

Excellent comment.  Would rec if I could.


by Same As It Ever Was on Fri May 30, 2008 at 10:01:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: (2.00 / 1)

The media is less favorable to Hillary!!  People always disrepect Hillary!!  Hillary is not winning because of sexism!!

These things are obviously why Hillary is losing the primary fight, BUT magically [poof!] all of these disadvantages are going to reverse or disappear after the primaries and Hillary will win in November.


by rf7777 on Fri May 30, 2008 at 09:48:46 AM EST

Re: (2.00 / 2)

I never said that they disrespect Hillary, I just think of Obama got the kind of scrutiny Hillary does every day, he wouldn't be able to take it. He has already complained about how he is sick of the primaries. I think all the candidates need to be heavily scrutinized and the media is not doing this at all.


by leozh on Fri May 30, 2008 at 12:21:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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