Posted on 07/26/2009 1:17:40 AM PDT by FTJM
CNN/US president Jonathan Klein is rebuffing the mounting criticism of the network over Lou Dobbs’ continued airing of “birther” theories, saying that Lou runs “his own show” that merely hosts “panels” with birther theorists and asserting that CNN respects viewers enough to let them “make up their own minds.”
Klein, in an interview with me just now, also took a shot at Dobbs’ critics, saying they’re politically motivated: “I understand that people with a partisan point of view from one extreme or another might get annoyed that certain subjects are aired.”
CNN is under mounting pressure to get Dobbs to stop giving airtime to birther theorists and suggesting there’s something to their case, which he’s been doing even though the network has repeatedly debunked the theories. Jon Stewart recently mocked Dobbs for not even watching his own network. Media Matters has blasted CNN for “mainstreaming the fringe.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center called for Dobbs’ firing today, and MoveOn is demanding CNN apologize for Dobbs’ “helping to spread hate and fear.”
“Look, Lou’s his own show, and CNN in general has repeatedly and thoroughly reported on the facts behind this situation,” Klein said to me, adding that Lou had merely hosted “a few conversations with people representing a wide range of opinions.”
Klein said that Dobbs has repeatedly stated that he believes that Obama was born in Hawaii, and has simply been examining the “phenomenon that for some people this won’t go away.”
Asked if CNN is concerned that Dobbs’ repeated granting of airtime to theories the network has conclusively debunked amounts to overkill and could harm CNN’s credibility, Klein brushed off the possibility. “We respect our viewers enough to present them the facts and let them make up their own minds,” he said, adding that what Dobbs does is “his editorial decision to make.”
Klein sent a private memo to Dobbs staffers yesterday saying the birther story is “dead” and questioning its legitimacy, but Dobbs has continued to discuss it on the air, anyway. Klein said the memo wasn’t a sign of concern, however, calling that conclusion “overblown.”
Asked if CNN would take any action if Dobbs continued airing the birther theories, Klein said No: “I think no good journalist would ever say that a particular story will never be covered again. Every day brings new facts, new pegs.”
And CNN (Cover No News) has such good ratings too.
These two clownish organizations are projecting their own thoughts.
What ever happened to Corsi, his trip to Kenya and his findings? Wasn’t he covering the story for WND?
Corsi didn’t get much on his fact finding trip to Kenya because the Kenyan government, Odinga in particular, had him detained and then put on a plane out of the country.
In addition to any political motives, this whole approach is just good marketing for CNN. They can try attract conservatives to their “Lou Dobbs†brand while keeping the “Nutty Birthers†marking approach alive for their other brands. Win/Win from a $$$/audience attraction stand point.
The real story here is....why is not Fox News doing more stories on this? They claim to be “fair and balanced”...and supposedly lean “conservative”
Dobbs deserves credit for treating this story the way he does. The critics of his coverage KNOW that the birth cert issue is not going away.
Speaks volumes, doesn't it?
One would think that there is an enterprising journalist somewhere that would find a non-US citizen that has obtained a certificate of live birth (COLB) from the State of Hawaii. Think of the ratings if Lou Dobbs had a foreigner on his show along with his or her COLB. That would totally debunk the Obama “case is closed” argument.
I've been noticing that quite a few in the laimstream media are starting to turn on Obamalamadingdong. It seems the bloom is coming off the rose. The post press conference coverage was less than becoming. They still are not telling the truth, but they are starting to show signs of "buyers remorse". I suppose that's a start........
Klein was aware of Dobbs' ratings down to the 100th percentage point before the memo, and he issued it anyway. This attempt by Klein to sound even-handed comes only as a result of the crack-down memo having been leaked, which he didn't expect.
I have a question about a statement in the article. It states: Klein sent a private memo to Dobbs staffers yesterday saying the birther story is “dead” and questioning its legitimacy, but Dobbs has continued to discuss it on the air, anyway. Anyone know if this is accurate? As far as I know, Dobbs did not address the issue since Klein's memo.
The Pakistan travel issue has been debunked.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2296705/posts
See posts #8 & #25.
What are they so worried about? If there’s nothing to it then why be concerned? If it makes Obama’s political enemies look stupid then the left should be encouraging Lou Dobbs to continue to ask questions.
Thanks for that information...
Kenya basically clamped down on Obama’s family there too, preventing any future media access before the election.
Well, here’s a recent item regarding Jerome Corsi...
Liddy hosts Jerome Corsi to promote Obama birth certificate conspiracy theories
July 20, 2009 6:25 pm ET
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200907200045
And then, what happened — back then — and you can follow up with other articles about it, following this one...
Sendoff to Corsi: ‘See you in hell’
‘Obama Nation’ author departs Kenya after detention, foiled news conference
Posted: October 08, 2008
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=77291
And on another subject...
Texas trying to save ‘NAFTA Superhighway’?
Gov. Perry calls special legislative session on transportation
Posted: July 03, 2009
http://www.wnd.com/index.php/index.php?pageId=102913
So, Jerome Corsi is alive and well and kicking around from Liddy to articles, to his own “Red Alert” site (covering a bunch of conservative issues) and still hammering away on the birth certificate issue...
You said — I wonder if Indonesia still has original documents pertaining to Obama and his citizenship.
—
Hmmm..., is it about time for Jerome Corsi to make another trip... :-)
Liddy hosts Jerome Corsi to promote Obama birth certificate conspiracy theories
July 20, 2009 6:25 pm ET
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200907200045
Sendoff to Corsi: ‘See you in hell’
‘Obama Nation’ author departs Kenya after detention, foiled news conference
Posted: October 08, 2008
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=77291
And on another subject, that Jerome Corsi is “on”...
Texas trying to save ‘NAFTA Superhighway’?
Gov. Perry calls special legislative session on transportation
Posted: July 03, 2009
http://www.wnd.com/index.php/index.php?pageId=102913
Jerome Corsi is alive and well and kicking around on the birth certificate issue...
Well. It appears to me a massive coverup is underway. The usual MSM Obots are trying the best to spin. However I do not think it will go away. Ya can not fool all the people all the time.
They could book Sun Yat Sen’s corpse.
Don’t forget Kenyan. Kenyan passport for Paki; Kenyan student at Occi...
Lou Dobbs has a radio show aside from CNN. I don’t know whether Klein can restrict Lou from certain subjects on talk radio; one would hope not.
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