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Posted on 01/16/2002 3:22:37 AM PST by Timesink
CNN’s Lou Dobbs lectures reporter on air about “balanced” coverageFrom News Box - Press Watch
FRANKFURT, Germany - Lou Dobbs certainly looked agitated Monday on his CNN program Moneyline, appearing to bawl out a reporter for not being balanced. Over here in Germany, Mr. Dobbs' program graces TV screens on CNN International at the stroke of midnight, and - news junkie that I am - I sometimes watch the first 15 minutes or so before heading off for sweet dreams. Mr. Dobbs led off with the Enron story again. Although - in my opinion - he is one of TV's greats, Mr. Dobbs has seemed uncomfortable the past few shows dealing with the Enron debacle and any possible links to the White House. And Monday evening he took great pains to note that top Enron officials - although tight with the White House and big cash contributors to Republicans - also had donated to Democrats. But CNN correspondent Tim O'Brien, in his lead report, appeared to have blundered by interviewing Charles Lewis, of the Center of Public Integrity. According to the official transcript of the show, toward the end of O'Brien's report, Lewis said: "The business community in general and the energy industry in particular has traditionally supported Republicans two-to-one or three-to-one, in terms of campaign contributions, for ideological reasons, because of deregulation and the role of government in general." When O'Brien came back live, Mr. Dobbs appeared a bit unsettled, and pointedly asked O'Brien: "But we do have a sense that Enron not only contributing to Republicans but mightily, as well, to Democrats, wherever it served the political purpose of the company, isn't that correct?" O'Brien seemed taken aback by the tone of Mr. Dobbs, but held firm: "That is certainly true. More to Republicans than to Democrats, but certainly to both parties, and especially in Texas its home base. But it's not surprising, especially the contributions to the Republicans, which support causes that have always helped large industries and particularly the energy industry, and such issues as deregulation." And then back to Mr. Dobbs, who now appeared to be trying to control his anger. He lectured Mr. O'Brien: "The one thing we don't want to ever be accused of here is, of course, participating in creating, if you will, in the court of public opinion, making it a hanging court. So many questions here that I think it's really incumbent on us to be careful. There is enough here to create huge questions, serious questions, perhaps criminal indictment, and I just want to make sure we are balanced in keeping it all in perspective, Tim. Thank you." The transcript also does not show that after Mr. Dobbs said "...I just want to make sure we are balanced in keeping it all in perspective, Tim," he waited a few tense moments for Mr. O'Brien to respond, perhaps to ask for forgiveness. When Mr. O'Brien held firm and said nothing, Mr. Dobbs finally uttered a curt thank you and turned to the next story. It was an interesting bit of TV, and Mr. Dobbs appeared flustered for the next 10 minutes or so. (To see transcript, click here). I stuck with Moneyline longer than usual, because I was curious to see how Mr. Dobbs would handle the story of U.S. President George W. Bush swallowing an unchewed pretzel and fainting. Obviously a major story when the most powerful man in the world faints, falls to the floor and bruises his face. I had expected the president to be the lead story. But no story came 45 minutes into the show. I had to call it a day, so turned off the TV. But I just did a keyword search for "pretzel" on the transcript of Monday's Moneyline, and the word did not pop up. (Maybe the transcriber spelled it wrong.) Nor was there any mention of President Bush's appearances Monday in the Midwest to promote his economic policies. Well, Tuesday is another day. It will be interesting to see if the president makes it on Moneyline tonight. See you at midnight, Lou. Until then... |
Oh well, maybe I'm just ticked that they bounced the succulent Willow Bay to bring him back. Thankfully Fox still has plenty of cuties to ogle...
Willow Bay "succulent"?? There's not enough biomass there to be succulent.
Neil Cavuto over at FOX is probably looking over his shoulder right about now. Lou Dobbs appears to be advertising his "fair and balanced" reporting. (Paging Roger Ailes . . .).
now THAT'S a good one!! 8^)
This is BS. Business generally supports the two parties equally, at least as far as hard money contributions. Back when the Dems controlled Congress, Democratic Congressional candidates got more in each election cycle than Republicans from business. Maybe business contributes more in soft money to the RNC than the DNC. I doubt even the energy industry supports Republicans two to one, let alone three to one. Lewis is a liar.
No. I actually have first-hand knowledge of this one. He quit because of Rick "Friend of Bill" Kaplan, period. Back then Dobbs wasn't just in charge of Moneyline, he was in charge of all of CNNfn and CNN Financial News. (In fact, the reason CNNfn exists at all is because Ted Turner wanted to KEEP Dobbs, and starting fn was the only way to do it.) That means Dobbs was the final arbiter of what goes on the air on CNNfn, not just some anchor. When Kaplan started overriding that authority, breaking into Moneyline in order to give gushing coverage of Clinton photo-ops, Dobbs said "the hell with it" and walked.
These days, Dobbs is only in charge of Moneyline, but it doesn't seem to matter that much because Kaplan and his cronies are long gone, and the new regime at CNN is very happy with Lou and has no desire to screw with him.
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