Wolf Blitzer Fawns to Bill Clinton Over Chelsea: 'She Got the Best of Her Mom, the Best of Her Dad'

Newsbusters ^ | June 08, 2012 | Matt Hadro

[presidio9]

CNN was called the 'Clinton News Network' during the 90s for a reason. After letting Bill Clinton get away with his ridiculous excuse for supporting a temporary extension of the Bush tax cuts, Wolf Blitzer kissed up to the former president by fawning over his daughter Chelsea in the Thursday interview.

And Blitzer had a sugary introduction ready. "[W]hen we spoke about the President's daughter, Chelsea, his face lit up with pride," Blitzer cooed.

Are journalists supposed to sound like next-door neighbors marveling over how the kids on the block are all grown-up? "I have known her since she was 13 years old when you guys came to Washington," Blitzer told Clinton.

Speaking of Chelsea's recent presentation at a Vital Voices event, he gushed that "I looked at her and I saw in her eyes as I was watching her, she was very impressive. I saw the best of Bill Clinton and the best of Hillary Clinton in Chelsea Clinton."

Just this past Monday, The Situation Room had more soft coverage of Clinton as it played a lengthy four-minute clip of him speaking at a Democratic fund raiser from the previous night. Clinton took shots at the Republicans and CNN was simply content to echo his attacks without any scrutiny, chuckling that he "gets away with a lot" now that he is out of office.

A transcript of the segment, which aired on June 7 on The Situation Room at 5:55 p.m. EDT, is as follows:

[BLOC77]

Probaly showing my age here, but anybody remember when Chelsea was in high school and the media was gushing on how brilliant she was and her goal was to be pediatric cardiologist? She went into Stanford as pre-med and then quickly and quietly changed her major to history. LOL, lets face it, she got into Stanford and Oxford becuase of Daddy, she is of average intelligence at best. Brilliant my ###!!

[TXnMA]

CORRECTION: "I saw the best of Web Hubble and the best of Hillary Clinton in Chelsea Clinton."

...and that ain't saying much...