March 23, 2008 at 13:11:19

Truth On CNN! Pundits Defend Obama! Anderson Cooper Is Perplexed - As Usual!

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By Linda Milazzo (about the author) Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Linda Milazzo - Writer

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 "A.C. 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 the show. 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 and mischaracterization that Anderson 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. "A.C. 360" has a segment called "Keeping Them Honest." Perhaps Mr. Cooper will apply that standard to himself!

Linda Milazzo is a Managing Editor at OpedNews. She's a Los Angeles based writer, educator and activist. Since 1974, she has divided her time between the entertainment industry, government organizations & community development projects and (more...)

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10 comments

LincolnMarx

Anderson Cooper is a former CIA sionist criminal

Anderson Cooper from CNN is a fascist sio-nist who used to work for CNN. I hatte CNN and FOX NEWS so much, I wish that there would come a government that would ban CNN and FOX NEWS. CNN and FOX are total crimes to humanity

by LincolnMarx (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 94 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Mar 23, 2008 at 7:36:48 PM

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Kris Malmquist

Cooper is a Blitzer Wannabe

I agree wholeheartedly that Anderson Cooper is clearly WAY out of his league when he tries to wing it on political discussions. The guy is a real hack, and much too enamored with his own pretty boy opinion of himself. He is a constant embarrassment to both himself and his network, as well as to the journalism profession.

Did anyone see the other day when Obama mentioned something jokingly about always watching AC 360 whenever he can? Caught off guard by Obama's compliment to him, Andy got all flushed and embarrassed and made a comment to Barak with something to the effect, "I don't need you to patronize me".

Anderson Cooper, Wolf Blitzer you are NOT, and you will NEVER be. (Not that I'm a huge fan of the Wolfman.) You would be much better suited to being the weatherman on some backwoods local channel.

by Kris Malmquist (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 40 diaries, 108 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Mar 24, 2008 at 6:27:50 AM

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steve scheetz

you forgot the rest of Obama's statement.

"she is a typical white person who if she saw someone on the street...."

Why did she have to be a typical "white" person? are black persons not prone to the same sort of prejudices? Why did he not say she is a typical person?

He didn't BTW, to other posters... it is "ZIONIST" not "SIONIST" if you are going to make a racial slur, at least spell it correctly....

Ciao, CZ

by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 907 comments [89 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Monday, Mar 24, 2008 at 8:34:47 AM

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Gallaher

Reply: I agree

Obama is a racist.

And he wants to bring the races together with hate. Ha,Ha

by Gallaher (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 1142 comments [68 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Monday, Mar 24, 2008 at 7:50:16 PM

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Gallaher

Reply: I agree

Obama is a racist.

And he wants to bring the races together with hate. Ha,Ha

by Gallaher (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 1142 comments [68 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Monday, Mar 24, 2008 at 7:50:22 PM

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steve scheetz

Reply: we can see how he brings the races together..

when his Declared Spiritual Advisor calls all "WHITE Mayors" "Slave Masters"

that is really good for bringing the races together...

Ciao, CZ

by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 907 comments [89 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008 at 9:59:31 AM

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Hinnis

Church

OBAMA’S NEW PASTOR COMPARES REV. WRIGHT TO JESUS -- CHICAGO — The new pastor of Barack Obama’s church delivered a defiant defense of its retiring reverend Sunday, comparing media coverage of Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. to a modern-day lynching that resembles Jesus’ death at the hands of the Romans. In a sunrise Easter sermon, Rev. Otis Moss III implied that his mentor, who has delivered sermons in which he likened the U.S. to the Ku Klux Klan and declared it damned for its “state-sponsored terrorism,” is facing the same challenges Jesus did.”No one should start a ministry with lynching, no one should end their ministry with lynching,” Moss said. “The lynching was national news. The RNN, the Roman News Network, was reporting it and NPR, National Publican Radio had it on the radio. The Jerusalem Post and the Palestine Times all wanted exclusives, they searched out the young ministers, showed up unannounced at their houses, tried to talk with their families, called up their friends, wanted to get a quote on how do you feel about the lynching?” he continued.

by Hinnis (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 16 comments) on Monday, Mar 24, 2008 at 10:18:56 AM

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Gustav Wynn

Anderson Cooper is only a symptom of an obvious problem, the disintegration of ethics in broadcasting. Any news programming that accepts paid advertising has the potential for conflicts-of-interest, but mainstream media today also carry water for the government because they have been passing through insane deregulation lately.

Anderson answers to his bosses. CNN, who was acquired by AOL/Time-Warner is just the "news" arm of a many headed hydra, a company with a movie division, print publishing division, music division, internet division and more. Thanks to media deregulation, CNN now can pretend to report news when they are actually cross-plugging their products, protecting their advertisers and appeasing the politicians that legislate in their favor.

by Gustav Wynn (82 articles, 73 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 470 comments [47 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Mar 24, 2008 at 10:19:21 AM

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shanti

As a typical white woman

I was not upset by what Senator Obama said. It is the truth that many woman my age and older would be afraid to be on a street with black men dressed in so called gang clothing etc. I have lived in many big cities( Worcester, Boston MA, Richmond VA) where there is plenty of violence by young men both black and white and I would be afraid of either. It is time that Anderson and others sitting in a studio understand that there are stereotypes out there and that is just life in the USA. The US has a sorry, sad history of racial disharmony and it isn't going to end with a President Obama. There are bigots on BOTH sides. I have heard young black and hispanic girls say they hate whites. It is a fact of life in many cities. THese rich, white men have no idea what it is like for the rest of the county.

by shanti (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 47 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Mar 24, 2008 at 2:33:09 PM

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steve scheetz

THese rich, white men have no idea what it is like....

how bout the rich white man who hired you? does he know what it is like? Do you make him feel the guilt of his ignorance every day?

How is it that you are so wise in the way of rich white men? Being Native American myself, I am curious about your assertions.

I know many white men. some rich some poor. there are ignorant men, and educated men. Men who understand what it means to be on the other side of the RACISM that is the current state of the equal opportunity policy in the US.

Because a WHITE man is rich, he knows nothing about what it is like. That is so racist.... Or is it not racist when being racist against white men? I really don't know, because it seems that the whole RIGHT vs WRONG is such a moving target with people who believe as you do.

so tell me, What does it mean THIS WEEK?

Ciao, CZ

by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 907 comments [89 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Monday, Mar 24, 2008 at 6:48:17 PM

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