The American Mind

Letting Democrats ask questions at a Republican debate (we’re up to four) demonstrated CNN’s lack of journalistic integrity. This hit piece on Fred Thompson’s answer to a question about the Confederate flag–hardly a pressing GOP issue–only adds additional evidence. Here’s Warner Todd Huston’s analysis:

Not only does CNN try their best to muddy Fred Thompson’s stance on the Confederate flag but they use a picture that makes the candidate look ashamed of himself or pensive to accompany the piece, cementing the fact that CNN is trying their best to flavor Thompson’s flag stance as a “bad” thing for him. This is one of the most manipulative articles I’ve seen this election cycle thus far, shameful for its slant and subtle enough that many won’t recognize it for the anti-Thompson spin that it truly is. But, in many ways, this CNN presentation is a perfect example of the sort of spin that CNN specializes in making the lie to their claims of being purveyors of “news.” They are, instead, purveyors of spin designed to harm GOP candidates — in this case Thompson.

In the entry titled, “Romney, Thompson criticize Confederate flag,” this particular piece on the Political Ticker section of CNN’s website fashions itself as a claim that both Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson “criticized” the Confederate flag during the YouTube, BoobTube debate on Tuesday evening. However, Romney is barely mentioned in the body of the piece with the focus being mostly on Fred Thompson. And, in that focus, CNN distorts Thompson’s position badly.

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But, the worst part of this presentation is the photo that accompanies the piece. As the Political Ticker ends their entry with the line, “Both candidates may have to answer questions about those comments next time they hit the state,” it becomes obvious with their photo that Thompson is the only one they feel should have a come-to-Jesus with the South Carolina’s voters.

As I stated in my own graphic of the picture that CNN used, does that picture say “news” to you or does it say Fred Thompson is ashamed of what he has done? That picture is a blatant attempt to make Thompson look as bad as possible.

How far can CNN sink into its anti-Republican abyss?

“YouTube BoobTubery, CNN Spins Thompson’s Confederate Flag Stance” [via memeorandum]

Disclaimer: I work for Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.