This … is CNN

March 9, 2007

Apparently, Tom DeLay’s criminal indictment, his resignation in disgrace, his record of vituperative right-wing hate-mongering, his demagoguery, and his multiple admonishments from the House Ethics Committee weren’t enough to keep CNN from putting him on the payroll.

Tom DeLay is becoming a commentator for CNN, according to John Fund. In today’s WSJ Political Diary, he writes:

“Despite his antipathy toward liberals, Mr. DeLay joked that he’s happy to work with them. He told me he is about to sign on with CNN as a commentator. ‘I may be their only conservative on air, but someone has to do it.'”

Right. “Only” conservative on CNN. Remind me, who are the last three people the network hired to offer political commentary?

* Right-wing blowhard and best-selling compiler Bob Bennett;

* Former far-right lawmaker congressman J.C. Watts (R-Okla.);

* and for CNN Headline News, right-wing radio host Glenn Beck.

Given this line-up, DeLay believes he’s in a position to feel sorry for himself, as if joining conservative colleagues on CNN, where he’ll have another outlet to share his conservative ideas, is a sacrifice for him. Please.

As for CNN, that’s four high-profile, right-wing hires in one year. The liberal media strikes again.

Update: I received word late this evening that the comments Tom DeLay made to the WSJ’s John Fund may have been premature. While the former House Majority Leader was reportedly “about to” sign on with CNN as a commentator, word from the network is that CNN will not hire DeLay.

The circumstances that led to the change of heart remain unclear, but it appears to be encouraging, nevertheless.

If Faux Noise is whining about a potential boycott by Democrats, it’s also time to hold CNN’s feet to the fire too. Their absurd determination become an alternative to those buzzards should be made similarly painful. Write the twerps too.

  • I know CNN’s quality standards are pretty much in the basement, but this is pathetic even for them. Who in the freakin’ hell at CNN thinks this is a good idea? I mean really? Next up, OJ for sports commentary.

  • Wolfie must be having orgasms.
    I guess if I can endure the moron Donna Brazile going at it with the obnoxious BILL Bennett, I can endure anything.
    What’s the alternative? There’s always the mute button.

  • CNN is doing to cable news what George W. Bush has done to the presidency. I’m sure DeLay will do a “heck of a job.”

    The only reason to watch CNN at all is Jack Cafferty. Unlike the rest of the staff, Jack hasn’t had a lobotomy and castration. I’m looking at you Wolf.

  • Tom doesn’t know these other people because he only watches Fox & CBN.
    And if CNN offered that gig to OJ, do you think he’d take a stab at it?

  • How can you tell what kind of bias CNN has? They’ve been talking about Brittany Spears and Anna Nicole Smith the last three months, there’s no room for Iraq or anything else of substance.

  • Yeah CNN that bastion of liberalism….they only had a who’s who of Republicans on their channel for the last 20 years…lets take a looksy

    Bob Novak
    Lynne Cheney
    Tucker Carlson
    Pat Buchanan
    Mary Matlin
    Tony Snow
    Kate O Breine

    Plus current host Lou Dobbs is no bleeding heart liberal

  • They should hire John Aravosis of AmericaBlog. He’s been on Paula Zahn a lot lately, so there is already a relationship there. I really don’t care that they are hiring conservatives, but my god, hire at least one liberal!!

  • I hate having to delete all the Crying Ninnyhammer Network junk from my email—I’m reporting them as spam….

  • With the hiring of Tom Delay as a “commentator,” CNN is long overdue to retire its absurd boast of being “the most trusted name in news” and its ridiculous claim to have the “best” political news team on TV. One of the best moves for CNN would be to fire its incompetent news “reporters” (that would be its entire staff) and replace them with people who know what news is and how it should be presented. (Ted Turner must cringe every time he observes how his once brilliant concept for round-the-clock news coverage has been so thoroughly depleted of quality and usefulness to the public.)

  • In regards to Tom DeLay to be hired by CNN and to become one more conservative at [liberal] CNN, please take note of a qoute I heard in 2006 — just before the November elections: “CNN has so many people pretending not to be Republicans”. WOW!!

    I believe that’s true. CNN may be mainstream, but is not necessarily “liberal/Democratic” slanted. Suzanne Malveaux? Wolf Blitzer? Soledad O’Brien? And quite a few more. I’m not saying that they are [conservatives] Republicans. I really don’t know; but their on-air comments and analysis are usually “safe reporting” for the Republicans but anything goes –even unsubstantiated controversies– for Democrats.

    On Mar.08.2007, sitting in for Wolf Blitzer, Suzanne Malveaux made reference to the left-wing of the Democratic Party. Why? For emphasis? For controversy? Sure, the Republicans are right-wing and conservatives. So, I don’t need those kind of [sneaky] reporting. If DeLay goes to CNN, it shouldn’t just be one more conservative joining, but rather, welcome to the club.

  • Whenever I read something like this I am so grateful that I long ago decided never to watch TeeVee “news”, no matter what the channel.

    I met an old Italian woman in a very poor part of San Francisco when I was a student. Her grandson, who had never been outside the city before, wanted to accompany me on a weekend visit to my parents’ house about 250 miles south. All I heard of their discussion, from the very back of the house, was “Whaddya wanna leave-a San Francisco for? you gotta everything-a you want right here!”

    That’s the way I feel about The Carpetbagger Report: Whaddya wanna watch-a TeeVee for? you gotta everything-a you want right here … including links to those rare moments when that medium actually lives up to its potential.

    • Comments are closed.