In light of CNN’s near-blackout of on-air coverage regarding its removal of now-interim DNC chair Donna Brazile, the MRC’s Director of Media Analysis Tim Graham took to the airwaves of the Fox Business Network (FBN) to blast this move as “not exactly transparency in action” and particularly their own media reporters for not doing so aside from social media and their website.
“CNN, meanwhile, is facing a whole lot of criticism over Donna Brazile when she was in their employee leaking information to the Hillary Clinton camp to the exact questions. Now, we since found out she was let go a couple weeks ago but the damage is done,” host Neil Cavuto explained in the lead-in to Graham.
Graham first admitted that “[i]t is not exactly transparency in action” by the Cable News Network seeing as how their entire job is “to actually say those sorts of things” but instead, “[t]his news broke yesterday, we haven't seen CNN’s media reporters for 24 hours.”
He also noted that Republican Congressman Chris Collins (N.Y.) alluded to it on New Day but co-host Alisyn Camerota refused to acknowledge it and is particularly damaging because the scandal almost mirrors that of “the quiz show scandal of the ‘50s.”
When Cavuto asked about the whole idea that a CNN political commentator was feeding the Clinton campaign of all groups town hall questions, Graham opined that it’s “standard operating procedure on Team Clinton” to be “misleading the public” and especially seeing as how “if she is the most qualified person in history, why does she need questions in advance?”
“Well, all I’m thinking — I don’t — people take their sides and their issues, but Tim, if that ever happened, you know, Fox Business did a few debates — a couple of debates and if word ever got out that we did something half as bad and secretive questions to any one of the candidates. We didn’t, by the way. Man oh man, we would be electrocuted. We would be shot,” Cavuto responded.
The transcript of Graham’s appearance on FBN’s Cavuto: Coast to Coast from November 1 can be found below.
FBN’s Cavuto: Coast to Coast
November 1, 2016
1:06 p.m. EasternNEIL CAVUTO: CNN, meanwhile, is facing a whole lot of criticism over Donna Brazil when she was in their employee leaking information to the Hillary Clinton camp to the exact questions. Now, we since found out she was let go a couple weeks ago but the damage is done and the Media Research Center Director of Media Analysis Tim Graham says it's going to have a lasting effect. Tim, what do you make of fact that you found out yesterday that she had technically been like a couple of weeks prior?
TIM GRAHAM: It is not exactly transparency in action. Oh, well, by the way, we dismissed her shortly afterwards. We just didn't tell anybody. This is a news network. You’re supposed to actually say those sorts of things, but you know what? This news broke yesterday, we haven't seen CNN’s media reporters for 24 hours. They have not been on the air on the Brazile story or any other media story. Donna Brazile is not coming up on CNN. A Republican congressman tried to bring it up this morning on New Day and the anchor changed the subject. This is not a model of how a network handles a scandal like this. This is like the quiz show scandal of the 50s. They were feeding the candidate questions so she would look like a genius or look very compassionate on television and they should really confess.
CAVUTO: You think she knew when a question would come her way that she knew that it was secretive to her or that it was presented. This question might come up, Mrs. Clinton, because she obviously took it. She studied an answer and well rehearsed for that moment. So, what you think?
GRAHAM: I think this is standard operating procedure on Team Clinton. You know, we saw this story earlier with the Steve Harvey Show that they had to prearrange in — you know, before the show. We are going to show some pictures of you as a child. You will then act surprised and I think the he real question, you know, she is so pre-scripted and the problem is you are misleading the public is they think when you say some thing at a town hall that these people are standing up and offering the question instead of we preselected this. We pre-scripted this and then we sent it to the Clinton people so they could prepare. You know, I want to ask the question, if she is the most qualified person in history, why does she need questions in advance?
CAVUTO: Well, all I’m thinking — I don’t — people take their sides and their issues, but Tim, if that ever happened, you know, Fox Business did a few debates — a couple of debates and if word ever got out that we did something half as bad and secretive questions to any one of the candidates. We didn’t, by the way. Man oh man, we would be electrocuted. We would be shot.
GRAHAM: Well, it’s just like that story when Roger Ailes sent a note to the Bush White House after 9/11 saying hit them hard and everybody had a fit. How dare you after 9/11 say something supportive to the President?
CAVUTO: Yeah, this is just beyond the pale, but holy cow. It does make you think about, you know, media fairness and what is right. It just depends on your party I guess. Thank you very much. Great seeing you again.
