Cutting room floor…
The Daily Illini editorializes against the editing out of Keith Kerr’s question by CNN for replays of the YouTube debate…
Instead of acknowledging the mistake in future reruns, CNN has attempted to edit history by completely removing the question and the candidates’ responses. By doing so, it did a disservice to its viewers.
It would not have been unreasonable to insert a graphic during Kerr’s question revealing his association with the Clinton campaign. Even though Kerr did not make an effort to reveal his affiliation during the event, the candidates’ responses were still valid. By removing them, potential voters were deprived of an opportunity to get more information about their positions.
Acknowledging that something went wrong in an Internet-driven debate that included a talking snowman and gunfire would not have damaged CNN’s public image as much as this does. If a candidate had committed a mistake on the level of CNN’s, say using incorrect statistics or flip-flopping, the network would run the clip perpetually for however long it was newsworthy.
It’s hard to cover a mistake by making another mistake as CNN did. That just reinforces the wide perception that CNN has no credibility left. Those bozos in charge there must have IQs below 100.
Comment by RGL — December 3, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
this weekend they played it with the question left in. CNN had a statement at the bottom that they did not know he had anything to do with clinton until after the debate.
Comment by chase — December 3, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
When will CNN quit digging?
Comment by Shane — December 4, 2007 @ 11:20 am