Politics

CNN Anchor Accuses The Blaze‘s Will Cain of Being ’Dishonest‘ for Denying ’Birther’ Undertones in Romney Speech

The Blaze‘s Will Cain is generally treated as the token conservative on CNN’s “Starting Point” with Soledad O’Brien every morning. That mantle carries with it the responsibility to react to every idea branded as such. And even though Hillary Clinton started the “birther” movement — and even though so many conservatives have come out against it,  including Mitt Romney — O’Brien demanded Cain answer a conspiracy theory-laced question about a Romney speech and birtherism.

According to O’Brien (and ABC News), Romney’s speech last night in Las Vegas included some secret code to birthers — mainly that he might be one of them. Here’s what Romney said:

“I was speaking with one of these business owners who owns a couple of restaurants in town. And he said, ‘You know, I’d like to change the constitution: I’d like to have a provision in the constitution that in addition to the age of the president and the citizenship of the president and the birthplace of the president being set by the constitution, I’d like it also to say that the president has to spend at least three years working in business before he could become President of the United States.’”

After playing the clip, O’Brien demanded Cain answer for the comment and her interpretation of it.

“Will Cain, what was that about?” she asked.

“I think that was about promoting businessmen as appropriate leaders of the United States,” Cain answered.

“Really?” O’Brien asked condescendingly. “You don’t think there was sort of anything interesting in talking about the constitution saying the age of the president and the birth place of the president and the citizenship of of the president, that long run-up to something about business which the Romney campaign campaign consistently says is their focus?”

“Come on,” Cain said as O’Brien tried to move to another panelist. “You said ‘Will Cain’ and you didn’t get the answer you liked.”

After some crosstalk, O’Brien levied a serious charge: “No, it’s not the answer I like. I think you’re not being honest with me.”

“Excuse me … when I’m accused of being dishonest, you can be assured I will respond,” Cain said in shock.

After O’Brien told him to continue, he responded: “I think that this is the unfortunate happenstance of including Donald Trump in your news coverage and letting him drive a birtherism, because then we get to expand the narrative to assume that every single thing that Mitt Romney says when he’s speaking on the value of business experience that you can read into that proverbially–.”

O’Brien, hell bent on proving the Romney is flirting with the birthers, tried to run the clip again. Cut Cain stopped her.

“No no no, we’ve heard it. You can play it as soon as I’m done, but let me please finish my statement here,” he said before completing his earlier thought: “That you can use that narrative to expand it to say that every little thing that Mitt Romney says in an excuse for endorsing birtherism.”

O’Brien played the clip again anyway and offered a theory: “On the day when ‘birther’ is something that Donald Trump has raised as your top story in the news you’re really going to do that?”

Mediaite has the heated exchange:

But O‘Brien wasn’t done with the fireworks. She also had former NH Gov. John Sununu on the show and brought up the Trump birther issue immediately. But Sununu called her and CNN out for continuing to trumpet (pun intended) the issue.

“Why is CNN so fixated on this? Why don’t we talk about the jobs issue in this country?” he asked before adding, “It’s CNN that wants to bring it up. I don’t want to bring it up. Mitt Romney made it clear that he believes that President Obama was born in the U.S. You had Donald Trump on last night. And now you are asking the question this morning. It’s CNN’s fixation.”

It didn’t end there:

“It’s not an issue,” Sununu argued. “There is nobody in the Romney campaign that believes that the president was not born in the United States.”

“So then how come someone doesn’t say, Donald Trump is wrong?” O’Brien pressed.

“Donald Trump is wrong,” Sununu acknowledged. “The President was born in the United States.”

“That may be the first time,” O’Brien grinned.

“No it isn’t, ma’am,” Sununu snapped. “It’s just because you don’t read enough.”

You can watch that exchange below:

(H/T: Mediaite)

This story has been updated.

Comments (145)

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  • country_hick
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:26pm

    You mean the one the Daily Kos is talking about? Salon? Democraticunderground? Politicalwire?

    Your mom didn’t get around to reading any news to you today?

    Report Post »  
  • jas0707
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:24pm

    Holy Christ she is a Snot.

    Report Post »  
    • chjaka
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:46pm

      Somebody who feels the need or doesn’t care to flippantly use the name of Christ to describe a snot is worse than the snot.

      Report Post »  
    • dfinch
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:08pm

      O’Brien is the very reason that CNN is in the toilet. She’s dispicable.

      Report Post »  
  • showmerancher
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:23pm

    The fact that the birth certificate and other records are even a question is the real problem, whatever they show.

    Odd as it must first seem, whether someone meets the Constitutional requirements for office is not the only concern. When ANYONE comes on the national scene as a candidate or potential candidate, the world’s intelligence agencies immediately do extensive background checks, often before records are “scrubbed”. This allows them to attain knowledge that could be used to apply “leverage” to other country’s political leadership. If you understand this, you may find that a politician’s “odd” interactions may come into focus. A politician with “secrets” can be effectively “managed”, and having a President in a such a situation, especially before an election is not a good situation, to say the least.

    What does Putin know? How does that affect interactions with Russia, our Middle East policy in Iran, Afghanistan, Syria etc. What does China know… what does Israel know. What do George Soros or other power brokers know? Espionage and “leverage” is no longer limited to geopolitical entities… In the “real” world, extreme hardball is played, and a leader with secrets that can be exploited is an untenable situation for that nation. There should be complete transparency into the past of anyone in national office; anyone. Otherwise we potentially risk a situation with national security implications.

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:21pm

    I personally wish Romney and team were a little more interested in Obama’s background and his buddies from the old days through today.

    There has never been until now an American President that has such a locked down, sealed and mysterious past. For the last 3 1/2 years Romney and every other person in politics and everyone who calls themselves a journalist should have been talking about the * Obama Mysteries*.

    Report Post »  
    • Mutiny
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:37pm

      I personally wish Fox, talk radio, the GOP establishment, and you sheep would focus on the real issues facing our nation.

      1. Spending – We are looking at very soon economy collapsing debt. We have a current president with his foot on the spending gas peddle and a possible GOP nominee that doesnt cut current spending levels. Where do you people think this ends? We are not some third world country where the collapse doesnt do much. Our collapse will be like none see before. American citizens are not ready for these things. We are used to Malmart, Mcdonalds, and Direct tv. If we go, and it goes as bad as I think it will you will see murder, rapes, cannibalism in your cities and towns.

      2. Wars – Our armed forces are tried and stretched thin. Both Obama and Romney have talked about expanding wars to Syria and Iran. We are broke. If we continue this path and we collapse our troops could be stranded and in these foreign countries. Also, who protects Israel if we collapse? We are the last shining light, the globalist are pushing for us to collapse so they can take over.

      3. Freedom – It seems almost weekly we lose a bit of freedom in the name of security. Our police forces are armed to the teeth and the assault on the 2nd Amendment is about to take off. When our police turn into the SS with machine guns, drones, and full body armor who will be able to stop them?

      These are the reason I cannot and will not support Romney. He is an Obama clone!!

      Report Post » Mutiny  
    • momrules
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 1:04pm

      Mutiny……….Do you think that I don’t know the whole damned set of problems facing America right now?
      How pompous you are. I do not like your savior and I do not think Romney is a savior either. I would have held my nose and voted for Paul if he had gotten the nomination just like I will hold my nose and vote for Romney now, not because I think he will win but because I have a duty.

      Obama’s history is important, everything about Obama is important and you Paul sheeple have not asked any questions or demanded any answers about his past and neither has Paul.

      I stay out of the political discussions for the most part because I don’t believe that Obama is going anywhere. I believe that he will win in November by hook, by crook, by voter fraud or by other means.

      I am sick to death of being called names and talked down to by Paul supporters if I’m am not drooling over him as you do.

      Report Post »  
    • zhaan
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 1:08pm

      MUTINY – you are probably a Ron Paul supporter. Guess what – as long as the media covers up the real concerns over Obama’s records and background, you can bet your rear end that no-one like Ron Paul will *ever* be elected. The same media that denigrates birthers is the same media that makes Ron Paul fringe. So you better be concerned over the birther issue being mocked so mercilessly, because it’s that same media that has suppressed Ron Paul for years now.

      Report Post »  
    • Mutiny
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 2:40pm

      @mom

      If you are still voting for Romney you obviously dont.

      Report Post » Mutiny  
    • ILOVEAMERICA01
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:53pm

      I agree! His past is WHO HE IS! Not to mention his part in the housing mess that started with Clinton – http://youtu.be/EzWrnUezDOU
      He “went to high school sparingly, drank heavily and did drugs enthusiastically”, “chose his friends carefully, the marxist professors, the Chicanos…“ and also check out the ”Choom Gang” – Obama and his friends in college drugging it up. He wouldn’t denounce Rev. Wright‘s America hating but said he didn’t hear it. Not believeable when he went to that church for 20 years, his kids were baptized there, this was his mentor that was “like an uncle.”
      His FIRST EO was to hide his past. { http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2009-01-26/pdf/E9-1712.pdf }
      Then he says “only those that have something to hide, hide anything.” If he’s talking, he’s lying.
      And for the record “Hope and Change” and “Forward” were also the campaign slogans for Karl Marx, Lenin, Stalin and Hitler. Let’s move America BACKWARD! 2012 – THE END OF AN ERROR!
      As far as Ron Paul – he’s mum about all of this that I was able to find with a simple online search. He’s no better.

      Report Post »  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:21pm

    Question:
    How do you manage to type with your head buried so far up your @ss?

    Report Post »  
  • tamalezebra
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:10pm

    Soledad O’Brien needs to do the weather. He behavior is childish and unprofessional.

    Report Post »  
    • dealer@678
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 1:47pm

      Everytime she opens her mouth it sounds more and more like Debbie Shultz. I hope shes proud of herself

      Report Post »  
    • ILOVEAMERICA01
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:00pm

      Wonder why CNN has 50,000 viewers?

      Report Post »  
  • drattastic
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:06pm

    Everybody knows that O’Brien is a leftwing hack and CNN is nothing but msnbc lite. So no surprises.

    Report Post » drattastic  
  • cristo52
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:06pm

    It’s like watching a train wreck. She won’t last much past the election, poor old – yes old – Solidad is gonna freak out, go crazy, her head’s gonna explode, before Mitt Romney is inaugurated.Total breakdown.

    Report Post »  
  • jakartaman
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:04pm

    I can’t wait for election night when Barry loses by a landslide.
    These CNN and Msnbc and the network liberal talking heads will explode!!
    and there will be extreme joy in Mudville.-Ha

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 2:09pm

      The last Canadian election .. I happened upon their liberal MSM . IT WAS GREAT .. You would have thought someone had died … they got a Conservative leader .. and they could not believe it … I agree IT WILL BE GREAT …

      Report Post »  
    • saranda
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:19pm

      @catb – Canada has had a conservative government through the past three elections?

      Report Post »  
  • Matt
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:01pm

    If I were Will Cain I would quit my job at the Communist News Network….but then, if I were Will Cain I never would have accepted the job in the first place.

    Report Post »  
  • Lotus503
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:00pm

    It sounds to me like Soledad O’Brien must believe that there is at least some truth in the ‘birther’ movement, otherwise she wouldn’t get so defensive about even the hint of a suggestion that Mr. Obama isn’t qualified under the Constitution to hold the office of President.

    I say, get to the truth no matter where it leads and let the chips fall where they may.

    Report Post »  
  • Vernon Black
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:59am

    Any wonder why CNN has lost nearly all of its audience?

    Report Post » Vernon Black  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:58am

    How ironic for a CNN news anchor, and O’Brien in particular, to call someone dishonest.

    Report Post »  
    • landman1
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 1:55pm

      To call Soledad a news “anchor” is an insult to all news anchors everywhere save possibly Ron Burgundy. Keep it classy Soledad!

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 2:17pm

      As well as boat anchors around the world too.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • DarthMims
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:56am

    CNN, MSNBC, and Fox are all guilty of taking an issue and pushing it to its extremes for the ratings. It’s for entertainment purposes, not informative news purposes. For real news, I read from several sources to get a good overall picture, but when I watch news BBCAmerica is very good.

    Report Post » DarthMims  
  • sbenard
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:53am

    This is why CNN is known as the Communist News Network. They believe in propaganda just as fervently! And their agenda is the same!

    Report Post » sbenard  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:50am

    When I listen to soledad obimbo, and I try to come up with a word to describe her…I think to myself that this would be a good time to call bill maher for descriptive advice.

    Report Post »  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:49am

    Talk about somebody obviously, and willingly taking something out of context?! Soledud O’Brien just has to rear her ugly ass upward again.

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:48am

    A “fact check error” in Obama’s bio goes unnoticed for 16 years?!? Why isn’t CNN investigating this and pursuing real journalism standards. Oh I know, because they are Obama shills and have absolutely no courage or spine and care nothing about truth only their left wing political agenda! CNN you are treasonous traitors!

    Report Post » DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776  
    • zhaan
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:52pm

      Yes, and I wish Will Cain or someone at The Blaze would just CALL them out on totally distorting this story and mocking it so unprofessionally. Whether or not Obama was born in Kenya is one thing – but the FACT is that his BIO said he was born in Kenya for 16 years. Anyone who denies that this fact raises some concerns is either lying or in denial.

      C’mon BLAZE – call these people out on this! The media hypocrisy on this is nauseating!

      Report Post »  
    • ILOVEAMERICA01
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:11pm

      AMEN!! There are SO MANY issues with this illegal alien usurper in thief it’s not funny.
      1st EO was to seal his records – http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2009-01-26/pdf/E9-1712.pdf
      Fast and Furious
      Solyndra money going to his bundlers
      His part in the housing mess and the money he’s gotten from it – http://youtu.be/EzWrnUezDOU
      His UN Treaty Agenda -
      Foreign Law will replace the US Constitution
      The UN will have the power to impose Global Taxes on Americans
      The UN will have control of all oil resources off of America’s coasts
      The UN will have the authority to tell the US Navy where it can and can’t go
      This is soon to be ratified in the US Senate unless we can get 34 Senators to go against it. Possible in this VERY Liberal Democrat Senate?
      There are MANY more issues – I don’t have enough characters to type all of the reasons he should be up on charges of treason and punished for the same. GUILTY
      Ron Paul is no better. Has he brought any of this up?

      Report Post »  
  • kevymac
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:46am

    As Trump explained to Wolf Blitzer. “No wonder your ratings are so low”

    Report Post » kevymac  
  • Popp40
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:44am

    And this is why CNN’s rating keep dropping!

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:44am

    Just one more fine example of the communist news network in action.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • broker0101
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:43am

    Look, in the eyes of The Left, ALL Republicans, and especially Conservative, are Sexist, Racist, Homophobic Bigots and Birthers to boot. That WILL NEVER CHANGE. Get over it and focus on things over which you have some control rather than letting the Glenn Becks of the world constantly provoke you into feeling outraged.

    Report Post » broker0101  
    • Just in time
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:13pm

      You forgot one other sterotype, we are all wealthy idiots. Your in complete denial, you need help. If you want to find the wealthy idiots. Look toward Hollywood.

      Report Post »  
    • dfinch
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:10pm

      I have found everything that Glenn Beck has said through the last couple of years has all come true. People need to take him more seriously.

      Report Post »  
  • nappy
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:42am

    Soledad is toast. Why waste time on this nitwit? Why even have anyone appear on her show. I feel slimed by this. You KNOW she’s a complete idiot yet you contribute to her show and then repeat the nonsense here.. get on to more serious things please.

    Report Post »  
  • Diablo4965
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:41am

    You can’t fix stupid!

    Report Post » Diablo4965  
  • dsm
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:40am

    CNN=Communist News Network. She is an idiot. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC are very fearful Obama is going to lose in November.

    Report Post »  
    • JonSigMan
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:49pm

      Yes she is, and yes, they are….. very….it‘s the only thing they’re figuring correctly thus far.

      Report Post » JonSigMan  
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