CNN Host Calls Out Own Network for Ignoring Elliot Spitzer in Sex Scandal Report
- Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:52am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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When news of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s alleged affair and love child broke last week, CNN decided to do a report on politicians and their infidelity. But one high-profile person was missing from their report, former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer. And it just so happens that Spitzer’s current job is as a CNN host.
That didn’t go unnoticed by fellow CNN anchor Howard Kurtz. On his Sunday show “Reliable Sources,” Kurtz decided to call out CNN for its omission.
“[T]here was no mention of a New York governor who resigned in disgrace three years ago after patronizing prostitutes,” Kurtz pointed out. Then he got a little tough: “I’m sorry. If you’re going to do this kind of story, you have to include Eliot Spitzer, even if he does now host a primetime CNN program. Otherwise, you are airbrushing history.”
Kurtz’s thoughts, as well as a clip of the original CNN story, are available in the video below (via Noel Sheppard at NewsBusters):
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Comments (87)
eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:13pmUh, Mr. Kurtz works for CNN – a state-run obama/liberal-propaganda “news” outlet – so what is he complaining about? He and his network are part of the problem. Just do what the White House tells you to do, Mr. Kurtz – you are not paid to think.
Report Post »AmericanHorse
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:09pmAn honest journalist with integrity? Isn’t that grounds for termination at CNN?
Report Post »adouglass1
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:57amElliot Spitzer who cares??? This CNN guy who cares?? Just seems like the ******** are just breaking up left and right and they have no unity!! Typical just what I expect!! I love how their spending so much time trying to pick the Messiah in Chiefs Opponent!!
Report Post »Bill Wallace
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:48am@captainkook
I am failing to understand your point. The CNN report was for politicians and their infidelity…nothing about a crime.
Arnold never committed a crime, but he was on the list.
Taking the story into an area that has nothing to do with the point of the story is kind of weak.
Report Post »runwithscissors
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:53pmI agree, captiankook took a lot of time to prove nothing of relevence
Report Post »CaptainKook
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:59pmKURTZ claims that CNN “airbrushed history”
IF CNN omitted only Spitzer’s name from their list – Kurtz is right.
Show me the video of the report Kurtz is complaining about – I’ll BET Spitzer was not the only cheating politician not mentioned.
A comprehensive list might take an hour to read off… :-)
Arnold’s problem happens to be current news – Spitzer’s is not.
Report Post »runwithscissors
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 1:09pmSo what is your point about the Bush DOJ? Do you agree you had no point?
Report Post »CaptainKook
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 2:10pmrunwithscissors,
My point is about Kurtz – for him to have a valid point that CNN report would have had to mention ALL OTHER sex scandals involving current living politicians – EXCEPT Spitzer.
Of course it‘s hardly likely that that’s the case.
The Bush DOJ reference is just filling in the timeline with facts – so many Talk Radio zombies seem to believe that history began the day Obama took office.
Report Post »Marker12
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 3:05pmKook won’t understand this , but the point is that this media outlet left out one of their own. Kind of like decrying hate apeech , but only seeing it on the right, completely ignoring all the insane personal attacks the left is so famous at.
Report Post »NC
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:45amThanks CaptainKook for the research. It explains quite a bit of why Spitzer was not called out, even if the research came from the NYTimes.
Let’s see how many more posters fail to read the previous posts and remind everyone there is a 5 PM time slot opening @ Fox News or could add anything new that has not already been said.
NC (getting burned out on the Blaze post whores)
Report Post »Marker12
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 3:00pmNC – then go away thank you.
Report Post »compatriotshonor
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:40amIt’s just calling a spade a spade. Finally someone stood up there at cnn. Good job!
Report Post »ChuckJ
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:36amNever thought I would think nice thoughts of any CNN news person. Nice job…way to be a journalist. Keep it up and the networks rating might go up.
Report Post »hud
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:30amI’m in fly over country, and CNN is fast forward on the remote.
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:21amThere is a 5pm spot open at Fox news for you, Howard.
Report Post »hud
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:32amI wonder if they found his resume in the printer.
Report Post »QuranisBookofDeath
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:21amAirbrushing history.
A CNN favorite.
It hasn’t earned the name “Caliphate News Network” for nothing.
“Islamb iz da realijun of peeece!!!!” – average CNN “analyst”
Report Post »BONETRAUMA
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:16amspit the bonerboy…….hahahaha
Report Post »Fantastic Four
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:15amWAIT WAIT WAIT did a CNN lib finally see the true light of progressivism…..hummmmmm. not all rainbows and gummy bears in the world of HOPE and CHANGE
Report Post »thetang
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:09amThe truth hurts,dosen’t it ??????????
Report Post »thetang
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:08amNext????????
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:01amCNN will send him to “Truth Management” and he’ll be back on CNN track before you know it.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:59amNew Job Opporturnity at CNN
Report Post »lowermytaxes
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:59amoh well
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:59amWow. Just….. wow. A CNN talking head calling out his own bosses for a lack of responsible reporting and full disclosure? Who woulda thunk it?
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:37pmCNN is typing up his pink slip as we praise his honesty.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:58amWOW!! Did that actually happen on CNN?? Kudoes to him.
Report Post »LastCallForEmpathy
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:58amI think hell just froze over…
Report Post »Khedewia
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:55amWay to go Kurtz! We’re proud of you!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:55amCNN, or any other liberal media “air brushing” history…. I’m shocked, shocked I tell ya.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:40amWhat else could ever expect from CNN (Communist News Network).
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 2:07pmBoy you wodda thunk that Elliot tried to drive over an imaginary bridge and killed a young staffer. If he did , he codda been Senator from mASSachusetts.
Report Post »justanamerican
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:55amHalleluja !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:54amNice! CNN is still unwatchable and has been for at least ten years.
Report Post »The_Plumber_Says
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:54amA real anchor at CNN?
Report Post »He’ll be gone soon
vennoye
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:00amOh yes, CNN……………Certainly Not News!!!
Report Post »D0ntTread0nMe
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:02amSounds like a candidate for the new 5 PM EST slot on fox hmmm… J/K love you Glenn!
Report Post »http://www.mythoughtsfromthemiddle.blogspot.com
Robert-CA
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:09amHe didn’t serve time & he got prime time on CNN & they’re covering up , is the system corrupt ?
Report Post »NOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!
CaptainKook
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:14amDon’t forget:
The Justice Dept – in 2008 while Bush was still President – failed to find any evidence of a crime by Spitzer.
Kind of similar to how the Bush Justice Dept. dropped all criminal charges pending in the New Black Panthers “voter intimidation” case:
for lack of evidence of a crime having been committed.
So how much time SHOULD be devoted to rehashing it again?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/nyregion/07legal.html
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:15amHypocrites? Noooooo not CNN. They are the ones we can trust.
Report Post »I want Elliot to take my teenage granddaughter to the park for ice cream and candy. I trust him totally, just as much as i trust CNN to tell the truth.
After all they are a news organization. they cannot lie!
CaptainKook
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:24am“In laying out his decision not to prosecute Mr. Spitzer, Michael J. Garcia, the United States attorney in Manhattan, said he had three main rationales:
Mr. Spitzer had apparently not used any public money or campaign funds for his trysts;
there was insufficient evidence that he had broken the law in how he had structured payments to the call-girl ring;
and, finally, it was not the policy of his or other federal prosecutors’ offices to charge the customers in matters of prostitution.
Patricia A. Pileggi, who once prosecuted public corruption cases in Brooklyn, agreed with Mr. Garcia that the federal government does not, as a general rule, prosecute johns in prostitution cases. She said that she once represented a madam in a criminal case and recalled that the clients in the matter were never charged, despite there being evidence to do so.
“What I’m seeing,” Ms. Pileggi said, referring to Mr. Garcia’s decision, “is completely consistent with how they’ve handled other matters.”
November 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/nyregion/07legal.html
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:45amAll you guys that are talking about the ‘legal’ aspects of the Spitzer scandal are missing the point and making excueses for his behavour…….Pathetic!
The fact is Schwarzenegger and others aren’t in trouble with the law. It’s a moral issue. Yet they garner attention in the CNN report and Spitzer does not!
Trying to excuse Spitzer because he escaped legal action is just wrong. And so was CNN in omitting Spitzer from the report…..HYPOCRITES!
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:49amyeah CAPTAINLOON keep playing the Bush blame card , I said the “system is corrupt” I didn’t name Obama or Bush , but still to this day you still wanna play the blame it on Bush card , that‘s why you’re a loon & you’ll never change .
Report Post »kraphtsman
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:55amIt’s laughable how many lefty trolls on this site try to obfuscate the fact that Spitzer IS IN FACT a sleazbag whoremonger, who WAS IN FACT forced from office in disgrace…. for hiring prostitutes.
The hypocricy of the “progressive” left and their butt-boys-n-gals in the mainstream media is glaringly obvious to anyone with more than an IQ of 2 (that leaves out Democrat icons like Maxine Waters, et al…)
We need to see MORE of these sleazbags on the left called out like this !
Report Post »quickstudy
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:56amI bet they’ll take him aside and give him the good ol progressive line about breaking a few eggs to make an omelet (the ends justify the means).
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:57amCaptainKook,
Report Post »That is not true, they did find that a crime had been commited, prostitution across state lines, but said that Spitzer had been “Punished enough”. I agree, the ball was dropped there. But think about it, then CNN hires the ass as a voice of reason. I will never watch the show because of him.
CaptainKook
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:58amRobert says I blamed Bush for this – but it was his Justice Dept – not Bush – who dropped all the charges against Spitzer AND the New Black Panthers – that’s just a fact.
And if CNN mentioned EVERY politician caught with his…in the wrong place EXCEPT Spitzer…then Kurtz has a good point.
Somehow – I doubt that that is the case.
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:00pmPar for the course at liberal “news organizations”air brushing or ignoring the truth is their stock in trade.
Report Post »CaptainKook
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:04pmCaptainKook,
That is not true, they did find that a crime had been commited, prostitution across state lines, but said that Spitzer had been “Punished enough”.
Absolutely untrue.
NO EVIDENCE of any crime found by Bush’s DOJ – that is the bottom lone.
Don’t like Spitzer cheasting on his wife?
Neither do i – but again:
If CNN mentioned all such politicians EXCEPT Spitzer, Kurtz is right.
I doubt that they did that though and we don’t have any video here to prove Kurtz right, so….
Report Post »fertlmind
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:36pmHe will be on Fox before you know it.
Report Post »mill
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:46pmwell, w’re told arnold used no public money on his affair, yet everyone has him and the child out on the front page. fair is fair…we know the story of spitzer..so again…fair is fair…
Report Post »gotta light
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 1:19pmWHAT!?!?! You mean a CNN empoloyee Howard Kurtz called out CNN Host # 9!!! Ain’t that a hoot!
I wonder if he’s trying to get in at a real cable news channel like Fox.
I can only imagine how E.D. Hill must feel about having to work with a whore monger like Spitzer.
Hey bud gotta light?
Report Post »coladude
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 1:21pmI have thought the same since he was hired.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 1:31pmSo he threw Spitzer under the CNN bus?? So what! That is like firing the stadium‘s assistant sound manager for a team that loses every game in it’s season…..Spitzer is a nobody…..NOBODY watches him, NOBODY knows who he is, and NOBODY cares……
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 1:36pmYou can‘t dismiss Spitzer’s trists simply because no crime was committed. The topic is not sex crimes but sex scandals. Swarzenegger is not accused of any crime either. Just infidelity.
Report Post »So, YES, Spitzer SHOULD have been called out by CNN.
Instead, we have a poster child for corrupt, complicit, biased media.
NOTE: I did NOT call them “news,” but rather, “media.”
There IS a difference.
Libs get their “news” and political opinions from comedians and biased media charading as “news.”
SamIamTwo
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 2:40pmNo doubt.
Report Post »Marker12
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 2:47pmKook never has anything new to add. Same ole same ole. Blame Bush , excuse away hypocrisy. Blah blah blah.
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 3:42pmNext weeks headline…“Howard Kurtz to leave CNN for FOX”…
Report Post »NOTALOTTAYITTAYADDA
Posted on May 24, 2011 at 10:43amSpitzer was outed due to his drawing attention to the fact that goldboy suxs is constantly having gov bail out moneys re routed to their coffers.
Report Post »IT’S NOT ABOUT SEX, IT’S ABOUT WALL ST COVERING UP THEIR CRIMES AGAINST THE US CITIZENS!
LookTowardsTheLight
Posted on May 24, 2011 at 2:02pm@CaptainKook
Preeetttyyyy sure that it was the OBAMA administration that dropped the ball on the Black Panther case.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on May 24, 2011 at 3:08pm.
Report Post »“you are airbrushing history.”
Yeah, so? It’s CNN.
That’s their mission.
Get used to it.