CNN suspended reporter Elise Labott this week for a controversial post on Twitter. To whom, though, was it controversial?
CNN reported on the House vote that attempted to limit Syrian refugees entering the country, saying that
“The House easily passed a bill Thursday that would suspend the program allowing Syrian and Iraqi refugees into the U.S. until key national security agencies certify they don’t pose a security risk.
The vote was 289-137, with 47 Democrats joining 242 Republicans in favor of the bill, creating a majority that could override President Barack Obama’s promised veto. It also faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Minority Leader Harry Reid said he will try to block the bill.”
Labott posted the story on Twitter, adding the following:
Later the same day, Labott posted an apology for her statement:
I think we can all imagine just exactly which views, as well as the group that promotes them, were “disrespected” by her editorializing.
I would love to believe that CNN is simply asking that all of their reporters use some objectivity. However, Isha Seshay and John Vause, CNN reporters who conducted this interview with Yasser Louti, spokesperson for Collective Against Islamophobia in France, have NOT yet been suspended, nor have they apologized.
“Why is it that no one within the Muslim community there in France knew what these guys were up to?”
Louti replied:
“Sir, the Muslim community has nothing to do with these guys. Nothing. We cannot justify ourselves for the actions of someone who claims to be Muslim.”
Vause continued his attack:
“Why not? What is the responsibility within the Muslim community to identify people within their own ranks when it comes to people who are obviously training and preparing to carry out mass murder?”
Louti, who was clearly becoming frustrated, answered:
“Sir, they were not from our ranks. We cannot accept the idea that these people are from us, they are not. They are just byproducts of our societies exporting their wars abroad and expecting no repercussions back home.”
Vause persisted with this line of questioning throughout the rest of the interview. Later, Vause and Seshay attempted to wrap up, and Vause could not seem to let the point go.
“I have yet to hear the condemnation from the Muslim community on this.”
Louti, who is Muslim, had just condemned those actions, but Seshay still agreed, saying:
“The fact of the matter is when these things happen, the finger of blame is pointed at the Muslim community and so you have to be preemptive. It’s coming from the community. You’ve got to take a stand.”
So, who exactly is CNN worried about the reporters “offending” when they editorialize?
Could someone please explain to me just where the GOP candidates got the idea that all mainstream media is of the liberal bent?
