Soledad O’Brien should be given a raise and high praise for real solid journalism for her John Sununu interview. Soledad has single handedly raised CNN’s stature and puts its real journalistic acumen on the path to redemption after having adopted a real policy of fair and balance that have allowed lies and misinformation to simulate balance and truth.
I hope that the powers that be at CNN will not acquiesce to the likely backlash that will be coming from the plutocracy to attempt to neuter her journalistic integrity or to quiet others that may be emboldened by her leadership in forcing interviewees to speak truth and not spin, lies, and misinformation.
While I have always respected Soledad O’Brien’s journalistic acumen, this performance has sealed her stature in the minds of many who had not taken her seriously or who were not aware of her knowledge and preparedness on the issues.
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Soledad O’Brien’s Amazing John Sununu Interview Should Be Taught in Journalism School
Andy Ostroy Political & pop culture analyst Posted: 08/15/2012 9:16 am
CNN’s Soledad O’Brien did something which is extremely rare in television news these days: she actually did her job. And it was the best example of truly awesome journalism I’ve seen since Katie Couric so deftly gave Sarah Palin the opportunity in 2008 to destroy herself. Perhaps, given the unprecedented polarization and partisan vitriol in politics today, coupled with the right-wing’s propaganda campaign of lies and distortion, we just might see a return of the mainstream media as a potent force in this heated election.
The action took place Tuesday afternoon, as O’Brien was interviewing former New Hampshire governor and George W. Bush Chief of Staff John Sununu. With the actual documents in hand, O’Brien pointed out the striking similarities between the Medicare plans of Mitt Romney and his controversial vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan, who seeks to change the government guaranteed health care program into a voucher system.
"But it’s very different," Sununu insisted. "For example, when Obama gutted Medicare by taking $717 billion out of it, the Romney plan does not do that. The Ryan plan mimicked part of the Obama package there, the Romney plan does not. That’s a big difference."
O’Brien essentially accused him of lying:
"I understand that this is a Republican talking point because I’ve heard it repeated over and over again. These numbers have been debunked, as you know, by the Congressional Budget Office. … I can tell you what it says. It (Obama’s Medicare plan) cuts a reduction in the expected rate of growth, which you know, not cutting budgets to the elderly. Benefits will be improved."
At this point Sununu, clearly agitated, became nasty and indignant, angered by O’Brien’s insistence on fact over fiction:
Andy Ostroy: Soledad O’Brien’s Amazing John Sununu Interview Should Be Taught in Journalism School
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Finally, someone who’s not afraid to call the REPUBLICAN BORGS ON THEIR LIES AND NOT ALLOW THEM TO USE THEIR INTERVIEWS TO REPEAT THEM CONSTANTLY. Why are so many republicans allowed to have so many interviews to repeat all the lies they are telling about Obama and not being called on it by the reporter. Soledad is a true news reported and deserves praise. I would like to see more CNN staff do the same. The President deserves the respect.