Nothing to See Here: CNN Largely Omits Tainted Eliot Spitzer Was Once Its Prime-Time Host
CNN mentioned Eliot Spitzer's prostitution scandal in every single
report on his comeback bid in politics on Monday and Tuesday, but hid
that he was recently a CNN prime-time host in five of the seven reports.
Spitzer was originally hired
by CNN as a liberal voice, to co-host a prime-time show with
"conservative" Kathleen Parker that debuted in October of 2010. When
Parker left the show months later in February of 2011, Spitzer –
originally hired for his liberal bias – became the sole host of In the Arena, which was canceled
later in July. Yet CNN only disclosed this information twice in its
seven reports on Spitzer's candidacy for New York City comptroller.
"A new start to tell you about this morning for a politician who last
his last job, thanks to a prostitution scandal," reported Early Start co-host Michaela Pereira on Monday. "He's been a commentator ever since, including some time spent working right here at CNN."
For the rest of Monday's news, CNN made no mention of Spitzer's recent employment at the network. Finally on New Day, correspondent Mary Snow noted in her report, "After stepping down, Spitzer has worked as a TV commentator, including at CNN."
And CNN only once identified Spitzer as a Democrat, his party
affiliation when he resigned amidst scandal as New York's governor. On
Monday's The Situation Room, host Wolf Blitzer called him "The
former New York Democratic governor" who " is trying for a comeback
after a prostitution scandal halted his political career."
Here is a compilation of CNNers mocking and denouncing Spitzer in 2008 when he resigned as governor -- over two years before he was hired by CNN.
Below is a transcript of the segments which aired on CNN on July 8 and July 9:
CNN
EARLY START
[5:42 a.m. EDT]
7/8/13
MICHAELA PEREIRA: Welcome back to Early Start. A new start to
tell you about this morning for a politician who last his last job,
thanks to a prostitution scandal. Eliot Spitzer, the former New York
governor, now says he is running to be the top financial officer in New
York City. You'll recall, he resigned the governorship in disgrace back
in 2008 after admitting he routinely visited with prostitutes. He's been
a commentator ever since, including some time spent working right here
at CNN. Now, he says he's the right person to help keep an eye on New
York City's spending and he's hopeful voters will give him a second
chance.
THE SITUATION ROOM
[6:51 p.m. EDT]
7/8/13
WOLF BLITZER: The former New York Democratic governor, Eliot Spitzer,
is trying for a comeback after a prostitution scandal halted his
political career. He launched a petition campaign today in a bid to
become New York City's comptroller. And get this: Spitzer is challenged
for the post by Libertarian Kristin Davis, who says she was the madam
who supplied him with escorts. If Spitzer makes September's primary,
he'll be on the ballot with the former Democratic congressman, Anthony
Weiner, who's also trying to make a comeback from a sex scandal. He's
running for the mayor of New York.
ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT
7:51 p.m. EDT
7/8/13
ERIN BURNETT: Well, now, to Eliot Spitzer, who is apparently – believes
he can stage a comeback. The disgraced governor of New York, former
governor, Eliot Spitzer, he resigned five years ago after the feds
caught him soliciting prostitutes. He has announced he's running for the
comptroller of New York City.
It's a pretty powerful job. He will control about $140 billion. That
announcement turns his first campaign event into a mob scene earlier
today. I mean, look at that. Spitzer says this campaign is about
returning to a life of public service, that he hopes voters will forgive
him and focus on his record, not his predilection for prostitutes.
(Video Clip)
ELIOT SPITZER, former New York governor: I sinned, I owned up to it, I
looked them in the eye, I resigned, I held myself accountable. I think
that was the only right thing to do.
(End Video Clip)
BURNETT: OutFront tonight, Dean Obeidallah and Stephanie
Miller and Reihan Salam. Great to see you all of you as always. Dean,
$140 billion, that's a lot of money to oversee.
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, comedian: It is.
BURNETT: This is money that, you know, is invested with big banks, the
big banks that he went after successfully as the "Sheriff of Wall
Street." There's some great irony to this whole situation.
OBEIDALLAH: There is –
BURNETT: But he's shooting low for comptroller.
OBEIDALLAH: He is. It's probably a smart move. You go down lower,
people maybe forgiving for that. As a comedian, this is great. We've got
him, we've got Weiner, if we could just get Silvio Berlusconi to move
to New York, they run together, it's a dream team. But the guy spent
$4,000 on one prostitute. How come we trust him with our money? He
should have shopped around, haggled. That's a ridiculous price. To be
honest, it's made the entire race – I thought Weiner had a chance for
redemption, add Spitzer, it turns this whole thing into a Comedy Central
special. It's a joke.
BURNETT: This whole story – and then Weiner's name constantly coming to
it – is tough to take, at least from a comedic point of view. Reihan,
Spitzer does have the credentials, though. The guy is incredibly bright,
we know that. But does that mean that he will be forgiven?
REIHAN SALAM, CNN contributor: I do not like Eliot Spitzer, and I think
that many people who've crossed paths with Eliot Spitzer feel the same
way. But the thing is, that New York City is facing an enormous major
budget crisis. And the truth is that Eliot Spitzer had many flaws as a
human being and as a governor. One thing he did do however was keep an
eye on overspending. He kept an eye on overspending at the World Trade
Center site –
(Crosstalk)
OBEIDALLAH: $80,000 altogether on prostitutes.
SALAM: Well, I honestly think it's really appalling, but I also think
that what's really appalling is the fiscal state of New York City. This
is a city where spending has increased in inflation-adjusted terms by
more than 50 percent under Bloomberg. You have pension and benefit costs
ballooning. This is a huge problem. And you need a fiscal watchdog and
that's something he's very well-suited to do. So, I don't love the guy,
but he should be in the mix, he should be in the race.
BURNETT: Stephanie, Steven Ratner, venture capitalist, friend of Eliot
Spitzer's, was on MSNBC with my friends Joe and Mika this morning. And
he said, "I have no doubt watching Sanford and watching Weiner,"
referring to Mark Sanford, of course, in South Carolina, and, of course,
with Weiner, he said, "why not me?" I mean, do you think there was a
little bit of that? I mean, come on, why not John Edwards?
STEPHANIE MILLER, radio show host: Well, exactly. You know, there's
been a -- the bar has been lowered on sex scandals, and I have to admit
to being kind of a fan of Weiner and Spitzer, and I think I would like
to move to New York and run both of their campaigns just so I can say
hi, it's Stephanie Miller calling from Weiner-Spitzer.
I think that – I think that you raise a good point that honestly, you
know, is falling in love with a mistress or impregnating the nanny in
your bed worse than this? Probably. And, you know, certainly other
people have been forgiven. And I happen to think he's a really smart
guy, and I think he's been really great on financial stuff, including
Wall Street, and he's well suited for this job.
SALAM: The problem is, this is a crime that he himself had prosecuted.
He actually declared a war on Johns and then he turns around and does
this. This is very serious hypocrisy.
(Crosstalk)
SALAM: But we have to (Inaudible) a smart guy in this job.
DEAN: At least we have one bipartisan thing, both Democrats and
Republicans in sex scandals. The one thing they're doing that's
bipartisan in this hyper-partisan era.
BURNETT: Well, that's good to know, men will be men as some would say.
These happen to be all men. I'm not saying women don't do it. I'm just
saying.
All right. Thanks very much to all three of you. And by the way, for
those who are watching this, I'd like you to know, if Spitzer gets on
the ballot and get all the signatures, he will be running against
Kristen Davis, the former madam who claims to have set up his trysts.
So, they'll be going head to head.
ANDERSON COOPER 360
8:54 p.m. EDT
7/8/13
RANDI KAYE: Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a bid to
run for New York City comptroller, which oversees and manages the city's
finances. Spitzer resigned in 2008 amid a prostitution scandal.
NEW DAY
6:50 a.m. EDT
7/9/13
KATE BOLDUAN: But first, New York City voters are being asked to give a
disgraced politician a second chance not once but twice. CNN's chief
national correspondent John King is here to break it down for us. It's
almost like deja vu in a very short amount of time. One big city, two
political scandals. Now, Eliot Spitzer is asking voters to give him a
second chance, wanting to be New York City comptroller. I'm sitting here
wondering, do you think Spitzer saw the bump in the polls for Anthony
Weiner and he thought, hey, if he can do it, I can.
JOHN KING, CNN chief national correspondent: Kate and Chris, good
morning. There's no surprise here. Eliot Spitzer, since he did leave the
governor's office, has made clear if there's an opportunity for
redemption, if there's an opportunity to get back into public service,
he would be very interested. So, the only surprise might be the timing
and the specific job he wants here.
And it is a big question now for New York City. You have Anthony Weiner
running for mayor, now Eliot Spitzer wanting to be the city's top money
guy, if you will, and at a time when Mayor Bloomberg is fading from the
scene. You know, watch for the opponents here. How negative do they
get? How quickly do they bring up the personal stuff or do they try to
make the case, look, it's time for New York generationally to turn the
page.
That will be what you'll hear first from the opponents. The mayor is
leaving, we need new leadership. The question now, can Mr. Weiner, and
now Eliot Spitzer say, no, you also need some experience. And yes, we've
made mistakes, but judge us by what we did in office, not just by the
personal stuff.
BOLDUAN: Interesting, though, the personal stuff does play in when
you're running for office. That's always definitely the case.
[8:14 a.m. EDT]
MICHAELA PEREIRA: Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer is trying to
make a political comeback after five years after resigning in disgrace
over a prostitution scandal. Spitzer confirms he's running for New York
City comptroller. The primary will be held in September. Spitzer was
forced to leave office in 2008 when he was caught on a federal wiretap
arranging a meeting with a high-end escort.
