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CNN's imbalanced Mass. Senate panel

January 19, 2010 8:42 pm ET by Terry Krepel

The following group of commenters formed a panel in the 8 p.m. ET hour of CNN's coverage of the Massachusetts Senate special election:

panel

Clockwise from top left: Paul Begala, Alex Castellanos, Erick Erickson, Dana Bash, John Avlon and Gloria Borger.

That's two conservatives (Castellanos and Erickson), an independent who used to be a speechwriter for Rudy Giuliani (Avlon), two journalists (Bash and Borger), and one liberal (Begala).

Balance, anyone?

Tags: CNN

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    • Author by rtejon (January 19, 2010 9:00 pm ET)
        1
      I could live with a little imbalance if they had someone more esteemed than Erick on that panel. The guy gets more than his fair share of forums for what little he has to offer.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by proudconservative (January 19, 2010 9:47 pm ET)
      2 3
      [http://alibre.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c35fe53ef0120a63c2e90970b-800wi]
      Report Abuse
    • Author by whatthehell (January 20, 2010 12:09 am ET)
         
      Yes, CNN is a lapdog for the Bush administration ask Eric Boehlert - what a joke
      Report Abuse
    • Author by birdjay (January 20, 2010 12:16 am ET)
         
      haha. you lost.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by DellDolly (January 20, 2010 12:52 am ET)
         
      The reporters even lean right - Dana Bash and Gloria Borger. And the two 'conservatives' are rabid. The one liberal? Lukewarm.

      They couldn't have done a worse job in picking a balanced panel.

      At least I won $50 tonight at trivia and was able to drown my sorrows!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Rob Con (January 20, 2010 1:01 am ET)
         
      Much more upsetting to me was the size of the panel. The inevitable interruptions from such a large panel made the segment unwatchable. I turned it off after a short time.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by kevitivity (January 20, 2010 2:04 am ET)
         
      Do we not need to pay any attention to what is actually said by the panel members?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by starkman (January 20, 2010 6:26 am ET)
         
      "two journalists"?

      What does their profession have to do with anything? You are labeling the entire panel based on their political persuasion, except for the "two journalists". Why don't you include their political party affiliation?

      Furthermore, isn't 'journalist' usually a metaphor for 'liberal'? Seems to me anyway.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by mustardman (January 20, 2010 8:20 am ET)
         
      Haven't watched CNN for about 6months now and I am doing much better.
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    • Author by cjrian (January 20, 2010 9:12 am ET)
         
      I'm afraid that MediaMatters would not recognize a balanced panel, ever. MediaMatters' idea of balance would list Saul Alinski and Keith Olberman as "moderates".
      Report Abuse
    • Author by RedAmerica21 (January 20, 2010 10:39 am ET)
         
      Now the left is accusing CNN of bias??? HAHAHA. Your paranoia is delicious.
      Report Abuse

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