CNN finally covers prep school student's question producing McCain's "awkward moment"

Summary: On April 3, CNN finally reported on Episcopal High School student Katelyn Halldorson's question challenging Sen. John McCain to clarify why he was visiting the school if not for political reasons. Media Matters for America previously noted that CNN and MSNBC had failed to report on Halldorson's question despite extensively covering questions posed to Chelsea Clinton about Monica Lewinsky.

Two days after Sen. John McCain delivered a speech at his alma mater, Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, CNN finally reported on student Katelyn Halldorson's question challenging McCain to clarify why he was visiting the school if not for political reasons. On the April 3 edition of The Situation Room, congressional correspondent Dana Bash reported that "McCain's return to his old high school Tuesday was not welcomed by all" and aired a video clip from the April 1 event showing Halldorson asking McCain: "We were told that this isn't a political event. So, what exactly is your purpose in being here?" On April 2, Media Matters for America documented CNN's and MSNBC's failure to report on the exchange with Halldorson, despite both cable networks' having extensively covered and discussed questions about Monica Lewinsky posed to Chelsea Clinton at two campaign events.

The MSNBC political blog First Read called Halldorson's comment "[t]he boldest question" and Time.com Washington editor Ana Marie Cox wrote that Halldorson's comment "produced what's known as an awkward moment."

On the April 1 edition of The Situation Room, before Bash's April 3 report mentioning Halldorson's exchange with McCain, Bash said of McCain's visit to the school: "It was back to school for John McCain -- his high school in suburban Washington. The message of the day? Lessons learned." Introducing Bash's report, guest host and CNN chief national correspondent John King had said that McCain was "on friendly turf -- his old high school right here in the Washington, D.C., suburbs."

From the April 1 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:

KING: And McCain today is defending himself against attacks by both [Sen. Hillary] Clinton and [Sen. Barack] Obama, and he's doing it on friendly turf -- his old high school right here in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.

Our Dana Bash went along with him and got a one-on-one interview.

Dana, how does McCain manage to conduct this biography tour he wants to have, but also respond to all these attacks coming in from the critics?

BASH: Well, obviously, John, they would love for us to focus on one thing and one thing only, and that is what he says in his daily messages this week. But this is also built around the idea that the Democrats would be -- focus really on each other.

Now, as [CNN senior political correspondent] Candy [Crowley] just reported, they're focusing a lot on John McCain, so they're making him available to people like me and to other reporters in order to fire back.

[begin video clip]

BASH: It was back to school for John McCain -- his high school in suburban Washington. The message of the day? Lessons learned.

McCAIN: I will not lie, will not cheat.

BASH: But as McCain walks down memory lane, Democrats are blasting him as out of touch for demanding a limited government role in fixing America's housing crisis. In an interview with CNN, McCain tried to clarify.

From the April 3 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:

BASH: These stories, told all week, are aimed at making a personal connection with voters. And while McCain advisers tried to augment his bio tour with high-profile levity --

[begin video clip]

McCAIN: You look like the night manager of a creepy motel.

DAVID LETTERMAN (host of Late Show): Well --

[end video clip]

BASH: -- the week hasn't always gone to script. He couldn't see the teleprompter Wednesday in Annapolis.

McCAIN [video clip]: -- of serving something greater --

BASH: It was so windy and cold, he skipped a page of the speech. And McCain's return to his old high school Tuesday was not welcomed by all.

[begin video clip]

HALLDORSON: We were told that this isn't a political event. So, what exactly is your purpose in being here?

McCAIN: I knew I should have cut this thing off. This meeting is over.

[end video clip]

BASH: Republicans CNN contacted are mixed about whether this is the best use of McCain's time, but even some GOP McCain detractors say, local media coverage alone in battleground states make it a good investment.

—B.J.L.