Lanny Davis goes off on CNN Primary night coverage, rips MSNBC, and says Fox News is the most fair

[TeamJordan23]

Lanny Davis on CNN primary night: 'Worst experience I ever had on television'

When Clinton supporter Lanny Davis appeared on CNN during primary night, shortly before 10 p.m., there was a peculiar exchange with host Anderson Cooper.

Cooper: Lanny, let me start off with you. We haven't heard from you tonight. Your take on Barack Obama's speech earlier?
Davis: You haven't heard from me tonight. And I'm not sure—I’m not sure you want to hear from me tonight but—
Cooper: We heard from Paul Begala. This is your big chance.
Davis: Well, actually, I don't think we heard very much from Paul Begala. We did hear an awful—
Cooper: All part of the conspiracy against Hillary Clinton I suppose.

During the election night broadcast, there was palpable tension between Davis and CNN reporters and panelists on camera—and apparently, with producers off camera.

Looking back, Davis said by phone this afternoon, that he considers it “the worst experience I ever had on television.”

What bothers Davis most is that CNN is the network he’s had the longest relationship, and where he’s maintained close friendships through the years. But in his opinion, CNN has not treated Hillary Clinton fairly in the ’08 race.

But off camera, Davis considered leaving altogether, but decided not to storm out of the studio. So he remained in the Washington for a couple hours, and had been told he'd get the opportunity back on the air after Clinton’s speech. But Cooper never came back to him.

“That’s when I went ballistic,” Davis said.

Since Tuesday, Davis spoke to CNN political director Sam Feist, and has decided not to appear on the network during election coverage.

"Our coverage on May 6 was abundantly fair to all sides,” said a CNN spokesperson.

“The facts speak for themselves—numerous Clinton supporters appeared on CNN during Tuesday's primary coverage including Lanny Davis, Paul Begala and Clinton campaign spokesperson Kiki McLean," the spokesperson continued.

And despite Davis’s protest of election night coverage, he’s actually appearing tonight on “Larry King Live.” Davis said that King is always fair, and he will never stop going on his show.

Regarding CNN’s competitors, Davis said that MSNBC is “shameless about their bias toward Obama,” and Fox has been the fairest—which is saying a lot coming from a self-described member of the Democratic Party’s left-wing.

“Fox, no matter how much you might criticize an ideological bent, in this campaign, they have been religiously middle-of-the-road, point-counter point,” Davis said.

And that’s what Davis said he expects from CNN, the network where he’s had “the longest history, best friends, and most respect.”

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0508/Lanny_Davis_on_CNN_primary_night_Worst_experience_I_ever_had_on_television.html

[Doityourself]

1. I watched him that night..he was a bitter little troll..

[Happyhippychick]

5. Yes! I saw it too - he was having a tantrum.

[Poll_Blind]

2. Lanny Davis: Crying baby with a shit-filled diaper.

I can smell his fear and...Mmmmm...it smells like bacon!

PB

[LSparkle]

3. He expects a news channel to show "respect" -- what about TRUTH?

Sometimes the truth is hard to take, but that's what VIEWERS deserve.
It doesn't matter what a spokesperson thinks of that truth.

[MadBadger]

4. There are no Obama supporters on Fox...only Republicans and Hillary supporters

The "Democrats" on that network like Kirsten Powers and Alan Colmes are both Hillary supporters.

[K Gardner]

6. It was an exciting night at CNN.. Brazille stirred up a firestorm that spread !

[indimuse]

11. This Donna Brazille?

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) had "warned" superdelegates

... to vote the way their states have voted, "if this contest comes down to super-delegates, we are going to be able to say we have more pledged delegates, which means the Democratic voters have spoken. Those super-delegates, those party insiders would have to think long and hard how they would approach the nomination." Obama suggested "the argument we would be making to super-delegates is, if we come into the convention with more pledged delegates then I think we can make a very strong argument that our constituencies have spoken and I think that's going to be pretty important when it comes to the general election."

On February 8, 2008, CNN's Jim Acosta reported "Clinton's lead grows when superdelegates are counted: Clinton has collected 193 to Obama's 106."

As of May 9, 2008, it is reported that Obama has taken the lead in superdelegates for the first time. Clinton supporters need not get overly concerned since these endorsements—and the loyalty they are meant to imply—are about as permanent as shifting sand. They cannot be relied upon.

CanWest wrote February 7, 2008

But the buzz among Democratic activists was over the growing possibility Mr. Obama could triumph in the race for pledged delegates awarded in the state-by-state primaries, but ultimately lose to Ms. Clinton if she wins the support of more super-delegates. These include party officials and lawmakers who automatically vote in the Democratic nominating convention in August in Denver. So far, they are backing Ms. Clinton by a three-to-one margin.

Again, things change ...

The day after Super Tuesday, on the February 6, 2008, edition of CNN's Situation Room, Democratic political consultant, Super-delegate-at-Large and DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee member Donna Brazile said:

"If 795 of my colleagues decide this election, I will quit the Democratic Party. I feel very strongly about this. ... There's no reason why we should decide this election. I feel very strongly."

Interesting, very interesting.


Why? Because Donna Brazile, speaking at the September 28, 2007, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 37th Annual Legislative Conference forum on The Future of Black Politics, in which "Panelists talked about the presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama and what it signals for other black candidates," said in regards to Super Tuesday

Over 45% of our delegates will be chosen on that day and if you don't think that we have political power, just wait until February 5th, 2008, we can determine the next nominee of the Democratic Party. We can also expand the number of African Americans who are holding political power. We can also build upon the success of Barack Obama. ... We have enormous political power and its time that we leverage it, and we build upon it, and we expand it ...

No, this is not an exact transcription, although the tape was rewound several times to capture the statement. Listen for yourself. It comes from this archived video from C-SPAN. Download and skip to the second section where Brazile speaks at approximately 13:20 minutes into the video.

But does this honestly sound like somebody who doesn't think that the superdelegates are significant? Does it sound like somebody who will quit the Democratic Party if the superdelegates—of which she is one—decide the election?

In September 2007, Donna Brazile believed that the regular, voted-for delegates were going to hand Sen. Barack Obama the Democratic presidential nomination. The superdelegates would not be needed.

On February 6, 2008, Superdelegate Donna Brazile apparently decided that if the regular, voted-for delegates weren't going to hand the Democratic presidential nomination to Sen. Obama, then the role of the superdelegates should be ignored -- unless they were going to be voting for Sen. Obama.

As one blogger wrote, Brazile is a superdelegate. "She can vote for whomever she pleases. No one elected her to do this. She doesn't represent anyone." And that's exactly the point. She doesn't have a dog in this hunt -- or does she?

[SeaLyons]

15. ....what a great post....

I cannot believe Donna Brazile. Cannot stand her!!

[Bigleaf]

7. REJOICE! Davis spoke to CNN political director Sam Feist, and has decided not to appear on the

network during election coverage.

That's Great Fucking News.

[Adelante]

29. Thank, God

I can't stand him :(

[Aloha Spirit]

8. Lanny would take offense if someone sneezed in his direction. Still though, he plays his part,

as if he were still Clinton's lawyer.

[Jane Austin]

9. Yep.

"Looking back, Davis said by phone this afternoon, that he considers it “the worst experience I ever had on television.”"

I'd go along with that. He was awful.

Oh, that's not what he meant.

[BlooInBloo]

10. McAuliffe said exactly the same thing ON fox. They even made into a promo...

... God bless those Clinton supporters.

[book_worm]

12. Of course Fox and HIllary now have a special relationship and so do many other previous

enemies of hers have come to embrace her in this race.

[Parche]

13. And Dick Cheney Has A Heart

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :hi:

[Jersey Devil]

14. Lanny was part of Hillary's image problem

In the beginning of her campaign she tried to echo the "change" theme of Obama. But how could she do that when she was surrounded by the same old faces? She should have had a whole crew of fresh faces to reinforce any theme of change. Just my opinion, but I think her campaign staff was incompetent.

[wileedog]

19. They were beyond incompetent

Even if I thought she was the better candidate I wouldn't want Penn and that train wreck of a campaign staff anywhere near the General Election.

[Aloha Spirit]

34. This has been one of my core problems with her campaign, I'm glad you noticed it too.

It's a problem because if it were continued when she became President, then that would not only be a disappointment to the country, but would indeed feel like a third Clinton term.

[malik flavors]

16. Lanny Davis makes Hillary look bad. He's way too much.

[Ashy Larry]

17. If you can't stand the heat...

stay the fuck off my TV. This guy is ridiculous. He's just lashing out because the only reason anybody ever heard of him is because he works for the Clintons. Now begins his downward spiral into irrelevance.

[Spazito]

18. Well, bitter little man takes his marbles and goes home....

and boldly states he isn't going to share his marbles any more. Hey Lanny, there are bigger and better marbles to be found elsewhere and offered by people what don't throw infantile tantrums at the drop of a hat. He cares not for the Democratic party, we knew that already for his support of Lieberman AFTER Lieberman started his own one-man party to defeat the Democratic candidate. He will, I bet, continue to trash Obama on Faux, during the general election.

[TexasObserver]

20. Lanny Davis should have to wear clown nose and shoes on TV news shows

sort of a truth in packaging cue to the public

[liberaldem4ever]

21. I watched him a lot during the Clinton administration

I kind of felt sorry for Lanny Davis when I saw that-he must be embarrassed by how unprofessional he sounded on TV that night. He must be really angry about Obama being close to getting the nomination-I never thought I would hear a Democrat say that FOX News is the most fair network news channel. As much as I support Barack Obama and detest the way Hillary's campaign has been run, I still feel bad for the people who have supported the Clintons all these years and really expected her nomination to be a no-brainer. I have to admire that kind of loyalty, even though I don't agree with them.

[featherman]

22. Lanny Davis will be Faux Spews newest favorite "Democrat Party" commentator

Continuing to blast Obama all the way through November for his new bosses?

[JackORoses]

23. Lanny Davis is the reason the word Smarmy was invented.

[Azathoth]

24. "It's a Vast Liberal Media Conspiracy. The only place for fair and balanced news is Fox!"

Now where have I heard this argument before....

[dempartisan23]

30. hillary clinton, fox news and rush fatbag

who needs them?

[anigbrowl]

25. Pffff. CNN has been more than fiar to Hillary.

Som people accused them of being the 'Clinton News Network' but I think they've been pretty balanced.

[burythehatchet]

26. Pure comedy genius. Clinton News Network unfair to clinton

:rofl:

[Thrill]

27. All of a sudden the Clintons love FAUX

[Major Hogwash]

28. Lanny Davis is a bullshit artist and the worst liar on tv except for O'Reilly.

He's an even bigger liar than Geraldo Rivera!!!

And baby, that's hard to do.

[Coexist]

31. Mr, Cracker Jack man came on-camera all pissy and didn't let up.

[Dr Fate]

32. Funny how all the DLC boosters NOW want to talk about media bias.

I would have loved to have heard this kind of talk from them while the media was proping up the war, Bush or the Swiftboat vets.

[Clear Blue Sky]

33. The "fairest" network is the one that most recently kissed his ass...