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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy Did CNN Hire a Moron Like Sean Duffy?
There are bad first days at work and then there is Sean Duffys first day at CNN. Appearing as the networks latest pro-Trump talking head last week, the former Wisconsin congressman (and Real World: Boston castmember) claimed that the hacking of the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 election was a false flag operation conducted by Ukrainians, not the Russians. The rest of the panel on State of the Union practically shouted him down: This is a disputed, absurd conspiracy theory that youre talking about right now, conservative pundit Amanda Carpenter said.
Duffy tried his luck again the next day, suggesting that all Donald Trump wanted was to find the real DNC hackers, i.e. anybody but the Russians. CNN host Alisyn Camerota cut him off. Thats a conspiracy theory, she said indignantly.
CNN executives certainly knew what they were getting into when they hired Duffy. A five-term congressman and Tea Party darling, Duffy has a long, well-documented history of making inflammatory and dishonest comments. Appearing on the network in February of 2017, Duffy defended Trumps Muslim ban by saying Middle Eastern terrorists are a more significant threat than white domestic terrorists because the latter commit one-off attacks. In the same interview he cited the good things that stemmed from Dylann Roofs massacre of nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015. He has also suggested that George Soros was rigging elections, that Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, and that the Democratic Partys pro-choice policies intentionally targeted black communities and amounted to infanticide.
Unfortunately for CNN and any other organization that clinging to a both-sides model of journalism, Duffy is probably the best the network can get. Call it asymmetric punditry: As Republicans become more extreme, its become near-impossible to find non-loony ones to fill airtime on cable news.
https://newrepublic.com/article/155514/cnn-hire-moron-like-sean-duffy
dlk
(11,560 posts)NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)The host was reduced to repeatedly yelling "Sean" while nothing could be understood.
Obfuscation, that's all he brings.
bluestarone
(16,916 posts)They are changing and we do not like it!
Anon-C
(3,430 posts)We suffer too many Sean Duffies and too few Lt. Col. Alexander Vindmans in my generation.
Docreed2003
(16,858 posts)They are trying to grab entertainment dollars and if Duffy can stir up controversy and angst and get people to tune in, then their plan has worked. They need "heels" like Duffy for their WWE. This is an "entertainment" decision not based on actual journalistic integrity
kentuck
(111,080 posts)He is like a robot.
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)And morons find other morons relatable.
Because they're morons.
Marcuse
(7,479 posts)NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)to accommodate Republicans and their points of view.
fleur-de-lisa
(14,624 posts)live love laugh
(13,101 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)still trying different formats in order to Challenge Fake News. Roger Allies Ghost still rules over Andy Lack and Phil Zucker.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Give me a freaking break.
Wtf CNN?
yellowcanine
(35,699 posts)If there are any CNN execs with an ounce of patriotism.
IcyPeas
(21,859 posts)i don't find it interesting or enlightening when they have these right wing water carriers on.
if you want an argument that's in Room 12A (seriously, this skit is just like CNN especially Chris Cuomo. if you've never seen it watch this 4 minute video)