CNN is trying to steal Keith's thunder on the Wal-Mart story.

[SeattleGirl]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3097229

Jeebus, if they would start doing NEWS, and start bringing things up THEMSELVES, I might be willing to give them a kudo, but not for crap like this.

[Berry Cool]

1. Before you accuse, use the Google.

Randi Kaye first posted a story about this on CNN's Web site on 3/25:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/25/walmart.insurance.battle/

Anderson Cooper began talking about it on his show a day later, according to his show's blog. That same night, Keith declared Wal-Mart WPITW.

Anderson Cooper kept up the pressure just as Keith did. CNN deserves just as much credit as Keith for putting the screws on Wal-Mart, from what I can see.

But of course, they're only going to talk about their role in it--just as Keith's only going to talk about his role in it. The networks aren't in business to plug each other.

I sure wouldn't like Keith to get in a pissing match with Anderson Cooper over who deserves "credit" for this one. Let's just be glad Wal-Mart relented and hope this poor woman and her family can have some modicum of peace of mind. That's what matters.

And I'd still like to know why her lawyer left her so depleted after she was done paying his bills that the money Wal-Mart had the right to ask for back was all she had left--and then got on HIS soapbox about how Wal-Mart was ripping her off. He could've gone a little easier on his fees to help out. Maybe it would have been too much to expect that he might consider taking her on as a pro bono case, but man...

[Berry Cool]

2. Update: Gotta credit Dan Abrams for being a sly fox.

On tonight's "Beat the Press" segment he took CNN to task for too much back-patting over the Wal-Mart victory, saying that the family themselves gives a great deal of credit to the reporter who first wrote a Wall Street Journal front-page story about families like these getting the short end of the stick from companies like Wal-Mart waaaaay back in NOVEMBER.

Dan didn't say word one about MSNBC having had ANY part in it, which was classy of him.

Still, it was a bit disingenuous of him to imply that Wal-Mart ultimately backed down because of the pressure on them as the result of an article that ran MONTHS ago. Yeah, give that reporter credit for being first. But let's be honest, the pressure from television helped. And in that respect, yeah, Randi Kaye's story, and Anderson Cooper's reporting, AND Keith's decision to make Wal-Mart WPITW every night until they backed down, ALL helped turn the tide. They all pushed the situation to a tipping point where the bad publicity was overwhelming any financial principles at stake.

Of course, I doubt CNN will admit that. Nor will Dan Abrams.

[SeattleGirl]

3. That's pretty much what I mean when I posted that.

However, it's obvious I wasn't very clear about it. :)