Objecting to CNN’s Anderson Cooper moderating the Oct. 9 debate with ABC News host Martha Raddatz, 70-year-old GOP nominee real estate tycoon Donald Trump raised undeniable media bias. For those in the media trying to defend Cooper, CNN’s 51-year-old CEO Jeff Zucker admitted his network had drifted too far to the left. CNN’s “a little to liberal,” Zucker said May 2, vowing to correct the imbalance. For anyone watching CNN’s election coverage the left wing, Trump-bashing bias has been unmistakable. Trump’s no stranger to bias on the debate stage. On the first Fox News GOP presidential Debate Aug. 6, 2015, Fox News moderator Megyn Kelly blindsided Trump with the first question, accusing him of misogyny. When Trump cried foul, former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes, a old friend of Trump’s, threatened to make his life hell.
Cooper’s CNN primetime show “AC360,” typically hosts large panels of largely liberal pundits, committed to ripping Trump in the primaries and general election. Cooper’s practically stood on his head trying to sabotage Trump’s campaign. Hosting a CNN town-hall chat March 29, Cooper couldn’t control his snarky side toward Trump. After asking Trump about Tweeting an unflattering picture of Heidi Cruz, the wife of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx.), Cooper called Trump on the carpet. “I thought it was nice Picture of Heidi,” Trump quipped. “Come on, you’re running for President of the United States,” said Cooper. “I didn’t start it,” said Trump. “Sir, with all due respect, that’s the argument of a five-year-old,” said Cooper, creating the antagonism that leaves Trump wary of Cooper co-moderating a debate Oct. 9. CNN’s network and Cooper’s show, have nothing good to say about Trump.
When CNN’s CEO Jeff Zucker admitted the network has become too liberal, you know it’s an understatement. Questions have been raised whether or not Cooper has close ties to the Hillary campaign. “I don’t think Anderson Cooper should be a moderator, because Anderson Cooper works for CNN and over the last couple of days, I’ve seen how Anderson Cooper behaves,” said Trump, apparently forgetting his dust-up with Cooper March 29. Cooper looked like a predator waiting to pounce on Trump during CNN’s March 29 town-hall. “He’ll be very biased, very biased. I don’t think she should be moderator. I’ll participate, but I don’t think he should be moderator. CNN is the Clinton News Network and Anderson Cooper, I don’t think he can be fair,” said Trump raising real questions bout the extent of media bias in the 2016 presidential campaign. Media bias compromises the First Amendment.
With CNN practically selling Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign, it’s dangerously close to crossing the same line as former CBS Nightly News and Managing Director Dan Rather in the 2004 presidential campaign. Rather, who took over the venerable chair of news anchor from Walter Cronkite March 7, 1981, resigned in disgrace March 9, 2005 for presenting fake copies of President George W. Bush’s discharge papers from the Texas Air National Guard. An internal CBS News investigation found inappropriate ties to the presidential campaign of Sen. John Kerry (D-Ma.). While no one’s accused Cooper of that yet, it’s clear CNN harbors extreme prejudice against Trump. When Cooper accused Trump of acting like a five-year-old March 29, it showed his extreme prejudice against Trump, unable to control his bias and emotions.
Before the Oct. 9, debate, Cooper’s now on notice that he’ll be scrutinized, like Megyn Kelly, for anti-Trump bias. Retired NBC News anchor Bob Schieffer gave some friendly advice to the new generation of presidential debate moderators. Schieffer urged the upstarts to keep out of headlines, refrain from anything other than asking questions, not dueling with candidates. Cooper already showed it’s hard for him to stay out of the fray with his past exchanges with Trump. Given CNN’s bias toward Hilllary, it’s probably not possible for Cooper to change his stripes. “There’s a lot of people who are very worried about you,” said Cooper to Hillary, the day after falling ill at the Sept. 11 memorial event. “How are you feeling?” asked Cooper, bypassing completely more detailed questions about Hillary’s medical condition. Cooper shows no interest in getting to the bottom of Hillary’ health scare.
Extreme media bias against Trump in the 2016 race has helped fuel the voters’ revolt that now shows Trump moving ahead in presidential polls, especially in battleground states. Conventional wisdom gives Hillary Clinton the edge in debates, at least when it come to talking points about major campaign issues. Hillary’s team hopes to walk Trump into a campaign-ending gaffe, something akin to what happened in 1976 for former President Gerald Ford (R-Mich.) when he debated former President Jimmy Carters. Trump’s skill at dodging bullets in 11 GOP debates should help him match up well against Hillary, setting his own agenda. Regardless of moderators’ questions or the barbs, Trump needs get out his talking points, whether about Hillary’s emails or health concerns. More than anything, Trump needs to avoid getting stuck in the quicksand of moderators’ questions.
