American Morning
President playing favorites?
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/25/obama.press.conference.getty.art.jpg caption="President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House June 23, 2009 in Washington, DC."]
It is unusual for a town hall meeting to be held in the White House, but President Obama knows how to use the media. But that doesn’t mean the media is allowing itself to be used, although as Republican Congressman Lamar Smith puts it, “Right now I think they (voters) are not getting the facts and therefore it’s hard to make good decisions, and therefore our democracy is threatened.”
But in the world of broadcast journalism, last night ABC New’s “Questions for the President: Prescription for America” was a “coup” and a political football. The Republican National Committee went on the offense and ran an ad saying, "Today a national network turns its airwaves over to President pitch for government run healthcare.
A not-so-veiled attempt, some say, to paint not only President Obama's healthcare plan as "socialist" but make the media a willing partner. Independent analyst and Daily Beast columnist, John Avlon says, “I think what you have is the newest incarnation of the oldest story that so many of us are sick of, which is partisan talking points clouding all common sense.”
Fair criticism or not, some say the President is fueling the fire by playing favorites. Before holding a press conference Tuesday, the White House gave Nico Pitney from The Huffington Post a heads-up the President was going to "call on him."
President Obama: “Nico, I know that you, and all across the Internet, we've been seeing a lot of reports coming directly out of Iran. Do you have a question?"
In short – that's unusual. And it didn't sit well with some journalists.
What’s on Tap – Thursday June 25, 2009
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- It's been a mystery for days. Now we know missing South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford left the country. The conservative politician tearfully admitted he’s been cheating on his wife with a woman in Buenos Aires. But did taxpayers pay for any of this? There are now personal e-mails out, very personal, giving us more information about the alleged other woman. We’ll have them for you.
- The crackdown in Iran – much more bloody and brutal than we thought. Our correspondent – Reza Sayeh has been on the ground there for days. Now he's back, and can tell you what he couldn't 24 hours ago.
- Plus, the president is calling for better medical care for all Americans. So why was only one news network allowed to carry his town hall meeting on healthcare? We're breaking down President Obama's plan and the claims of media bias this morning.
- You loved her on “The Sopranos,” now Edie Falco is playing a nurse on her new Showtime drama. Find out why healthcare reform is near and dear to her heart. She joins us live.
American tourist tells harrowing tale of run-in with Basij
Editor's Note: Michelle May is an American and Irish national who was briefly detained and questioned by the Basij while visiting Tehran this past Saturday amidst Iran's election protests.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/24/intv.michelle.may.cnn.art.jpg caption="Michelle May is an American and Irish national who was detained and questioned by the Basij in Tehran last Saturday."]
By: Michelle May
Special to CNN
The day after Iran's Supreme Leader delivered his Friday prayer at Tehran University the streets of Tehran felt eerily quiet. Although friends translated his prayer to me, I went to a net café to read western analysis of what the Ayatollah said. I tried to access CNN online, but the government had slowed down the Internet to keep Iranians feeling isolated that week.
As I waited for the news to load a young man named Ali offered to help me. I expressed my annoyance to him over the slowed Internet speed, and the fact that Facebook, Gmail, Twitter and the BBC had all been blocked. “Our government is very bad,” he said. I nodded my head slightly.
Just then CNN’s page miraculously loaded. The word “bloodshed” stuck out in the headline next to a photo of the white-bearded Supreme Leader. It wasn’t reassuring.
Ali helped me hail a taxi to Valiasr Square to meet a friend for coffee. The taxi quickly moved through streets that were normally clogged with gridlock traffic. As we approached my destination two motorbikes pulled up on both sides of the taxi, waving for us to pull over. They were Basiji men.
An unfamiliar feeling of terror came over me the moment I recognized one of the men as Ali from the net café. The other three had all the classic Basiji traits: dark beards, husky builds, walkie-talkies, shirts buttoned up to the top, but un-tucked at the bottom for better access to pistols stored in the waist of their trousers.
Ali motioned for me to get out of the car. “No, no, no!” I cried, shaking my head, tears pouring down my face, my mouth going dry, my throat feeling as if it were going to close. Two other motorbikes with Basij came up behind us, along with another car. There were at least 10 of them and one of me. My mind started to race: Who do they possibly think I am, and what have I done for them to make such a production over me?
We Listen! Your comments – 6/24/09
Editor's Note: Wednesday’s American Morning viewers shared their appreciation for CNN’s in-depth coverage of the Iranian protests. Many felt Senator McCain’s opinions about Iran and heath care were no longer significant.
- Alba: Thank you, CNN, for your relentless coverage of the recent Iranian civil unrest. The passionate, non-violent, majority's voice will always echo throughout history. The future generations will hear it! I make a plea to the praying intercessors all over the world. Pray for God's imminent healing of the physical and emotional wounds of the Iranian people!
- Navid: I hear a number of your viewers say that we need to stay out of Iran issues. The thing I want to bring to their attention is that this same regime that the people are fighting is the reason we are bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan. If this regime is ousted the sooner we could have our troops back home.
- Avesta: The Islamic Regime is doing what Islamic Barbarians did 1400 years ago, burn books, hate our history, culture, enslave, rape & kill Persians. we promise they are Arab occupiers and feel nothing about Persians that is why they are sending our oil revenue to Hamas and Hezbollah.
What do you think about Senator McCain’s position on Iran? How do you feel about the viewer asking that the U.S. get involved in the situation?
South Carolina governor admits extramarital affair
Update, 2:44 p.m.
(CNN) - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, just back from a secret trip to Argentina unknown to his staff or his wife, admitted Wednesday he has carried on an extramarital affair.
"I've been unfaithful to my wife," Sanford told a news conference in Columbia, the state capital. "I developed a relationship with what started as a dear, dear friend from Argentina." His voice choking at times, Sanford apologized to his wife and four sons, his staff and supporters, and said he would resign immediately as head of the Republican Governors Association.
The affair was discovered five months ago, Sanford said.
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Edie Falco: Health care reform can't wait
Editor's Note: Edie Falco is an Emmy Award-winning actress best known for her character "Carmela Soprano” in the groundbreaking HBO series "The Sopranos." She is now starring in the new series "Nurse Jackie" that premiered on Showtime in early June 2009.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/25/edie.falco.getty.art.jpg caption="Actress Edie Falco arrives at the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards September 16, 2007 in Los Angeles, California."]
By Edie Falco
Special to CNN
Health care is something that affects everyone in America, and I am glad that we are having a national conversation about it. I am supporting Health Care for America Now because we are at a moment in time when we can actually make change that impacts peoples’ lives in a very real way.
We have got to fix health care, and we have got to do it right now. Health care reform cannot wait.
As a struggling artist, I spent many years without health coverage. I know the feeling of hoping your symptoms go away before you have to get money together to see a doctor. I know worrying about it makes it even harder to get better. I still have friends and family in this position.
It’s true, I have health care now. I have good doctors and I'm treated very well, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this. But I believe no one person is any more worthy of such treatment than any other person who may be sitting at home right now worried about their own health or the health of a loved one, knowing they don't have the money to take care of it. With all of the wealth and ingenuity in our country, I know we can do better. We can fix this.
FULL POST
Filed under: Commentary • Health