Posted on 05/03/2007 5:18:49 AM PDT by SJackson
CNN.com 'implies Reagan was insane' Network changes headline after WND exposes 'bias'
Does CNN think President Ronald Reagan was insane?
A headline appearing on its website tonight had some news readers wondering, after the network altered an Associated Press headline.
In a story about a newly published compilation of Reagan's writings, the original AP headline read: "Reagan's wit, humor comes through in detailed diaries."
But on CNN's homepage, the network's altered headline read: "Reagan diary gives new take on insanity."
"It's obvious, they are insinuating Reagan was insane," reacted one WND reader upon seeing the CNN headline. "It's blatant."
The AP article does mention "insanity," in this context:
In an April 1984 entry, he wrote that [his daughter] "Patti screamed & complained so much we took the [Secret Service] detail away at her request." "Now, S.S. went to her & asked if she would accept it for no more than a week until they could get this information out of Lebanon & check the story (about an apparent threat). She said yes. But today's the 4th day & she's screaming again about her invasion of her privacy & last night she abused the agents terribly. I said take them away from her so she's again without protection. Insanity is hereditary. You catch it from your kids."
Some believe the network intenionally took Reagan's joke out of context.
"The bottom line is this," said the WND reader. "It's one short, humorous comment he made, and that's what they focused on because they want to link Reagan and the word insanity. There was no reason to pick one little word from the entire AP article and focus on that for the headline. It's as if they want to equate Reagan with the word 'insanity.'"
In the wake of WND's exposure, CNN.com changed the Reagan headline on its homepage, removing any reference to "insanity." The updated headline read: "Reagan's wit comes through in diaries."
You said: I believe some of the WND readers took CNNs headline out of context.
***
I think readers took CNN’s headline out of context because that headline WAS out of context. It suggested that the essence of the story was different than what the story in fact was about. In the greater scheme of things it is not that big a deal, it is just further proof of CNN’s bias against Reagan and conservatives.
CNN is a bunch of hacks. This is news?
“If you have ever had children, you will not have a problem understanding exactly what President Reagan was saying.”
So true but there is no way around CNN purposely trying to sabotage Reagan with that headline. The line is funny. And none of us had to suffer Patti, either.
I was going to ask how much do the Democrats pay CNN to be their mouthpiece, but the question probably should be how much is CNN paying the DNC for the privilege of pushing their agenda?
I never watch them but apparently yesterday they had Carvel and Begala on in what was essentially a free commercial for the Dems. John Gibson’s excellent radio show covered this and had sound bytes from this performance. The 2 Dems were ostensibly on with vapid anchorman John Roberts to talk about Dem divisions over the war, but instead they spent the entire time trashing Bush and the GOP, and getting all their talking points in! And some say there is no media bias. What a laugh.
I don’t get the first one. What’s funny about Putin in Germany for anti-terror talks?
I got to know a former anchor at CNN. She was quite open about ‘Turnerizing’ the scripts, and the stories they choose to report, which was why she left.
I hope one day before too much time passes she writes a tell all book about CNN in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Where’s Nig*er Ennis?
“Ve are not Cherman. Ve are not Czech. Ve are Sviss.”
The Czech Republic is labeled Switzerland.
leftists hated Reagan. Leftists are insane.
Its just sick. The hate they have for RR is beyond belief.
"Some say" is used almost as often as "some believe". "Polls show" is another big favorite with the media.
"I invite all the French people to rally my inflated ego". Some French people living in New York were stunned when they read the subtitles of Nicolas Sarkozy's April 22 speech aired on the news of [French] France 2 TV, retransmitted in the United States the following day via cable TV.
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