Chirpy CNN Host Prank Calls Sleeping Kerry Kennedy to Ask About Father's Assassination

Newsbusters ^ | January 12, 2012 | P.J. Gladnick

[PJ-Comix]

"Hi! Is this Mary Todd Lincoln? It is? Sorry for waking up before 6 A.M. but this is Ashleigh Banfield of Early Start and I just want you to know we are live on the air so, please, No F-bombs. Hee! Hee! Anyway, I know how much you love watching plays so I want to ask if you are still haunted by the assassination of your husband who was sitting right next to you at Ford's Theater."

Is this some sort of sick fantasy on the part of your humble correspondent? Not really because that is pretty much the tone of the prank phone call made by Ashleigh Banfield on the inaugural CNN Early Start show last week when she woke up Kerry Kennedy to ask if she is still haunted by memories of the assassination of her father, Robert F. Kennedy, which you can see in the video below the fold.

[PJ-Comix]

Definitely a cringe-inducing segment. And as you can see in the article, what later bothered Banfield the most wasn't her highly inappropriate interview with Kerry Kennedy but the harsh criticism she justifiably received from Jon Stewart.

[surroundedbyblue]

It’s unreal that these dumbasses consider themselves “professionals”. They’re a joke. After years & years of people like this anchoring the news, no wonder the US is in the shape its in.

[null and void]

My sociopath detector just burst into flames.

It emitted some very strange sounds first...

[AU72]

Ashleigh Tali-Banfield.

Now there's a blast from the past.

[cuban leaf]

—They’re a joke. After years & years of people like this anchoring the news, no wonder the US is in the shape its in.—

I got rid of TV in 1997. Coming from the perspective of being away from it for so long and being exposed to some of it now, you say exactly what I think on the subject. If not for the internet it would be much, MUCH worse.

[Psalm 144]

What a freak!

[Dr. Ursus]

Obviously,Banfield possesses other “skills!”

[Notwithstanding]

Human pig

al sharpton

is also a

respected "journalist"

with his

own show.

'nuf said.

[dead]

Wow, that was pretty weird.

Also, she mangles the language, "I definitely want to ask you about the RFK foundation you've been so intricate in working on PRO-jects for children." Intricate?

Still, Ashley Banfield's oddly hot. Who's the potted plant sitting next to her? She's alright looking too.

[PJ-Comix]

Would Lax hit that?

[Sudetenland]

Who cares? Kerry Kennedy, like all the Kennedy children trade on their family name and the reputations of their parents. Kerry Kennedy has chosen to live in the spotlight, so she has volunteered for this sort of garbage. Clearly she wasn't upset by the call. Tasteless . . . yes, but typical of the press.

The fact that Ashliegh Banfield is a boorish liberal twit is irrelevant. You live in the spotlight, you are going to get everything that comes with that. It's just like the paparazzi press--the cost of being intentionally famous.

[AU72]

Ashley Banfield's oddly hot

She looks like a "Naughty Librarian".

[ArrogantBustard]

Jon Stewart is a vile hypocrite.

[traderrob6]

Ashleigh Banfield, a female version of Geraldo Rivera.

[Terry Mross]

“Hey, Hot Dog Man!”

[Vendome]

stoopid and solicitous.

[Lazamataz]

Would Lax hit that?

You should call Los Angeles International Airport and find out!

[longfellow]

banfeld was the lady in the polka dot dress.