News Munchies

Journalists on CNN Broadcast 'Lean In' to Attack Trump

Originally Posted Tuesday, 27 September 2016 at 05:44 PM
Updated Tuesday, 27 September 2016 at 05:56 PM

We're not saying CNN is "in the tank" for Hillary Clinton, but, if you watched Sunday's "Inside Politics with John King," you might conclude that some of the supposedly even-handed journalists on his panel are.

Three times during the first few minutes of the broadcast, CNN Senior Political Reporter Nia-Malika Henderson and Molly Ball, staff writer for The Atlantic, scoffed at the Donald Trump candidacy, saying Clinton should "lean in" to attack Trump during Sunday's Presidential Debate.

Are we the only ones who noticed them subliminally using -- and repeating -- the Sheryl Sandberg terminology (strongly reminiscent of MSNBC's no-longer-used "Lean Forward" promo line) about women taking advantage of gender diversity?

The "lean in" phrase was so awkwardly used and seemingly forced, that we assume both journalists received the same Democratic Talking Points memo.

At least they restrained themselves from blatantly using the Clinton campaign's "Stronger Together," while deriding Trump.

C'mon, girls. If you can't actually be impartial, at least you can pretend to be, when you're on national teevee.

About The Author

Richard B. Barger, ABC, APR

Richard B. Barger, ABC, APR, is well-positioned as CornerBarPR's Chief Curmudgeon; he's our version of Andy Rooney -- loves words, particularly loves to complain about idiocy.

In his spare time, Rich runs the inventively named Barger Consulting, where he conducts strategic communications planning and research, and gives people advice whether they want it or not.

Through the years, Rich has tricked unsuspecting folks into giving him positions as managing editor of the public relations division of a 180-person agency, and as a wire service editor, an economic analyst, a federal investigator, and, bless his little muddy boots, a farmer. Really. He fancies himself a pretty fair country editor and at one time was famous among about half a dozen people as "The Voice of IABC."

At various points in what passes for a career, he's done time as a member of IABC, PRSA, and NSPRA, as well as the Gifted Association of Missouri, the University of Missouri Alumni Association, the Council of Better Business Bureaus (as a Senior Arbitrator), and a handful of church choirs.

Known as "Boom-Boom Barger" in Marching Mizzou, Rich refuses to answer the phone during University of Missouri football or basketball games, plays a hard-edged game of bridge, and is married to a woman he doesn't like to talk about much, because she's smarter and much nicer than he is.

Barger's motto: "Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once."