CNN interviews fake College Republican
posted at 7:57 am on July 25, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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If a reporter wanted to test the enthusiasm of College Republicans at a campus for John McCain, one might think that they would look up the officers of the chapter and arrange a few interviews. CNN apparently found that a little too difficult at USC yesterday, so they just stopped the first person who claimed to be a Republican. Andrew Malcolm reports on the aftermath:
The president of the College Republicans at the University of Southern California is charging that CNN used a “fake College Republican” in its broadcast report today, claiming there was a lack of enthusiasm for the GOP candidate, Sen. John McCain.
A CNN spokeswoman now says it was an inadvertent error.
In its Thursday morning report, according to a news release from the student organization, CNN interviewed someone identified as Eric Pearlmutter, who was said to be a USC student and College Republican.
“We try to get people out to our College Republican meetings, but we can’t seem to get the same amount of support,” he said.
When the segment aired, it surprised Ben Myers — who actually belongs to the USC College Republicans. Myers told CNN that the reason Pearlmutter can’t get people to meetings is that Pearlmutter never attends them himself. In fact, Pearlmutter has never belonged to the group, and Myers would know — as president of the organization.
CNN quickly issued a retraction:
A CNN spokeswoman admitted the error this evening in an e-mailed response: ““Eric Perlmutter appeared on today’s ‘American Morning’ segment about young Republicans on college campuses. While he attends USC and says that he is a registered Republican, he was inadvertently identified on-screen as a member of the USC College Republicans organization.
“We regret that error. We have invited Ben Myers, the president of the USC College Republicans organization, to appear on ‘American Morning’ at a future time.”
Good for CNN for attempting to correct the record. Pearlmutter obviously posed as something he wasn’t. It wasn’t just a matter of being misidentified as a member of the group; Pearlmutter identified himself as a member, talking about getting people into meetings. They owe the real College Republicans a rebuttal, and they have made the right move in offering that to Myers.
However, that doesn’t change the fact that CNN did some very sloppy work. College groups usually can be easily found, and if the reporter wanted to ask a member of the College Republicans about their support for John McCain, they should have made an effort to ensure that they spoke with a real member, and not a poser.
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Fake but accurate again?
MarkTheGreat on July 25, 2008 at 8:03 AM
They are so afraid that Obama might/will/ actually lose that the lies will get bigger. THe MSM is not our friend.
bbz123 on July 25, 2008 at 8:08 AM
Inadvertent… another word for “we are so interested in rushing to air anything negative about conservatives and republicans that we don’t bother to check our facts.”
cannonball on July 25, 2008 at 8:08 AM
I’m in London on business for a couple of weeks and coverage of our race has been slim to none. I saw video of Barack exiting the plane in Germany, but that’s about it. It is so refreshing to NOT get mentally trampled by the American press.
cannonball on July 25, 2008 at 8:09 AM
I’m going to go out on a very shakey limb here and say that, if John McCain wins the election in November, it won’t be because of enthusiasm for him.
Immolate on July 25, 2008 at 8:13 AM
It’s not big deal in my opinion - CNN also reports that John McCain is a Republican.
Dork B. on July 25, 2008 at 8:13 AM
Back in the days when I watched CNN, they always had Arianna Huffington representing the Republican point of view on Crossfire and their other programs.
Buddahpundit on July 25, 2008 at 8:14 AM
To bad Mr. Pearlmutter, Starbucks is closing alot of their stores. So even with that college education you will have, no one will want an out-n-out lier like you working for them!
Vote Barack, he’s offering lots of free stuff and you are going to need it.
Bicyea on July 25, 2008 at 8:14 AM
I’ve been hearing lots of negative news stories about “republicans” that have negative comments from “republicans” yet the comments don’t sound like things “republicans” would say. I‘m just saying
Gwillie on July 25, 2008 at 8:16 AM
I expect this excuse to show up in Kosland:
“But Faux News does it!”
In 5,4,3,2,…..
Plus, is there a course in Journalism school that teaches laziness? It must be a pre-requisite then.
JohnnyD on July 25, 2008 at 8:16 AM
If McCain doesn’t win in November, it will be because he didn’t try. He still doesn’t have a theme. He needs to quit complaining about Obama and start competing with him.
BigD on July 25, 2008 at 8:18 AM
How does February 09 sound?
awake on July 25, 2008 at 8:33 AM
Chrissy Matthews is currently whining that the democratic party is not united…..bwaaaa……..he says Bill Clinton’s not on board and Hillary is not on Obama’s side. Morning Joe thinks Obama should be ahead in the polls by 30%.
………developing
Rovin on July 25, 2008 at 8:34 AM
Brain dead Liberals…
The NYT is losing money on pace equal to GM & Ford, but yet they stick with the same protocol that led them to the cliff. The American people (poll after poll) no longer believe that the MSM (TV and print) offer facts as stories, but rather offer an attempt to “shape the news” to fit a Liberal agenda. The MSM is nothing other than “tabloid news” even when you put a pretty face on it. This article is about CNN attempting to “shape the news” with a fabricated story; once again providing evidence that Liberalism can’t sell unless it’s disguised with lot’s of masks and make-up.
Keemo on July 25, 2008 at 8:34 AM
CNN– sloppy work?
Hmmmmmmm………
drjohn on July 25, 2008 at 8:39 AM
Facebook.com… Search: Eric Pearlmutter… One result, Eric Pearlmutter. View Friends. “Eric has no friends”. Ahahaha!
Seixon on July 25, 2008 at 8:40 AM
The only CNN inadvertant error was being caught in the lie.
maverick muse on July 25, 2008 at 8:40 AM
“It’s only about Republicans, why be so anal? just grab the first Republican you meet and get a quote,” -CNN editor.
Akzed on July 25, 2008 at 8:50 AM
How many college kids are even on campus right now? And especially Republicans? They are either at home for the summer or working to make money. I was president of my College Republican chapter and we wouldn’t have found many members around in July either.
Sheesh.
rockmom on July 25, 2008 at 8:52 AM
How many times has CNN created the same error? There is bias and they are trying to rig the election as many ways as they can. That network is garbage in my opinion.
jencab on July 25, 2008 at 8:55 AM
Maybe Eason Jordan’s back on the payroll?
Rovin on July 25, 2008 at 8:56 AM
A reminder of just how bad the media bias is…
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=301702713742569
Keemo on July 25, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Among the few watchers of CNN I know, factuality is not what’s hoped for. They want sanitized, democrat party narrative. So, all in all, this is a big plus for CNN.
jeff_from_mpls on July 25, 2008 at 9:03 AM
Does anyone in the media know how to operate the interwebs? It’s not hard to look stuff up.
forest on July 25, 2008 at 9:08 AM
I’m sorry (that I got caught).
- The Cat
MirCat on July 25, 2008 at 9:09 AM
Meaning they got caught with their pants down.
pilamaye on July 25, 2008 at 9:10 AM
CNN only apogizes when they get caught in a preposterous lie, which is rarely. Not rarely that they lie, just rarely they get called on it. CNN was the first cable news to say they are not an American news service, but a global news service. I know they have Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck, but after those two, thier anti-American theme comes out.
volsense on July 25, 2008 at 9:17 AM
Yeah, Pearlmutter sure sounds like a real name. What an a*s he is, and what a*ses CNN are for not checking their facts.
But let’s be honest here - this ain’t exactly a huge story to begin with.
Dave Rywall on July 25, 2008 at 9:19 AM
CNN sloppy? How shocking! Truth is they’re all sloppy, Fox included. I can only get good news online. When I catch Fox and CNN while working out at the YMCA, I am always shocked at how mediocre and late the MSM is. They ususally cover a story 1-3 days after I’ve already read it online.
Mrs. Happy Housewife on July 25, 2008 at 9:23 AM
Yep…the times, building, and room number are usually posted on every kiosk and bulletin board around campus. Not that hard to find.
I was a member of the U of Md. College Republicans, and even at a huge state school, there were only about 20 of us.
JetBoy on July 25, 2008 at 9:29 AM
The most trusted news source…
maintenanceman on July 25, 2008 at 9:30 AM
CNN has been doing sloppy work for the last seven years. Yet they give themselves all kinds of awards to make their dumbed down audience think they know what’s happening. Heads should roll at that bogus network.
Travis1 on July 25, 2008 at 9:31 AM
NRO Larry Kudlow:
Go, Johnny, Go!
maverick muse on July 25, 2008 at 9:33 AM
This is news? I call it par for the course considering the source. (Wow! That was a Jesse Jackson-esque rhyme!)
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 25, 2008 at 9:47 AM
“at a future time” == November 6th, 2008.
Kafir on July 25, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Translation: We stuck our foot in it and we’re sorry we got caught
Translation: Don’t hold your breath
CynicalOptimist on July 25, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Yes, the mainstream liberal media has been making inadvertent errors like this everyday for about the last thirty years.
/yawn
Maxx on July 25, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I wonder how long till CNN runs a story entitled “McCain eats baby live on TV” and then retracts it. What happened to doing research on stories before you aired them. Dan Rather got nothing more then an early retirement and a seat at the lefty table of the gods, I guess people at CNN want to sit next to him.
Rbastid on July 25, 2008 at 10:19 AM
I just inadvertently called CNN slimier than the National Enquirer.
snaggletoothie on July 25, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Im starting to think that no one at the MSM does research.
becki51758 on July 25, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Leftist Axiom 1007:
Insignificant news story == Any story that reflects badly on any member of leftist ideology.
jeff_from_mpls on July 25, 2008 at 10:40 AM
I’d be curious to know if Pearlmutter is truly registered as a Republican, as CNN claims.
DPierre on July 25, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Hey, nice logo! “The Best Party on Campus”. Really a snappy line which I’m sure attracts really swell kids to the cause! Wonder if the RNC thought that up? I know if I were in college and I saw this it would be almost impossible for me to resist signing up! I mean, how could one not? I’d be afraid of being left out of “The Best Party on Campus”! Really catchy! When dealing with college kids, don’t ever never use humor or satire! Just keep it vanilla! They like stuff like that! Especially when you are trying to attract college Republicans because they are probably the college rubes anyway! They are the ones that live on restricted floors on the college dorms, etc. Brilliant!
sabbott on July 25, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Perhaps you are unable to see the humor here because you, and most Obama supporters, lack a sense of humor? If I say Bushitler four times fast, does that make you laugh?
Buford Gooch on July 25, 2008 at 11:04 AM
“We have invited Ben Myers, the president of the USC College Republicans organization, to appear on ‘American Morning’ at a future time.”
Let’s not hold our breath.
RobCon on July 25, 2008 at 1:05 PM
“It is the seriousness of the charge.”
Johan Klaus on July 25, 2008 at 1:33 PM
That is because the msm must verify their sources.
Johan Klaus on July 25, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Is this any surprise? CNN has become the New Barack Channel - All Barack, All The Time.
Like Porn.
madmonkphotog on July 25, 2008 at 2:49 PM
“Sloppy”, yeah ok.
More like sneaky.
surrounded on July 25, 2008 at 3:08 PM
That is because the msm must verify their sources.
Surely you jest.
Mrs. Happy Housewife on July 25, 2008 at 3:31 PM
I love the L.A. Times headline that states this guy is “allegedly” phony. He’s been confirmed to be speaking a lie. Yet, until we know for sure, he could very well be a Republican who isn’t a member of the College Republicans talking ill about the Republican Presidential Candidate.
Keep hope alive.
Sultry Beauty on July 25, 2008 at 6:25 PM
CNN motto:
Facts??? We don’t need no stinkin’ facts!!!
landlines on July 25, 2008 at 6:40 PM
I was in the CRs in college, and this offends me. We were definitely a minority on campus. I remember we lost our club room. Somehow I’m not surprised CNN took the easy way out. Just one more reason I refuse to watch the Communist News Network.
Mooseman on July 25, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Thank God for the legions of extremely professional, brilliantly attentive fact checkers in Professional Journalism who rigorously maintain the sanctity of Truth unlike those lowly pajama-wearing bloggers.
Django on July 25, 2008 at 9:55 PM