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Friday, December 5, 2014

More Problems for the Crowleys

News broke today that Candy Crowley is out at CNN.  She was dumped after 27 years at the cable network. 

CNN has seen its ratings decline for years.  Its prime time lineup now regularly behind MSNBC, and that network has seen a major ratings decline as well.  On most nights, the combined CNN and MSNBC audience is roughly one-third of the audience for Fox News.

The truth is that reporters like Candy Crowley are a big part of the problem.  I hasten to add that I am not talking about Crowley's appearance.  While she is certainly not telegenic (to put it mildly), Crowley's problem is what she says rather than how she looks while doing that.  There is no attempt at neutrality or of sticking to the facts.  Crowley's reports and her shows often come with an agenda.  Just remember the presidential debate in which Crowley corroborated something president Obama said which disagreed with what Mitt Romney said.  A debate moderator is not supposed to give opinions.  Even worse, it was later shown that Crowley was completely wrong in what she said.  Nevertheless, millions of people heard Crowley's statement while probably only ten percent ever learned that she was misstating the facts.

There is speculation right now about who will replace Crowley as host of the CNN Sunday morning show.  My suggestion is that the network limit itself to people who view that show.  If travelers in airports are omitted from the process, the choice will be easy.  After all, there won't be more than ten eligible people.

One last note:  in the off chance that New Jersey governor Chris Christie runs for president, I think it would be good to have Crowley on stage for the debates.  She can be on one side of the set with Christie on the other side.  It will help balance things out.

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