‘That is a false statement’: Liberal law professor slams CNN for coverage of edited clip favoring Biden
by Andrew Mark Miller
| May 24, 2020
Constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley criticized CNN for “media indulgence” after they ran a selectively edited clip favorable to former Vice President Joe Biden.
“CNN’s John King just began a question on how ‘some are trying to make a big deal over’ Biden’s ‘you’re not black’ comment,” Turley, a self-described liberal and George Washington University law professor said on Twitter. “CNN then played the clip ending with ‘I extended the Voting Rights Act 25 years. I have a record that is second to none.’”
“However, the quote was edited to exclude the next line: ‘The NAACP has endorsed me every time I’ve run. Come on, take a look at my record.’ That is a false statement that the NAACP has publicly rebutted. https://jonathanturley.org/2020/05/23/technically-black-atlantic-columnist-supports-bidens-statement-that-black-trump-supporters-are-not-really-black/… It never endorsed Biden or anyone else.”
CNN’s John King just began a question on how “some are trying to make a big deal over” Biden’s “you’re not black” comment. CNN then played the clip ending with “I extended the Voting Rights Act 25 years. I have a record that is second to none.” However, the quote was edited…
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) May 24, 2020
Turley went on to describe the coverage as “media indulgence” before quoting Dr. Robert Oppenheimer’s observation after his work on the atomic bomb.
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“After his work on the atomic bomb, scientist Robert Oppenheimer observed that ‘the physicists have known sin; and this is a knowledge which they cannot lose,’” Turley continued. “If commentators have known sin, it is in the abandonment of facts for a true faith. Facts first.”
Turley then pointed out that CNN ran the same, edited clip again later in the day, omitting the fact that the NAACP never endorsed Biden.
“CNN just replayed the same edited clip in another interview, preceded by a derisive comment about those ‘trying to make hay about this.’ In a story where Biden is proclaiming his support among black voters, CNN omitted the line where he falsely claims multiple NAACP endorsements.”
Biden has been widely criticized for a comment he made Friday that black people who don’t support him aren’t actually black.
“If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black,” Biden told The Breakfast Club.
Biden later apologized for the comment and said he doesn’t take the black vote for granted.
“I’ve never ever taken the African American community for granted, had their support … I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier,” Biden later said. “I don’t take it for granted at all, and no one, no one should have to vote for any party, based on their race or religion or background.”
