Hey, Anderson Cooper!

[NanceGreggs]

I’ve just heard you, for the third time tonight, ask whether the fact that Manafort was wire-tapped – and his phone calls may have included discussions with Trump – now “vindicates” Trump’s claim that HE was being wire-tapped.

Come on, Anderson. You’re an intelligent, politically-savvy guy. You KNOW that Trump claiming that “Obama wire-tapped him” is a million miles away from Manafort being targeted for surveillance by the FBI. You KNOW that wire-taps are going to include both sides of a conversation, which doesn't mean that everyone who engaged in such conversations are themselves being "wire-tapped".

Why are you deliberately playing dumb?

[PJMcK]

1. It's not deliberate

He's dumb.

[SharonClark]

2. I think you've just proven he's not all that smart.

[SonofDonald]

3. As you said

He had to ask three times, he should just move to faux news.

Or just admit he's dumber than a stump.

Only two explanations that are feasible.

[Gothmog]

4. No one wire tapped trump

[NBachers]

5. You know that; I know that; Cooper, I have to assume, also knows that. He's carrying water, again.

Misleading, obfuscating, clouding the waters.

[bluepen]

6. Who did he ask?

This was a topic today. Some people used it to claim Trump was vindicated.

Did Anderson Cooper ask rhetorically three times, when introducing a story?

Did he ask one person three times? Did he ask three people, once each? Was there any discussion about this? And if so, what was said?

Did Anderson Cooper answer the question himself?

Was he giving people of differing views a platform for debate?

Asking for context here. It matters. Some people want to tune in and see a host/journalist open the floor for differing views so they can decide for themselves; other people want to tune in to see a host confirm their beliefs. There are different channels for each.

[NanceGreggs]

9. He asked different panelists ...

... on his show. Don't recall who - zsaw it hours ago now.

I disagree with the idea that this is a matter of "differing views". Trump claimed that "Obama tapped his wires" (sic). That's a VERY different thing than Manafort being wire-tapped by the FBI, pursuant to a FISA request.

Even suggesting that the two things are somehow the same thing, or that it somehow "vindicates" Trump's claim, is not a matter of opinion. It is a dishonest misrepresentation of facts.

MANAFORT was wire-tapped by the FBI.

TRUMP was NOT wire-tapped by Obama.

Those facts seems pretty straightforward to me. So why raise a discussion that suggests those facts aren't what they are?

[iluvtennis]

11. +++ agree

[bluepen]

21. You and I agree on the issue of whether Trump was wiretapped.

There's zero evidence to back up Trump's claim. I should have made that clear in my previous reply.

But I see no problem with a host asking panelists to weigh in. Anyone trying to make the argument that Trump was vindicated will be exposed, quickly, and the viewer will see that. (By the way, I did watch CNN last night and that's exactly what happened during the segment I saw on this subject.)

If the viewer doesn't like that panelist being exposed, they can switch to FOX, where they know they'll hear only what they want; if the viewer doesn't like the host asking the question and allowing people to discuss it, they can switch to MSNBC, where they know they'll hear only what they want. Confirmation bias is the fuel that runs those two channels.
There's a reason CNN is equally despised by the left and right, something that doesn't happen to FOX and MSNBC.

[JusticeForAll]

12. Good Questions

I watched today and felt that he was in a sense "leading the witness" but in a way so that he would get a "no" answer to the question. He repeated many of his questions to each of the panelists today.

I have been watching AC (and the rest of CNN) for several weeks now and don't feel he is carrying water for the GOP at all. In fact all of CNN seems pretty anti-Trump, calling him and his cast of convicts out repeatedly when they deserve it (which is always!).

I lost MSNBC when I cut cable, and I thought it was going to be painful, but CNN has been pretty great going against the administration. Erin Burnett is my favorite out of all of them.

[bluepen]

22. I saw it the same way. And I agree, Burnett is sharp and fact-based.

I think she has the best news show on tv (for those who have no use for confirmation bias).

[Bradshaw3]

7. He was being fair and balanced

[yortsed snacilbuper]

8. I remember that.

[iluvtennis]

10. Playing "dumb" for the ratings. Disgusting. nt

[alp227]

13. Yep. Don't cave to those "CNN IS FAKE NEWS" trolls.

All it does is vindicate their vapid point of view. News media should report based on merit - not try to be everything to everyone.

[SHRED]

14. He knows who pays him

[NanceGreggs]

16. That's why I was surprised ...

... by his couching the question the way he did - because CNN has been very open about their disdain for Trump, and all things Trump.

As soon as Trump called them "fake news", the gloves came off. They have pounded the shit out of every Trump lie, every tweet, every inane statement, every piece of evidence against him or his cohorts/family members that has been uncovered so far.

[ffr]

15. I wholeheartedly agree with your observation. Not journalism and does the country a disservice.

He needs to think through what he has scripted for each show, so that what he says actually makes sense and helps his audience understand, makes them better for having watched. Instead, he goes for the ratings controversy, fully knowing he's the one creating the controversy.

Lacks integrity. Sophomoric on his behalf.

[Meowmee]

17. This

And I think he isn't all that smart at least some of the time. Who knows what goes on behind the making of these shows and what the real motivations are. Nearly everyone on tv looks 20 years older and seems to be losing grey matter by the second with all the cray since this nightmare began really with the campaign. The continual flip flops are too much to follow. I say the same for everyone in real life too. Ultimately I think a majority of the tv crew etc don't care because they make so much money and won't face real consequences for now at least.

[Mike Nelson]

18. I think...

...he saw the connection somewhere else and decide it would be a great way to show that he was not a "liberal" and that he was being "fair" with Trump. I don't think he thought very deeply about the "wires" connected to Trump. If he did, he should have made the additional connection that Trump's comment about wiretapping means he and Manafort are co-conspirators.

[Orcrist]

19. Ha

Why are you deliberately playing dumb?

He's not playing.

[Demsrule86]

20. I have never liked Anderson Cooper...he seems Republican to me.

[CrispyQ]

23. You should post this on his FB page.

Not that he'll read it there, either.

Tell him his intellectual looking glasses don't work, when stupid crap spews from his mouth. I noticed on the MSNBC ticker at the bottom, they mentioned that the FBI picked Manafort's lock, but neglected to include that they had a warrant.

[flying-skeleton]

24. Because ....

He swings both ways !!
I'm speaking politically of course !!