CNN’s President Says It Was A Mistake To Air So Many Trump Rallies And “Let Them Run”

[DonViejo]

Jeff Zucker also refused to say whether Trump is fit to be president.

posted on Oct. 14, 2016, at 6:41 p.m.

Mary Ann Georgantopoulos
BuzzFeed News Reporter

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — CNN President Jeff Zucker on Friday said it was a “mistake” to air so many Trump rallies “and let them run” in 2015, giving the candidate an unfettered platform to call Mexicans rapists, support bans on Muslims from entering the US, and overall grow his base, which includes white nationalists.

“If we made any mistake last year, it’s that we probably did put on too many of his campaign rallies in those early months and let them run,” Zucker said at a talk at the Harvard Kennedy School. “Listen, because you never knew what he would say, there was an attraction to put those on air.”

Moderator Lois Romano, from the Washington Post, focused heavily on Trump’s journey to becoming the Republican nominee and CNN’s role in the election coverage.

Zucker said he has “a unique relationship” with Trump — he was president of NBC Entertainment when The Apprentice began airing — but rejected the idea that he helped Trump secure CNN coverage and the Republican nomination. He would not say whether he thought Trump was fit to be president.

-snip-

https://www.buzzfeed.com/maryanngeorgantopoulos/cnn-president-mistake-to-air-so-many-trump-rallies?utm_term=.mjb7pKQ2jM#.xslmb8Ml71

[wishstar]

1. They gave him too much unfettered uncritical coverage this year too, not just 2015

[tblue37]

37. Les Moonves of CBS needs to be publicly excoriated, too, for this comment

about how delighted he was to give the stage and the spotlight to Trump for ratings:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/leslie-moonves-donald-trump-may-871464

SNIP

"It may not be good for America, but it's damn good for CBS," he said of the presidential race.

Moonves called the campaign for president a "circus" full of "bomb throwing," and he hopes it continues.

SNIP

"Man, who would have expected the ride we're all having right now? ... The money's rolling in and this is fun," he said.

"I've never seen anything like this, and this going to be a very good year for us. Sorry. It's a terrible thing to say. But, bring it on, Donald. Keep going," said Moonves.

"Donald's place in this election is a good thing," he said Monday at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in San Francisco.

SNIP

[CrispyQ]

46. That story should go viral.

Disgusting what "news" has become in this country.

[MsMAC]

50. We, as Americans, can only use the power of the vote (not for tRUmP)

and the power of boycott - anything CBS, especially that talk show featuring his wife!

[gopiscrap]

63. This fucker is a traitor to his nation

[sarae]

2. I'm shocked, but it's too little too late.

[GWC58]

3. Ya think!?!

[Walk away]

4. Talk about a dollar short and a day late! nt

[HAB911]

5. No shit, Sherlock

[Orcrist]

21. LOL!

You beat me to it. That's the exact three words that flashed through my mind as well.

[livetohike]

6. So stop right now. Today. n/t

[RKP5637]

28. We're too busy counting our money we make off Trump!!! n/t

[elehhhhna]

7. Charles Manson says unpredictable shit all day. CNN, your next hit program awaits.

[demotux]

8. CBS CEO was honest ...

..., ya remember?

https://theintercept.com/2016/02/29/cbs-donald-trump/

Whining afterwards like the CNN bigwig is sooo Trumpian.

[Cha]

9. So whatcha gonna do to make up for that FUBAR, Jeff?

Hey Don! Good Morning~

[DonViejo]

11. Good morning, Cha!

[Cha]

13. Back@cha!

[tallahasseedem]

10. Now MSNBC needs to say the same thing...

and do some house cleaning that includes firing Matthews.

[exboyfil]

26. How about Trump's morning SuperPAC

Joe and Mika?

[workinclasszero]

38. No doubt!

These damn networks are still cheerleading for the serial sex offender fuehrer!

[DFW]

12. 2015??? What about 2016??? As in last Thursday?

This "mistake" is an ongoing mistake that Zucker seems in no hurry to correct.

[JTFrog]

14. Fuck you Jeff. You wanted the ratings no matter the cost to our country. Own it. nt

[RKP5637]

30. Same with all of them, big profits! Information polluters! n/t

[Proud Public Servant]

15. Things I want destroyed by this election

1) Trump
2) The Republican party
3) CNN

[eppur_se_muova]

16. Well, DUHH ! What took you so long ?

Did all those ratings $$$$ cloud your judgment momentarily ? And did your conscience suddenly revive after the checks had cleared, and the damage was done ?

Of course it did.

[cilla4progress]

17. Exactly what I just posted

Those who knew and saw should have called this out from the beginning. Whether profits, persecution or politeness drove this, I hope we have learned that it's not OK to sit back and be a "good American." Myself included!

[Dem2]

18. Duh

This man is a genius.

[dubyadiprecession]

19. How is trump running his mouth on CNN a bad thing for the left ?

[wordpix]

22. agree, I don't get what Zucker is getting at

unless he's saying he hurt Trump by covering him so much.

He was the top runner during the primaries so that is ridic

[CrispyQ]

42. I think the implication is

That without the excessive media attention, Trump wouldn't be the GOP nominee. IMO, the others are just as odious, they just filter themselves so they don't appear so bad.

[Duckhunter935]

20. Early months, lol

They still tend to do it and have done it for over a year

[True Dough]

23. There's no putting the toothpaste back in the tube

or the toupee back on the shelf. It's taken on a life of its own.

[nolabear]

24. Now that others are forced to talk about sensational crap they play them too.

They haven't cleaned up anything. They just get to gleefully listen to a fight over big, offensive (suddenly) topics.

[BSdetect]

25. Duh!

[RKP5637]

27. “Listen, because you never knew what he would say, there was an attraction to put those on air.”

PS: And we (CNN) made BIG BUCKS from it, now we are trying to cover our tracks! More CNN bullshit.

[Mike Nelson]

29. In other news...

...the Sun rose today.

[TrogL]

31. So you'd rather it was kept a secret?

[dalton99]

32. "but we made so much money from it"

[workinclasszero]

41. The standard capitalist pig excuse for every kind of evil, isn't it?

But we made soooo much money!

Works every time in the USA for wars, poisoning the environment, oppressing workers, killing the very planet we live on!

Every. Damn. Time!

[Orrex]

33. And Zucker would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant more revenue (nt)

[workinclasszero]

43. Bingo!!!!

[workinclasszero]

34. Finally the damn media admits it facilitated a FASCIST,

hate filled fringe movement and promoted it to equality with Hillary and the Democratic party!

All for fucking ratings! Lets put the hater freak show on air cause you never know what these lunatics are gonna do! Wee!!!

Fuck it guys lets bring back Hitler, concentration camps for 11 million undocumented workers and God knows what else because it puts eyeballs on our network!!! What could possibly go wrong?

You fucking ASSHOLES!!!! Hitler and Goebbels would have loved the MSM in this idiot country!

[CrispyQ]

35. The CEO of CBS said Trump was bad for America, but good for CBS.

We need publicly funded elections, now. And defined election periods, that much shorter. By the time we vote in November, this election season will be 18 months.

[Raster]

36. So CNN starts their "we were good Germans" schtick?

Fuck you! You own a piece of this Monster!

Zucker said he has “a unique relationship” with Trump — he was president of NBC Entertainment when The Apprentice began airing — but rejected the idea that he helped Trump secure CNN coverage and the Republican nomination. He would not say whether he thought Trump was fit to be president.

[Gabi Hayes]

45. it's much worse.....Google Zucker hires moderate conservatives

like Corey L?

moderate......

"CNN tooLiberal", from his mouth

check it out.....my iPad won't let me cut/paste

[Raster]

59. Corey Lie*ski is a moderate conservative?

[patsimp]

39. this is what media whores always do - like with bush - be complete asswipes then be sad

later.

and then do it again.

screw you jeff zucker. you are a vile disgusting conservative pos.

[retrowire]

40. boycott CNN. nt

[heaven05]

44. profit is their god

they knew exactly what they were creating. Sat in the back rooms smoking their cigars, sipping their brandy while eating caviar and crackers and laughing at what they unleashed on american culture. Snakes with no conscience. No excuse. MONEYISTHEIRGOD!!!!

[susanna]

69. I think, like the GOP itself,

the MSM honestly thought they could control this monster and his rabid cultist followers.

Now they all know better. Far, far too late.

[MsMAC]

48. Wonder how truMp's pal Zucker likes having CNN called

the Clinton News Network by the orange one himself? This realization is too little, too late by Zucker! But it does explain (to me) why CNN has gone down the tubes, even before tRUMP began his race. Except for Anderson, who's he got?

[no_hypocrisy]

49. BS. Zucker was competing with FOX "News" for viewship.

[Mc Mike]

51. No s__t, dick tracy.

[Helen Borg]

52. Aw... Are they gonna give the money they made with that to charities?

A bit too convenient to say that now, after cashing in for months...

[SurfinBetty]

53. DNC wanted Trump to run because he is a clown and Hillary would beat him easily

What, are they now trying to say tRump can beat Hillary? No way, she will win in a landslide. Give tRump all the press he wants, he will only make himself look worse.

[Ford_Prefect]

54. Does this mean CNN will start a vicitm's fund for those about to be assaulted,

and those who have been?

1. Trump says the election is rigged — and his supporters are furious. Boston Globe story
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141598309

2. Students expelled after Facebook group calls for 'execution' of Jews, black people.
http://www.denverpost.com/2016/10/11/suicide-facebook-boulder-students-chat-killing-blacks-jews/

3. Trump Supporters Busted By FBI For Plotting MASSIVE Terrorist Attack.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512510730

[downeastdaniel]

55. Accurate, although naustiatenly clear...so why do so many still repeat this "mistake"...

Let me see, oh, there are millions of reasons, everyday. Profits over country...gag on those dollars.

[Sunlei]

56. I'm not sure but I think they got rid of the "equal hours rule" for media coverage.?

Seems a shame Republicans have missed many dozens of inspiring speeches by all the great Ds, Clinton, Sanders, Obamas, Bidens & many more. Our country IS great, much better than 2008 and continuing to move better.

Constant exposure to only the republicans hate speeches depresses people.

Even worse it's bad for children to "look up" to someone who boasts about assaulting woman, gives fist-bumps to police who kill citizens and walling out Mexicans.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

57. Gee, golly whiz... ya think?!?! CNN can't hide its love affair with the Rethuglian Party.

[helpisontheway]

58. No shit! Nt

[TonyPDX]

60. That admission will never buy back CNN credibility for me. I'll never trust them again.

[lonestarnot]

61. Welp, now they are all in the basket which is in one place.

[krispos42]

62. On the contrary, I think it was a fine idea.

Somebody qualified gets to be president, a bunch of dangerous political thugs get booted out of office, and a regressive political party continues declining into collapse.

[Gabi Hayes]

64. you can't escape who you are, unless the media are totally behind you. dumbo 43 got away with it

because they WERE.

trump was pretty much in the WH, til the media could NOT avoid covering all the sexy time Trump forced upon us, and his insanely contentious defense revealed his true self to many who were too preoccupied to pay attention.

[NastyRiffraff]

65. He's just now waking up to this?

We've been saying all along that CNN has been a willing Trump enabler. I hope someone does a documentary on CNN's role in the Trump campaign. Trump himself bragged that he didn't need to run ads; the media was giving him free coverage.

[NurseJackie]

66. I know! Right? ~~ Actually, I think ...

... he's known it all along, but thought that the "trade-off" of playing for higher ratings was worth the risk. This is not some new revelation in his mind. It's just that now things are SO obvious what a mistake it was, he can no longer ignore it and pretend it didn't happen... or act like it doesn't matter.

[StrictlyRockers]

67. What do you have to say about the creature you created, Dr. Frankenstein?

It's alive!

Not for much longer...at least not politically.

[lindysalsagal]

68. Very rare admission. Damage done. Will they try to make amends?

Holding my breath. Not.

[colsohlibgal]

70. A Little Too Late Jeff

Forget he is dangerously crazy the media wanted a horse race.

[BlueMTexpat]

71. Doh! eom

[LeftRant]

72. He also vowed to return all the ad revenue they made selling Trump's nonsense.

Just kidding, he's keeping it !