Look who can get classified as "undecided" in CNN's "focus groups"

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

CNN fell on its face again, allowing a member of the College Republicans to masquerade as an "undecided voter". Please tell CNN to clean up its act.


CNN's "undecided" voter

I needed to calm down after George drove the John Deere into my bedroom yesterday, so I kicked on CNN. I find American Morning very reassuring. A few minutes of Bill Hemmer, Heidi Collins, and Jack Cafferty telling me that Our Leader is boldly and resolutely handling the challenges facing America is all the tonic I need to put me in a proper frame of mind for the rest of the day.


Early in the program, Mr. Hemmer interviewed three undecided Florida voters about their hopes for last night's debate. The fact that at least two of the three seemed to be fairly intelligent made me wonder just how undecided they really were--after all, you'd have to be a complete idiot to be unable to choose between one of the candidates by now.

I found it more than a bit curious that one of undecideds, Edward Martos, is a graduate student in public administration at the University of Miami. Public administration? You'd think that he'd certainly be a bit more informed about politics and public policy that the average guy. How could he still be undecided?

After a little googling, I learned that Mr. Martos seems to be leading a double life. While claiming to be the politically independent president of a non-partisan campus group called the Council for Democracy, he is also very involved with the College Republicans, having served on committees to draft the UMCR constitution and organize a veterans memorial committee. He has also served as the Assistant Editor in Chief for the CR newsletter, Eye On Politics.

"Perhaps," I thought, "there are two Edward Martoses attending UM," but then I learned that the College Republican Edward Martos promoted Council for Democracy events at College Republican meetings. Certainly, it's the same guy.

The picture sealed it for me. The College Republican Edward Martos is the guy I saw on CNN. He's supposed to be on again this morning. Watch it and see for yourself.

Edward Martos is my new hero. He's been able to fool a lot of people, including Bill Hemmer, into believing that he's an independent when he's actually a GOP foot soldier and patriot. He'll go far in a party that reveres Karl Rove.



http://blog.johnkerry.com/cgi-bin/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=3006

[kokomo]

1. Hemmer used an UNauthenicated guest. Holy Dan Rather!!

:spank:

[Neecy]

5. mmm-hmmm

...and I don't think it was a mistake, or that this guy slipped by Hemmer. I'm sure CNN recruited Republicans who voted for Bush* in 2000 to be part of their little focus group of 'undecideds'.

Psy-ops, CNN style. Otherwise known as election tampering.

[Syrinx]

2. I saw something about that on talkingpointsmemo or atrios

It's unbelievable isn't it? I wish Ted Turner had never sold CNN, and I bet he wishes that too.

[pansypoo53219]

3. i think i heard a troll on the connection tonight.

a 'supposed' nader voter from madison who really is into the invironment, and after the debate is gonna go bush.

yeah, RIGHT.

[countmyvote4real]

4. Like most cable news, CNN’s “American Morning” is geared to red states.

Bill Hemmer is the male equivalent of the GOP fembot. I think jerkbot fits the bill. And while I used to enjoy AM’s resident misanthrope, Jack Cafferty, when he was on our local NBC station years ago, he’s just more evidence of the rot that is destroying CNN.

That doesn’t mean broadcast TV is any sanctuary for us blue state people. It’s not. That’s why I prefer to get my news from DU, AAR and I give The Daily Show’s spin much more credence than any mainstream media outlet. How ironic or sad is that? I can find more truth in a message that will give me a nod and a wink than one that will just assume that I’m a stupid dumb fuck that will believe them because they said so.

On edit I added the jerkbot comment.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. kick