The Media Interview

The website Media Matters says CNN “deceptively cropped” the June 29th Face the Nation interview with retired General Wesley Clark during a report on its American Morning show June 30th. Here’s the Media Matters transcript of the CNN video clip:

CLARK [video clip]: That large squadron in the Air — in the Navy that he commanded, it wasn’t a wartime squadron. He hasn’t been there and ordered the bombs to fall. … I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.

Media Matters then rightly points out that this clip removes the context of that final statement of Clark’s - the one which has drawn a lot of criticism. When you view the entire transcript, you can see that Clark was using the words of Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer:

CLARK: That large squadron in the Air — in the Navy that he commanded, it wasn’t a wartime squadron. He hasn’t been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn’t seen what it’s like when diplomats come in and say, “I don’t know whether we’re going to be able to get this point through or not. Do you want to take the risk? What about your reputation? How do we handle it” –

SCHIEFFER: Well –

CLARK: — “publicly?” He hasn’t made those calls, Bob.

SCHIEFFER: Well — well, General, maybe he –

CLARK: So –

SCHIEFFER: Could I just interrupt you? If –

CLARK: Sure.

SCHIEFFER: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean –

CLARK: Well, I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.

[Media Matters transcript, with the BOLD showing the part that CNN left out]

I completely agree with Media Matters that this edit changes the context considerably, but what I have some trouble with is the notion that CNN “deceptively cropped” the video.

From what I’ve seen of newsrooms, it is far more likely that the editors and reporters didn’t even understand the importance of the context and that their sole purpose for the edit was to keep the clip short and dramatic. I’m willing to bet this had more to do with sloppiness and ignorance than it did with deception… little comfort, I know, but I think it’s important to understand the true causes of these serious issues.