APR 15 2009 — CNN Chicago correspondent Susan Roesgen gave people who complain that CNN is a liberal, biased news service, plenty of evidence Wednesday at an anti-tax tea party protest in Chicago.
Roesgen tipped her hand that she wasn’t going to do a fair street interview when she approached a man holding a young child with a small poster. She opened up like SNL’s Church Lady, “OOOOK, let’s see, you’re here with your 2-yr-old and you’re already in debt (sarcastic tone). While interviewing a father attending a Tea Party in Chicago (holding his 2 year old son in his arms), Roesgen cut the man off while he was responding to a question inquiring as to why he was attending the event. “Because I hear a President say he believed in what Lincoln stood for, Lincoln’s primary thing was he believed people had the right to liberty and they had the right to…” at which point Roesgen cut the man off. Roesgen began to ask what his point had to do with taxes, barraging the man with questions and her own answers (Do you realize that you’re eligible for a $400 credit? Did you know that the “State of Lincoln” get $50B). Comments from the man and shouts from the crowd grew angry when the CNN reporter did not let the man finish his statement.
Back at the CNN studio, the anchor shakes her head in dismay. “But wow that is the prime example of what we’re following across the country as Susan pointed out everything huh (condescending laughter) plain and clear. During the segment Roesgen stated that the anti-tax Tea Parties are anti-government, anti-CNN and “highly promoted by the right-wing conservative network, Fox.” She pointed out that there were no African Americans at the protest and that the coverage was, “not really family viewing.” CNN video did not show any violence or damage to property occurring.
Prior to the interview with the man holding the toddler, Susan Roesgen interviewed a man holding a sign that displayed Obama made to look like Hitler. This is a party for Obama bashers, Roesgen reported. Pointing to the poster that had Obama looking like Hitler, Roesgen asked, “What is this supposed to mean? What do you mean by that? The man holding the poster replied that Obama is fascist.
Roesgen: Wait, why do you say he’s a fascist? He’s the president of the United States. Do you realize how offensive that is?
Flashback to January 13, 2006. Susan Roesgen filed the following report on how FEMA bureaucracy was delaying federal funds for the rebuilding of New Orleans. “City officials aren’t the only ones wondering when federal money will materialize. Catholic school girls marched on Jackson Square. They and their teachers say more money is needed to fix the levees, and they hoped the President would stop by after his meeting with business leaders. But while a look-alike showed up with a wad of cash, Mr. Bush did not.” No mention by Roesgen of how offensive it was to make a Bush figure that looked like Hitler and Satan.
Presidential Disrespect: OK for Bush, not OK for Obama. George W. Bush mask with a Hitler moustache and devil horns.
Video of the “Obama is a fascist” interview with the entire Man-Toddler-Roesgen interview.
A variety of scenes from the Chicago Tea Party on April 15 contradicting Susan Roesgen’s rant and report that there were no African Americans at the protest and that the coverage was, “not really family viewing.”
See more on this reporter …
CNN “Anchors & Reporters” profile (bio) for Susan Roesgen