CNN’s global affairs correspondent tweeted out some critical words for the Republican-led House passing a bill to impose tougher screening measures on refugees.
Republicans in the House––with the help of 47 Democrats––passed the legislation today, which the White House threatened to veto.
This is what CNN’s Elise Labott tweeted in response:
House passes bill that could limit Syrian refugees. Statue of Liberty bows head in anguish @CNNPolitics https://t.co/5RvZwVftgD
— Elise Labott (@eliselabottcnn) November 19, 2015
Washington Post media reporter Erik Wemple followed up with an important question:
@eliselabottcnn @CNNPolitics Does this comport with CNN editorial guidelines?
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 19, 2015
And she got blowback from others:
@eliselabottcnn @CNNPolitics Yes, how barbaric of us to be prudent in the face of direct threats from ISIS. Common sense!! Wake up.
— Vicki (@VickiNovember) November 19, 2015
@eliselabottcnn @NolteNC cuz all nations should base their immigration policy on a poem attached to a tourist attraction
— Alex Pareene (@AlexPareene) November 19, 2015
@eliselabottcnn @CNNPolitics We can do without your pointless editorializing, “reporter.”
— RB Hammer (@hammers877) November 19, 2015
@eliselabottcnn @CNNPolitics Nice reporting without bias.
But, I expect nothing else but garbage from @CNNPolitics.
Americans come first.
— Nono Soso (@Nononosososo) November 19, 2015
It’s understandable that many in the media would feel compassion for the plight of refugees, but straight news people using that to go after Republicans is another matter altogether.
Take the below exchange CNN’s Carol Costello and Republican presidential candidate John Kasich. Costello challenges Kasich on not bringing in refugees which is fine in and of itself.
But there’s a lot of b-roll in there of suffering refugees, creating a link between their plight and Republican refusals to let them come to the United States.
UPDATE –– 7:28 pm EST: Labott is being suspended for two weeks:
CNN source informs me that Elise Labott has been suspended for two weeks for tweet about House vote on refugees: https://t.co/XTKTabRade
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 20, 2015
UPDATE –– 10:57 pm EST: After news of her suspension broke, Labott apologized:
Everyone, It was wrong of me to editorialize. My tweet was inappropriate and disrespectful. I sincerely apologize.
— Elise Labott (@eliselabottcnn) November 20, 2015
[h/t WaPo]
[featured image via Shutterstock]
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