In a supremely ironic turn, during post debate coverage with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, a clip of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders discussing the context of rival Hillary Clinton’s email scandal was significantly cut — and the thrust of his commentary dramatically distorted as a result.
At the 00:58 mark in the clip above, Sanders can be heard saying: “The secretary is right, and that is that the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn e-mails…. Enough of the e-mails. Let’s talk about the real issues facing America.”
But here’s the part that was edited out:
“The middle class — Anderson, and let me say something about the media, as well. I go around the country, talk to a whole lot of people. Middle class in this country is collapsing. We have 27 million people living in poverty. We have massive wealth and income inequality. Our trade policies have cost us millions of decent jobs. The American people want to know whether we’re going to have a democracy or an oligarchy as a result of Citizens United.”
The unedited exchange:
CNN similarly “left out” Sanders’ slam of the mainstream media: on Wednesday morning, host Michaela Periera focused, as did most reports on the exchange ad nauseum, on Sanders’ “surprising” refusal to attack Clinton on her emails, rather than on the senator’s searing critique of the media’s handling of it.
Journalists often cut down video material for time’s sake. But in the 24-hour US media circus that for months has been characterized by endless 2016 presidential campaign coverage, one might think they’d have the time to show a complete exchange as to not distort a major candidate’s point: specifically, that media in America focuses an inordinate amount of time on issues that don’t affect the security and well-being of ordinary Americans.
Now that isn’t to say that the scandal surrounding Clinton’s email server isn’t important. Sputnik has previously highlighted why the issue is so important. But media crooning about the issue, absent articulate or substantive inside knowledge about email system protocol for heads of state, has been anything but constructive.
Sanders is right, in his message to that same media that wouldn’t air it: We are all tired of hearing about her damn emails.
To boot, MSNBC and CNN have done themselves no favors by having their pundits and insta-analyzers proclaim that Clinton won the debates, despite all online, albeit unscientific polls all unanimously indicating Sanders won the debate by a large margin — by at least 18% in at least ten surveys.
Credit where credit is due, though, for journalistic integrity, as Anderson Cooper, debate moderator and member of the Clinton Global Initiative. He asked Clinton right out the gate whether she “would say anything to get elected,” in reference to her evolving positions on a number of topics.
Anderson Cooper to Hillary earlier tonight: "Will you say anything to get elected?" Yikes. #DemDebate http://t.co/5FOrbCL14o
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) October 14, 2015
