CNN, John McCain's camp at odds following confrontational Campbell Brown interview

In one of those moments a network executive would excitingly term "great TV," CNN's Campbell Brown and John McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds clashed on air Monday over vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's foreign policy credentials.

Tensions -- and voices -- rose after the anchorwoman told Bounds that she was just "trying to get someone from the campaign to explain what foreign policy experience [Palin] has." Bounds repeatedly skirted the question, choosing instead to criticize Barack Obama's lack of executive experience.

"All right, Tucker," Brown said as she ended the segment with a broad, sarcastic smile. "I'm just going to give it to ya, baby."

The clip was much in demand today -- and, CNN revealed, the McCain camp made clear it was not pleased.

This afternoon, anchorman Wolf Blitzer announced on air that McCain's planned interview with Larry King tonight had been canceled by the campaign. Blitzer said McCain aides complained that Brown had gone "over the line" in her grilling of Bounds.

McCain campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella later explained the cancellation with this sharply worded statement:

"After a relentless refusal by certain on-air reporters to come to terms with John McCain’s selection of Alaska’s sitting governor as our party’s nominee for vice president, we decided John McCain’s time would be better served elsewhere."

Meanwhile, ABC News announced that it would be broadcasting "the only interview" with McCain during the week's Republican National Convention. Charles Gibson will handle the questioning, and the network will dole it out -- parts will air Wednesday on "World News Tonight" and "Nightline" and Thursday on "Good Morning America."

UPDATE: Jon Klein, president of CNN, has issued a statement in support of Brown's interview. "Campbell Brown did what journalists do," Klein said Tuesday evening. "She asked fair and important questions in a respectful way and was simply trying to get a straight answer to a straightforward question."

-- Kate Linthicum

Comments

[Dennis M]

Poor Tucker. That mean lady beat the poor boy up.

Meanwhile, Sarah Palin has been in hiding for the last 48 hours. If Sarah would just come out of hiding and answer some of these questions herself, the reporters wouldn't have to be for rough on poor little Tucker.

[betheliza]

so if sarah palin were a man she would not be getting grilled this way? is barack obama a man? is he getting grilled this way? about crap that has no bearing on him or who he is? thought so. in actuality, if sarah palin were a man, there is no way in hell she would have been picked for this ticket.

[Mary Pat Avery]

I applauded Campbell Brown's persistence in asking the questions and was quite frankly astonished at Tucker's inability to answer a question directly.

This interview epitomizes the evasiveness and "point in another direction" tactics that the current Republican regime has played and continues to play on Americans. If someone can't look us in the eye and answer simples questions... it's a sign of more to come.
Please, America, see the facts! We need Obama in office desperately.

[michelle m]

I would walk away too.

The media is absolutely disgusting in its relentless attacks on Palin and particularly on her young daughter.

Consider the deafening silence from the media like a thief's code of honor surrounding such matters as Edwards' affair (even when it was known in advance by the media), the Rev. Wright (whom Obama faithfully sat his children before every Sunday), Bill Ayres and the fruitful Annenburg papers (giving lie to the 'just neighbors') story, ACORN, his position on the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, his long ties with Tony Rezko, and the list just goes on and on.

But no, we must'nt write one word against The Precious.

Instead, we must attack -- over and over again--the VP-elect's teenaged daughter.

You people truly make me sick. What an excuse for journalism. I've seen better bloggers.

[Karen]

I would expect no less from Campbell Brown. I have noted time and again what a biased "journalist" she has portrayed herself to be in this election season. She clearly doesn't understand the term unbiased journalism. If you are a Democrat supporter, you'll have an easy interview with plenty of softballs. If you're a Republican, expect a tough time with plenty of sneering and sarcasm. When she comes on, I turn the channel

[Carl Williams]

The fact of the matter is that Campbell Brown was once a very distinguished and honorable journalist for NBC However, after her interview with Tucker Bounds, any credibility that she once had was shattered. Journalists are obligated to report the news objectively and, granted, her initial question was a good one. But there was no need to show the hostility that she did. To describe it in one word, it was simply unprofessional.

[D]

During the interview, Ms. Brown repeatedly insisted that governors do not have executive authority over their State's National Guard: "That's the White House, that's Washington, D.C.". Why is no one calling her on that?

[Just A Mom]

As a Mom, you tell your kids to play fair. Sounds like McCain made up the rules of the game, then didn't want to play by them. Maybe Mama McCain should put him in his timeout chair.

[S.Lorentzen]

I was shocked at the vicious attacks on Sarah Polin's daughter and also the issue of Sarah Polin down syndrome son.

I lost a precious down syndrome son at 10 months. I greatly admire the Polin's for giving birth to their son with joy. Also I was a young mom of 18 who had my oldest son. I was shocked at Campbell Browns obnoxious way of treating the subject of Polin's daughter. She was very vicious in her questioning and wrong in her assumptions. I use to watch her I will no longer.

I approve that Senator McCain pulled meeting with Larry King. You are giving unbelievable bias coverage for OBAMA! I use to look at your opinions along with the rest of the stations. NO LONGER!

[Karl]

Cambpell Brown is so anti McCain/Palin and it is so obvious on the camera whether she admits it or not. Enough is enough and good for McCain's camp for standing up to her. CNN needs to do the right thing and replace her with somebody who is less biased period. I actually turned off the TV on her before I knew any of this because I felt CNN was pro democrat because of letting her dawn her agenda. Let's face it she is threatened by Palin. Let those 2 go at it.. Bet Palin would back her down. Shame on you Campbell.

[Robert Harriman]

Campbell Brown really displayed a lack of knowledge and common sense in her interview with Tucker. She displayed a complete lack of professionalism. She is really just a mouth with a microphone.

[sherry crawford]

Campbell Brown and cnn are botrh liberal democrats I am and independent voter who think you guys should not be baised reporters....get real cnn....you suck

[Shawn]

Watch the tape and the young republican kid stays calm. Campbell Brown is over reacted and losing it. Very unprofessional. The saddest part is she wasn't like that during CNN's coverage of the democrats. There is a pretty obvious bias here.

CNN dem coverage was a love-fest compared to what I am seeing coming out of Minn.

[Krista Kirby]

Little miss campbell brown allows guest and guest to spin their word webs about her but this was a personal attack on her part (baby). Watch her expressions, her anger, her vested aggression. Sorry to see her show her colors so strongly and become personally invested instead of being the anchor reporter we thought her to be. She will never be viewed the same by our office. Sorry Campbell.

[Matt]

BTW, I think that most of the comments on this post are by MoveOn.org cronies, because most is just the same old liberal rhetoric that has little to do with the clip.

Well, I watched the clip and think that the interviewer should have been more respectful even if she disagrees with the answer. HE ANSWERED THE QUESTION (even as she interupted him over and over).

[Joanne]

Common Sense doesn't understand the concept of Sexism. That is when women are NOT treated the same as men are. Palin is being treated the same as a man would be, and you don't like it. You are not a Democrat; stop lying about it. Our complaint in the Hillary campaign was that the media thought the sign that said, "Iron my shirt" was humorous, but said, "Shine my shoes," was not the same thing. It is to us. That is Sexism. Women got the vote 50 years after black men.
I don't care if she has no foreign policy experience, if she had studied foreign policy, had been really interested in foreign policy, and kept up with it. But she had not. She thinks God sent us to Iraq. She believes in Creationism and rejects Evolution and wants Creationism taught in school. She believes all abortion should be illegal, even for rape and incest. She doesn't know the oil companies already have tied up most of the off shore drilling sites, but refuse to drill there. They want to tie up all of them. She is ignorant.
Hillary Clinton has 32 years of experience as an attorney in the Senate and in a law firm, as the First Lady lobbying for legislation, as a Senator, and running for President for 18 months. Sarah Palin was mayor of a town of 6,500 for 2 years, and Governor of a state with less people than San Francisco for less than 2 years. There is no comparison.

[Noell]

Democrats refused to participate in the debate put on by FOX earlier this year. What goes around comes around.

It is pretty obvious that CNN favors the democrats.

If the dems avoid FOX and the repubs avoid CNN it is no big deal.

What is big is seeing Campbell Brown make weird faces and lose her cool.

[Mary Kubas-Meyer]

I saw the interview on CNN, I thought Campbell Brown came across aggressively and hostile in her interview with Tucker Bounds. It is quite apparent that she favors the Democratic candidate, this is nothing new. Additionally, I think her saying "I'm just going to give it to you baby." was a statement that a male newperson could not get away with--what a double standard CNN is defending. I am a Democrat, a Hillary Clinton supporter, who will be voting for the McCain Palin ticket.

[Ted Jones]

Campbell Brown would make a great Press Secretary for Barack Obama should he be elected President. Both at NBC and CNN Campbell Brown's well established democratic leanings have kept her in good stead with the Keith Olbermans and Jack Caffertys of the world.

Also, watching the interview the Tucker Bounds it was abundantly apparent that the ever smug Ms. Brown had no early idea that state governors have command authority over the National Guard. It's not surprising that Ms. Brown;'s network roles have become increasingy more inconsequential.

[Cheryl Rawson]

Right on Campbell! I thought you did a great job of asking a real question and not letting Tucker slide by with non-answers. Hopefully you will not be punished by the right-wing corporate censors that own the media and refuse to allow fair and unbaised reporting. Thank you for seeking some truth.

[Emily]

Please...even Saturday Night Live has made a parody over the absurd actions of Campbell Brown during this entire election season. She might as well wear an Obama/Biden pin on her jacket. That might actually make her smile for real - not just sarcastically. And please...if this had happened to one of Obama's people, he would pull an interview too. It is a disgrace to Sarah Palin and to the state of Alaska that people are belittling her so much. This is a Presidential Race! Not a Vice-Presidential Race! Move on!!!!

[sherry crawford]

CNN LIBERAL REPORTING SUCKS

[Sophie]

Campbell ended up being pretty aggressive, but that's because he was not answering her question. For once, a TV talking head actually became a real journalist.

And is Tucker related to Dana Carvey?

[nanessence]

Campbell Brown was fully justified in her frustration with Tucker Bounds' obvious attempts to ignore her inquiries and give the stock talking points only. Certainly he was not given the option by the McCain campaign of thinking on his feet. We are sick of this"stonewalling" approach to media and delighted in her calling it like it is! This approach reeks of Karl Rove and the selling of another unprepared and uninformed candidate.

[PBK]

Here is a proposed change in approach for the media. Instead of asking about her experience, concede the point: she has experience. This issues is the scope and depth of her experience. Hence, here is some useful data:

Population of Alaska: 670,053

Population of US: 299,398,484

Votes Sarah Palin garnered to become Governor of Alaska: 114,697

US Cities with population comparable to Alaska

Memphis, Tennessee: 674,028
Charlotte, North Carolina: 671,588

Number of troops in the Alaska National Guard: 1850 soldiers

Number of troops in the US Military:
Active personnel: 1,426,713
Reserve personnel: 1,458,500