I have a problem with CNN [View all]

[True Dough]

I just watched a panel discussion on Trump's delay in condemning the white supremacists/Nazis.

Among the four panel members was Sara Sidner, who is a reporter with CNN (identified during the panel as a "correspondent" ). CNN is regularly accused by the right of being a mouthpiece for the Dems. Remember "Clinton News Network?"

So here we have a correspondent joining a panel and being invited to give her personal opinions of Trump's conduct. She probably said the least, but she was critical of Trump (no one here would question why).

However, in terms of journalism ethics, I think that taints perceptions of Sidner's future reporting. It gives a platform to the critics who say that CNN employs anti-Trump journalists, that the network is biased. There is no questioning now that Sidner feels Trump acted unacceptably. If she files a political report in the future, the right-wingers would be able to say, "Oh yeah, she openly expressed her disapproval of Trump in the past. She's prejudiced against him."

They have done this with Dana Bash and Jeff Zeleny and others.

Best to leave the political panel to those who aren't trusted to bring us news. Perspectives from David Axelrod, Gloria Borger, Thomas Friedman and others are welcome because they're expected to play the role of "analysts" and not impartial ones, the way reporters should strive to be.