October 15, 2009 /

CNN Has A Conflict Of Interest Problem

Greg Sargent has confronted CNN about one of their Republican contributors, Alex Castellanos, and their failure to mention his ties to the health care industry: CNN has acknowledged in a statement to me that a high-profile Republican commentator who frequently discusses health care on the air is also the media buyer for one of the […]

Greg Sargent has confronted CNN about one of their Republican contributors, Alex Castellanos, and their failure to mention his ties to the health care industry:

CNN has acknowledged in a statement to me that a high-profile Republican commentator who frequently discusses health care on the air is also the media buyer for one of the ad campaigns bankrolled by America’s Health Insurance Plans, the major industry trade group currently waging war against the White House and Dem reform proposals.

CNN tells me his ties to the industry will be disclosed in the future.

The CNN contributor, well-known GOP consultant Alex Castellanos, is best known for producing the racially-charged “Hands” ad, has repeatedly appeared on the network attacking Dem health care plans and the public option, which is strongly opposed by AHIP.

This has become a common problem for CNN. Last year it was with James Carville and Paul Begala appearing on the network as a “Democratic strategist” and CNN never disclosing the fact that Carville and Begala were working for the Clinton campaign, until the blogosphere put enough pressure on them to take action. With these actions it’s really hard for CNN to claim that they are the “most trusted name in news”.

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