As you may be aware, CNN has, through whatever means, found the person who claims to have put up that now-famous video of Donald Trump body-slamming someone whose face is obscured by the CNN logo.
As you may also be aware, there are reports – based on what, I do not know – that the person who put up the video is 15 years old.
And as you may also be aware, CNN has put out two statements about this:
one tells us the perpetrator has apologized and says he won’t put up such material again…
“CNN is not publishing “HanA**holeSolo’s” name because he is a private citizen who has issued an extensive statement of apology, showed his remorse by saying he has taken down all his offending posts, and because he said he is not going to repeat this ugly behavior on social media again. In addition, he said his statement could serve as an example to others not to do the same.”
“CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change.”
…and the other is a reaction to claims that CNN is, in effect, intimidating/blackmailing a 15 year old:
“CNN decided not to publish the name of the Reddit user out of concern for his safety,” a CNN spokesman told The Hill. “Any assertion that the network blackmailed or coerced him is false. The user, who is an adult male, not a 15-year-old boy, apologized and deleted his account before ever speaking with our reporter.”
Folks, I may not be the brightest guy in the world. But I think I know when someone makes it clear that you better do what they say or you’re going to get the crap kicked out of you. And that first statement makes it clear that CNN threatened to kick the crap out of the guy who put up that video.
But, then again, maybe I’m wrong.
With that in mind, I have a question for CNN.
If, as the second statement says, “CNN decided not to publish the name of the Reddit user out of concern for his safety”, what does “he said he is not going to repeat this ugly behavior on social media again…CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change” mean?
Does it mean that if this guy ever says anything negative about CNN again, you won’t give a damn about his safety? It sure looks that way.
In 1513, Sir Walter Scott wrote “Oh! What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”
If you ask me, the 2017 version of CNN is busy weaving a web that could probably snare a squadron of F-35’s, with plenty of room for a few Airbuses as well.
And several of its other years are no better.
The must trusted name in news? Trusted to do WHAT?
