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CNN slammed for downplaying Biden's 'you ain't black' remark by restricting coverage: 'The bias is unbelievable'

The former vice president triggered a firestorm by saying in an interview that if a black person supported Trump they "ain't black"
PUBLISHED MAY 23, 2020
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

CNN is being accused of downplaying Joe Biden's controversial "you ain't black" remarks on Friday morning that sparked a nationwide outrage amongst the black community.

The former vice president initiated a firestorm after an interview with Charlamagne Tha God on the radio show 'The Breakfast Club' on Friday as he tried to defend his past record with the black community. “I tell you if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black,” Biden said.

Biden walked back on his remarks later that afternoon, but stopped short of a full apology.

"I've never ever taken the African-American community for granted, had their support ... I shouldn't have been such a wise guy. I shouldn't have been so cavalier," Biden later said. "I don't take it for granted at all, and no one, no one should have to vote for any party, based on their race or religion or background."

Nonetheless, Biden's incendiary comments dominated social media and mainstream news coverage with hashtags such as #YouAintBlack and #JoeBidenIsARacist trending on Twitter. Everyone from MSNBC, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, and, of course, Fox News, covered the dust-up throughout the day. 

However, critics were quick to notice CNN's apparent silence on the subject. "Fascinating to watch how the left-leaning cable networks have covered Biden’s 'you ain’t black' comment. MSNBC has discussed it nearly every hour... CNN hasn’t mentioned it once," former CNN digital producer-turned-media critic Steve Krakauer tweeted.

Meanwhile, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley noted the "crickets" coming from CNN. Later in the day, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel pointed out how CNN had not mentioned the controversy for hours together. "It’s been over 5 HOURS since Biden told Black people they 'ain’t black' if they support @realDonaldTrump. How many times has CNN mentioned his bigoted comment on air? ZERO. Unreal," McDaniel tweeted.

"We all know that if a Republican made a similar comment, CNN would have reworked their entire day of programming to feature 9-person panels condemning it. The bias is unbelievable," she added, noting how CNN took "12 hours" to mention the Democratic presumptive nominee's "bigoted remarks."

NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck told Fox News that CNN probably "did so on purpose." "When you take into account how both MSNBC covered this repeatedly and Biden decided to issue a mea culpa, you're left with no conceivable excuse for CNN other than they did so on purpose," he said. "Instead, they decided that trashing the administration for allowing houses of worship to reopen and gleefully touting negative hydroxychloroquine headlines were jobs one and two."

"CNN has their insane way of going about their newsgathering, presentation, and selection, but ignoring a story like this for hours and hours reminds us that their demands that other news organizations act like they do should not only be dismissed but laughed out of the room," Houck added.

CNN finally addressed the issue after the end of the 7 pm ET hour, when anchor Erin Burnett spoke to Charlamagne Tha God about the interview --thereby making it the last major news network to report on Biden's comments aside from articles published on their website earlier in the day, Fox News reported.

Throughout the day, the network continued its daily critical coverage of the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 crisis. According to Jordan Chariton, co-founder of progressive news outlet Status Coup, CNN did not cover the controversy adequately because the network "has been in the tank for Biden for over a year."

"They dragged their feet on many stories related to him including him lying on being arrested in apartheid South Africa on his way to meeting Nelson Mandela," Chariton told Fox News. "Outlets like CNN are protectors of the status quo and as such, they will always try and cover up bad stories for candidates like Biden rather than cover and challenge him."

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