Wasserman Schultz Refuses to Acknowledge Shes Misquoting the LA Times After Baffled Cooper Calls Her Out
Regardless of whether or not you agree with Anderson Coopers politics, the guy is arguably one of the last real journalists left in the mainstream media. During his CNN show on Thursday, the host proved that during his Keeping Them Honest segment where he ripped into Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) for misquoting a Los Angeles Times article in a fundraising email, in which she attempted to tie GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romneys abortion stance to Rep. Todd Akins. Akin came under fire this week from all sides for arguing that womens bodies can prevent pregnancies in cases of legitimate rape.
Cooper was persistent in trying to coax an apology out of Schultz, but she remained defiant throughout the entire segment.
The email in question argued that the GOP just voted to embrace Akins position by including a constitutional ban on all abortions even in cases of rape or incest in their 2012 platform.
Schultz also criticizes Romney and his running mate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) in the email for saying they dont entirely agree with that plank. Cooper then addressed the LA Times quote that Schultz used to make her point, which he says she misquoted. From the email:
but guess what? The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that the platform was, and I quote, written at the direction of Romneys campaign.
Those exact words did actually appear in the LA Times, Cooper explained, but Schultz took them completely out of context.
Now, here is the entire paragraph that was printed in the Times earlier this week:
There is no doubt about who is in charge, of course. Delegates for presumptive nominee Mitt Romney are voting down substantive changes to the platform language that was written at the direction of Romneys campaign. The biggest question is whether the tone remains polite, as it was at the outset of two days of deliberations, or whether dissenters spoil the image of harmony that the Romney campaign is working hard to produce.
You see, the Times article is saying the Romney campaign helped make suggestions for the GOP platform, but it makes no mention of abortion policy. Cooper confronted Schultz for taking the quote out of context to further her own political agenda.
First, the abortion language in the 2012 platform, it hardly differs from the 2008 language and the 2004 language in the platform. That language obviously wasnt written by the Romney campaign, Cooper said, adding that a CNN reporter was present while the platform was being crafted and he said Romney advisers didnt make suggestions on abortion plan.
Factually speaking, Mitt Romney did not design or direct the writing of the Republican Party platform you cant say they designed the abortion section, Cooper continued.
It seemed obvious enough that Schultz had been caught bending the truth to smear the Romney campaign. Surely she would apologize, right? Not even close.
Anderson, we definitely can say it, Schultz replied, then trying to justify her allegation by saying Romney has embraced the partys platform. Wasserman Schultz Refuses to Acknowledge She
