politics

CNN Drops a Racism / Sexism Bomb on Innocent Readers. Will Anyone Notice?

Earlier today, I saw this article over at CNN's website. I was startled by one headline in particular, which read, "Gender or race: Black women voters face tough choices in S.C." Interest piqued, I decided to read the article. After reading the following line,

For these women, a unique, and most unexpected dilemma, presents itself: Should they vote their race, or should they vote their gender?

I was particularly taken aback. Several questions started running through my mind. Did CNN, the self-proclaimed "Most Trusted Name in News", just intimate that black women will vote solely based on allegiance to their race or gender and not on the strength of the candidates' perceived ability to run this country? How in the world did any editor, let alone an editor at CNN, allow this story to be published as is? Am I the only one that sees something terribly wrong with this?I have no answer for the first two questions. The answer to the third seems, fortunately, like a resounding no. A quick look at the comments section of this story on CNN's website indicates that I wasn't the only one who was appalled by CNN's egregious mistake. In fact, while I was writing this, CNN posted a follow up story reporting that,

...readers reacted quickly and angrily.

Good. Even if black women were basing their vote solely on gender or race of the candidate (I do not believe this to be the case, however) CNN has absolutely no basis whatsoever to report its assertion of such as fact. I hope appropriate action will be taken by CNN in this matter and that all of those who feel as strongly about this as I do will make their feelings known to CNN.[Note: I very rarely, if ever, publish posts of a political nature on this blog. However, I felt very compelled to share this as its implications are broader than just a political scope.]

politics