On NewsNation last night, I explained how CNN lost a major opportunity to get some desperately needed viewer attention when anchorwoman Kasie Hunt and Trump surrogate Karoline Leavitt began to shoot it out on air.
Ms. Hunt objected to Ms. Leavitt trashing the upcoming debate moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and booted Karoline when she wouldn't cease. Big mistake. She should have said: "Hey, you agreed to the debate with us; why are you whining about it now?"
To which Ms. Leavitt could have replied: "Donald Trump isn't afraid of CNN, he'd just like to know why Tapper has assassinated his character time and again."
If Ms. Hunter challenged that, the Trump spokesperson could have pulled out dozens of hateful Tapper quotes.
Now, that's how we have done things for nearly 28 years and had unprecedented success. Americans aren't wimps - they like a good joust.
But today, many TV people are frightened, timid, and more comfortable with company-issued talking points than thinking on the fly. Essentially, these meek news presenters are boring.
Passion, daring, and honesty gets attention. Taking the ball and going home does not.
See you this evening for the No Spin News.
