This week’s Mainstream Media Scream really had just one clip to pick from, CNN anchor Carol Costello’s rude and crude enjoyment over an audio explanation of an assault on Bristol Palin.
Well covered by our Ashe Schow after it occurred last Wednesday, the easy slap by a prominent female media star on a young woman, this one the daughter of the former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, ranks up there as the worst example of mainstream media sneers this year.
Here’s how it went down. Costello said “sit back and enjoy” as she introduced an audio recording of Bristol Palin describing to police how a man shoved her, dragged her on the ground and repeatedly cursed at her:
Costello: “Okay. I’m just going to come right out and say it. This is quite possibly the best minute and a half of audio we’ve ever come across — well, come across in a long time anyway. A massive brawl in Anchorage, Alaska, reportedly involving Sarah Palin’s kids and her husband. It was sparked after someone pushed one of her daughters at a party. That’s what Bristol Palin told police in an interview after the incident. And now police have released audio of that interview. It does include some rather colorful language from Bristol. Here now is Bristol’s recollection of how that night unfolded. So sit back and enjoy.”
After audio clips of Bristol recounting the assault, Costello said, “I think that long bleep was my favorite part” and “You can thank me later.”
She — not CNN — apologized on Twitter and told Politico: “Over the past few days I have been roundly criticized for joking about a brawl involving the Palin family. In retrospect, I deserve such criticism and would like to apologize.”
Media Research Center Vice President of Research Brent Baker explains our pick: “CNN and Costello have sunk lower than even MSNBC’s Martin Bashir. He at least had the integrity to apologize on-air after his disgusting personal attack on Sarah Palin, and MSNBC canceled his show in response. Unlike her mother, Bristol is not a public political figure, yet Costello cackled over an assault on her. Imagine if the victim were Chelsea Clinton. It’s not nice to be a member of a family for which the media elite have nothing but contempt.”
Rating: Five out of five screams.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
