CNN GUESTS SKEW TO THE LEFT -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 15, 2010)

SPEECH OF
HON. LAMAR SMITH
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2010

* Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, CNN claims to be the fair cable news alternative. They say they report the news ``without playing favorites,'' according to a new slogan.

* The facts tell a different story.

* In the weeks leading up to election day, liberal guests on CNN outnumbered conservative guests by a margin of more than 3 to 2, according to an analysis by the Media Research Center.

* From October 4 through October 29, there were a total of 88 liberal guests to just 56 conservative guests.

* And all three of the network's prime-time news programs featured more liberals than conservatives, according to MRC.

* So much for not playing favorites.

* CNN should give Americans the facts, not skew their programming to support a liberal agenda.

* Members of National Public Radio's board of directors have a clear and overwhelming liberal bias, according to an analysis by National Review.

* The study found that ``nearly all [NPR board members] have demonstrably liberal political sympathies, with heavy support for the Democratic party, pro-abortion-rights groups, and environmental activism in particular.''

* Furthermore, ``[NPR's] board members also sit on the boards of explicitly progressive advocacy groups, and have given millions of dollars to Democrats and liberal PACs--at the same time that they control the country's `public' radio network.''

* With liberals dominating NPR's board, it's no surprise its news coverage also shows a liberal bias.

* NPR should give Americans the facts, not tell them what to think.