The major news media outlets, in the era of ‘fake news’ and ‘Russian bots’ have a duty to their consumers to do their due diligence when reporting on a story. Earlier this week, CNN News executives interviewed 5 republican women who were supposed to be members of the general voting public and not hard core republican political operatives as participants in a focus group. All the women on this focus group downplayed the sexual assault accusations by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford against the current republican Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
Wait until you hear the rest of this story…
On September 2018, Taylor Link of Salon penned the following report, “CNN focus group of conservative women turns out to be comprised of GOP operatives” (“CNN interviewed women about the Brett Kavanaugh allegations, but they weren’t casual voters as presented”)
Excerpts:
“Earlier this week, CNN interviewed five conservative women from Florida to get their thoughts on the sexual assault accusation made against Brett Kavanaugh. To viewers’ horror, most of the women downplayed the allegation. They said that an incident that happened over 30 years ago cannot be used to indict Kavanaugh’s character now.”
“How can we believe the word of a woman of something that happened 36 years ago. This guy has an impeccable reputation. There is nobody that has spoken ill will about him,” Lourdes Castillo de la Peña, one of the focus group members, said
“But in the grand scheme of things, my goodness, there was no intercourse. There was maybe a touch. Really? Thirty-six years later she’s still stuck on that, had it happened?” Irina Villarino said.
“I mean, we’re talking about a 15-year-old girl, which I respect. I’m a woman. I respect. But we’re talking about a 17-year-old boy in high school with testosterone running high. Tell me, what boy hasn’t done this in high school?” Gina Sosa asked.”
Cathy Young
✔@CathyYoung63
This clip is not flattering to Kavanaugh supporters.
When an allegation of throwing a girl on the bed, pinning her down, trying to rip her clothes off & putting a hand over her mouth becomes “inappropriate touching at a party,” you need to reevaluate your priorities.Benny
✔@bennyjohnson
CNN asked women if they believe Judge Kavanaugh.
This was not the response they were expecting.
Wow.
James Surowiecki
✔@JamesSurowiecki
1. CNN’s framing of this segment was really irresponsible. This purported to be a focus group that would show what “Republican women” think of Kavanagh now. So each woman is identified as a “Republican voter.”
The Hill
✔@thehill
Republican women defend Kavanaugh: “What boy hasn’t done this in high school?” http://hill.cm/FLmb7kf
“CNN framed the focus group as a small, but credible sample of what Republican women were thinking about the Kavanaugh allegation. That CNN plucked three GOP operatives to use for the segment dramatically skews how that demographic actually feels about the situation. CNN has yet to comment on the criticism of the segment.”
Link to entire report/ video: CNN focus group of conservative women turns out to be comprised of Political Operatives
Gronda Morin 
I’ll tell ya what “boy” never did this in high school..my two brothers, my husband, my two sons, my cousins, every bloody one of my friends that were male in high school! This behavior is an aberration NOT the norm and those women damned well know it! There was ONE, I repeat ONE, boy in HS that tried this sort of “attention” with a girl at a party and the entire football team beat the crap out of him the next day for doing it. NO ONE should ever let this type of behavior be known as “boys will be boys”. it is an assault. (sorry, I seem to be on my soapbox this morning)
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Dear Suze,
One has to simply wonder how these Moms are raising their sons? How would they like it if their daughters were similarly mistreated? Would they just say, my daughter asked for it and/ or ‘it was boys just being boys?’
How is it these women think this behavior is acceptable? I wouldn’t want to be their daughters, as they don’t seem capable of empathy.
No I did not raise my son to where this behavior is in any way acceptable.
But wait! These are the same parents who like to teach abstinence.
Hugs, Gronda
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when i was assaulted i reported it to my mother, who then blamed me for being somewhere I should not have been and provoking the poor man into doing such a thing. I was 11 at the time and it was a man of 35 or 40…and my minister. yea, i provoked that all right.
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Dear Suze,
I am so sorry about what happened to you. There is little solace in knowing that you aren’t alone. Too often the adults in the room choose not to do what’s right vs. living in a world of denial.
You’re the perfect example of why too many women don’t come forward with their assertions about men who’ve abused them.
This attitude needs to change where women are for the most part, believed.
Hugs, Gronda
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It would seem that these women, and many others like them, traded their values for the boxes of Cracker Jacks the Republican Party was handing out. Shame on CNN for not doing their homework before airing this segment, but shame on these women for being bitches.
Hugs!
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Dear Jill,
Someone at CNN should lose their jobs over this lack of due diligence.
These women are Moms. How are they raising their sons/ girls to believe that forcing a young girl into sexual activity while drunk would constitute normal behavior? They’re morally sick.
Hugs, Gronda
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I very much agree … this lack of attention to details is NOT what is needed among the mainstream media at this, a time when the prez is referring to them as “fake news” and “the enemy of the people”. Now, more than ever before, it is imperative that they check, re-check and double check their facts and vet their guests!
As for the women? Yes, they are morally sick … or brainwashed.
Hugs!!!
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