Liberal media bias has become painfully obvious during the 2016 election cycle. Between the severely lopsided coverage of political scandals and WikiLeaks exposing just how cozy the media is to the Clinton campaign, it’s nearly impossible to deny its existence. But that didn’t stop CNN’s Brian Stelter from trying on Reliable Sources Sunday. “But how is this anything more than the team that thinks it's losing and trying to work the refs,” he started off his show by asking, but Stelter may have bitten off more than he could chew with an RNC official who gave him an ear full.
The CNN host directed his dismissive questions towards Sean Spicer the Commutations Director and Chief Strategist for the Republican National Committee. Spicer took exception to Stelter’s assertions that pointing out liberal media bias was simply a losing party complaining about the race. “No, I think there is a difference between complaining and explaining,” he stated, “I think for viewers at home, it's what goes on and what has been going on in the media is frankly a disservice and in many cases just frankly appalling.” But Stelter claimed he just couldn’t see it, even though he himself is guilty of it.
Spicer directed Stelter to the public twitter accounts of many of the journalists out there and noted how WikiLeaks exposed journalists turning over their stories to the Clinton campaign for approval. “And some of these reporters were they are cheering on Hillary Clinton or they’re providing them copies of their story to edit or to review,” he explained, “It is unbelievable. And then the idea that folks in the media go, “You're just playing the refs.” That's not playing the refs. That's calling out fouls. That's calling strikes and balls.”
The RNC official even noted that the media’s idea of a balanced panel was having both Democrats and Republicans that hated Trump. Stelter’s only defense was to claim there was more party unity on the Democratic side, with few who oppose Clinton.
Stelter also tried to down play the e-mails clearly showing collusion between journalists and the Clinton campaign, claiming that he send “friendly e-mails” Spicer. But Spicer shot him down quick, “You’ve sent me some friendly e-mails like “happy birthday,” “how are you,” “good job” but I don't get debate questions. I haven't got to edit stories for folks.”
Spicer let loose on the heavily bias CNN host and demanded to know why every Republican had to answer for Trump, while Democrats never had to answer for Clinton:
Every time Donald Trump makes a comment, every Republican up and down the ballot including here at the RNC is asked to comment on Donald Trump’s thing. When was the last time someone was asked on the record to comment about Hillary Clinton's disclosures? Whether it’s how she handled classified information, whether or not they believe she's fit to serve because of how she handled classified information. When was the question about how risky she is as a candidate, whether it’s her failed Russian reset, how she handled Libya, how she handled Syria? There’s questions about Hillary Clinton's fitness for office that never get asked of any other Democrat.
And Spicer is correct, talking about liberal media bias is not complaining about losing, but a chance to educate the public and make sure they “understand that they are getting a very bias one-sided activist journalist view of this race.”