CNN, "Forty-Seven-Gate," and Tax Returns -- Oh My!

Keara Vickers

keara.vickers@gmail.com

Romney may have been talking about 47% of Americans, but it seems like 100% of CNN’s political coverage is about the blowback from his gaff-filled campaign.

The talk of the political town has been about the Mother Jones article linking to a video taken from a private fundraising dinner in which Romney admonished the non-tax paying group and said "[his] job is not to worry about those people. [He’ll] never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives." Ouch.

CNN took the latest Romney blunder and ran with it, ruthlessly following the aftermath but doing little in the way of real investigation. Perhaps it's out of an effort to remain visibly nonpartisan but CNN has failed in being the people's watchdog and has acted more as a commentator -- like a political John Madden without the amusing metaphors.

From CNN Election 2012: Romney finally gets front-page
attention, but for all the wrong reasons.

And speaking of taxes, Romney finally released his 2011 tax returns after months of criticism and speculation. CNN has done a fair job of untangling the meaning behind the paperwork -- and hasn’t let Romney get away from what might be lurking taxless in his offshore accounts. 

On CNN’s Sunday State of the Union, Republican senator Lindsey Grahm came to Romney’s defense in a tense interview available to view here. While Senator Grahm highlighted how Romney’s economic plan gives him the edge, President Obama’s campaign isn’t about to let “forty-seven-gate” get swept under the rug. Fresh off of his huge DNC speech, former president Clinton came out swinging against Romney’s comments and hinted that the Republican missteps could swing the country into an electoral landslide toward a second Democratic presidency.

So, could this have been the early October Surprise that will put the final nail in the election 2012 coffin? Romney goes head-to-head with President Obama on October 3rd in round one of televised debates that could truly make or break this election.