CNN President Jeff Zucker and journalist Jake Tapper are not impressed with recent criticism of the network’s Parkland massacre coverage.
The host of “The Lead” says conservative critics of CNN’s town hall debate on gun control will “get over it,” according to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Similarly, his boss called accusations of a left-wing bias on Second Amendment issues absurd.
“That criticism is silly,” Mr. Zucker told THR on Tuesday in response to claims of slanted coverage by those at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last week. “The fact is we were there, we presented both sides. People who want to criticize are looking to just criticize before they even think about it.”
The CNN president’s remarks were in response to Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union and organizer of CPAC, who recently said the network is on a path “where they are kind of left-wing advocates.”
Conservative critics insist the “Stand Up: The Students of Stoneman Douglas Demand Action” town hall, which was watched by 2.9 million viewers Feb. 21, was produced to put guests like National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch at a disadvantage.
The Florida event was scheduled after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
SEE ALSO: Dana Loesch rips ‘legacy media’ shooting coverage: ‘Crying white mothers are ratings gold’
Nikolas Cruz, 19, was arrested afterward and charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. He is being held without bond.
“However offended anybody was at the passion in the town hall, and however upset they were at mean words that were said to Sen. Rubio or Dana Loesch, they’ll get over it,” Mr. Tapper added. “And the people in that stadium, they won’t.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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