Anderson Cooper is a Tool

Last night I watched CNN for the first time in years. Why would I turn to the dark side for my information after many years of happily watching FoxNews, you ask? High Definition, that's why. Yesterday, DirecTV rolled out its expanded HD channels, which happens to include CNN-HD. And I'll admit, CNN has never looked better. But quality news and a quality image don't seem to add up in the case of CNN-HD. The reason: Anderson Cooper.

I've never really had a reason to dislike Mr. Cooper - even despite my annoyance at parents who name their kids with a last name for a first name (so trendy), but I digress. Before I tuned in to CNN last night, he seemed like an OK guy, if not a little taken in by the Clooney school of political thought. But since I never watch CNN (due to the blatant, America-hating, liberal viewpoints espoused in every story broadcast on that channel), I hadn't formed much of an opinion on the guy. Well, that changed last night. Anderson Cooper is a pandering, sniveling opportunist who is clearly serving a political interest that is not neutral.

My first clue was when Mr. Cooper was talking about the strife in Burma. He used the word Burma several times, and then made a big point about how it was wrong to use that name, because "the native government and the United Nations recognize the name as Myanmar" or something like that. Then Cooper goes on to smugly talk about how evil and repressive the government of that nation is.

Well, Mr. Cooper, do you know that the same evil and repressive government that kills defensive monks and innocent civilians is the same government demanding the world call it Myanmar? Did you know that the freedom fighters in that country still call it Burma? Did you know that the US, UK and Australia still call the country Burma because we don't recognize the names of countries that are changed by oppressive military regimes? Apparently not, because you're a "trying-to-sound enlightened" tool talking out of two-sides of your mouth like the rest of the hypocrites on CNN.

But still, I thought, maybe Mr. Cooper isn't that bad. After all, he's just falling victim to the standard, blinded mindset that gives most liberals extreme tunnel-vision. Until, that is, I saw his interview with Bill Clinton.

From the start, it was obvious that Bill Clinton is Anderson Cooper's hero. During the interview. Mr. Two-Last-Names threw him softball questions, and goaded Clinton into coming unhinged while talking about republicans (Clinton lost his temper when referring to the GOP as "those people" before proceeding to attack the patriotism of the entire party). And instead of asking Clinton to clarify his remarks like most responsible journalists would do, Cooper just lapped it up. Then he continued to play Clinton's tirade in his promo clips all through the broadcast.

This experience has proven useful to me, in that it has helped me understand a few things. First, HD or no, CNN is still garbage. Second, Anderson Cooper is, indeed, a tool. And lastly, Bill O'Reilly really isn't kidding when he talks about how far CNN has fallen. I've seen it for myself (and now understand why Cooper's ratings are in the toilet). But if you don't believe me, see it for yourself. After all, I report, you decide.