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CNN Anchor's Smackdown: Bush Got Just as Warm a Welcome in Africa

by Roy C | July 12, 2009 at 12:12 pm

291 views | 36 Recommendations | 4 comments

There are two places that offer a view of mainstream news bias. One is from the left and is found at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting and sees right-wing slant. The other is called Newsbusters and looks at news bias from the point of view of the right, of course, seeing major news organizations as slanting news in favor of the left.

Recently Newsbusters had a story about how a CNN anchor got embarrassed while attempting to set up a compliment for President Obama by asking an African news reporter if President Obama's reception, as a Western leader, was not unprecedented.

The video will show one quite embarrassed CNN news anchor having to cover his reaction as Nkepli Mabuse responded that Obama's welcome was not special and then-president Bush had received a warm and enthusiastic welcome as well, a welcome that reflected appreciation of Bush's extensive support and success in obtaining a major increase in funding for the fight against AIDS in Africa.

CNN Anchor's Smackdown: Bush Got Just as Warm a Welcome in Africa as Obama

By Noel Sheppard (Bio | Archive)
July 11, 2009 - 20:42 ET

Future attorneys are taught in law school to never ask a witness a question they don't already know the answer to. On Saturday, CNN's Don Lemon learned this lesson the hard way.

Well after President Obama finished his speech in Ghana, Lemon was speaking live to correspondent Nkepile Mabuse who was reporting on location.

When Lemon asked whether the warm reception Obama received upon his arrival Friday was unprecedented, Mabuse caught him quite off guard with her response.

Pay particular attention to Lemon's body language when Mabuse says, "It's not unprecedented. When President Bush was here, you will remember, in February, there were people who were drumming, there were dances, and President Bush joined some of them".

DON LEMON, ANCHOR CNN NEWSROOM: Nkepile, I was watching you yesterday on the "Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer when President Obama was arriving, and they were doing the dancing, and all of the people who were running up to him. For a western leader, I know when presidents come over there, they are usually warmly received. But for a western leader, have you ever seen anything like this? Is this unprecedented?

NKEPILE MABUSE, CORRESPONDENT: It's not unprecedented. When President Bush was here, you will remember, in February, there were people who were drumming, there were dances, and President Bush joined some of them. So, it's not unprecedented. This is a truly African welcome that is given to anybody whether they are from Africa or anywhere else in the world, Don.

LEMON: So, they welcome everyone. It doesn't matter. That's just part of how the people do it, right?

MABUSE: Indeed, Don.

Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark!

You get the feeling some producer didn't instruct Mabuse how to answer that question, or is this what can happen on live television over the weekend when things aren't as scripted?

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.

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albertacowpoke

at 12:27 on July 12th, 2009

Interesting video Roy. It's quite evident that Don Lemon wanted a different response. Noel Sheppard reports it quite well.

Paschen

at 16:39 on July 12th, 2009

I agree and so did Clinton and others before him. The best received was most likely Carter so far.

Obama his Speech was mellow and failed to address the obvious. Ghana had two assassination of opposition leaders prior to his visit and a coup after Bush his visit. Not a model Democracy.

The Magazine "Jeune Afrique" Wrote that all those African leaders that try to associate them self with Obama today would have him assassinated would he run in their countries opposition parties.

As many other opposition leaders find them self gunned down or simply rolled over by a big truck.

A Ghanaian (not verified)

at 14:13 on September 19th, 2009

Paschen,Please get your facts straight! No opposition leaders have been assassinated in Ghana since the military era in the late 70s early 80s......................... if you have the names of the leaders killed post them.

politisite

at 22:57 on July 12th, 2009

It was just under covered. Bush quadrupled aid to Africa over Clinton. I don't see that much in the MSM. Kudos to the CNN anchor for a far and balanced report.