Should news outlets call out candidates they think are racist and xenophobic? Or just report the news? CNN’s Jake Tapper stirred up debate on the subject when he told TheWrap that recent headlines mocking Trump and his supporters were “the very height of elitism.”
The New York Daily News heralded Trump’s New Hampshire victory as “Dawn of the Brain Dead,” with the subheadline: “Clown comes back to live with N.H. win as mindless zombies turn out in droves.” The Huffington Post wrote: “WTF GOP? Racist, Sexist, Xenophobic Demogogue Wins NH.”
Tapper told TheWrap those “are business decisions that they are making, not journalistic decisions” adding, “journalistically to attack people who support a candidate is the very height of elitism.”
Also Read: CNN's Jake Tapper Calls Anti-Trump Headlines 'Very Height of Elitism'
Media Matters’ Oliver Willis disagreed:
*eyeroll* https://t.co/EZ4FrZ7a9M
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) February 11, 2016
Tapper added:
to be precise, what i thought was the height of elitism was the headline mocking the people who voted for Trump
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 11, 2016
The ensuing responses were polarized. Some agreed with Tapper, while others said there was nothing wrong with news headlines that criticize Trump.
@jaketapper it's ok to make mock ppl who think banning a whole religion is sensible policy. You don't think so?
— Zb23 (@zbjordan23) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper Some folks can't interpret the difference between endorsement and commentary I believe.
— Daniel Payne (@DanTheManPayne) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper Indeed it was. The people of NH are some of the finest our country has. This will backfire on the media BIG time.
— Bill Ulmer (@TheBulmer) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper why is it that #leftwing #libtards are pro choice only when they like your choice? #hypocrite #MakeAmericaGreatAgain
— Blaine Leipold (@Bleipold1) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper especially when you take into account the wide demographics he covered and won in. Big mistake to underestimate his support.
— Dianne (@prairiegirlsk) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper Ok Jake, you have earned my respect. I agree. Knocking voters of any party is risky and alienates citizens. Good work sir
— Roger Waters (@GhostofBernie) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper perhaps it is elitism…but those headlines echo the sentiment of a lot of regular folks too. Interesting perspective.
— Matt (@MattSwaffer) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper I am liking you more and more.
— Mike Marchlik (@MichaelMarchlik) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper Spend any amount of time reading Trumpkins tweets and you won't feel so bad. They're grotesque.
— Hope (@HopeH_67) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper Have you seen those crowds? They are infinitely mockable and sad.
— Om Ingram (@OmIngram) February 11, 2016
@jaketapper @TheWrap More importantly, @realDonaldTrump is the height of short-fingered vulgarianism.
— LeftWingZealot (@leftwingzealot) February 11, 2016
