WELL, IT'S A START – AT 1:41 P.M.  We're always glad to acknowledge when journalists correct serious mistakes.  Anderson Cooper of CNN has done just that:

On Thursday’s Anderson Cooper 360, anchor Anderson Cooper faulted himself for not pressing Shirley Sherrod when she appeared on the show back on July 22 and claimed that conservative Andrew Breitbart was a “vicious” racist who “would like to get us stuck back in the times of slavery.”

Cooper now says he should have challenged Sherrod to support such an inflammatory charge with facts: “I believe in admitting my mistakes....I didn't challenge her that night and I should have.”

The July 22 interview was one of numerous appearances Sherrod made on CNN after she was fired by the Department of Agriculture on July 19. Cooper asked Sherrod about her phone conversation that day with President Obama, and then about Breitbart.

COMMENT:  Shirley might avail herself of the opportunity to shut up. 

As far as Cooper is concerned, we commend his apology.  However, he might take a few minutes to reflect on why he didn't challenge Shirley when she made her outlandish comment about Andrew Breitbart.  Maybe the problem is that this kind of crazed, over-the-top stuff is commonly heard around the mainstream media.  Cooper perhaps didn't think it at all unusual.

The Shirley story is over.  Next, please.

July 31, 2010