FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Ask the president and he'll tell you it's the news media's fault that the country has descended into a screeching, yelling, nasty batch of rudeness and lack of manners.
Serena Williams argues a call by the line judge which led to her disqualification during the Women's Singles Semifinal match of the U.S. Open.
President Obama appeared on five Sunday morning talk shows - which is a lot even by this visible president's standards. The idea was for Mr. Obama to continue selling his health care plan to the American people, which by the way, some Republicans now say is dead.
But during several of these interviews - although President Obama insisted he wasn't doing media-bashing - he seemed to do media bashing.
Right here on CNN, the president called out the three cable news networks, and said the easiest way to get on any of them is to "say something rude and outrageous." He said if people are polite and sensible and don't exaggerate about their opponent, it's harder to get noticed by the press.
President Obama said that instead he'd like to see "all of us reward decency and civility in our political discourse."
The president went on to say news organizations can't get enough of the conflict, calling it "catnip to the media." He says in the 24-hour-news cycle, the extreme elements on both sides get the most attention. And he's right.
Just last week in the Cafferty File, we reported on celebrities from Kanye West to Serena Williams to Congressman Joe Wilson behaving badly; and about what their uncivilized behavior says about the rest of society.
Here’s my question to you: Are the news media responsible for the recent outbreak of rude behavior across America?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Rob from North Carolina writes:
Rude behavior is a choice. There is rudeness everywhere and to assume that the media is somehow responsible for this is insane. I agree it probably doesn't help to show it, especially in role models, but this was a problem before and it will be after. You can't make people care about and respect each other.
Allen from Illinois writes:
The media is not responsible for the crazy people out there. That being said, they do know that being outrageous may get them on TV. All you have to do is watch local news reports to see reporters doing a report on a murder or something. Some nut is usually behind them laughing and smiling while the report is trying to do a serious story. The media is not to blame, but they do help bring the nuts to the forefront.
Cy from Arlington, Virginia writes:
Largely. 24-hour news channels, like yours, have substituted heat for light. All of you would rather show yelling and screaming about nothing than risk someone hitting the remote because facts are boring. In "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" there's a line: "When the truth conflicts with the legend, print the legend". In our day and age when the truth conflicts with red-faced lunatics spewing venom, go with the loonies.
Ron writes:
The president did not mean CNN. I think he meant your competition.
David from Munhall, Pennsylvania writes:
Yes, because that's the only thing you vultures will cover, the more tasteless the better. When's the last time Cafferty had something good to say?
John from Colorado writes:
Serena Williams is still playing tennis, Joe Wilson remains in Congress, and Kanye West continues making big bucks doing his gig. Whatever happened to personal responsibility and real consequences for very bad behavior? The news media are only reporting the facts, and the facts are that these people should all be unemployed, but they aren't.