BULLETIN:  CNN CLEANSES – AT 7:31 P.M. ET:  CNN anchor Rick Sanchez has been fired by the network after making some openly anti-Semitic comments in a radio interview.   From The Politico:

Rick Sanchez lost his job at CNN on Friday, just 24 hours after giving a satellite radio interview in which he called Jon Stewart a “bigot” and suggested that Jews run CNN and other media companies.

“Rick Sanchez is no longer with the company,” CNN said in a statement. “We thank Rick for his years of service, and we wish him well.“

Sanchez is the second CNN journalist to be fired for bias in recent weeks, the first being Arab reporter Octavia Nasr. This is speculation, but these dismissals may mark attempts by CNN to clean up its act, something made easier by the departure of the odious Christiane Amanpour, who was one of the problems there for years.  Amanpour is now sinking at ABC News.

I think charges of racism, anti-Semitism or other forms of bigotry have to be made very carefully, and only after real evidence is presented.  I've looked at Sanchez's comments, in context, and they are clearly bigoted, and meant to be.  I have no idea what the man was thinking. 

I've also watched Sanchez on occasion, as I sweep the news outlets during the day while researching Urgent Agenda.  I always found him a lightweight, sloppy and uninformed.  He also went out of his way to praise anti-Israel guests, telling one it was a "delight" to have him on, and now I think we know where those sentiments come from.

CNN is under new leadership.  Showing Sanchez the door may be a good sign that it's a serious management that knows the network has problems, and is willing to address them.

October 1, 2010