CNN found itself in a no-win situation as the network issued a statement denying it had scripted questions for students at a Florida town hall on guns.
Following remarks by a survivor of last week’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that he was not allowed to ask his own questions, CNN issued a statement Thursday claiming the student’s comments were essentially “fake news.”
Colton Haab, a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps member, shielded his classmates from the 19-year-old gunman who opened fire in the school last week, killing 17 people. And CNN invited Haab to appear on Wednesday’s town hall in Sunrise.
“CNN had originally asked me to write a speech and questions, and it ended up being all scripted,” Haab said, explaining why he ultimately turned down the invitation to appear at the town hall.
“There is absolutely no truth to this. CNN did not provide or script questions for anyone in last night’s town hall, nor have we ever,” the network fired back in a statement as it invited the student to make an appearance on the network to “discuss his views on school safety.”
It also invited the JROTC hero to come on the network to face their gun control crossfire.
Rubio stands his ground under enormous pressure and disrespect at CNN hostile townhall
CNN response to the claim of a “scripted question” for last night’s town hall: pic.twitter.com/Mz1hMqqfkw
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) February 22, 2018
“Nor have we ever?!?!”
Someone get @donnabrazile on the phone.
— Rosco Roberts (@RoscoRoberts1) February 22, 2018
The town hall was, not surprisingly, filled with anti-gun activists shouting down speakers like National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch who faced off with students directly. High school senior Emma Gonzalez, who has spoken out against guns at rallies since the shooting, pressed Loesch on weapons bans, reading her question from a printed slip of paper she held.
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio also faced off against the hostile crowd gathered by CNN, as they attacked him for his pro-Second Amendment stance as well as anything else he tried to explain.
CNN’s statement in defense of its town hall did not go over too well on social media as many Twitter users declared they were just not buying it.
Calling a hero that saved lives a liar, not a good look!
— PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY (@Post_VOL) February 22, 2018
I’ll believe this kid all day long over agenda driven CNN
— Mayor of Gladeville (@BigBoyVol) February 22, 2018
Yeah, we don’t buy it. https://t.co/Qp27YxSJQy
— Lumpy News (@LumpyNewsCom) February 22, 2018
So you’re calling the hero Colton Haab who shielded his classmates from gun fire, a liar? Good look CNN, you just keep adding fire to that flaming sh!t pile you call a news network. Shameful! #CNNTownHall #SCRIPTEDQuestions #FakeNews #MarcoRubio #FloridaSchoolShooting #RNRTN
— BuckInTennessee (@BuckInTennessee) February 22, 2018
Funny how the students who dont agree with @CNN or the Gunsense mafia’s political agenda of Tyranny didn’t get an opportunity to speak at this so called #CNnTownHall & if they were invited, they were told to toe the blue line of resistance. Puppet theatre!
— BuckInTennessee (@BuckInTennessee) February 22, 2018
You know you’re @CNN correct? Are you unaware of your own recent history.
— Kristina Hoffmeyer (@kmh40) February 22, 2018
Obviously your entire forum was one sided and you scripted anyone that disagreed! Shame on you! You are a joke!
— Kendra Greelish (@rdcs86) February 22, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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