Why give Trump airtime?
Re “After all he’s done, Trump gets a CNN town hall?,” May 10
Jackie Calmes got it right in asking, “Here we go again?” In the 2016 election, Calmes said, Trump received an estimated $5 billion in free media, which obviously played a huge part in Trump’s win.
So why are we seeing deja vu? CNN held a town
hall meeting for Trump; the L.A. Times still shows Trump’s picture frequently in some articles. Even President Biden doesn’t get that kind of attention. It’s time to stop giving free publicity, especially to an incompetent candidate.
I know ratings and ads support the various forms of media, but the media owes the public equal opportunity in their reporting. Trump does not deserve more publicity than other candidates, just because he does things to create attention.
At the very least, when newspapers write about him or when TV programs talk about him, they should omit his picture, which only draws more attention to the story.
I hope the current campaign equalizes coverage for all the candidates and stops playing favoritism.
MARLENE BRONSON LOS ANGELES
Shame on CNN. Shame for platforming an impeached serial liar, a traitor, a convicted sexual abuser, who just happened to be a former president. CNN, in their quest for ratings and money, has sullied their name and brand forever.
Personally, I was never a fan of cable news and watch none of it anyway, but when news would break, CNN was always a trusted source of information. No longer. The new owner obviously has an agenda.
SCOTT HUGHES WESTLAKE VILLAGE
For once, I am in rare agreement with former President Trump. “Our country is being destroyed by stupid people,” he said at his CNN town hall meeting on Wednesday.
He’s right. It’s being destroyed by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who can’t figure out how to honestly complete mandatory federal gift disclosure forms.
By serial fabulist Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who faces federal fraud charges. By House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), who is threatening to send our once-great country off a fiscal cliff.
By tens of millions of my fellow Americans who watch Fox News and therefore live in a fact-free alternative reality.
And of course, by Trump himself, who demonstrated at the town hall once again why he is unfit to occupy the Oval Office.
DANIEL FINK BEVERLY HILLS