CNN has, in their usual fashion, patronized rural America once more. In their coverage of the Shiner, Texas case where a rancher found a man attempting to sexually molest the rancher’s four-year-old daughter and beat the molester to death with his bare hands, CNN couldn’t resist the opportunity to lampoon such primitive behavior. 

The report begins with the female reporter’s voice-over: “When you hear what happened in Shiner, this town will be known for more than just beer.”

Already the town is belittled for its championing of that “low-class” beverage. One wonders if the reporter would have reported on the same story from the Loire Valley in France: “When you hear what happened in Sancerre, this town will be known for more than just white wine.” Doubtful.

The news story continues with a local woman saying, “Everybody was talkin’ about the same thing, they would have did the same thing.”

Notice the choice of a woman whose grammar doesn’t quite measure up to people in the Hamptons. Obviously (according to CNN) any woman with grammar such as this is unqualified to pass judgment in this matter.

The voice-over continues: “We don’t know all the details of this case, but the people here say they know enough.”

Delicious. Now the clear implication is we’re dealing here with a case of frontier justice.  Why, those dumb folks down in Texas probably have a lynching every other Sunday. Where’s Judge Roy Bean?

Just to make sure we get their insinuation, CNN then shows a local grandmother saying, “He got what he well deserved, and you can say that nationwide.” Yup, us folks in Texas want everbuddy in the whole dang country to know we just love hangin’ em high!

Voiceover continues: “The sheriff of Lavaca county said the father ended up beating the man to death with his bare hands, and hasn’t been arrested.”

Then, on camera, the reporter asks the sheriff, “Do you think this father should be charged?”

The sheriff pauses, then quietly says, “Let’s don’t ask that question.”

In case you still haven’t gotten CNN’s slant, here it comes.

Voice-over: “The people of Shiner don’t need a jury on this one.”

Neither do we. In the case of the people of the United States v. CNN, CNN is guilty as charged.