In an interview this week with Broadcasting and Cable, Turner Broadcasting CEO, Phil Kent, talked at length about the future of CNN and what he expects from Jeff Zucker, the new CNN president. What’s unsettling about the Kent interview, though, is that Kent doesn’t appear to watch his own network. How else to explain this:

What’s the biggest misconception about CNN?

That it’s a liberal news network. It drives me crazy. It’s not.

So how do you change that?

I think [if] people watch it more critically and not just listen to what other people say about it-I won’t mention names-they’ll see that it [isn’t], and I think one of the things we fix is make sure we have the right balance of voices on CNN. That we have good conservatives, good liberals, experts in all areas. It’s a serious news network.

Kent should turn on CNN right now — this very second — and what he’ll see is what I’ve been seeing for over a week now: a network on a pro-same sex marriage crusade that gives zero time to anyone credible or thoughtful on the other side of the argument.

When it comes to gay marriage, there is no difference between CNN and MSNBC.

Kent should tune into CNN during any hour of “Piers Morgan Live,” because what he would see is a leftist demagogue feasting off a terrible tragedy and accusing anyone who stands for Second Amendment civil rights of hating children and being pro-murder.

When it comes to gun control, there is no difference between a full-hour of CNN primetime and MSNBC.

Kent should have tuned into CNN anytime Libya threatened to make news and watched as his entire network killed itself to make sure it didn’t.

When it came to protecting the White House on Libya, there was and is no difference between CNN and MSNBC.

Kent should turn on CNN at anytime in the morning for a look at the trifecta of awful that is Soledad O’Brien, Carol Costello, and Ashleigh Banfield. This Coven of Horribles have all but stopped trying to hide their pro-gun control, pro-gay marriage, pro-Obama leanings. And they happen to also be three of the most unappealing anchors on television.

Five Questions for Kent:

1. When is the last time Dana Bash chased a Democrat down a long congressional hallway?

2. While your objective, unbiased, not-at-all liberal network was working overtime to tie Todd Akin to the tail of Mitt Romney, why were the legal troubles of Jesse Jackson Jr. only mentioned in passing?

3. How much coverage will CNN give the DC March for Marriage today, and will anyone interviewed be offered the same deference and lack of challenging questions the other side has enjoyed from CNN all week?

4. Why is CNN’s idea of a “conservative” David Frum? On Wolf Blitzer’s “Situation Room,” Frum is frequently presented as the “conservative” side and just as frequently bashes conservatives. Who is your “liberal” who does the same to Democrats?

5. Why are legitimate stories such as these completely ignored in favor of poop ships, seedy sex murders or yet another segment on those who will benefit from same-sex marriage and gun control?

Actually, I have a few more questions…

6. Rob Portman breaks away on same-sex marriage and gets all kinds of CNN love. Where, then, is the CNN love and attention for “independent-minded” Democrats breaking away from Obama on Keystone, gun control, and the ObamaCare tax on medical devices?

7. Why would a not-at-all-liberal network allow a full primetime hour of that network to be devoted to attacking the Second Ammendment month after month?

7. Does Wolf Blitzer know how to modulate his voice or speak as though he is indoors?

Okay, I’ll stop now.

I do hope Phil Kent appreciates the fact I am assuming he doesn’t watch CNN. The alternative would be to either question his honesty or expose the provincial bubble he inhabits.

 

 

Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC