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American Morning

The Big Question: Can U.S. Reporters be Objective in Their War Coverage?

Aired December 07, 2001 - 09:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now with their opinions on the war coverage and some other stories making news this week, Michael Kramer, columnist for "The New York Daily News" and Rich Lowry, editor of "The National Review."

You saw the thing play out on live television. You just heard small snippets of it. His charge was blatantly ridiculous, but the question remains, can you be an American and objectively cover the war efforts of your country?

MICHAEL KRAMER, "THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": You mean, can you wear this flag pin?

ZAHN: Can you wear that flag pin?

KRAMER: And do it straight up? I think you can try. I think it's difficult. I think what Jack said earlier this mourning is correct. I think after, September 11th, it's very hard to be objective about a lot of it. But we're paid to do that, and we are fairly practiced at it, at least those of us who have covered wars for a long time. And certainly in the way in which we are critical of parts of the strategy or men like Attorney General Ashcroft. You know, we show that we're an open press, and there are many, many moments in this effort, both domestically and abroad, when we can criticize and we have a lot to say. We're not just lackeys, like some people, Al-Jazeera are.