United States: CNN Political Reporter Talked Over During Commentary About Presidential Debate
Location: United States, Washington
Date: October 8, 2020Following the presidential debate of October 7 during which Vice President Mike Pence repeatedly interrupted Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris, CNN political reporter Gloria Borger was targeted with mansplaining and interruptions on live TV.
Gloria Borger, who was the only woman in the four people panel faced constant interruptions by Former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, ironically as she was explaining how Pence interrupted Harris and talked over her.
Gloria Borger began to praise Harris' composure and explain what the interruptions might signal to female viewers, but Santorum loudly cut off Gloria Borger to muscle in a counterpoint just as she was explaining how hard it is for female speakers to get interrupted constantly.
In the video footage, Santorum cuts off Gloria Borger, saying: "Don't make the claim that he interrupted her repeatedly, because he didn't."
Replicating Harris' refrain when interrupted during the debate, Gloria Borger responded, "Mr. Santorum, I'm speaking," while Santorum proceeded with his interruption.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism finds such disrespectful interruptions sexist in nature and aimed to intimidate women to silence. We applaud Gloria Borger for standing up to her right to speech and demanding she be treated with respect.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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