CNN announced yesterday that it is resurrecting its “Crossfire” television program this fall. According to CNN, the new “Crossfire” will feature Newt Gingrich and S.E. Cupp on the right, and Stephanie Cutter (ex-Obama White House) and Van Jones (ex-Obama White House until President Obama cut him loose due to right wing pressure) on the left.
CNN President Jeff Zucker stated that “‘Crossfire’ will be the forum where America holds its great debates.” Yet “Crossfire,” which first aired on CNN in 1982, helped usher in what is referred to today as “argue tv,” that coarse staple of television news networks such as CNN, MSNBC and Fox “News,” as well as other networks, in which hosts and guests bash each other, often with ad hominem attacks and prepared talking points.
However, some things may have changed since 1982. Jon Stewart famously appeared on “Crossfire” in 2006 to chastise the hosts, and those involved with similar “argue tv” programs, for “hurting America.” Even the title “Crossfire” now seems dated, given the death rhetoric and imagery that has crept into our political vernacular, such as Sarah Palin‘s “death panels,” Palin’s “don’t retreat, reload” and her gun cross-hairs map that “targeted” Democratic representatives such as Gabby Giffords of Arizona, who was gunned down shortly thereafter.
The addition of Newt Gingrich to the new “Crossfire” is also quite ironic. Gingrich is most recently known for his ill-fated effort to win the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination. During the many televised Republican primary debates in that contest, Gingrich spent much of his time bashing the moderators and the media, including, in the most famous moment, CNN’s own John King. In that moment, Gingrich slammed King for being part of “the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media.” With Gingrich now joining CNN, perhaps some things haven’t changed all that much.
