On CNN’s bias and Eliot Spitzer’s departure

If I worked out in the afternoon, it seemed almost inevitable that I would catch Eliot Spitzer’s “In the Arena” on one of the TV monitors in my gym.  I often noted how few conservatives he had on the show.  Frequently, the former Democratic governor would “moderate” panel discussions between two liberals, from time to time CNN’s own in-house liberal, Jeffrey Toobin, the man Andrew Breitbart bills as “a pompous, morally compromised legal expert” facing off against another left-of-center pundit (maybe even a fellow Journolister?).  Last night, it was Obama adviser Fareed Zakaria and liberal historian Simon Schama (though, to be sure, the latter is, by and large, an honest historian).

Now, CNN is a private enterprise and has every right to provide leftist pundits a platform.  And is under no obligation to present the conservative point of view.  We have the right to change the channel.

Seems quite a lot of people did just that when Mr. Spitzer’s show came on.   Guess they didn’t resign themselves to their workout facility’s choice of channel.  CNN is canceling the show.

But, this leads me to ponder something.  The preponderance of pundits on CNN lean left.  Yet, on FoxNews, even on Sean Hannity’s show, panels almost almost include liberal pundits.  Why then do so many mainstream media critics so eager to criticize Fox for its bias while ignoring that of CNN?

Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter anyway.  Audiences seem to be voting with their remote.

ADDENDUM:  Below is a chart showing the total viewers for the cables news networks.  I have circled in red all slots where a show on CNN has a larger audience than a show on FoxNews in the same time slot:

Via Media Bistro.

UPDATE: Sonicfrog provides an example of the bias on Spitzer’s now canceled program. He once had Bill Maher on to state “emphatically that Obama never blames the Republicans for anything, he’s their best friend…’!” And while you’re over there, check this out too.