On Thursday, CNN and Fox News proved once again that people would be more informed if they didn’t watch any news at all when they erroneously reported that the Supreme Court struck down Obamacare. In their apparent haste, or wishful thinking, to report the story first, both networks didn’t bother to read past the first page of the majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts. For minutes, CNN and Fox misinformed their viewers and satirist Stephen Colbert couldn’t pass up the opportunity to blast them for it on Thursday night’s Colbert Report.
Colbert began by playing clips of CNN, Fox News, and Fox Business hosts all reporting that the health care law had been struck down.
“The individual mandate has been struck down,” Stuart Varney declared on Fox Business. “The individual mandate has. Been. Struck. Down.”
To which Colbert replied, “No. It. Has. Not. You. Suck. At. News.”
The various hosts then discovered the second page of the majority opinion.
“Evidently, folks,” Colbert stated, “and I didn’t know this, evidently, there’s more to a Supreme Court ruling than the first page!”
At that point, the anchors all reversed themselves and reported the real news that the Affordable Care Act had been in fact, upheld.
“Oh, what a novel idea!,” Colbert said. “Read the decision before you open your mouths and break a man’s heart!”
Here’s the hilarious video:
Not too long ago, a study revealed that people who watch Fox News are less informed than people who don’t watch any news at all. Even people who watch The Daily Show or The Colbert Report were found to be more informed about the issues and the world around them. And judging by the major unforced errors committed by Fox and CNN on Thursday, the study is very easy to believe.
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