Former crashers review Hu state dinnerON TONIGHT'S SHOW: Wednesday night, President Obama is hosting an official White House state dinner to honor President Hu Jintao of China. This is the third state dinner that Obama has hosted. The first one, held for the Prime Minister of India, is remembered not for the guest of honor, but for some of the attendees. Tareq and Michaele Salahi caused quite an uproar when they waltzed past the cameras and into that state dinner. Some say the Salahis were not on the invitation list, but managed to crash the party. The Salahis maintain that they were, in fact, invited. Either way, the Salahis got an inside look at one of this country’s fanciest parties. In a pre-interview today, Tareq Salahi shared some of those experiences with us. According to Salahi, once you get past the cameras in the receiving line, the men go straight to the bar and the ladies all gather to talk about what everyone is wearing. He went on to say that at state dinners is where the real deals happen and the magic is made. Salahi, says there are some anecdotes that will shock us. They haven’t told anyone about them and they aren’t in the Salahis book, but they will tell Parker Spitzer tonight, Jan. 19, 2011. |
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Sounds like this show is focusing on reality television. Why would they choose to promote low lives like the Salahi's that owe many people and two state hundreds of thousdans of dollars? They are conartists and would stab you with a smile on their face. They want to portray a life of luxury but in fact, everything about them is fake. Note to CNN, I will not be watching.
Please don't undermine your credibility any further by interviewing guests like the Salahi's or their ilk. I was just beginning to enjoy your show .... but tonight felt more like Celebrity News Network, reminescent of the Rick Sanchez days.
What an incredibly foolish mistake, I will not be watching. Elliot I'm disappointed! If you thought loosing your credibility was worth the ratings you should be aware tonight you will be losing both!
you've descended into the salacious when you give these charlatans a public voice. I'll be changing the channel after I write this.
It's difficult to believe that CNN is this desparate as to resort to giving air time to a pair of disrespectful, shallow wanna-be's as the Salahi's. CNN diminishes its reputation by adding this fluff and only further encourages misconduct of society.
WHY do you put the Salahi's on the show???? I love CNN but I have just turned it OFF!!!! PLEASE REFRAIN FROM RAISING SUCH FOLKS TO THE CELEBRITY THAT THEY CRAVE!
Good grief. Why are you elevating these people?
Really? Of all the people who could speak to the importance of a state dinner...the Salahi's?? What is going on at CNN?
I had thought the Parker Spitzer was an attempt to rise above he one-sided tirades on FOX and MSNBC. I had no idea that you would find an entirely different path toward an entirely new low. I would have thought that your sense of self-respect would not allow this. Moreover, the inner workings of a state dinner is not a particularly newsworthy topic. Sadly, I have new insight into your priorities and integrity.
I was very disppointed in seeing you interview the Salahi's – this slips you down to People Magazine status. (Sorry People!)
Salahis. A new low for the show. What were you thinking?
In a word , "Tacky" having the Salahis on. I thought Kathleen fell all over herself, desperately begging them for friendship and an invite of some kind. CNN, this was a tacky move!
What a waste giving air time to these fluff heads. How about some real news? Promptly changed channels when they came on.
I can't believe you would attempt to legitimize the Salahi's by giving them air time. Does anyone really care what they think? I think your show is losing it's way. Who is up tomorrow, the Kardashians?
Typically, I enjoy Parker Spitzer, but tonight I was really disappointed to see the Salahis on the show. They don't deserve any airtime, and particularly not on a show that strives to have intelligent conversation and respectable guests. And to see both Parker and Spitzer ingratiating the Salahis was really sad. I hope the show doesn't continue to stoop to this level.
Disappointed you chose to interview these two. Parker thinks who better to ask about a state dinner than these two. I'm sure they're the least credible to ask their opinions. Its a shame you lowered yourselves to reality TV crap. Did like your show prior to this choice.
The Salahi's??? Really??? So much for credible journalism. Back to MSNBC.
Are you kidding me? Do you want to be taken seriously? You invite these reality show wanna be's on and expect to be viewed as a respectable news program? Entertainment Tonight maybe, real news programming never. These two should never be heard from again. Incredibly bad choice!
We may have to stop watching Parker/Spitzer if you continue to host shallow scoflaws reality idiots. What a waste of air time and an insult to your audience. We expect more substance from supposedly intelligent people like you.
The Salahis broke the law and should answer for their unlawful actions.
im dissapointed that to report on a very important affair for this country with the Chinese Leader you would interview those two self indulgent party crashers who have absolutely no meaningful contribution to this matter. Im really dissapointed in both of you and CNN. what a huge disrespect to our leaders and the importance of this event.
I agree with the above statements. Tonight's show was a joke in having the Salahi's on.
I find it difficult to believe you would reward the Salahi's bad behavior by giving them the public attention that they seem to crave. I turned the channel when I heard that they would be on the broadcast.
ABC 20/20. Going to be on tonight's sgmeent, claiming victims of Bravo reality tv. Truth be told, Salahis are responsible for their owndownfall. Their bad behavior, lies and cons are reasons the Salahis are hated and bullied . Guess OJ Simpson is a victim of reality tv too!
I agree with the others.I can not believe that you selected the Salahi's as a viable option to comment on an important state dinner.I have been a big fan of your show but I may need to seriously reconsider watching Charlie Rose instead.You at CNN have a journalistic obligation to but forth the best quality of guest relative to the subject matter,so how exactly did the Salahi's become an expert on State Dinners.The one they crashed they were escorted out of!!!In your obvious pursuit of ratings you did CNN a disservice,not because of their politics but because of your failure to view your guest selection process to a higher standard.FYI I am currently watching CR instead of your CNN.
You've got to be kidding. You've given a platform to these idiots? Good nite & good bye!
Salahi's........SERIOUSLY??? UNBELIEVABLE!!!! No wonder CNN ratings are poor. Back to Olbermann.
What is going on at CNN?
Want some dish material, or food and wine critics ....book them.
To give the Salahi's an even more narcississtic platform is ridiculous!
I am stunned as a viewer
Bob
I hardly comment but quickly and with purpose ran to my office to make this post....happy to see that others agree as I often wonder if I'm the only sane person left in this world. I CANNOT believe that CNN would actually host these people on their show....what a farce!! I've been trying to hang on to Parker/Spitzer but no more.
I am appalled that you give air time to these Know-Nothings. Was Bozo unavailable? Please, news not trash. Do you have any journalistic integrity or has CNN become Trash-TV?
Un-freaking-believable! Parker Spitzer is usually too boring to watch, but I flipped past today and literally could not believe my eyes and ears – the Salahi's being seriously interviewed about a state dinner! It would have been a low for E or Bravo, but for CNN, a supposed "news" network, I am actually almost speechless! What were you thinking? No words could adequately express how shocking and digusting this was!
I cannot believe CNN is hosting the Salahi family on their network.
These publicity seekers should be relegated to daytime reality talk shows like Springer.
This decision by CNN totally took me by surprise.
Can we raise the standards, PLEASE!
This is absolutey disgusting; WHO CARES about what the Salahis think. What an embarrassing stunt CNN is pulling
Unbelievably inappropriate. Were you thinking to support their criminal behavior? Do you owe their agent favors? Surely you didn't believe that they held back "shocking anecdotes" when they (via Diane Dimond) wrote that absurd book. Surely you didn't thing those lame softball questions would yield something new. The Salahis took you for a ride.
What is the love affair by the media with these want-to-be's? I was disgusted with the interview and I turned it off to a better news coverage on msnbc. What were you thinking Spitzer/Parker? Bad idea, BIG mistake. You trivialized a wonderful evening by having two nobody's. Shame on you.
Thank goodness for the professionalism of Piers Morgan.
Re: Well said Bunne!
Terrible mistake by CNN! I will not watch Parker/Spitzer, or any other CNN show, if they trivialize things, and support some media-seeking characters, (let alone self-serving ego-maniacs).
We need to cut the White House entertaining budget rather than education for our children. No need for such lavish dinners at taxpayers expense while Americans are out of work and out of nutritious meals. What an American dream under this Administration.
Instead of undermining China's human rights issues, we need to look at our own. Allowing children to be abused and poisoned is a human rights violation.
Eliot and Cathleen,
To see you two cozying up to the Salahi's is more than I can stand. I have great respect for you Eliot but tonight really turned my stomach. To ask these people what they think is rewarding them for being White House party crashers. And who cares what they think?? I think CNN has made a big mistake putting them on. When Cathleen said she would like to drink wine with them at the end it really made me wonder what kind of a person she is. I have the lowest opinion
of these loser's. How many of us would be so morally corrupt to do what they did? I don't know anyone!!! My husband had his hands over his face while they were on.
I changed the channel as soon as the Salahis were brought on the show. Ridiculous! I am very, very disappointed that CNN invited these celebrity-wannabe con artists on Parker Spitzer. This type of thing only encourages the Salahi's narcissistic, egotistical, attention craving behavior.
Do you not care what the public thinks about these two? Don't you have any way to test the waters before you let losers like the Salahis on your show. That invitation to their winery? I wouldn't hold your breath. They haven"t made wine there in years. it is in bankruptcy because Tareq siphoned off funds to fund their fake socialite life-style. If you got ratings from tonight it is only for the trainwreck factor. Don't think those viewers will be returning for more.
I thought CNN was better that this...really ...the White House party crashers are commenting on the White House dinner for the President of China??? What are you thinking????? Looks like FOX will be my choice for the future.
Have we now go on to excusing bad behavior? Why don't you have Charles Manson on to discuss the shootings in Arizona and today's indictments. Pierss Morgan had on Condi Rize. Clearly she would have been more knowledgeable about a state dinner and been more legitimate to someone who wasn't EVEN ABLE TO SIT DOWN FOR THE DINNER.
Like it or not we have to go global. It is a sicensety not an option. It will happen.The real debate is only this:how will we manage this transition; and what form will the initial phase of global cohesion and governance take.The task before our species in this century is the creation of a rational and humane world order that will be basis of the next phase in human civilisation and the unfolding of life on earth.I hope we make it.
Speechless! Thank God for the ability to change channels...quickly! I can't even find the words to express my disgust that Parker/Spitzer and CNN would actually give these con artists another platform. Where were these anecdotes they proclaimed to have about state dinners? We all could have guessed they would tap dance around any legitimate questions. You lost me as a viewer. I am extremely disappointed in CNN. I thought you were above something like this. Heads should roll for this one!
I agree with all the above.....couldn't believe you were giving credibility (even referring to them as Washington society) to these two self-promoting characters. I will be watching MSNBC during this time slot in the future.
CNN you have lost another viewer.... to give actually give these losers any air time much less ask for their opinions on a State Dinner is ludicris. They are vapid and shallow with nothing of substance to offer
What's next? Balloon boy commenting on the space shuttle launch?
Trinna You got it right. Shame on CNN. Very bad choice
LOL! Okay, that was, I must admit, a fairly eitnrtaineng exchange, James. I was thinking last night how, or if, I would respond to you, because you had finally put some interesting points out there (By the way, Donald is clearly a fighter that can hold his own, even if some of us sparring are not in your weight division). I was going to counter that both parties in congress contributed to the deployment of troops and financial mess, and that regardless of party affiliation one must question motives and potential end results regardless party affiliation; and so on, but reading this string – this was a fairly amusing back-and-forth left to its own devices. My final comment is that having a patriotic, but perhaps, more independent point of view, I will stop presuming what the right believes and speak for myself in the future, lest I get swept along in the rhetorical, turbulent current.
Why would you want to interview the Salahis? Who care's what they think? Why give them prime air time? I always watch Parker/Spitzer. Wonderful show. Very disappointed with the decision to interview this couple. I think their gate crashing of the White House was disgusting. Who do they think they are??
Why did you give airtime to these two idiots. They crave the attention. They have nothing to offer. They belong in jail for all the innocent people they have scammed.
CNN, you should be ashamed.
The Salahis did not even stay for the dinner.. they bolted bfore seating because they knew they did not have placecards. Michaele's excuse on RHODC..she did not like Lentil Soup!!! What a joke CNN too bad your viewers did not laugh
I saw your show last night and was quite taken back by the fact that you chose to interview the Salahi's. They have done nothing to warrant CNN's attention and you just downgraded your show. When they go to jail for crashing a White House State Dinner and putting the President of the United States at risk, then you can properly offer them airtime!
Shame on you CNN. I cannot believe this qualifies and quality or even news. I agree with a previous post – "What's next? Having the Balloon Boy comment on a space shuttle launch"? This is a vulgar display of CNN rewarding bad behavior and overt stupidity. This isn't news. This isn't news worthy. It is a just plain bad.
Elliot, If you were still an AG and these two con artists lived in your jurisdiction you'd be indicting them. Boy how times have changed.
Met Reagan in the Oval Office in January 88. He was definitely "not there". His responses did not match my conversation points.
Vapid and irrelevant guests. Highly disappointing.
Khaladi's past is indeed rpeecy – sucking up to Comrade 'Papa' Arafat and on the payroll for the PLO for years as an apologist and discombobulation expert.In recent days he seems struck with Palestinian Sympathy Fatigue arguing that HAMAS or Fatah are finished and a new political reality should be forged
When did SNL skits become part of CNN? YIKES!!
I thought it was going to be a sement on grifters and con artists!
As I stated on some other comment page, I shall NEVER watch CNN again. You have reached a new low...so low, you are reaching up to touch bottom. These people are scammers, liars, crooks...they couldn't answer your question at the end because they left the dinner they spent a day getting ready for because there was no place set for them to sit. She pretended her MS kicked in so they went to the Hay Adams Hotel bar to medicate her...then left without paying THAT bill.
What a joke you are!
I can't believe CNN has sunk to this level. These two are cons, why would CNN reward such vial behavior?
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