CNN's Cafferty: Streisand 'Reclusive, Neurotic, Over-the-Hill Vocalist'

November 27th, 2007 5:35 PM

CNN's Jack Cafferty, who made his anti-Iraq war, anti-Bush administration stance clear on Monday's "The Situation Room," rolled his eyes at Barbara Streisand's endorsement of Hillary Clinton on Tuesday's program. His characterization of the news: "Reclusive, neurotic, over-the-hill vocalist endorses Hillary. I mean, is the ground supposed to shake now, and lightning bolts fly out of the sky. Who cares!?"

Cafferty made the comments just before the top of the 5 pm Eastern hour of Tuesday's "The Situation Room." Two minutes earlier, as part of the "Political Ticker" feature on CNN, host Wolf Blitzer read a brief about the sometimes-retired singer's plug for the former First Lady. This prompted a question from Cafferty as he prepared to read the viewer responses to his 'Question of the Hour' for the 4 pm Eastern hour. "Give me a hand with something. What exactly does the Streisand endorsement represent?" Blitzer responded, "It means that Barbara Streisand, great singer, is supporting Hillary Clinton." This prompted Cafferty's "reclusive, neurotic" line.

The full transcript of the brief exchange between Cafferty and Blitzer on Tuesday's "The Situation Room:"

CAFFERTY: Give me a hand with something. What exactly does the Streisand endorsement represent?

BLITZER: It means that Barbara Streisand, great singer, is supporting Hillary Clinton

CAFFERTY: Reclusive, neurotic, over-the-hill vocalist endorses Hillary. I mean, is the ground supposed to shake now, and lightning bolts fly out of the sky. Who cares!?

BLITZER: She's got a lot of fans out there, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Oh, come on!