Catching up with an admission from just after Tuesday’s Republican presidential candidate debate in Las Vegas, CNN’s Anderson Cooper lightheartedly conceded that when he confronted Herman Cain with his earlier criticism of the Occupy Wall Street protests, a criticism Cain reaffirmed to rousing audience applause, Cooper hadn’t intended it as a softball but as an embarrassing mis-cue from which he expected Cain to backtrack.
“Sort of teed it up for him there,” Cooper fretted in his post-debate hour after re-playing his exchange with Cain, “I didn’t really mean to. But he clearly just knocked that one out of the park. I mean, and it was obviously -- at least for this audience in this hall, that played very well.” (video below)
From the panel during the 7 PM PDT/10 PM EDT post-debate Anderson Cooper 360 hour on CNN on Tuesday night, October 18:
ANDERSON COOPER: I want to just show a little bit about what some of the candidates had to say about the Occupy Wall Street movement. Let's watch.
DEBATE EXCERPT:COOPER: Herman Cain, I’ve got to ask you. You said, quote, “Don't blame” -- two weeks ago, you said, “Don’t blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks. If you don't have a job and you’re not rich, blame yourself.” That was two weeks ago. The movement has grown. Do you still say that?
HERMAN CAIN: Yes, I do still say that. And here’s why. [audience applause] I still stand by my statement. And here’s why. They might be frustrated with Wall Street and the bankers, but they're directing their anger at the wrong place. Wall Street didn’t put in failed economic policies. Wall Street didn’t spend a trillion dollars that didn't do any good. Wall Street isn't going around the country trying to sell another $450 billion. They ought to be over in front of the White House taking out their frustration.
END DEBATE EXCERPT
COOPER: Sort of teed it up for him there. I didn't really mean to. But he clearly just knocked that one out of the park. I mean, and it was obviously -- at least for this audience in this hall, that played very well.
