Columnist and TV Host Tangle Over CNN Advertiser

By: E&P Staff Liberal columnist Norman Solomon, in a blog entry today on The Huffington Post, recounted an interesting TV encounter he had with conservative Glenn Beck.

Beck invited Solomon on his CNN show Monday to discuss a recent NBC news report that praised energy-efficient LED light bulbs but didn't disclose that NBC's parent company, General Electric, sells these bulbs.

The Creators Syndicate columnist did discuss the GE matter with Beck, but also left the TV host sputtering by bringing up corporate-ad problems at CNN. Part of the exchange:

SOLOMON: "A major -- a major advertiser for CNN is the largest military contractor in the United States, Lockheed Martin. So when you and others --"

BECK: "I got news for you, Norman. Norman --"

SOLOMON: "-- promote war -- when you and others promote war on this network --"

BECK: "Norman -- Norman --"

SOLOMON: "-- we have Lockheed Martin paying millions of dollars undisclosed. So I would quote you --"

BECK: "Norman -- Norman --"

SOLOMON: "Promoting but not disclosing is a bad way to go."

BECK: "Norman, let me just tell you this. First of all, Lockheed Martin is not a -- not a corporate overlord of this program."

SOLOMON: "It's a major advertiser on CNN."

BECK: "That's fine. That's fine. Advertisers are different. But let --"

SOLOMON: "Well, it is fine, but it should be disclosed."

BECK: "Norman, let me just tell you something. If you think that it's warmonger central downstairs at CNN, you're out of your mind. But that's a different story."

SOLOMON: "Well, upstairs, when I watch Glenn Beck, in terms of attacking Iran, it certainly is. It's lucrative for the oil companies, as well as for the major advertiser on CNN, Lockheed Martin."