It's no secret CNN has had their fair share of troubles with ratings. They can't seem to figure out why Fox News continually has higher ratings than them or why fewer Americans tune into their shows. And if this doesn't make them scratch their heads and question what they're doing – because apparently Russiagate wasn't enough – then absolutely nothing will.
CNN had an entire segment dedicated to talking about the song selection each 2020 Democratic presidential candidate made during the big Iowa dinner and how that compares to President Donald Trump playing the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" at the end of campaign events.
"When you're a presidential candidate there's something as potentially as important as your stand on any issue. And that is, what song do you want played when you take the stage?" CNN's Michael Smerconish said. "19 of the 23 contenders showed up at the Democratic Hall of Fame event in Iowa last weekend and had to face that dilemma. What do you play before you're allotted a five minute chance to woo those crucial early voters?"
"I always thought it fascinating that President Trump chooses to end his rallies with the Rolling Stones' 'You Can't Always Get What You Want.' What message does he want people to get from that?" Smerconish asked. "You'd expect a politician to be aspirational and yet he's telling them 'Hey. You're not always going to get what you want.'"
Smerconish went on to name the songs a few of the Democrats chose:
• Steve Bullock - "Small Town" by John Mellencamp
• John Delaney - "I've Been Everywhere" by Johnny Cash
• Jay Inslee - "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra
• Beto O'Rourke - "Clampdown" by The Clash
• Bernie Sanders - "Power to the People" by John Lennon
• Elizabeth Warren - "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton
And, because former Vice President Joe Biden, the frontrunner of the group, decided to skip the event, Smerconish decided to take a wild guess at what song Biden's campaign would pick.
"A couple skipped the event, including the front runner, which got me wondering, which song will Joe BIden use for his campaign? Because in the opening rally in Pittsburgh he went with the boss, [Bruce] Springsteen's 'We Take Care of Our Own' and I know, as far as I know, Springsteen has no objection to the veep using the song the way he did with Reagan and some other candidates," he explained. "But, in Philly, three weeks later, he switched to Elton John's 'Philadelphia Freedom,' maybe, you know, just because of being in the City of Brotherly Love. I don't know. But, if he has to pick one, which should it be? Probably Springsteen, as much as I love the Elton John song."
To make matters even worse, Smerconish decided to tell viewers what song he'd pick if he were in Iowa. Of course, he had to plug his book tour when he made the comment.
"I already do in my 'American Life in Columns' book tour. I go with Stealers Wheel's 'Stuck In The Middle With You.' And, by the way, I'm not changing my tune," he said with a smile.
Here's the thing: Americans don't care what song candidates decide to play when they enter and exit a rally or gathering. They don't care about the hidden meanings and message the candidates are trying to convey. The only people who care about that are beltway insiders and campaign managers. Every average person will sing along if they know the tune or drown it out while they wait for the politician to take the stage.
Americans are more concerned about whether or not these candidates will uphold their values. They want to know if a candidate wants to uphold Roe v. Wade and whether or not a candidate will pursue gun control. Americans want to make sure the economy continues to boom, that their children and grandchildren won't face the student loan debt Generation Y and Millennials currently have. Americans are concerned about rising health care costs (thanks, Obama!) and big tech's censorship.
If you're wondering why your ratings suck, CNN, look no further than this segment.
President Trump famously uses the Rolling Stones' “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” at campaign events.
— CNN (@CNN) June 15, 2019
Here are the songs that some Democratic presidential candidates have picked to sum up their messages and amp up their supporters. ?? pic.twitter.com/bxTqz81C1i
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