CNN's Miles O'Brien wants to see if Howard Dean “melts down or something”

During CNN's July 27 Live From..., in a conversation with CNN national correspondent Bob Franken about what to expect from the evening's speakers at the Democratic National Convention, co-host Miles O'Brien echoed conservative characterizations of former Vermont governor Howard Dean when he said he wants “to see if he [Dean], you know, melts down or something.”

From the July 27 edition of CNN's Live From...:

O'BRIEN: If you could tell me which ones I should be watching, what are the key ones -- I, obviously Ron Reagan's a big one. Howard Dean, want to see if he, you know, melts down or something, but he'll probably be well-chastened, I suppose. Who else?

O'Brien's characterization recalls more vitriolic descriptions of Dean by conservatives. As Media Matters for America has previously documented, Rush Limbaugh has compared Dean to Saddam Hussein, and right-wing pundit Ann Coulter wrote (in a column titled "Saddam in Custody -- Moore, Soros, Dean Still at Large") that she was “looking forward to Dean's address at the Democratic Convention this summer. Rumor has it he'll end with a squeal so high-pitched only dogs will be able to hear it.”

Related Links