CNN Picks Up Bennett After Novak Departs
Thursday, January 26, 2006; Page C07
A month after losing conservative pundit Robert Novak to Fox News Channel, CNN has signed conservative William Bennett, who just ended a one-year deal with Fox News.
Bennett, a radio talk-show host and the author of the best-selling "The Book of Virtues" and "The Children's Book of Virtues," will contribute to the multi-hour afternoon show "The Situation Room" and other CNN shows.
  CNN has signed William Bennett to appear on "The Situation Room" and other shows. (By Freddie Lee -- Fox Via Associated Press) |
In competing with top-rated Fox News, CNN hopes Bennett will appeal to conservative viewers. "We look forward to his candid and expressive contribution to our broadcasts," CNN President Jonathan Klein said in a statement.
Last week, CNN announced that it had reached a deal with former Republican congressman J.C. Watts Jr., now a GOP strategist, to provide political commentary. And CNN Headline News has signed conservative radio host Glenn Beck to anchor a new talk show.
Bennett, a former education secretary and drug czar in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, created controversy last year when he said on his radio show that aborting "every black baby in this country" would reduce crime. He later defended his statement, saying he was making a hypothetical argument and was not stating his position.
In 2002, Bennett signed on with CNN as a contributor to "American Morning."
-- John Maynard
