CNN host Piers Morgan — who as of late has become a fierce, vocal critic of U.S. gun laws — told
Politico having conservative, pro-gun advocate radio show host Alex Jones on his show last week for a testy interview was “the smartest booking we ever made.”
The temperamental discussion between Morgan and Jones, who initiated the White House petition to have the British citizen deported because of his views on the Second Amendment, has gone viral and has grabbed major attention across the political spectrum.
“I would suggest it’s the smartest booking we’ve ever made,” Morgan said. “The best thing about Alex Jones is that 8 million people watched that video on YouTube,” he said. “The attention that interview got exploded this issue back onto the agenda for the entire week leading up to what Obama did [Wednesday].”
Editor's Note:
Should Obama's Gun Ban Be Approved? Vote Now in Urgent Poll
Morgan was referring to President Barack Obama’s call for a sweeping change in U.S. gun laws, both legislatively and unilaterally by presidential executive order.
“The president of the United States espoused exactly what I’ve been saying for the last five weeks,” Morgan continued. “No one can tell me we haven’t had an influence.”
Morgan said the gun-control debate allowed him to tackle an important issue, while drawing a much larger audience than he usually does with softer topics and less-polarizing guests.
“We are ultimately a cable television program. Of course ratings matter,” Morgan said. “What is heartening to me is that we’ve been getting very strong ratings by doing an issue where we are energizing the debate, and we are actually getting things happening.”
Morgan, who until his recent focus on gun control has not grabbed much television attention, said he relishes the role of provocateur. “[I have a] unique ability to rub people the wrong way,” he told Politico.
One of those people is Larry King, the broadcast legend Morgan replaced at CNN. King recently commented the show was as much about its host as it was anything else. Morgan held nothing back in his reply.
“I’ve tried to be very respectful about Larry; he’s a legend, and I feel very proud to have followed him,” he said. “But I think he just slightly needs to button it, because he’s talking nonsense. The reason we’re different is, I’m a journalist and he’s not. Larry isn’t a journalist, never has been.”
Editor's Note:
Should Obama's Gun Ban Be Approved? Vote Now in Urgent Poll
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