Jim Clancy Leaves CNN

Clancy leaves CNN after 34 years following
abusive Twitter exchange with Pro-Israel
activists.
CNN anchor Jim Clancy left the network one
week after a bizarre exchange with pro-Israel
activists on Twitter about" "the" "terrorist
outrages in Paris, in which he derided his
opponents as the "hasbara team" and used a
derogatory term for disabled people.
The news was broken by industry
publication "Adweek", which linked to "The
Algemeiner"'s extensive reporting of the
scandal, noting that Clancy's departure "comes
just days after the veteran journalist had an
extended debate via Twitter over the Charlie
Hebdo cartoons."
CNN, however, didnt make any mention of the
scandal as it paid tribute to Clancy's 34 years of
service with the channel. "Jim Clancy is no
longer with CNN. We thank him for more than
three decades of distinguished service, and
wish him nothing but the best," a CNN
spokesperson said.
In a brief statement, Clancy said: "After nearly
34 years with Cable News Network, the time
has come to say Farewell! It has been my
honor to work alongside all of you for all of
these years. This is one of the greatest news
organizations in the world. It has truly
revolutionized information delivery while
driving technological advances in how we
gather the news. Through it all, CNN has been
a family to my own family. That means
something. As I reflect on all of the great
adventures and achievements of the past, I
wish you great success in the future."
His departure follows Thursday's revelation
that his Twitter account had been deactivated.
In his clash with pro-Israel advocates, Clancy –
whose obsession with Israeli settlement policy
is well-known among CNN viewers – angrily
responded to one of his detractors with the
word, "Hasbara?" ("Hasbara," the Hebrew word
for "explaining," is often invoked by Israel's
opponents to dismiss views with which they
disagree, even when, as in this case, the
matter at hand has nothing to do with Israel.)
As his ire rose, Clancy responded to a user
saying, "Get a grip, junior. It's my Friday night.
You and the Hasbara team need to pick on
some cripple on the edge of the herd."
Jay Ruderman, the head of the Ruderman
Family Foundation, which promotes the
inclusion of people with disabilities in the
Jewish community, informed Clancy on Twitter
that the word "cripple" is derogatory. The
anchor's response was to block both
Ruderman's personal account and the account
of the Ruderman Foundation.
Ruderman told "The Algemeiner" that an
"organization held in the esteem that CNN is
held in should use this as a teaching moment."