Phoenix Lights: Former Governor's Declaration Gets CNN's Attention!

By Gary Tuchman
CNN
3-21-07

Note-Although this short piece by CNN (Anderson Cooper's 360) wasn't anywhere near the insipid segment that was offered up as "investigative journalism" in regards to the "O'hare case" (a few weeks back), it still evidenced the insouciant attitude CNN takes in regards to unauthorized Air Craft (of unknown origin) in US airspace. Roberts introduces the segment using the noun, "believer" setting a tone for the layperson ad nauseum! In addition, during the piece, the video of the 10:00 flare drop was shown, erroneously referring to the 8:30 sighting of the enormous "V-shaped craft" (which is what Symington was referring to!) At the end of the piece, reporter Gary Tuchman states, "What we do know is that it's as much of a mystery today as it was a decade ago"; amusingly, for anyone who's paid attention to the subject, we have to assume he was speaking on behalf of CNN, since they continue to exhibit their ignorance on the subject (UFOs), as well as their poor attempt at investigative journalism specifically with this phenomenon! At least this time they spared us the Star Trek theme music, as well as Anderson Cooper playing with the lights-FW

"You know, in your gut, you could just tell it was otherworldly."

     Transcript:ROBERTS: Earlier this month, a man in Tennessee reported seeing a dime-shaped object whirling through the sky at incredible speed. He's not sure that it was a UFO, but for three out of 10 Americans, the answer may be obvious.

There are many true believers out there, and one of them held the highest office in Arizona. CNN's Gary Tuchman reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fife Symington is now a businessman. He was the Republican governor of Arizona for six years, elected when the first George Bush was president.

Now, a decade after leaving the statehouse, he takes me to a Phoenix park and discloses something unlike anything uttered by any other high level U.S. politician.

SYMINGTON: If you -- if you had been here 10 years ago, standing out there looking up there at the lights and the view, you would have been astounded. You would have been amazed.

TUCHMAN: Governor Symington is referring to what is now known as the Phoenix lights, an object videotaped by many and seen by thousands over several nights in the Arizona sky in 1997.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Major sighting here.

TUCHMAN: It was described by witnesses as larger than a football field and silent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was giant V. All right? And the right side of the V went over us. The left side was like a couple blocks over it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just didn't know what to do. You know? It was just like, my God, how big is this thing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... the great state of Arizona, Fife Symington.

TUCHMAN: The former governor, a Vietnam Air Force veteran, had never publicly acknowledged seeing it until now.

SYMINGTON: And I suspect that, unless the Defense Department proves us otherwise it was probably one form of an alien spacecraft.

TUCHMAN: So why didn't he say anything then? Partly because he didn't want people to panic.

SYMINGTON: I think as a public figure you have to be very careful about what you say because people can have pretty emotional reactions. And I said my goal wasn't to try to stir the pot.

TUCHMAN: And he went to humorous and controversial lengths not to stir the pot. He held a news conference after the Phoenix lights to announce the mystery had been solved.

SYMINGTON: And now, I'll ask Officer Stein and his colleagues to escort the accused into the room so that we may all look upon the guilty party.

Don't get him too close to me, please.

TUCHMAN: In the alien costume, the governor's chief of staff.

SYMINGTON: This goes to show that you guys are entirely too serious.

TUCHMAN: UFO enthusiasts were not amused, especially since the governor was believed to have seen nothing. But now he's coming out.

SYMINGTON: The lights were really brilliant. And it was just fascinating. I mean, it was enormous. It just felt otherworldly. You know, in your gut, you could just tell it was otherworldly.

TUCHMAN: Symington will be talking about this in an updated film about UFOs called "Out of the Blue". He is also talking with an organization that wants UFO information more out in the open.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very significant that someone of the stature of a governor would come out and say they that experienced that they'd experienced a UFO, because it brings a lot of credibility and strength to the case.

TUCHMAN: Governor Symington says he did tell his family, friends and staff about what he saw early on.

SYMINGTON: I still, behind the scenes, tried to investigate it, but I got nowhere. TUCHMAN (on camera): So what were the Phoenix lights? Frankly, we don't know. What we do know is that it's as much of a mystery today as it was a decade ago.

See Also:

O'Hare UFO Witness Appears in Silhouette on CNN

Olbermann's Two Cents on O'Hare UFO Sighting

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