[Update, 6:45 pm Eastern: Video and audio clips from segments added.]
CNN anchor Rick Sanchez concluded Tuesday’s Newsroom program with an admission of sorts about his misrepresentation on the previous day of John McCain’s words about the GOP’s outreach to Latinos: “I paraphrased to my colleague Roland Martin that McCain had said the party needs to recruit ‘competent’ Hispanics. I just want to be fair about this, right? He didn’t use the word ‘competent’ when he said that” [audio clips from both segments available here].
During this correction at the end of the 3 pm Eastern hour, Sanchez related his version of what had transpired near the end of Monday’s Newsroom program during a segment with CNN political analyst Roland Martin: “Yesterday, in trying to defend the meaning of Senator John McCain’s statement about the Republican Party being in, what he called, ‘a deep hole’- those were John McCain’s word [sic]- with Hispanics, and needing to recruit more Hispanics, as he’s telling the Republican Party- I paraphrased to my colleague Roland Martin that McCain had said the party needs to recruit ‘competent’ Hispanics. I just want to be fair about this, right? He didn’t use the word ‘competent’ when he said that.”
Actually, the CNN anchor made his paraphrase of McCain’s remark before he defended what the senator possibly meant by it:
SANCHEZ: Well, there are two stories I want to get your input on. The first one- let me watch- two John McCains. John McCain this weekend on ‘State of the Union.’ Let’s do that first. Dan, what he said on ‘State of the Union’ first about the problem with Hispanic voters for Republicans.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: I’m of the belief that unless we reverse the trend of Hispanic voter registration, we have a very, very deep hole that we’ve got to come out of.
SANCHEZ: Now, he went on to say, interestingly enough, that the Republican Party needs to find competent Hispanics who can fit into the party. They need to actually recruit them- is the word he uses.
MARTIN: Did he actually say competent?
SANCHEZ: Competent- they have to be competent. They can’t be- hold on- now, here he is getting a chance to vote on Sonia Sotomayor, who many people think is competent.
MARTIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: Watch- this is moments ago.
MCCAIN: Regardless of one’s success in academics and in government service, an individual who does not appreciate the common sense limitations on judicial power in our democratic system of government ultimately lacks a key qualification for a lifetime appointment to the bench. For this reason, and no other, I’m unable to support Judge Sotomayor’s nomination.
SANCHEZ: Well, some people will look at that and see the John McCain on Sunday, from the John McCain on Monday and say how do you reconcile those two?
MARTIN: Right. Well, first of all, I never hear anybody use the word ‘competent’ when we’re talking about white guys. I mean, it’s always a matter of using it with African-Americans or Hispanics.
SANCHEZ: Well, but in defense of John McCain, you know what he’s trying to say.
MARTIN: No, no, no- no, no- no.
SANCHEZ: We don’t just go out and get any Hispanic. Let’s get good Hispanics.
MARTIN: Yeah- but, again, I never- I never hear the qualify- I never hear the qualifier when talking about white guys. And so, I always have an issue with that.
SANCHEZ: Your point is well taken.
Sanchez concluded his correction by reading what Senator McCain had actually said, and hinting that the Arizona Republican possibly had the “competent” term in mind when he made the remark during the State of the Union interview with CNN’s John King: “What McCain said- that was, the party needs is to recruit Hispanics, but not just because they’re Hispanic- possibly the same meaning, but not the same word. We just thought we’d let you know.”Well, Mr. Sanchez, NewsBusters definitely knew that McCain hadn’t used the word “competent,” and we’re not convinced that that was what he meant in the comment.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
Old Trick
August 4, 2009 - 16:44 ET by BondPlainBondCan't unring the bell.
Liberals LOVE this tactic.
Yep. It was, of course, deliberate.
August 5, 2009 - 13:45 ET by farstar99And even if it wasn't, Sanchez revealed what HE thinks of Hispanics, not what McCain thinks.
To the toffee-nosed elitist press, Hispanics aren't competent unless they undergo the Obama treatment - free, radicalized "education" at an elitist school.
What I find really repugnant is the idea that Hispanics, or any minority, are considered less than human by Democrats until they've been brainwashed at an "acceptable" liberal brainwashing warehouse.
Whether he tried to unring
August 5, 2009 - 17:34 ET by dmntd1Whether he tried to unring the bell or not, the damage is done. Sanchez just implied that the GOP is looking for incompetent hispanics.
WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare,
The Rickster
August 4, 2009 - 16:48 ET by acumenfeelin' the heat. Not to worry Rick, Barry's hiring and competence ain't a requirement.
How about paraliar
August 4, 2009 - 16:49 ET by Jack Herman"MARTIN: Yeah- but, again, I never- I never hear the qualify- I never hear the qualifier when talking about white guys. And so, I always have an issue with that."
And you didn't hear it this time either, jackass.
Hmmm....Was that a
August 4, 2009 - 17:16 ET by bigtimerHmmm....Was that a "calibration'?
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
→ Calibrated
August 4, 2009 - 17:19 ET by Cool ArrowSoooo.
Just what kind of Hispanics does he think McCain should try to attract?
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
'Erroneous Paraphrase'
August 4, 2009 - 17:17 ET by slickwillie2001Ahh, an 'erroneous paraphrase'; remember that if you are ever charged with perjury or lying to a federal agent. Might come in handy.
Competent, the wrong word
August 4, 2009 - 17:25 ET by zachlindI’ve watched him several times, “report”, and would not have thought the word competent was one that he would be familiar with.
Somebody at CNN is getting a
August 4, 2009 - 17:31 ET by d1carterSomebody at CNN is getting a little uncomfortable with Sanchez...he did not do this on his on.
d1... Maybe it's
August 4, 2009 - 17:38 ET by bigtimerd1...
Maybe it's Dobbs. ;-)
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I do believe part of the
August 4, 2009 - 22:14 ET by d1carterI do believe part of the public's frustration is with the MSM. Millions of American citizens feel as they have very little or no voice in the discourse. If this gets to the boiling point, something is going to blow.
d1... You know it...you
August 4, 2009 - 22:35 ET by bigtimerd1...
You know it...you can feel it happening....so can the enemy within.
They are in fear.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
CNN's Rick Sanchez today (Tues. 8/4) said this while discussing
August 4, 2009 - 18:31 ET by Rush Fanthe protesters at the recent townhall meetings:
SANCHEZ: As we begin this particular conversation, there is another health care forum that has been interrupted. There seems to be a pattern going on here. Have you seen some of the pictures that we've been showing from around the country?
Sanchez then interviews Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D), Texas.
DOGGETT: Well, Rick, there is a little pattern here that you just pointed out to your viewers.
This is not grassroots, pitchfork-waving folks. This is a coordinated campaign by the Republican Party and the insurance industry. And just to modify a little one thing you said, I visited with these people for an hour, listening to their questions, trying to explain the plan, having their taunts, boos, and so forth, like my colleague.
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Later in the interview Sanchez again implies that there is a coordinated effort by Republicans (and FoxNews) to give the protesters "talkingpoints".
SANCHEZ: One of the things I noticed when I watched the -- all three of them -- and that's why we wanted viewers to watch all three. And correct me if I'm wrong. But I got the impression that a lot of the things that were being said in one were also being said in two and were also being said in three, some very parallel statements, if you will.
And I'm wondering if you have stopped to figure out where these folks are getting their information, because they do have a very parallel ideology, do they not?
DOGGETT: Well, they do have a script. I think this is disseminated through the Republican Party, through Web sites that they are going through and through some of the private organizations that are helping orchestrate all this. And it is pretty much the same script everywhere, government takeover, euthanasia, socialized medicine.
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“The media is a disgrace. You have forfeited any notion that you once had of respect” ~ Rush Limbaugh
"Where is the other side?
August 4, 2009 - 18:48 ET by Chris Norman"Where is the other side? Where's are all the millions of Americans who, according to all the polls, really want this thing to pass?"
Sleeping in? Down at the bar blaming Bush for their troubles? In jail? Busy buying medicinal marijuana at the pot shop?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Hmmmm Same comments at 3 separate events Hmmmmm
August 4, 2009 - 20:04 ET by Cape ConservativeWhy to me that means there must be an awful lot of people who are SIMILARLY FED UP with the way our government is trying to steamroll its citizens!!!
I believe these people in government and the media definitely live in a very different dimension than ordinary Americans and cannot understand that the American people AS A WHOLE are FED UP!
We have decided it is time to SPEAK OUT - it is NOW or NEVER as 'they' have their course all charted out to DESTROY AMERICA before our very eyes! Let us be Silent NO LONGER!
This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Domestic Right Wing Terrorist! It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams
But I got the impression
August 4, 2009 - 21:57 ET by RESTLESS 1But I got the impression that a lot of the things that were
being said in one were also being said in two and were also being said
in three, some very parallel statements, if you will.
Uh, Rick? Might that be because we are all reading the same piece of sh#t plan known as obamacare?
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
Recruiting "competent" Hispanics...
August 4, 2009 - 21:46 ET by m4ster chief...is actually not a bad idea. Intelligence and good moral/ethical character are also desireable traits...all of which would disqualify Sanchez. But no doubt he has a "rich life experience" and the ability to scratch is butt with either hand, which makes him eminently qualified to be a Democrat presidential candidate.
Edit: By the way, my health insurance company paid me $7.25 to post the above racist comment; I can collect it in cash or they will mail me a bottle of aspirin tablets.
"Allies to Land at Normandy Tomorrow!" New York Times headline; June 5, 1944 (h/t M. Malkin)
Take the aspirin tablets.........
August 5, 2009 - 05:55 ET by old croThat $7.25 could put you in a higher tax bracket, unless you pull a Geithner.
This is proof that these MSM jerks do in fact read Newsbusters
August 5, 2009 - 07:15 ET by SickofLibsWho else would have nailed him on it?
Right, Sanchez?
I
August 5, 2009 - 09:28 ET by jessieHI disagree. The GOP needs to recruit competent people. People that don't "open mouth & insert foot". In other words, no Bidens! Patriot & Proud!