CNN's Alisyn Camerota repeatedly touted the New York Daily News's lowbrow anti-Ted Cruz headline on Thursday's New Day. The anchor first cracked, "Look at how helpful the Daily News is being, though, for Ted Cruz. They're giving him helpful subway directions about how to get out of the Bronx. They're suggesting that he 'take the F.U. train.'" Camerota then spotlighted it in a segment about the "piranha pool of the New York media." She later mentioned it not once, but twice during an interview of the Cruz campaign's national manager. [video below]
The journalist first pointed out the vulgar front page (which was also promoted by NBC and CBS's morning shows) to CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein. Anchor Chris Cuomo responded to her tongue-in-cheek "helpful" description of the headline by remarking, "They're giving him a little bit of the Bronx salute there." Brownstein disclosed that he "used to take the 'F' train every day when I grew up in Queens."
Over a half hour later, Camerota brought up the New York Daily News jab at Cruz with CNN media analyst Bill Carter: "Just look at this morning's New York Daily News cover taking aim at Senator Ted Cruz. 'Take the F.U. train, Ted,' it says. Bill Carter likes that." She continued by spotlighting other anti-politician front pages from the Daily News and the New York Post.
The following hour, Camerota included two mentions of the F-bomb-referencing headline during her interview of Cruz national campaign manager Chad Sweet:
ALISYN CAMEROTA: So, New York does not seem to be rolling out the red carpet for Ted Cruz. In fact, if the Daily News cover is any indication, it's quite the opposite. They're basically telling him where he can go. Do you think the senator is surprised by this reception?
CHAD SWEET, CRUZ CAMPAIGN NATIONAL CHAIRMAN: Listen, the senator has always been willing to go anywhere, any time, any place to bring his solutions and conservative message to the nation. And I think what we're seeing now in New York is what we've seen in other states — where, sometimes, we start off lower than expectations; and then, what we consistently do is outperform as we move towards Election Day.
(...)
CAMEROTA: Given how poorly it's gone thus far in New York — in terms of protests and appearances being canceled and the front page of the Daily News — should Ted Cruz give up on New York and just focus on other future states?
SWEET: Well, first of all, again, we don't concede that it's gone poorly in New York; and secondly, what I would d say is, again, what I said at the beginning — which is the senator is willing to anywhere, any time, any place to bring these pragmatic, common-sense solutions to the people so that they can make their own decision.
Of course, this isn't the first time that the CNN morning newscast has hyped anti-Republican/conservative covers from the Daily News. Back in February 2016, correspondent Athena Jones highlighted the liberal newspaper's "Dolt .45" barb at Jeb Bush. Two months earlier, New Day and two other CNN programs touted their infamous "God Isn't Fixing This" attack on Republican politicians.
The transcripts of the relevant portions of the Ron Brownstein and Bill Carter segments from the April 7, 2016 edition of CNN's New Day:
04/07/2016
06:17 am EDT
CNN — New DayALISYN CAMEROTA: Ron, look at how helpful the Daily News is being, though, for Ted Cruz—
[CNN Graphic: "Cruz Ties Trump & Dems To 'New York Values'"]
RON BROWNSTEIN: Yes—
CAMEROTA: They're giving him helpful subway directions (Chris Cuomo laughs) about how to get out of the Bronx. They're suggesting that he 'take the F.U. train.'
CHRIS CUOMO: They're giving him a little bit of the Bronx salute there. (Camerota laughs)
BROWNSTEIN: That is — you know, I used to take the 'F' train every day when I grew up in Queens.
06:54 am EDTALISYN CAMEROTA The New York primary less than two weeks away — so just look at this morning's New York Daily News cover taking aim at Senator Ted Cruz. 'Take the F.U. train, Ted,' it says. Bill Carter likes that.
Joining us now: CNN media analyst and the author of 'The War for Late Night,' Bill Carter; and CNN senior reporter for media and politics, Dylan Byers. Great to have both of you. Bill, let me start with you. We keep hearing about this — you know, piranha pool of the New York media that will eat you alive. I thought, perhaps, everyone was overstating it until—
BILL CARTER, CNN MEDIA ANALYST: Until you woke up today.
CAMEROTA: Until — well, I mean, not only today — my producer put together this montage of recent political headlines on the front page—
CARTER: Right—
CAMEROTA: Look at this. I mean, just look at some illustration that no one is sacred here. 'Drop dead, Ted.' They have the Statue of Liberty giving Ted Cruz — flipping him the bird. They have Hillary Clinton looking ghastly. They have — I mean, all—
CARTER: Trump in the clown makeup.
CAMEROTA: Trump in the clown makeup — and then, this one: Bernie Sanders — you know, about shame — oh, I mean, it just goes on and on and on. How is this all going to play over the next days?
CARTER: Well, I think it's exciting.
