While the media have so far refused to label Hillary Clinton as a liberal since she announced her White House bid, on Tuesday CBS This Morning was quick to ID her potential Republican opponent, Florida Senator Marco Rubio as “conservative.”
Co-host Norah O’Donnell described the “43-year-old conservative entered the GOP presidential race last night. He joins Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republicans Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.” In fact, the “Big Three” (ABC, CBS, and NBC) networks took a similar route following Senator Cruz’s presidential announcement, labeling him conservative 13 times in on one day.
The CBS anchor then turned to reporter Manuel Bojorquez who explained that the location of Rubio’s speech “has special meaning for Cuban-Americans like Rubio and his family. It's where refugees from Cuba were processed more than 50 years ago.”
Bojorquez then played several clips of Rubio’s presidential announcement and pointed out tha despite Hillary Clinton’s announcement the day before “he folded it into his message as the fresh face of tomorrow.”
Although the CBS reporter did include multiple clips of Rubio’s speech, he made sure to give substantial time to those who oppose his candidacy such as Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz:
Democratic National Committee chair Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz also took to Twitter to blast a possible President Rubio tweeting “he stuck his head in the sand on climate change and proposed budgets that would hurt Florida families. Senator Rubio doesn't inspire confidence.”
A Rubio ticket could help the GOP gain some of the highly sought-after Hispanic vote but not all of it. Yesterday demonstrators protested outside Rubio’s event over his current stance on immigration which calls for securing the borders before fixing the immigration system.
While CBS made sure to highlight the protestors at the Rubio event, in the previous segment Nancy Cordes provided a one-sided pro-Hillary Clinton report on her campaign trip to Iowa. Cordes failed to provide one quote or soundbite from a Republican dissatisfied with her candidacy. Instead, the network eagerly promoted a local Iowa Democrat who was featured in Clinton’s campaign announcement video without any push back whatsoever.
See relevant transcript below.
CBS This Morning
April 14, 2015
NORAH O’DONNELL: Florida Senator Marco Rubio says it's time for his generation to take charge of America. The 43-year-old conservative entered the GOP presidential race last night. He joins Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republicans Ted Cruz and Rand Paul. Manuel Bojorquez is in Miami where Rubio made his announcement. Manuel good morning.
MANUEL BOJORQUEZ: Good morning. More than 1,000 people came to the Freedom Tower here in downtown Miami, a place that has special meaning for Cuban-Americans like Rubio and his family. It's where refugees from Cuba were processed more than 50 years ago. And Rubio tapped that American dream theme as he announced his White House run.
MARCO RUBIO: I announce my candidacy for President of the United States.
BOJORQUEZ: Rubio told the story of his parents coming to the U.S. in search of the American dream.
RUBIO: They never made it big, but they were successful.
BOJORQUEZ: He says many Americans doubt that dream is still possible.
RUBIO: Young Americans unable to start a career or a business or a family because they owe thousands of dollars in student loans for degrees that did not even lead to jobs.
BOJORQUEZ: 43-year-old Rubio is trying to cast himself as the candidate in touch with the wants and needs of the younger generation.
RUBIO: This election is not just about what laws we’re going to pass. This election is a generational choice about what kind of country we will be.
HILLARY CLINTON: I'm running for president.
BOJORQUEZ: Hillary Clinton's announcement on Sunday may have stolen some of Rubio's thunder. But he folded it into his message as the fresh face of tomorrow.
RUBIO: A leader from yesterday -- began a campaign for president by promising to take us back to yesterday. Yesterday is over.
BOJORQUEZ: Democratic National Committee chair Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz also took to Twitter to blast a possible President Rubio tweeting “he stuck his head in the sand on climate change and proposed budgets that would hurt Florida families. Senator Rubio doesn't inspire confidence.”
A Rubio ticket could help the GOP gain some of the highly sought-after Hispanic vote but not all of it. Yesterday demonstrators protested outside Rubio’s event over his current stance on immigration which calls for securing the borders before fixing the immigration system. Charlie?
CHARLIE ROSE: Manuel thanks.
