Telemundo's morning kaffeeklatsch, Un Nuevo Día, did a shameful disservice to all of the nation's women --- Hispanic women in particular – by bringing in Catherine Cortez Masto, (D-NV), the first Latina senator in the United States, for a softball interview that made zero reference to the recent accusations of sexual harassment against the former senator by then staffer Tara Reade. Cortez Masto has been mentioned as one of Joe Biden's potential running mates for the 2020 Presidential election.
Watch as the senator of Hispanic heritage --- who does not speak Spanish --- publicly endorsed Biden, and apparently for the first time:
FRANCISCO CACERES: Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto made history four years ago after becoming the first Latina elected to the United States Senate. This year, she could again make history as a potential running mate for Joe Biden, after he announced that he would choose a woman as vice president.
(....)
CACERES: How do you feel about your name being part of the conversation?
(....)
CORTEZ MASTO: I'm with Joe 100%.
(....)
CORTEZ MASTO: There's no doubt that he's ready to take over the job responsibly. I have no doubt that he's ready to assume that responsibility. That he is the right person for the job and I'll be with him 100 percent.
Un Nuevo Dia host Francisco Caceres asked several questions of Cortez-Masto, except the most important one of all. Cortez-Masto sailed through her Telemundo interview without having to be asked about the troublesome sexual allegations against Biden from Reade. Must be nice.
Cáceres instead used the occasion to trash Las Vegas Mayor Caroline Goodman for wanting to reopen the city, falsely stating that “the mayor of that city said last week that they should reopen the casinos and allow people to get sick.”
Ignoring the growing controversy surrounding Joe Biden when bringing up a potential Hispanic running mate, however, does not hide the truth. Rather, it stirs up the dirt and raises a big red flag about the flagrant bias and one-sided reporting the Spanish speaking citizens of the United States get served.
Press on "expand" for the complete transcript of the interview:
Telemundo's Un Nuevo Día
April 30, 2020
8:13 a.m. EasternFRANCISCO CACERES: We continue with more of Un Nuevo Día. Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto made history four years ago after becoming the first Latina elected to the United States Senate. This year, she could again make history as a potential running mate for Joe Biden, after he announced that he would choose a woman as vice president. Today, in the midst of her struggle to stop the impact of coronavirus in her state, the senator is with us via Skype. Good morning, Senator. Thank you for joining us.
SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, (D-NEVADA): Good morning, how are you? Thank you so much. I'm really excited to join you this morning.
CACCERS: Senator, Nevada is one of the states that has most suffered financially from the coronavirus. 350,000 people have applied for unemployment since the crisis began. What do you think are the biggest challenges your state faces in this pandemic?
CORTEZ MASTO: (Translation) That's right. Our economy is based on hospitality. It should be remembered that in our industry there are many workers, many Latinos and it is devastating for our workers and economy. That's why I'm working so hard in Congress to get a bill passed that would give relief to our workers. Put money in their pockets. That they are given the medical care they need.
CACERES: You mention the Latino population. In Nevada, 29% of the population is Hispanic and according to the Pew Research Center, they have a lower income, they are less likely to graduate from college, and the minority of them own their own home. This makes them more financially vulnerable during a pandemic. What efforts are you undertaking these days to protect the Latinos in your state?
CORTEZ MASTO: Thank you Francisco. That's what it's all about. This is my family. My father, who was Mexican-American, died in 2006; he came here with his parents from New Mexico. My grandfather was from Chihuahua; my grandmother, the eldest of 13, was born in Las Cruces, New México. They came to Las Vegas for the same reason- to work. My grandfather was a baker, my grandmother was a saleswoman. My father, when he married my mother, worked at a parking lot on the Strip. I know who these people are. This is what keeps this community and Southern Nevada running. We have to look out for them. I cosponsored a bill that includes all of our families and we will fight to be taken into account in the next COVID assistance package we negotiate.
CACERES: And, speaking of the orders to stay at home, we've seen photos out of Las Vegas that seem apocalyptic. And to be precise, the mayor of that city said last week that they should reopen the casinos and allow people to get sick. Do you agree with her?
CORTEZ MASTO: No, no. And I don't know about anyone in a leadership position in business leadership with whom we are working in order to reopen our community that agrees with her. We have to be smart about this. We have to make sure that when we resume operations, we keep people safe. We have to listen to the experts, the doctors, the scientists. They have to be part of this process when we try to open our doors.
CACERES: Changing the subject, Senator. In the midst of this pandemic there are reports that you are on the list of potential running mates for former Vice President Biden. Newsweek also says that you are among the top three. How do you feel about your name being part of the conversation?
CORTEZ MASTO: Well, it's an honor. It's just an honor to be um
(Translation) Well, it's an honor to be considered, but what’s more important is that they think that one is a woman of such caliber that her name is mentioned as a potential vice presidential nominee. I think the most important thing for me- and I saw it when I ran for the first time as the first Latina in Nevada, and the first female senator of Nevada- that you have to remember that as more women have the opportunity to emerge and be considered qualified, this has a huge impact on young women. When I campaigned they said, 'Oh, I want to be like you, I want to become what you are.' That's what it's all about. I know that if they see me they can say: 'If she can do it, I can too,' and I want them to believe that they should do it.
CACERES: The other women who are being mentioned have been more direct in their aspirations to the vice presidency, as well as in their support for Biden. Senator Elizabeth Warren, for example, said that she would accept the job and there are reports that the former candidate for governor of Georgia, Stacey Abrams, is lobbying for the position. In your case, the former vice president supported your campaign in 2016. but I understand that you still have not endorsed him publicly, why?
CORTEZ MASTO: I'm with Joe 100 percent. I've known him for a long time, and his son and I were prosecutors together and we became very good friends, and that's how I got to know Joe Biden. There's no doubt that he's ready to take over the job responsibly. That he'll do a better job than our current president. He is the right person for the job and I'll be with him 100 percent.
CERES: Senator, we're running out of time, but thank you so much for being with us this morning and best of luck in all your work for your state.
CORTEZ MASTO: Thank you, nice talking to you.
CACERES: That was Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and now we continue with Un Nuevo Día.
