Univision Guest Can’t Decide Whether to Bash Trump or Give Him Credit  

May 5th, 2020 2:10 PM

A funny thing happened on the way to bashing Trump at Univision´s afternoon coronavirus newscast. An interview with former Secretary of Treasury Rosario Marin badly backfired when she wandered off-script and actually validated Trump's decision to reopen the nation's economy.

Following a saccharine introduction by anchors Jorge Ramos and Maria Antonieta Collins, Ramos framed the first question to his fellow Mexican: “Tell us, Rosario. How, how are things being handled here in the United States? What if we set aside the health issues and you tell us if you think that the decision to open the states is the right one.”

At first, Marin seemed to follow the script, pointing to a “desperate” Donald Trump, more concerned about his re-election than about the wellbeing of the American people. Soon, however, the conversation shifted to what she knows best, which was dollars and cents:

 

 

JORGE RAMOS: Tell us, Rosario. How, how are things being handled here in the United States? What if we set aside the health issues and you tell us if you think that the decision to open the states is the right one.

ROSARIO MARIN:  Well look, obviously, obviously, there is almost desperation, at least on the part of this president, to reopen the economy because he is aware that his re-election situation is very complicated, that every day it becomes more complicated because he always gambled on the economy and now it is completely shattered. So for him, then, opening the economy is an emergency.

(....)

MARIN: We learned from the last recession of 2009, that we had to act immediately. Because every day that goes by without injecting money into the economy is going to have much more complicated consequences afterwards. And now, then, we‘ve seen that they acted very, very quickly and in a timely manner, some people would say hastily, but this is to prevent the economy from falling any further.

(....)

MARIN: And not doing anything is even more difficult. Something must be done.

(....)

MARIN: And I think it is, as difficult as it has been to make these decisions, I don't think they had any other choice.

It did not take long for Marin, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003, to delve into the second question posed by Ramos regarding the emergency economic bailouts delivered by the President and Congress: “Where does so much money come from?”.

“Obviously, by borrowing. Doing what they have done,” stated Marin. “Every day that goes by without injecting money into the economy is going to have much more complicated consequences afterwards. And now, then, we‘ve seen that they acted very, very quickly and in a timely manner… to prevent the economy from falling any further.”

Of note: Maria Antonieta Collins´ “question” to Marin, wins the airhead award: If you were treasurer now, what would you tell the President of the United States? Sir, you can't release all those billions, these are monstrous figures?

Marin´s answer? Validating Trump´s “desperation”: “There is, to some extent, a desperation to revive the economy. And I think it is, as difficult as it has been to make these decisions, I don't think they had any other choice. When the United States is not well, the world is doing worse.”

Case closed.

Press on "expand" to read the complete transcript of the above referenced portion of Noticias Univisión presenta: Diario del coronavirus

Noticias Univisión presenta: Diario del coronavirus
May 4, 2020

JORGE RAMOS: And now we want to talk to a woman ---

MARIA ANTONIETA COLLINS: Wow, what a treat!

RAMOS: --- that is an example for millions of women here in the United States. Rosario Marín is not only the first Hispanic woman to become Treasurer of the United States, she is the first Mexican --- born in the capital of Mexico --- to sign the banknotes here in the United States with her name.

MARIA ANTONIETA COLLINS: Your fellow country woman over from the Federal District.

RAMOS: In addition, she talks with strength and great forcefulness.

COLLINS: Amazing. Rosario arrived in California as an immigrant with her parents. She was 14 years old. Eventually, she excelled in politics. In 2001, Bush Jr., swore her in for office. Live with us now, Rosario Marín. Sweetheart. Rosario, go ahead.

RAMOS: Thank you for being with us Rosario.

ROSARIO MARIN: A pleasure. A pleasure, Jorge and María Antonieta, to be able to be here with you.

RAMOS: Tell us, Rosario. How, how are things being handled here in the United States? What if we set aside the health issues and you tell us if you think that the decision to open the states is the right one. And the other question we have is, where does so much money come from?

COLLINS: (Laughter)

RAMOS: I mean, is it printed, are there other countries that buy it? I don't know, so start wherever you want.

MARIN:  Well look, obviously, obviously, there is almost desperation, at least on the part of this president, to reopen the economy because he is aware that his re-election situation is very complicated, that every day it becomes more complicated because he always gambled on the economy and now it is completely shattered. So for him, then, opening the economy is an emergency. Obviously, he is doing so at a high risk of another spike. Not only health wise, but a spike that would further affect the economy. That is the uncertainty that gives the Treasury, the Treasury Department, all the strength with which to attempt to limit the economic problem that is now upon us. How is that done? Obviously, by borrowing. Doing what they have done, especially the Federal Reserve, the Federal Reserve Bank has acted quickly. They´ve already learned, and we're seeing it all over the world Jorge and María Antonieta. We are seeing that all the central, the central banks of all the nations are gambling and doing things they hadn’t done before in order to revitalize the economy. We learned from the last recession of 2009, that we had to act immediately. Because every day that goes by without injecting money into the economy is going to have much more complicated consequences afterwards. And now, then, we‘ve seen that they acted very, very quickly and in a timely manner, some people would say hastily, but this is to prevent the economy from falling any further.

COLLINS: If you were treasurer now, what would you tell the President of the United States? Sir, you can't release all those billions, these are monstrous figures? What would you do as treasurer?

MARIN: Well Maria, it's very complicated. Obviously, when the economy stops growing, and we saw that in the first quarter, the economy stopped growing 4.8%, the gross national product.

But this figure, and for these next three months there is going to be a bigger slowdown in the economy. And not doing anything is even more difficult. Something must be done. Yes, they're going to have to get all this money to help everyone get the $1200 or $1400 per person. To all the small businesses, to all the companies, to the airlines. But, it has been a debt increase like we've never had before. Obviously, we've never had a situation like the one we're living in before. No, it's not easy. But, we're going to pay for it very, very dearly afterwards. Now, right now, people need the money, people need to get their jobs back. We have hundreds of millions of unemployed, more than 30,000,000 persons unemployed. There is, to some extent, a desperation to revive the economy. And I think it is, as difficult as it has been to make these decisions, I don't think they had any other choice. When the United States is not well, the world is doing worse. And then, they're trying to level, to find a balance. But, we're going to pay for it later. There's no doubt about it.

RAMOS: Rosario, thank you for being with us, two phrases stay with me: When the United States is not well, the world is doing worse, and we will pay for this later. Thanks a lot.

COLLINS: She's a master. She's a master. A woman born in Santa María de la Ribera, in the colony of Santa María de la Ribera!

RAMOS: With a great example for other women.