Tuesday’s CBS This Morning featured political correspondent Ed O’Keefe’s latest installment of his “3 Meals in...” series which took him to southern California for meals with a wide spectrum of voters in Bakersfield, Bell, and Newport Beach.
At the end of an enjoyable and informative segment, O’Keefe conceded to the surprise of the CTM crew that impeachment only come up “unless you ask,” leading co-host Anthony Mason to suggest that, for Democrats, impeachment is “not a winning issue, it doesn’t look like.” Imagine that!
O’Keefe appeared back live in studio after his piece (which ended in Bakersfield and dinner with Republican voters) and stated that he did ask “about the impeachment saga and almost to a person, Republicans, independents, and Democrats told us they're not sure where it's headed, but were more interested in other issues that impact their everyday lives.”
So they’re telling us that the topic the liberal media (especially the cable networks) are most obsessed with doesn’t jell with what voters want? Neato!
“Those folks in Bakersfield there at dinner even said they think this process is merely exposing the hypocrisy on both sides. Democrats did this — or Republicans did it a Democrat years ago, now it’s Democrats doing it to a Republican President,” O’Keefe added.
When O’Keefe stated that impeachment “doesn't come up in conversation unless you ask,” co-host Anthony Mason blurted out, “that’s very interesting,” while co-host Tony Dokoupil agreed that the 2020 candidates “don't bring it up often with voters.”
O’Keefe replied that’s true since “voters don’t bring it up” and instead “want to hear about health care, education” and “what are you going to do for me” versus merely fighting the President.
Mason then dropped the punchline:
MASON: Yeah, so it’s not a it’s not a winning issue, it doesn’t look like.
O’KEEFE: No. It’s not.
Fill-in co-host Jericka Duncan closed by wondering what O’Keefe has been “surprised by anything that you heard” between his travels on the campaign trail and at debates.
O’Keefe cited how little some know about their local elected official or individual member of Congress, how “Republicans admit climate change is an issue,” and — once again — “that impeachment wasn’t coming up.”
So going forward, perhaps the liberal media (and especially CNN) could be more like the CBS crew was in being cognizant of what voters actually care about.
And on the Tuesday morning newscasts alone, CBS This Morning seemed to listen seeing as how they only had a news brief about the latest court fight between the President, current and former aides, and congressional Democrats.
In contrast, ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today both had multiple segments about this topic while the latter continued the drumbeat for late 2020 entrant and long-shot Michael Bloomberg (D).
To see the relevant transcript from November 26's CBS This Morning, click “expand.”
CBS This Morning
November 26, 2019
8:39 a.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: 3 Meals; California State of Mind; Voters in the Most Populous State Weigh in on Their Top Concerns]
ED O’KEEFE: Now, we asked the diners was — was about the impeachment saga and almost to a person, Republicans, independents, and Democrats told us they're not sure where it's headed, but were more interested in other issues that impact their everyday lives. Those folks in Bakersfield there at dinner even said they think this process is merely exposing the hypocrisy on both sides.
JERICKA DUNCAN: Mmmmm.
ANTHONY MASON: Yeah.
O’KEEFE: Democrats did this — or Republicans did it a Democrat years ago, now it’s Democrats doing it to a Republican President.
MASON: Yeah.
O’KEEFE: We'll see, but it doesn't come up in conversation unless you ask.
MASON: Oh, that’s very interesting.
TONY DOKOUPIL: And when the candidates are out there campaigning, as you've seen, they don't bring it up —
O’KEEFE: No —
DOKOUPIL: — often with voters.
O’KEEFE: — right because the voters don't bring it up.
MASON: Yeah.
O’KEEFE: They want to hear about health care, education. What are you going to do for me?
MASON: Yeah, so it’s not a —
O’KEEFE: Not how are you fighting back.
MASON: — it’s not a winning issue, it doesn’t look like.
O’KEEFE: No. It’s not.
DUNCAN: Ed, you're always traveling and covering the debates and what not. Were you surprised by anything that you heard?
O’KEEFE: That impeachment wasn't coming up.
DUNCAN: Yeah.
O’KEEFE: And that even some of those Republicans admit climate change is an issue.
DUNCAN: Yeah.
O’KEEFE: And how little people know about their local officials.
DUNCNA: Mmmm.
O’KEEFE: This is a country that's become quite nationalized in its politics. You ask about the local congressman, they can't tell you much about him.
MASON: Interesting. Ed, thank you so much.
