CNN's Chris Cuomo again acted as a liberal activist on Wednesday's New Day during a panel discussion on Donald Trump's controversial plan to ban Muslim immigration to the U.S. Cuomo asserted that it was the Republican presidential candidates' "moment to step up and say how they are different on this particular issue," because, in his view, "Republicans are reaping what they've sown. You know, they went heavy on opposition, heavy on negativity...And now, you have somebody who really embodies that in Donald Trump." [video below]
The anchor again repeated his point and extended it to all political leaders, and especially hit the Democratic presidential front-runner from the left: "This is a moment for leaders to step up. You know, Hillary Clinton put out a Tweet — not enough! You have to come out; you have to be full-throated; and you have to tell the American people what you are on this; because I think it's going to be the extension of the issue that decides the election."
Cuomo and co-anchor Alisyn Camerota turned to the Daily Caller's Matt Lewis and the National Journal's Ron Brownstein (who's also a senior political analyst for CNN) just two minutes after the morning newscast began at 6 am Eastern. The journalist first asked Brownstein, "I see this two ways, right? The GOP has to figure out what they're going to do with Trump. He's the guy at the top of the list. They think he's hurting the party. Do they have the power or the leverage — especially with the third party looming?"
The analyst responded, in part, by underlining that "it is a legitimate threat. And I think it is something that a lot of party leaders have in the back of their head as they struggle to deal with a Trump phenomenon that, in the long run, puts them at odds with the fundamental diversity and demographic change that we are living through....What Trump is showing...is that a big portion of the Republican base is simply unwilling to go in that direction, and will recoil very sharply from it. So, they are on the horns of a dilemma."
Camerota then turned to Lewis and remarked, "Matt, what a crazy time we are living through and witnessing!...the Republican front-runner, by a vast margin, is being criticized by...leaders in his party." The right-leaning guest largely agreed with Brownstein: "It's a really, really difficult situation. I would say, though, don't hit the panic button just yet. I think it's entirely plausible that you end up with a nominee like Marco Rubio, for example, and that the party can go the direction that will be more inclusive, and take conservatism into the 21st century."
Cuomo followed up with Brownstein with his "step up" call to the GOP presidential contenders:
CHRIS CUOMO: Well, look, this is an opportunity. You know, you have all these guys — and Fiorina on the GOP side — have been saying, we need a moment; you give Trump so much attention; if I could only get in there. This is their moment to step up and say how they are different on this particular issue — because it's metaphorical.
So that then takes us to this bigger thing. Sure, Ron, you could say — look, the Republicans are reaping what they've sown. You know, they went heavy on opposition, heavy on negativity — nothing works. And now, you have somebody who really embodies that in Donald Trump, and people are resonating. Then, you have this bigger, overarching issue of who we are as a country, and how we are going to face the fear and the threat.
The CNN anchor repeated this call, with his spotlight on Mrs. Clinton's Tweet, at the end of the segment.
The transcript of the relevant portions of the Ron Brownstein/Matt Lewis segment from the December 9, 2015 edition of CNN's New Day:
CHRIS CUOMO: We have two big dynamics going on here: we have what this means for the party; then, we have what this means for the country. This is a fundamental question of how we're going to deal with terrorists.
So let's turn to senior contributor to The Daily Caller and conservative commentator, Mr. Matt Lewis; and Ron Brownstein, CNN senior political analyst and editorial director for the National Journal. Ron, I start with you: I see this two ways, right? The GOP has to figure out what they're going to do with Trump. He's the guy at the top of the list. They think he's hurting the party. Do they have the power or the leverage — especially with the third party looming? Let's start there.
[CNN Graphic: "Trump Stands By Muslim Ban Despite Fierce Backlash; Is GOP Ready To United Against Donald Trump?"]
RON BROWNSTEIN, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, NATIONAL JOURNAL : Yeah. Well, look — I mean, I think — you know, that threat of the third party is something that Mr. Trump has dangled at times — and I think will be dangling all the way through — you know, every day that he is in the Republican primary. And if he's not the nominee, we're going to be hearing about it until next summer. He has an identifiable constituency. It is not an implausible idea that he could run as a third-party candidate and draw a substantial vote — a la Ross Perot in 1992. So it is a legitimate threat. And I think it is something that a lot of party leaders have in the back of their head as they struggle to deal with a Trump phenomenon that, in the long run, puts them at odds with the fundamental diversity and demographic change that we are living through that most Republicans recognize.
After the 2012 election, when Mitt Romney won a higher share of the white vote than Ronald Reagan did in 1980 and lost by five million votes, most Republicans believe they have to reach out to the changing America — most Republican strategists. What Trump is showing, however, is that a big portion of the Republican base is simply unwilling to go in that direction, and will recoil very sharply from it. So, they are on the horns of a dilemma, Chris.
[CNN Graphic: "Trump Hints Again At Possible Independent Run"]
CAMEROTA: Matt, what a crazy time we are living through and witnessing! The front-runner — the Republican front-runner, by a vast margin, is being criticized by people — leaders in his party. I mean, what happens now?
MATT LEWIS, SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR, THE DAILY CALLER: Yeah. It's crazy. Look, if — if Hillary Clinton paid somebody to try to destroy the Republican brand, they would do exactly what Donald Trump has done. So, that tells you how bad things are — how potentially bad they are.
But Republicans, I think, are walking this fine line. On one hand, they have to make clear that Donald Trump does not represent their view — does not speak for the party. On the other hand, they want to keep him inside the tent — keep him from launching that third-party campaign, which could throw the election to Hillary Clinton. So, it's a really, really difficult situation.
I would say, though, don't hit the panic button just yet. I think it's entirely plausible that you end up with a nominee like Marco Rubio, for example, and that the party can go the direction that — that will be more inclusive, and take conservatism into the 21st century.
CUOMO: Well, look, this is an opportunity. You know, you have all these guys — and Fiorina on the GOP side — have been saying, we need a moment; you give Trump so much attention; if I could only get in there. This is their moment to step up and say how they are different on this particular issue — because it's metaphorical.
So that then takes us to this bigger thing. Sure, Ron, you could say—
BROWNSTEIN: Yeah—
CUOMO: Look, the Republicans are reaping what they've sown. You know, they went heavy on opposition, heavy on negativity — nothing works. And now, you have somebody who really embodies that in Donald Trump, and people are resonating. Then, you have this bigger, overarching issue of who we are as a country, and how we are going to face the fear and the threat. How big is this moment, in your estimation?
BROWNSTEIN: I think this is enormous. You know, I've written that I think that — you know, we — what we are living through is the transformation of America into a true world nation or kaleidoscope society without any single dominant group. A majority of our public school students are now non-white. A majority of our under-five population is now non-white. As I wrote the other day, white Christians, who have always been the dominant group in American society, are now less than half of the population.
So, we are diversifying. We are becoming, as I say, a kaleidoscope country. And we saw, even before San Bernardino, all of the economic and cultural strains of trying to adapt to this change; how difficult an issue this is; how explosive an issue it is. When you add to that the economic and the cultural issues; the threat of security and terrorism; you are truly producing a combustible mix, and a moment where you need leaders to, kind of, talk about what the country has in common. Instead, I think what Trump is doing is giving voice and validating those who are most unnerved by these changes, and making this a much more difficult situation — not only for the party; but ultimately, for the country.
(...)
CAMEROTA: Yesterday, I sat down with a panel of Trump supporters, and they — this is music to their ears. They agree with this. They say that we — they feel scared right now in the country. This is not anything that makes them take a second look. They feel even more strongly than ever about him. And in fact, the fact that the Republican Party establishment is trying to reject him — that doesn't bother them at all. That makes them — him stronger, in their minds.
LEWIS: Absolutely. Look, we have the culmination of so many cultural, societal, technological changes happening right now. And part of the reason Republicans have to be delicate with the way that they distance themselves from Trump is that it's not just Donald Trump. It's a lot of Americans who like Donald Trump and support him, and some of whom are quite good — you know, patriotic Americans who are very afraid. Economically, they're afraid. They're afraid for this country, in terms of terrorism. They feel like the country that they love is — is changing. They think that there's liberal overreach; political correctness run amok. They have very legitimate fears and concerns. And the question is — I think Trump is exploiting that in a very negative and cynical way — but how do — how do conservatives respond, and — and how do we try to win them over?
So, look, I think that when — when Trump says, 'Hey, what I'm talking about is common sense' — in a sense, he's right, because fear — responding to fear is a very base instinct. Now, telling people to consider things like religious liberty or unintended consequences, that's a much more sophisticated thing to do, and it's harder to sell in a sound bite.
CUOMO: Well, look, when people are scared — and they're scared — they want control. And what he's giving them — Donald Trump — is control. Ban the Muslims; there's your control. This is a moment for leaders to step up. You know, Hillary Clinton put out a Tweet — not enough! You have to come out; you have to be full-throated; and you have to tell the American people what you are on this; because I think it's going to be the extension of the issue that decides the election.
BROWNSTEIN: Yeah—
CAMEROTA: Ron, Matt, thank you, guys, for your perspective — great to talk to you.
