As the saying goes, “all politics is local.” That sentiment seemed to seep into CBS News’s Thursday reports on New York Mayor Bill de Blasio throwing his hat into the 2020 race. In both flagship morning and evening newscasts, anchors and reporters alike mocked the Democratic candidate. During CBS This Morning, co-host John Dickerson quipped: “Bill de Blasio is the answer to what question that isn’t being [asked]?”
After the laughter of co-hosts Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell ended, political correspondent Ed O’Keefe stopped his own laughter and said it was “unclear.” He then declared “God bless the New York Post” has he held up the cover featuring “New Yorkers laughing” and an internal section proclaiming “America, you’ve been warned!”
“I think the problem is, he thinks if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere,” O’Keefe jabbed. “But here’s the thing. Polling, shows national Democrats would prefer he maintain a New York State of mind.” King then suggested that some would argue that de Blasio didn’t make it there.
Later that night, during the CBS Evening News, Dickerson and O’Keefe were back at it, even using President Trump to lambast their mayor. “New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is hoping to trade City Hall for the White House,” O’Keefe began. “But more than seven in 10 New Yorkers say he shouldn't run.”
He then highlighted the broad criticism of Mayor de Blasio, including Trump:
Members of the police union protested at his Time Square announcement, a hometown newspaper laughed at his prospects, and a famous fifth avenue resident mocked him as “the worst mayor” and “a joke”.
CBS even played a soundbite of the officers chanting: “You can’t run the country, you can’t run the city.”
Following a rundown of the state of the Democratic field, O’Keefe seemed to poke some fun at how “the sheer size of the field is leaving some voters overwhelmed”:
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN 1: It’s a lot. That’s a – For the Democrats alone?! Oh what, I thought this was for like for all the parties.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: They’re many I just can’t – I can’t even relate to.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN 2: Outrageous. Ridiculous. A losing cause.
O’KEEFE: At least for some Democrats, less might be more.
It’s really no wonder these New Yorkers weren’t thrilled their Mayor was running for president. The New York Post article detained how de Blasio damaged the city financially and has been embroiled in scandals.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
CBS This Morning
May 16, 2019
8:04:25 a.m. Eastern(…)
JOHN DICKERSON: De Blasio is the 24th candidate and third mayor to enter the race for the Democratic nomination. Ed O’Keefe is covering the 2020 campaign. Ed, good morning.
ED O’KEEFE: Good morning.
DICKERSON: Bill de Blasio is the answer to what question that isn’t being answered?
[Laughter]
O’KEEFE: Unclear. And I love – God bless The New York Post, this morning. [Holds up newspaper] New Yorkers laughing on the cover. This is probably better. [Flips through paper, holds it up] “America, you’ve been warned”.
GAYLE KING: You’ve been warned. Yes.
O’KEEFE: I think the problem is, he thinks if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
KING: But some would say, Ed, you not make it here.
O’KEEFE: But here’s the thing. Polling, shows national Democrats would prefer he maintain a New York State of mind.
[Laughter]
CBS Evening News
May 16, 2019
6:38:27 p.m. EasternDICKERSON: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio joined the race for president today, making it an even two dozen candidates seeking the Democratic nomination. The mayor, 6'5" tall, and the current President, 6'3", have sparred before, but today the gloves came off. Here's Ed O’Keefe.
[Cuts to video]
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO: Donald Trump must be stopped. I've beaten him before, and I will do it again.
O’KEEFE: New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is hoping to trade City Hall for the White House.
DE BLASIO: Well, I intend to break the mold, and I intend to make history, and I intend to win.
O’KEEFE: But more than seven in 10 New Yorkers say he shouldn't run.
PROTESTERS: You can’t run the country, you can’t run the city.
O’KEEFE: Members of the police union protested at his Time Square announcement, a hometown newspaper laughed at his prospects, and a famous fifth avenue resident mocked him as “the worst mayor” and “a joke”.
(…)
O’KEEFE: The sheer size of the field is leaving some voters overwhelmed.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN 1: It’s a lot. That’s a – For the Democrats alone?! Oh what, I thought this was for like for all the parties.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: They’re many I just can’t – I can’t even relate to.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN 2: Outrageous. Ridiculous. A losing cause.
O’KEEFE: At least for some Democrats, less might be more. Ed O’Keefe, CBS News, Washington.
