Given that journalists have echoed Democratic talking points on the killing of Qasem Soleimani and touted the militant as a “revered,” “inspiring” leader, it was a breath of fresh air on Monday to see CBS This Morning’s Ed O’Keefe flat-out ask Elizabeth Warren if he was a “terrorist.”
In a report from Iowa, O’Keefe explained, “Most Democrats agree he was a ruthless terrorist, but some are raising concerns about the strike, itself. That includes Senator Elizabeth Warren, who told me last night she has questions about the timing.” The journalist quizzed, “Is he a terrorist? Does he deserve to be killed?”
Warren dodged, calling the man responsible for hundreds of deaths of U.S. military officials a “senior government official.”
He is a senior government official. Here's the thing, we have known about him for a very long time. Why didn't this happen a month ago? Why didn't it happen a month from now? Why right now as Donald Trump faces a potential impeachment trial in the United States Senate?
On Sunday, NBC sounded a lot like the Democrats as journalists wondered if Trump was starting a “religious war” to distract from impeachment.
A transcript of the CBS segment is below.
CBS This Morning
1/6/20
8:10ANTHONY MASON: In less than a month, U.S. politics will take center stage with the first ballots in the Democratic presidential primary. It will be cast in Iowa. A new CBS News battleground tracker poll shows a three-way tie between candidates in that crucial state. Senator Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg each have 23 percent support. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar trail behind. In New Hampshire, Senator Sanders is in front with a two point lead over Biden. Ed O’Keefe is in Davenport, Iowa. Ed, what stands out to new this poll?
ED O’KEEFE: Good morning, Ed. Happy New Year. One other thing that is interesting in this, Bernie Sanders is found in both Iowa and New Hampshire to have the most enthusiasm while Joe Biden is seen as the safest bet. But notably none of them convinced a majority of Democratic primary voters that they are going to be able to defeat the President. That's critical because throughout the past year, Democrats have told us they want to be able to take back the White House. Now throughout the weekend, foreign policy dominated the conversation, given the recent killing of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. Most Democrats agree he was a ruthless terrorist, but some are raising concerns about the strike, itself. That includes Senator Elizabeth Warren, who told me last night she has questions about the timing. [To Warren.] Is he a terrorist? Does he deserve to be killed?
WARREN: He is a senior government official. Here's the thing, we have known about him for a very long time. Why didn't this happen a month ago? Why didn't it happen a month from now? Why right now as Donald Trump faces a potential impeachment trial in the United States Senate?
O’KEEFE: Less than a month, of course, until the Iowa caucuses. Remember, we come to Iowa all the time because this state has a good track record of picking the winner. Since 1976, the winner here has gone on to win the Democratic nomination seven out of nine times. Gayle, the exceptions in 1988 with Michael Dukakis and in 1992 with Bill Clinton.
KING: I’m writing that down. Ed, because seven out of nine times, that's a pretty good track record. Thank you very much. We’ll be watching.
