Talking to a self-quarantined Ted Cruz on Friday, CBS This Morning’s Tony Dokoupil worried that unconcerned Republican voters might get more Americans sick with the Coronavirus. The host nudged, “As a Republican senator, what is your message to Republican voters, Republican citizens, about how seriously they should take this outbreak?”
Citing a Survey Monkey poll, Dokoupil began, “Another component is the public reaction. We each have a role to play in containing and mitigating the effects of this illness. There's a poll out this morning showing that Republicans are much less concerned than Democrats about contracting the illness.”
Cruz shot back to the journalist, saying:
Well, the last I checked, this isn't a Democratic virus or a Republican virus. This is a dangerous virus. This is a serious public health crisis. We need to take it seriously. Now at the same time, we shouldn't give in to panic or hysteria. We need to follow the science, listen to the medical professionals and the doctors.
Earlier in the show, CBS played clips of Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden trashing Trump’s response:
DOKOUIPL: The Democratic presidential front-runners are slamming President Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders gave speeches yesterday after the president's prime time Oval Office address on Wednesday. And both condemned Mr. Trump's leadership.
JOE BIDEN: The administration's failure on testing is colossal. It's a failure of planning, leadership, and execution. The White House should measure and report each day, each and every day, how many tests have been ordered, how many tests have been completed, and how many have tested positive.
BERNIE SANDERS: The United States government today must make it clear that in the midst of this emergency, everyone in our country, regardless of income or where they live, must be able to get all of the health care they need without cost.
Here’s a transcript of Dokupil’s question to Cruz:
CBS This Morning
3/13/20208:30
TONY DOKOUPIL: Another component is the public reaction. We each have a role to play in containing and mitigating the effects of this illness. There's a poll out this morning showing that Republicans are much less concerned than Democrats about contracting the illness. And if they're less concerned, the question is will they take the precautions seriously. As a Republican senator, what is your message to Republican voters, Republican citizens, about how seriously they should take this outbreak?
TED CRUZ: Well, the last I checked, this isn't a Democratic virus or a Republican virus. This is-a dangerous virus. This is a serious public health crisis. We need to take it seriously. Now at the same time, we shouldn't give in to panic or hysteria. We need to follow the science, listen to the medical professionals and the doctors.
