CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King on Monday pulled back the veil on the liberal echo chamber, telling likely 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand that “dinner party” conversations chide her for “betraying” the Clintons. In the same interview, co-host Norah O’Donnell wondered if Donald Trump might be impeached by the time Gillibrand hypothetically won the Democratic nomination.
There wasn’t much in the way of tough questions for the Democratic Senator. But King revealed who she hangs out with, offering this dinner party question: “Do you think you have the support of your own party, though, yet, Senator? Because it's still the talk of dinner party conversations about Senator Gillibrand that she flips and flops, betrayed the Clintons, that she seems to go with whatever the wind is blowing.”
King quizzed, “How do you feel about that and how do you address it?”
A bit of a reminder: In 2017, Gillibrand said that, in retrospect, Bill Clinton should have stepped down during the Monica Lewinsky controversy and that the accusations against the former president should have been taken seriously.
According to King, such remarks constitute “betrayal?” This isn’t really a good look for her on the subject of sexual abuse claims. In May of 2018, the co-host publicly declared how “sick” she was of covering the allegations against “my friend” (and co-host) Rose. (Rose was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women.)
In the past, King expressed her irritation at having to cover the sexual abuse allegations against former CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves: On September 11, 2018, she whined, “I'm sick and sick of the story and sickened the by everything that we keep hearing.” King praised, “Les Moonves has done wonderful things for this company and we can't forget that either.” (CBS also downplayed the scandal.)
On Monday, co-host Norah O’Donnell eagerly wondered if Trump might be impeached by the time Gillibrand theoretically got the nomination: “Do you expect to actually run against Donald Trump if you become nominee, or do you think he'll be impeached by the Democratic Party before then?”
The co-host then flunked her constitutional knowledge, asking the wrong question to a senator: “Would you vote for impeachment of the President?” (Senators vote on conviction, not impeachment.) Gillibrand patiently explained, “Well, that's an issue for the House to decide.... If they do vote for impeachment proceedings, it comes to the Senate, then you are in charge of basically holding a trial.”
Two of the host's queries were wasted on asking the Democrat, who has launched an exploratory committee, when she will officially announce. Finally, it was up to co-host John Dickerson to actually ask a challenging question. He quizzed Gillibrand on the feasibility of passing a Green New Deal or Medicare for all:
... The Green New Deal, Medicare for all, paid family leave -- you're in the Senate, you know what it's like. Is there any chance in the world that such things are going to pass? You talk about bringing people together. Barack Obama talked about that. George W. Bush talked about that. And the country's own gotten more partisan. Why are you going to successful where people have failed miserably on that?
A transcript of the questions is below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
3/4/19
8:00AM ET teaseBIANNA GOLODRYGA: Plus, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand is here in Studio 57. Her possible plans to join the democratic presidential race and the issues that she says have special meaning for many female voters.
...
8:03AM ET
NORAH O’DONNELL: This morning, we are kicking off our week of coverage leading up to International Women's Day on Friday with a prominent Democrat exploring a presidential run. On the road to 2020 we are talking about current and prospective candidates about important issues that effect the country. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York spent years fighting sexual assault and harassment in the military and on college campuses. She's also pushing for a national paid family and medical leave policy and legislation to address the country's high rate of maternal deaths. Senator Gillibrand, good morning.
SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: Good morning.
O’DONNELL: I know you have announced an exploratory committee. But when will you let us know if you are officially running for president?
GAYLE KING: Now is a good time to say one way or the other.
GILLIBRAND: Well, I’ve been taking time to travel around the country to talk to people about what's on people's minds. I realized that what's happening in this country is devastating. President Trump has created such division, such darkness, such hate. We need someone who will restore what's been lost. That moral integrity, that leadership in the world. I'm running because as a mom of young kids, I think we need a president that will fight for other people's children, their communities, the families, in the same way that you would fight for your own.
O’DONNELL: Do you expect to actually run against Donald Trump if you become nominee, or do you think he'll be impeached by the Democratic Party before then?
GILLIBRAND: I expect to run against Donald Trump. I think what we need now is the Mueller investigation to be completed. To have the report, to have the report made public. We have hearings in the House of Representatives that will create transparency and accountability on issues of collusion, on issues of obstruction, on issues of fraud and election fraud. Those are the types of issues that the American people want clarity on.
O’DONNELL: Would you vote for impeachment of the President?
GILLIBRAND: Well, that's an issue for the House to decide. And so, after they complete the investigations, we heard from several of the committee chairmen, they will decide whether — what the facts are and reveal it to us. If they do vote for impeachment proceedings, it comes to the Senate, then you are in charge of basically holding a trial.
KING: Do you think you have the support of your own party, though, yet, Senator? Because it's still the talk of dinner party conversations about Senator Gillibrand that she flips and flops, betrayed the Clintons, that she seems to go with whatever the wind is blowing. I know you've heard that. How do you feel about that, and how do you address it?
...
JOHN DICKERSON: Let me ask you this question. You're a Senator. The environment that you would like all those things happening, the Green New Deal, Medicare for all, paid family leave -- you're in the Senate, you know what it's like. Is there any chance in the world that such things are going to pass? You talk about bringing people together. Barack Obama talked about that. George W. Bush talked about that. And the country's own gotten more partisan. Why are you going to successful where people have failed miserably on that?
..
DICKERSON: So, briefly you think there's common ground on a Green New Deal and Medicare for all?
GILLIBRAND: I do.
DICKERSON: You think you can get Republican votes? In this modern Republican Party?
...
KING: Based on our brief conversation this morning, I'm confused about what you're waiting for to officially announce. Sounds like you laid out a pretty good plan right here.
O’DONNELL: The website is being built.
GILLIBRAND: Yes. It's all coming. All coming, Gayle. You'll know soon enough.
KING: I won't this won't be our last conversation.
...
BIANNA GOLODRYGA: Senator, thank you so much.
