Never wasting a chance to grant prime-time exposure to their leftist darlings – in this case socialist politicians from Puerto Rico– three of the nation ́s Spanish-language news networks each featured one of these leftist role models during their coverage of the government crisis in Puerto Rico. The 11-day chaos in the U.S. territory ended on July 24th, with the resignation of Democrat governor Ricardo Rosselló.
The trio of left-fist saluting politicians included former congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D), now a resident of the island, who was interviewed by the Univision news team. Telemundo featured San Juan mayor and national co-chair for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign Carmen Yulín Cruz.
Both Cruz and Gutiérrez were vocal supporters of Oscar López Rivera, a convicted terrorist pardoned by Obama. Estrella TV spotlighted Rafaél Bernabé, gubernatorial candidate for the socialist Working People's Party of Puerto Rico in 2012 and 2016, who garnered 0.3% of the votes in the island’s 2016 general elections.
While the on-air statements of the three amigos were remarkably subdued – they all left politics out their answers calling instead for the governor's impeachment - they happened to be the only well-known personalities interviewed by all three networks; other opinions were expressed by demonstrators and unidentified residents of the island.
Gutiérrez, of Puerto Rican descent, served as U.S. Representative for Illinois's 4th congressional district from 1993 to 2019, and is a supporter of both Puerto Rican independence and open-borders immigration policy.
Cruz, of course, made a national name for herself by criticizing President Trump for not doing enough to help Hurricane Maria victims. Less widely known to her mainland supporters is the fact that there is an open FBI investigation of her Administration regarding corruption charges. She’s not exactly the one to call at the speck in someone else’s eye.
Also notable in the networks’ news reports: the absence of any reference at all to Rosselló being a Democrat. His resignation comes after massive demonstrations following revelations of a leaked private group chat on the messaging app Telegram and the indictment of two of his former officials on federal corruption charges.
Below are the transcripts for the above mentioned segments as they aired on the evening editions of Noticiero Univisión, Noticias Telemundo and Noticiero Estrella TV, respectively, on July 23rd, 2019:
Univision's Noticiero Univisión
July 23, 2019LOURDES DEL RÍO, CORRESPONDENT, UNIVISION: For his part, former Congressman Luis Gutiérrez, demanded that the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico begin the governor´s impeachment without delays.
LUIS GUTIÉRREZ, FORMER CONGRESSMAN: Now do the work of the people and find us a new Governor, begin the process of impeaching the governor. You have that responsibility. Please do not be opportunistic.
Telemundo's Noticias Telemundo
July 23, 2019CARMEN YULÍN CRUZ, MAYOR, SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO: The House of Representatives has to act to begin impeachment. Period. No other way.
Eetrella TV
July 23, 2019RAFAEL BERNABÉ, FORMER CANDIDATE TO GOVERNOR OF PUERTO RICO: The resignation is inevitable. The question is if he´s going to make us pay one more year, one week more, two weeks more, how much more time will he force us out to the streets.
