On the first Taco Tuesday since First Lady Jill Biden’s insensitive comments comparing Hispanic Americans to tacos, ABC’s World News Tonight still refuses to cover the controversy. As NewsBusters’ Managing Editor Curtis Houck reported earlier, ABC buried the story on their network, with only brief mentions on “its overnight shows, World News Now (which airs in some markets from 2:00 to 4:00 a.m. on the East Coast) and America This Morning (which airs for roughly 30 minutes in the 4:00 a.m. hour).”
NBC and CBS aren’t much better, with both networks ignoring the First Lady’s taco gaffe on Monday evening, prior to picking up the story briefly on their flagship morning shows.
On Tuesday evening, CBS Evening News spent a measly 39 seconds with a brief report to help Biden clean up her taco spill.
“First Lady Jill Biden issued an apology after a remark she made on Monday, were criticized for diminishing Latino heritage” anchor Norah O’Donnell reported before adding that, “a statement posted on Twitter today said the First Lady apologizes that her words conveyed anything but pure admiration and love for the Latino community.”
There was no mention of the First Lady completely butchering the word “bogadas” during the same speech despite CBS airing the soundbite.
Meanwhile, on NBC Nightly News, things were slightly better with anchor Lester Holt tossing to chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander who reported that the First Lady was “making headlines for a controversial comment after fumbling the pronunciation of New York's famed bodegas.”
Alexander announced that “the scripted comment generated backlash on social media. One prominent Hispanic group encouraging the First Lady and her team to take time to better understand the complexities of our people and communities, adding we are not tacos” and that “Dr. Biden's spokesperson today tweeting the First Lady apologizes that her words conveyed anything but pure admiration and love for the Latino community.”
CBS & NBC's taco spill cleanup for Jill Biden was made possible by TD Ameritrade on CBS, and Prevagen on NBC. ABC's bias by omission was made possible by Progressive. Their information is linked.
To read the transcripts of each segment click “expand”:
CBS Evening News
July 12, 2022
6:49:06 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: First Lady Jill Biden issued an apology after a remark she made on Monday, were criticized for diminishing Latino heritage.
FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN: The diversity of this community, as distinct as the bogadas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio, is your strength.
O’DONNELL: A statement posted on Twitter today said the First Lady apologizes that her words conveyed anything but pure admiration and love for the Latino community.
NBC Nightly News
July 12, 2022
7:12:08 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Also tonight, First Lady Jill Biden facing backlash for a remark she made about Latinos at an event in Texas. Peter Alexander on the comments that many say were offensive and Mrs. Biden's apology.
PETER ALEXANDER: Tonight Dr. Jill Biden learning a painful political lesson. The first First Lady to work outside the White House teaching at a Virginia community college, apologizing for a misstep Monday. During a speech to the nation's largest Latino civil rights group intended to celebrate the community's diversity.
FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN: Your fight is our fight and we will stand with you.
ALEXANDER: Making headlines for a controversial comment after fumbling the pronunciation of New York's famed bodegas.
BIDEN: The diversity of this community as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami. And as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio.
ALEXANDER: The audience cheered, but the scripted comment generated backlash on social media. One prominent Hispanic group encouraging the First Lady and her team to take time to better understand the complexities of our people and communities, adding we are not tacos. Dr. Biden's spokesperson today tweeting the First Lady apologizes that her words conveyed anything but pure admiration and love for the Latino community.
Dr. Biden has been a relentless advocate for her husband's agenda visiting 40 states in less than 18 months but this appearance is bringing unwanted attention to the President's closest political partner. Peter Alexander, NBC News.
