On Tuesday, MSNBC host Jose Diaz-Balart featured back-to-back segments on immigration in the wake of a federal judge in Texas blocking implementation of President Obama’s executive action on immigration reform.
Throughout the two segments, the Rundown host played up how the Texas judge’s ruling “reignites the debate within the GOP” and repeatedly insisted that any discussion of immigration reform was “toxic” among Republican primary voters.
Speaking to David Catanese of U.S. News & World Report, Diaz-Balart signaled that Jeb Bush’s stance on immigration reform would severely hurt his primary chances and wondered “is it really kind of Bush and everyone else?”
As the interview progressed, the MSNBC host eagerly hit the GOP from the left and insisted that “the problem is that it’s so toxic in the primary atmosphere to be for any kind of comprehensive immigration reform, or how about just immigration reform, period.”
Rather than push back against Diaz-Balart’s loaded question, Catanese seized on the opportunity to criticize the GOP’s views on immigration reform:
I think that's true. I think you see it in some of the early state polls. You’ve got I think 41% of primary voters in New Hampshire that are against this approach.
Later in the show, Diaz-Balart spoke with MSNBC contributor Robert Traynham, and once again, the MSNBC host promoted the liberal line that the GOP is opposed to immigration reform and even wondered "how can Jeb survive a Republican primary with him being supportive of immigration reform? Is it possible?"
For his part, the Republican pushed back and argued that “it’s not impossible Jose...First of all, let me say I take a little issue with the question, and that is to assume that Republican primary voters aren't for immigration reform.”
Rather than acknowledge Traynham’s argument, the MSNBC host continued to claim that immigration reform was “toxic” within the GOP:
Look at the polls. Look at the polls. I mean, the polls show that in Iowa, New Hampshire, the majority of voters, Republicans think that immigration reform is toxic.
In contrast to his harsh questioning of Traynham, Diaz-Balart offered up softballs to Democratic strategist Margie Omero and wondered “if the election were held today, where do you think immigration reform would rank on people’s concerns list?”
The MSNBC host concluded the discussion on immigration reform within the GOP by teeing up his liberal guest by making an open-ended statement about the GOP:
It is interesting, if the Republicans wanted to take this off the table for 2016, they could pass some form of immigration reform and then boom, this issue would be solved by November of 2016.
See relevant transcript below.
MSNBC’s The Rundown with Jose Diaz-Balart
February 17, 2015
JOSE DIAZ-BALART: And the debate over how to fix the nation's broken immigration system, it’s not going away. As we have been telling you all morning, a federal judge has temporarily blocked President Obama's action on immigration that was set to start taking affect tomorrow. That not only sets up a showdown between the White House and the 26 states suing the administration but also reignites the debate within the GOP. One Republican in particular, Jeb Bush, has come under fire from some members of his own party for his support of immigration reform. Joining me, David Catanese of U.S. News & World Report. Dave what a pleasure to see you.
DAVID CATANESE: Good to see you too Jose.
DIAZ-BALART: So on the issue of immigration, Republicans who are probably running for president, is it really kind of Bush and everyone else?
--
DIAZ-BALART: The problem is that it’s so toxic in the primary atmosphere to be for any kind of comprehensive immigration reform, or how about just immigration reform, period.
CATANESE: I think that's true. I think you see it in some of the early state polls. You’ve got I think 41% of primary voters in New Hampshire that are against this approach.
--
DIAZ-BALART: And here with me now to debate this, Democratic pollster Margie Omero and MSNBC contributor Robert Traynham. Thank you both for being with me. And Robert I want to start with you. How can Jeb survive a Republican primary with him being supportive of immigration reform? Is it possible?
ROBERT TRAYNHAM: Well, no it’s not impossible Jose. And good morning. First of all, let me say I take a little issue with the question, and that is to assume that Republican primary voters aren't for immigration reform.
DIAZ-BALART: Well, look at the polls. Look at the polls. I mean, the polls show that in Iowa, New Hampshire, the majority of voters, Republicans think that immigration reform is toxic.
TRAYNHAM: Well, I think the question becomes is what type of immigration reform. I think Republicans are on record as saying that the immigration system is broken. I think Republicans are on record as saying that we currently need some type of immigration reform. The question becomes is what does that look like.
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DIAZ-BALART: And Margie, if the election were held today, where do you think immigration reform would rank on people’s concerns list?
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DIAZ-BALART: Yes, I'm sorry, Robert. Margie, it is interesting, if the Republicans wanted to take this off the table for 2016, they could pass some form of immigration reform and then boom, this issue would be solved by November of 2016.
OMERO: Right. There's all kinds of things they could do. They can take some real action, they can really work hard to scrub some of the incendiary language used by some folks in their party, really say look, that's not what we are about. You need to see both those things, I think, to give the impression, again not just to Latinos but to voters overall that the Republican Party is really becoming more inclusive.
