CNN's Bash Brushes Off 'Constitutional Professor' Obama's Past Immigration Remarks

Matthew Balan | November 20, 2014
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[More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.]

On the 19 November 2014 edition of Anderson Cooper 360, CNN's Dana Bash was hesitant to address President Obama's past remarks on immigration reform, where he repeatedly denied that he couldn't act alone – to the point that she first touted the Democrat's supposed academic credentials. Host Anderson Cooper played five clips of Mr. Obama making this point, and underlined that "he said he couldn't do it in the past. He's now saying he can do it, and should do it, and will do it."

Cooper then asked Bash, "What's the White House spin on it?" The congressional correspondent led her answer with her citation of the President's past occupation in academia:

DANA BASH: Well, first of all, we should also remind people that he's not just the President. He also is a constitutional – was a constitutional professor and a lawyer – so, he speaks from – from – you know, with academic knowledge. What Democrats are saying is – and the candid ones who I talk to – is that he did believe that, and he did prefer to go through Congress. When that was clear it wasn't going to happen – and he had a lot of meetings and a lot of pressure from immigration groups – that he told...his lawyers...in the White House and around the various agencies, get me to yes – figure out a way for me that I can get around the constitutional problems. And then, that is what they landed at – with this executive order.

The other thing that Democrats say is this is why the order will not include parents of 'dreamers' – parents who came here who are still undocumented immigrants – because that they felt is not within the bounds of his executive authority.

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