Cross posted to the MRC's NewsBusters blog
On Friday's CNN This Morning, co-host Poppy Harlow got snippy in defending Democrats on their pro-abortion extremism as Miami mayor Francis Suarez complained about New York allowing some abortions up until the moment of birth.
As she spoke with the newly announced Republican presidential candidate, Harlow alluded to his more moderate views on abortion compared to other Republicans, but she still hit him from the left on the issue anyway. Harlow posed:
The Associated Press says that you expressed in this interview just with them yesterday -- you've expressed support for a 15-week federal ban on abortion. To be clear, then, you do not think that abortion is an issue that should be left to the states? You would sign a 15-week federal ban?
The Republican mayor began his response: "You know, abortion is an incredibly personal and deeply personal issue. I think, in states like New York where they allow abortion up to birth, I think that's barbaric."
Even though it has been argued that third-trimester abortions are just not necessary for any medical reason, the CNN anchor curtly jumped in to defend the law: "That is not the -- that is not the norm, Mr. Mayor, and you know that."
A bit earlier, Harlow had brought up her Republican guest having a reputation for being more liberal on environmental issues than other Republicans and invoked the Republican party platform:
You stand out from some of your Republican competitors in this primary because of your position on climate change. The Republican platform from 2016 and 2020 reads: "Climate change is far from this nation's most pressing national security issue. This is the triumph of extremism over common sense. Congress must stop it."
She then tried to prod him to criticize his fellow Republicans: "Does the Republican party need to change its stance on climate change, sir?"
And, wrapping up the segment with a question about Donald Trump's indictment over his handling of classified documents, the CNN host came to the defense of Hillary Clinton over her own behavior. After Mayor Suarez argued that the Justice Department had a double standard in not charging Clinton in 2016, Harlow pushed back: "Director Comey -- in the findings on Secretary Clinton -- Director Comey said it was not willful."
This segment on CNN was sponsored in part by Subaru. Their contact information is linked.
Transcript follows:
CNN This Morning
June 16, 2023
6:28 a.m. Eastern
POPPY HARLOW: Mayor Suarez is jumping into a pretty crowded GOP field already. In an interview he gave this week to the Associated Press, he did distinguish himself from many of his opponents, though, on the key issue of abortion, including distinguishing himself from Ron DeSantis. Suarez instead suggested he'd support a 15-week abortion ban rather than six weeks.
(...)
8:15 a.m.
HARLOW: His bid considered a longshot in what has become a very crowded Republican presidential field. The 45-year-old Republican is a Cuban American and two-time mayor of Miami, and we're happy to welcome him this morning to CNN This Morning. Good morning. And let's begin with what you tweeted because it really struck me because, of course, your dad was mayor as well.
You said, "My dad taught me that you get to choose your battles, and I'm choosing the biggest of my life." You are jumping into this race, Mr. Mayor, with governors, with a Senator, with a Vice President, and, of course, former President Trump. Why do you think you are better-suited than all of them to be the commander-in-chief?
(MAYOR FRANCIS SUAREZ (R-MIAMI))
Mr. Mayor, some -- even some of your fellow Republicans, even some Republicans in your state -- just worry that you don't have enough experience. Listen to this from Florida Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez. (clip of Congressman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) appearing on Fox News) I'd like to give you a chance to respond.
(SUAREZ)
Okay, let's get to some policy issues. You stand out from some of your Republican competitors in this primary because of your position on climate change. The Republican platform from 2016 and 2020 reads: "Climate change is far from this nation's most pressing national security issue. This is the triumph of extremism over common sense. Congress must stop it." Does the Republican party need to change its stance on climate change, sir?
(SUAREZ)
So that sounds like a yes -- you disagree with the Republican platform. Let's turn to abortion. The Associated Press says that you expressed in this interview just with them yesterday -- you've expressed support for a 15-week federal ban on abortion. To be clear, then, you do not think that abortion is an issue that should be left to the states? You would sign a 15-week federal ban?
MAYOR FRANCIS SUAREZ (R-MIAMI): You know, abortion is an incredibly personal and deeply personal issue. I think, in states like New York where they allow abortion up to birth, I think that's barbaric.
HARLOW: That is not the -- that is not the norm, Mr. Mayor, and you know that.
SUAREZ: It may not be the norm, but it is the case in some states. And so, in Miami, where we have the fourth largest public hospital in America, I've seen babies in incubators at 22 weeks. That's something you can't unsee. I'm pro-life -- my wife is pro-life -- my three sisters are pro-life -- my mother is pro-life -- my parents met at a pro-life rally -- and, you know, my sister who has five kids, you know, had her fourth after knowing she was going to have genetic abnormalities, so I think this is a deeply personal and difficult decision. We don't give it enough time to discuss it. But, yes, I would -- I would -- I would sign a 15-week ban because I think that that would save a tremendous amount of babies.
HARLOW: I appreciate you answering that question directly. I do want to ask you about something that a lot of people in Florida and Miami, in particular, are talking about. And this is this morning out of the Miami Herald about your actions in terms of the consulting that you do. Quote, "Sources told the Herald that he" -- meaning you -- "face scrutiny by the FBI and local authorities for $10,000 a month payments you received from a developer for consulting work while serving as a mayor." That is "small potatoes compared to Trump's legal problems, but those fees look like a conflict of interest." This is alleged to have just happened from August 2022 to March of this year. What is your response?
(SUAREZ)
The allegation is that you gave a developer -- the allegation that a developer that paid you 10 grand a month -- $170,000 total -- you helped him get these city permits. Did you? Did you -- did you put your thumb on the scale?
(SUAREZ)
All right, finally, I want to ask you about Trump. I know you've said people shouldn't focus on the Trump indictment -- and that's why we talked about a whole lot of other issues, but it is important that you weigh in on this. You're running against him. You told ABC News yesterday that a lot of Republicans are telling you that this indictment is not an equal administration of justice. You're a registered Republican -- you're running for President -- do you share that view of Jack Smith's investigation?
SUAREZ: You know, that is what people feel, and I think what happens is there's a disconnection --
HARLOW: Well, what do you -- what do you feel, Mr. Mayor? What do you think? What do you think?
SUAREZ: Well, I think that there is an unequal administration of justice. When you see in the (James) Comey investigation, for example, of Hillary Clinton's email server where he says that she has broken potentially federal laws, but she (sic) doesn't think that -- he doesn't think it should be prosecuted, that's prosecutorial discretion. I think what we should do as a country is focused on the issues that matter to people. And this is a distraction. This creates a toxic environment in our country, and I think it's not healthy for us to focus on that.
HARLOW: Director Comey -- in the findings on Secretary Clinton -- Director Comey said it was not willful. One of the key charges here is 31 charges -- felony charges -- of willful retention of classified documents. You're a lawyer -- you're a practicing lawyer. Do the allegations -- look at all of these -- in this indictment -- including "willful retention" of classified documents, obstruction of justice -- do they concern you, sir?