On Sunday’s This Week, political commentator Cokie Roberts gushed over Univision’s Jorge Ramos as an “absolute icon in the Hispanic community.”
After ABC’s Martha Raddatz interviewed Ramos about his recent confrontation with Donald Trump, Roberts swooned over the liberal journalist as someone who is a “very, very big deal, and you know, he's also sort of someone they swoon over.”
Roberts continued to stand up for Ramos in his battle with Trump and argued that while the Republican presidential candidate “can say anything but he can also hurt the Republican Party big time.”
For his part, Newt Gingrich rejected Roberts’ assertion that Trump could harm the GOP “big time” and instead decided to blast Ramos for lecturing Trump last week. Gingrich dismissed Ramos as an actual journalist and instead labeled him Trump’s “opponent” who “[e]very night on Univision, he opposes the Republican Party. Every night.”
Liberal ESPN commentator LZ Granderson attempted to defend Ramos as someone who just opposes bigotry. I don't think he opposes the Republican Party” but Gingrich pointed out that the Univision anchor “opposes the Republican Party and he gets to define bigotry.”
See relevant transcript below.
ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos
August 30, 2015
MARTHA RADDATZ: I saw you nodding your head, Cokie Roberts.
COKIE ROBERTS: Well, he's an absolute icon in the Hispanic community, I mean he is a very, very big deal, and you know, he's also sort of someone they swoon over.
RADDATZ: But let’s go to this question about Trump. He can say anything among his supporters.
ROBERTS: He can say anything but he can also hurt the Republican Party big time.
RADDATZ: And does he hurt the Republican party big time, Mr. Speaker?
NEWT GINGRICH: I doubt it.
RADDATZ: Could he be the nominee?
GINGRICH: Yes.
RADDATZ: You think he could be the nominee?
GINGRICH: Absolutely. I also think he could be the president.
RADDATZ: How does he do it?
GINGRICH: Well, first of all, if you're ahead everywhere and your lead is increasing as it is in Iowa-
ROBERTS: Among Republicans.
GINGRICH: Among Republicans- were starting with the nominee. First you have to become the nominee. I think you might be surprised.
ROBERTS: But how does he win without the Hispanic vote? How does anybody win without the Hispanic vote?
GINGRICH: Well, first of all Jorge Ramos, who’s clearly his opponent-
ROBBERS: He's an advocate.
GINGRICH: He’s the opponent of Donald Trump. Every night on Univision, he opposes the Republican Party. Every night.
LZ GRANDERSON: I think he opposes bigotry. I don't think he opposes the Republican Party.
GINGRICH: He opposes the Republican Party and he gets to define bigotry. But wait a second, let me given a example. happen to believe that the United States has both a moral and legal obligation to control its border. I think we have an obligation to stop terrorists. I think we have an obligation to kick out the gang from el Salvador --
