CNN Absurdly Asks If Rubio's Sip of Water Was 'Career-Ender'
On Wednesday's The Situation Room, host Wolf Blitzer absurdly wondered if Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) pausing his State of the Union response for a drink of water would "break" his career. The CNN chyron flashed "Career-ender?"
"So can a drink of water make or break a political career?" Blitzer asked. "A U.S. Senator, possible presidential candidate. We're going to find out, whether he likes it or not."
[Video below. Audio here.]
CNN later told Politico, "We are joking. It was a tease."
However, despite their claim, host Wolf Blitzer kept his serious demeanor for the beginning of the next segment when he noted the "social media frenzy" over Rubio's "awkward pause." Neither he nor Bolduan implied that the incident wasn't a "career-ender" until the end of the next segment.
"His big moment, however, overshadowed by an unscripted drink of water now deemed 'Watergate,'" Bolduan mentioned before noting Rubio's "charm" in his response to the incident.
Bolduan implied that the incident will fade quickly: "But maybe for the next couple of days, people will still be talking about his unscripted water break." And Blitzer acknowledged that "He's got a huge future ahead of him, he's a very impressive guy."
CNN still milked "Watergate" in the next segment, however, as Blitzer asked his guests if it was a "big deal" or a "little deal." He again implied that it wouldn't do any long-term damage, though. "But you agree, he's got a huge future ahead of him. The fact that he went for a sip of water, he wiped a little bit of sweat away from his forehead, that he was a little awkward," Blitzer said downplaying "Watergate."
A transcript of the segment, which aired on The Situation Room on February 13 at 4:32 p.m. EST:
[4:28]
WOLF BLITZER: So can a drink of water make or break a political career? A U.S. Senator, possible presidential candidate. We're going to find out, whether he likes it or not.
[HEADLINE: "Career-Ender?"]
(...)
[4:32]
WOLF BLITZER: Marco Rubio made headlines for
his Republican response to the President last night, but not
necessarily for the reasons he may want. A social media frenzy started
when the Senator made an awkward pause – there it is right there – to
take a sip of water. Our Kate Bolduan earlier traveled to Miami to get
the backstory on this rising GOP star.
(Video Clip)
Sen. MARCO RUBIO (R-Fla.): Good evening. I'm Marco Rubio.
KATE BOLDUAN: The 41-year-old senator, already labeled the Republican
savior, was blunt in his official GOP response to the President's State
of the Union address.
RUBIO: His solution to virtually every problem we face is for Washington to tax more, borrow more, and spend more.
BOLDUAN: His big moment, however, overshadowed by an unscripted drink
of water now deemed "Watergate." Rubio took the moment now gone viral
in stride.
RUBIO: I needed water. What am I going to do, you know? It happens. God has a funny way of reminding us that we are human.
BOLDUAN: That charm is one reason behind his rapid rise in the
Republican party. To better understand his star power, we went to his
roots, West Miami, Florida. His success may seem improbable.
RUBIO: My dad was a bartender. My mom was a cashier.
BOLDUAN: But it's no surprise to those closest to Marco Rubio.
Rep. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN (R-Fla.): He was a superstar. He was a standout intern.
BOLDUAN: Rubio got his first taste of politics interning for Florida congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
ROS-LEHTINEN: I was a lot thinner and he had a lot more hair. But it's
the same old Marco. Marco would do anything and anything that I asked
interns to do, and willingly so, whether it was getting coffee or
making copies, but mostly going with me to events. He was a real people
person.
BOLDUAN: Soon after, at 26 years old, Rubio won his first election for
the West Miami city commission, the community he grew up in and still
lives with his wife. election and he lives with his wife and four young
children.
(On camera) So this is where it all began, if you will?
REBECA SOSA, chair, Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners: It is where it all began for him and for me.
BOLDUAN: And I'm sure people were wondering, was he good?
SOSA: He was excellent. That was his seat.
BOLDUAN: (voice over) Rebecca Sosa is a long-time friend and is considered Rubio's political godmother.
(On camera) What makes Marco Rubio tick?
SOSA: Sometimes people get so arrogant that they don't listen. Marco
listens. Marco sits with people. Marco analyzes his surroundings.
BOLDUAN: But it wasn't always easy. After becoming one of the youngest
speakers of the Florida State House, he was the long-shot senate
candidate in 2010. Jose Mallea ran Rubio's campaign.
JOSE MALLEA, former campaign manager: Early on the entire establishment
was against Marco. I think if you were to ask 100 political strategists
from all over the country, 99 of them would have probably told you that
it couldn't happen.
BOLDUAN: And that come from behind victory launched Rubio into the
national spotlight. He was considered a top vice presidential contender
during Mitt Romney's White House run. He introduced Romney at the
Republican convention last year.
RUBIO: My dad used to tell us – [Speaking in Spanish] – in this
country, you're going to be able to accomplish all the things we never
could.
BOLDUAN: Rubio's personal story has been a big part of his political
narrative and the source of his biggest controversy to date. A son of
Cuban immigrants, Rubio long suggested his parents fled the rule of
Fidel Castro, but they actually came to the U.S. more than two years
prior.
RUBIO: Do I wish I had known those dates earlier? Absolutely. Does it change anything? Absolutely not.
BOLDUAN: Still, those Latin roots and his conservative credentials are
a perfect combination for a party in search of a makeover and desperate
to attract more Hispanic voters. So it's fitting Rubio responded to the
President in both English and Spanish.
RUBIO: [Speaking in Spanish]
(End Video Clip)
BOLDUAN: Add to all that Rubio taking a leading role in the latest push
on immigration reform, it leaves pretty much everyone asking the
inevitable question, Wolf, what is next for Senator Rubio? I'll tell
you spending some time in West Miami, it was pretty clear his hometown
supporters, they aren't setting expectations low. We even came across a
man holding a Rubio 2016 sign in town. But maybe for the next couple of
days, people will still be talking about his unscripted water break.
BLITZER: He's very popular. We're going to talk a little bit more about
that coming up, by the way. But he's very popular. Not only in Miami
but throughout Florida, he won that contest. And Florida being a key
battleground state in an election. He's got a huge future ahead of him,
he's a very impressive guy. I'm sure everyone told you the same thing.
BOLDUN: I heard it over and over again. They really see him as kind of
the son of that town. And they all take a lot of pride in seeing the
success he's already made so far.
BLITZER: A sip of water. We're going to talk a little bit about that as
well. Kate, thanks very much. So will that moment help or hurt the
senator? We're going to break it down among other subjects, coming up
in our "Strategy Session."
