Miami Columnist on CBS: GOP Losing Because Electorate Isn't 'Old/Middle-aged, Angry White Guys'
Liberal Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiaasen caricatured the Republican Party's base on Thursday's CBS This Morning. Hiaasen asserted that President Obama won Florida on Tuesday because Mitt Romney's campaign didn't appeal to "people who vote who are not old/middle-aged, angry white guys."
The writer from Florida also credited the incumbent Democrat's
supporters: "I think the Obama campaign picked up on that pretty quickly
- that there's a lot of young people. There are a lot of diverse
populations." [audio available here; video below]
Midway through a segment on the Sunshine State, Hiassen recounted that
in past presidential races, candidates "flew to Miami...said something
nasty about [Fidel] Castro; and then, you went on about your
way...That's how you campaigned. It's much more complicated than that now, and the Republicans really missed the boat. They really fell short here."
Open Obama supporter Gayle King followed up by asking, "What is it that you think, Carl, that the Obama campaign understood that the Romney campaign did not?" The columnist replied with his "old/middle-aged, angry white guys" stereotype of typical GOP voters.
The transcript of the relevant portion of the Carl Hiaasen interview on Thursday's CBS This Morning:
CHARLIE ROSE: Carl, talk to us about that Hispanic population - not
only in Florida, but around the country, because it is not a monolith.
CARL HIAASEN, THE MIAMI HERALD COLUMNIST: No, it isn't, and Florida is –
is, in – in a weird way, sort of a microcosm for the rest of the
country. I mean, we're very diverse, and very divided, like the rest of
the country. And even the Hispanic community is – is very diverse, and
you just can't waltz in and have a couple of campaign events and have
everyone run out and vote for you. The – in the old days, you – you flew
to Miami; you said something nasty about [Fidel] Castro; and then, you
went on about your way if you were a politician. That's how you
campaigned. It's much more complicated than that now, and the – the
Republicans really – really missed the boat. They – they really fell
short here.
[CBS News Graphic: "CBS News Exit Poll: Presidential Race Among Florida Hispanic/Latino Voters: Obama, 60%; Romney, 39%"]
GAYLE KING: What is it that you think, Carl, that the Obama campaign
understood that the Romney campaign did not? (Rose and King laugh)
HIAASEN: I think that – that there are people who vote who are not
old/middle-aged, angry white guys. I think the Obama campaign picked up
on that pretty quickly - that there's a lot of young people. There are a
lot of diverse populations. And you saw how eager everybody was to
vote-
KING: Yes-
HIAASEN: That's the one thing that I think we should take heart from in
Florida - people lining up until 1:30 in the morning to cast a ballot.
It's pretty extraordinary.
