CBS's Gayle King: Unless Illegal Immigrants Are Doing Something 'Illegal,' Leave Them Alone

According to CBS This Morning host Gayle King on Monday, unless an illegal alien is doing something "illegal," Americans should leave him or her alone. Mike Hogan from Vanity Fair appeared on the program to discuss a new poll about ethical dilemmas and how people respond. Guest host Vinita Nair wondered, "Who's more likely to report an illegal immigrant living next door?" 

Hogan discussed the responses of Republicans, Democrats and independents. He then quoted an off-air discussion: "I think Gayle [King] in the green room said, 'As long as they're not doing anything illegal, you know, let them live.'" Standing by her comments, King reiterated, "That's right. That's right." Hogan added, "Leave them alone." [MP3 audio here [1].]

A transcript of the August 4 exchange is below:  

8:13

GAYLE KING: Mike Hogan, Vanity Fair's digital director, is here with more with more results from a poll that looks at our ethics. 

...

VINITA NAIR: Immigration is obviously something people are really debating a lot right now, especially when it comes to party lines between Republicans and Democrats. Who's more likely to report an illegal immigrant living next door? 

MIKE HOGAN: Well, not surprisingly, Republicans are more likely to report illegal immigrants. But nobody is terribly likely to do it. Thirty five percent of Republicans said that they would. Only 22 percent of  Democrats and 23 percent of independents. Fifty seven percent of Republicans said they would not report somebody living next door, 74 percent percent of Democrats. And I think Gayle in the green room said, "As long as they're not doing anything illegal, you know, let them live." 

GAYLE KING: That's right. That's right. 

HOGAN: Leave them alone. [Laughs.]