TV co-host mistakenly refers to Raimondo as 'Republican' governor
Awwwkward…
Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” welcomed Governor Raimondo to the program on Thursday morning by introducing her as a co-chair of the Democratic National Convention, but soon afterward she referred to the Democratic governor as a Republican.
Brzezinski set up a question, saying, "Let me put Gina in a very awkward position, as a Republican but the first woman governor of Rhode Island..." After a pause, during which a producer apparently told Brzezinski about the error through her earpiece, she asked: “Are you a Democrat?”
“Yes,” Raimondo replied, laughing, and asking why she’d be in Philadelphia if she were a Republican.
“I’m sorry,” Brzezinski said. “For some reason, I thought that because of some things that had gone in … Rhode Island with the budget.”
Earlier this week, the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats called for Hillary Clinton to withdraw Raimondo’s appointment as convention co-chair, saying, "Raimondo’s politics represent a brand of conservatism well to the right of basically anyone of prominence in the national Democratic Party.” For example, the group described Raimondo as “one of the most aggressive proponents of pension cuts.”
Raimondo's acting chief of staff, David Cruise, countered by saying that Raimondo is proud to be co-chair "because she believes that being a progressive means being committed to actually making progress" on "issues that matter for Rhode Island families.” For example, he said Raimondo “led the effort to expand the [earned-income tax credit] and has fought for a higher minimum wage."
In any case, Brzezinski recovered, saying, "You look toward Hillary Clinton as the first woman president. This has got to be an incredibly exciting — and not awkward — time for you.”
“It is unbelievably exciting,” Raimondo said. “In fact, I am racing home tonight to watch [Hillary Clinton's' speech with my 12-year-old daughter [Ceci]."
"This is a historic moment," Raimondo continued, "and I am going to be there with my 12-year-old daughter, and she is going to be there with her mom, who is the first female governor in Rhode Island history.” She added that girls from ages 7 to 11 come up to her and say, "because you are governor, I know I can do it."
The show's other co-host, former Congressman Joe Scarborough, R-Fla., asked Raimondo to talk about the "great things happening in Rhode Island," adding, “You sort of turned the tables over in the temple there, and Democrats and Republicans alike don’t know exactly who’s on what side.”
Raimondo said, "Rhode Island is definitely a state on the rise. Our unemployment rate dropped an awful lot last year. GE just put a big facility in Providence. It’s a gorgeous place."
She then turned to the show's other guest, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, saying, "I was just telling Sherrod it [has] the best restaurants in America — he ought to come visit."
"We have a daughter who lives there," Brown said, "and a new grandson that’s 8 months old that lives in Providence."
1st female RI Gov. on Clinton nom: Little girls get it... It's hard to describe how historic and powerful this ishttps://t.co/IDxtmzQymn
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe)July 28, 2016