CBS This Morning co-host and Democratic donor Gayle King wondered on Friday if Americans should “take notes” from New Zealand’s gun control push. She pressed 2020 Democratic presidential candidate John Hickenlooper if taking away guns would be a “priority” for the liberal former Colorado governor. Guest co-host David Begnaud touted Hickenlooper’s hip appeal to millennials.
On guns, King pushed an anti-Second Amendment agenda: “Just six days after the deadliest mass shooting, [New Zealand is] already moving to change the laws with little resistance there. When you look at that, do you think we need to take notes? Or is there something we can learn from that?” She followed up, wondering, “Would gun control be a top priority for your administration?”
Hickenlooper affirmed his anti-Second Amendment agenda: “Yeah. I think we would go immediately [upon taking the White House].” Begnaud hyped the former ex-governor as hip and someone who would appeal to millennials:
I was talking to one of my fellow millennials and said Governor Hickenlooper's going to be on. He said, “Yeah, he was governor when pot became legal. He believes in the science behind climate change.” It made me think, "How do you punch through in a crowded you don't have the name recognition of a lot of the other folks?" How do you rise to the top?
One question that didn’t come up is Hickenlooper’s weird recounting of the time, as a young man, that he took his mom to see the pornographic film Deep Throat.
Credit to the CBS journalists for asking some tough questions. A few weeks ago, Hickenlooper repeatedly refused to say that he was a capitalist, which is odd since he’s a businessman. Co-host Bianna Golodryga pressed him on this: “You talk about being a proud entrepreneur. Why can't you just say you're a capitalist, full stop?”
A transcript of the segment is below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
03/22/19
8:03 a.m. Eastern[CBS’s Graphic: Hickenlooper’s Hope: Fmr. Colorado Gov one of 14 Candidates Seeking Democratic Nomination]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA: We continue our series "the road to 2020" this morning where we talk to current and prospective candidates about important issues that affect the country. John Hickenlooper is a former two-term governor of Colorado. During his time in office, he expanded Colorado's Medicaid coverage, fought for new gun laws, and developed the innovative career-wise training program to help high school students get apprentice programs. Hickenlooper is one of 14 candidates actively seeking the Democratic nomination in 2020. He's joining us at the table. Governor, good to have you.
JOHN HICKENLOOPER: Good morning.
GOLODRYGA: A lot to talk about, but let's start in Afghanistan. The news of death two of servicemen, that brings it to four this year alone. Do you support the president's plan of negotiating with the Taliban even if that means excluding the elected Afghan government?
(....)
HICKENLOOPER: We need to remove our active military troops from Afghanistan.
GOLODRYGA: As soon as possible like the president would like?
HICKENLOOPER: As soon as possible gives away -- I would not go about it that way because it limits our hand. Limits our choices.
ANTHONY: MASON: What sort of timetable do you think?
(....)
MASON: You've talked about a crisis of division in this country. As a president, how would you heal that?
(....)
GAYLE KING: Would you consider a Republican vice president? I heard you say you would consider a woman. Would you consider a Republican vice president?
HICKENLOOPER: You know, I don't -- I don't think that would work. Certainly in this election.
GOLODRYGA: You generated some confusion when you were asked that question by Dana Bash when you were asked if you would put a woman on the ticket. And instead of answering yes or no, You asked the question, “Well, why isn’t a woman being asked if she would put a man on the ticket?”
(....)
DAVID BEGNAUD: Governor, I want to ask you -- I was talking to one of my fellow millennials and said Governor Hickenlooper's going to be on. He said, “Yeah, he was governor when pot became legal. He believes in the science behind climate change.” It made me think, how do you punch through in a crowded you don't have the name recognition of a lot of the other folks? How do you rise to the top?
(....)
KING: Can we talk about the shooting in New Zealand? Just six days after the deadliest mass shooting, they are already moving to change the laws with little resistance there. When you look at that, do you think we need to take notes? Or is there something we can learn from that? Or do you think that's how they do it, but that's not how we operate here, or do we need to?
(....)
KING: Would gun control be a top priority for your administration?
HICKENLOOPER: Yeah. I think we would go immediately.
GOLODRYGA: You talk about being a proud entrepreneur. Why can't you just say you're a capitalist, full stop?
HICKENLOOPER: You know, it's funny, it's a little bit like a friend asked, well, were you a nerd in high school? That's not the first label I'd choose, but it would be hard to argue it. Of course, if you put me into a category, I am a capitalist, I started 20 businesses, created thousands of jobs.
