Live: DFLers and Republicans are endorsing candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and other statewide races

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Occasional NPR political commentator Cokie Roberts put herself in the line of fire this morning when she made a joke about birth control and Latino influence in tomorrow's election.

was asked by Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep

 about the likelihood that the Latino vote could swing the election.

"It another reason for the electoral college," she said. "You wouldn't be paying that much attention to Latinos nationwide. They're only about 12 percent of the vote. But in states like Florida, Nevada, Texas, Arizona, it's a much higher percentage."

Tucker Carlson, the Republican analyst, sounded his own alarm, saying when Texas goes Democrat, "there'll be no need to have presidential elections; the numbers are just too overwhelming electorally."

He suggested tightening immigration to prevent Latino influence.

"Well immigration wouldn't do it," she said, "you'd have to do birth control."

https://twitter.com/CokieRoberts/status/795651564312690688

Few of these interviews are actually broadcast live. Most are pre-recorded. So NPR could have edited out the comment, which created an immediate backlash against Roberts. (Update: NPR says interview was live)

https://twitter.com/Dorothytooo/status/795639429121658881

https://twitter.com/TheTinaVasquez/status/795637390048194560

https://twitter.com/TheTinaVasquez/status/795642178093641728

https://twitter.com/glasseeter/status/795638605339389952

https://twitter.com/kmcfall/status/795631082918084608

Her points seems to have been that a Republican strategy to tighten immigration to protect their political chances would not work. There were, obviously, better ways to make the point.

 when she said Donald Trump "is one of the least qualified candidates ever to make a serious run for the presidency."

How does the Electoral College work and is it fair?

NewsCut

Bob Collins

Author

Occasional NPR political commentator Cokie Roberts put herself in the line of fire this morning when she made a joke about birth control and Latino influence in tomorrow's election.


Roberts’ ‘birth control’ joke upsets some NPR listeners

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox