Take the loss, CBS News and 60 Minutes. Your hit piece on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout failed.
Democrats backed DeSantis. This includes Florida Democrat Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz, who got tangled in the crosshairs when CBS News tried to deflect blame onto him.
CBS News told Fox News:
“When Florida state data revealed people of color were vaccinated at a much lower rate than their wealthier neighbors, ‘60 Minutes’ reported the facts surrounding the vaccine’s rollout, which is controlled by the governor,” a CBS News spokesperson told Fox News. “We requested and conducted interviews with dozens of sources and authorities involved. We requested an interview with Gov. Ron DeSantis, he declined; we spoke to State Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz twice, but he declined to be interviewed on camera for our story until well after our deadline. The idea we ignored their perspective is untrue.”For over 50 years, the facts reported by 60 MINUTES have often stirred debate and prompted strong reactions,” the spokesperson continued. “Our story Sunday night speaks for itself.”
Moskowitz shot back:
Emails prove Moskowitz is right.
60 Minutes associate producer Emily Gordon emailed a list of questions for the governor to DeSantis communications staffer Meredith Beatrice on Wednesday, March 31. Gordon said the segment would air that Sunday and needed answers by Thursday evening.
Beatrice asked for more time. Someone told Fox News that Gordon never answered.
60 Minutes producer Oriana Zill de Granados emailed Beatrice about the questions on Thursday morning. Beatrice suggested Zill de Granados interview Moskowitz. He had availabilities on Thursday before the 5 PM deadline and Friday either in person or on Skype.
Fox News continued (REMEMBER! CBS had the option to interview Moskowitz on Skype):
The “60 Minutes” producer replied that they had requested an on-the-record interview with Moskowitz “repeatedly” since February and claimed that he had not responded to messages since mid-March.DeSantis’ office stressed that it was “important” for CBS News to interview Moskowitz and Palm Beach County Mayor David Kerner, who Zill de Granados said was not responsive to inquiries.”Thank you for your input. Unfortunately, the deadline has passed,” Zill de Granados told Beatrice on Thursday afternoon. “As you may know, the Covid pandemic makes our interview protocol much more complicated and time-consuming due to new distancing and testing requirements for correspondents and camera crews.”However, that standard appeared not to apply to Florida State Rep. Omari Hardy, a DeSantis critic who “60 Minutes” correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi interviewed remotely.”Luckily, we have already spoken to Director Moskowitz several times,” Zill de Granados continued. “We appreciate his perspective on the roll out in Florida. We have included the information he provided on background as it pertains to this story”. Zill de Granados also noted that Moskowitz had been asked to do on-camera interviews on Feb. 28 and March 1
Fox News asked Moskowitz “if he thought ’60 Minutes’ ‘appreciated his perspective.'” Moskowitz said:
“Did you see the perspective that the person in charge of the Covid response told them how Publix was selected in their agency and that the contribution story was garbage?”They ran with pay to play, when I told them it was done by my agency and why and how. Did you see that perspective?” Moskowitz added.
Ouch.
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