The folks who run Univision, a top Spanish-language TV network, came up with what they considered a ‘brilliant’ plan for luring Senator Marco Rubio to appear on their network.
Unfortunately for the involved ding bats, their plan involved attempted extortion.
The fact that this outrageous attempt failed miserably has the effect of enhancing Rubio’s image as one who cannot be bought by thugs simply because they speak Spanish.
As reported at the reference:
The president of Univision, the top Spanish-language network, made an apparent attempt to extort a TV appearance from Sen. Marco Rubio in exchange for not broadcasting dirt on a relative. Can it go any lower?Despite all of the slime and sleaze dripping from Univision, Marco Rubio is unscathed and is, in fact, strengthened by virtue of an improved image.
Last July, representatives of the Florida-based Hispanic national television network contacted the Florida Republican to urge him to appear on "Al Punto," a Spanish-language talk show whose host, Jorge Ramos, is a loud proponent of amnesty for illegal aliens. Like most Americans, Rubio is no amnesty proponent and said no to an appearance on the show.
But Univision wouldn't take no for an answer. Instead, the ambitious television network that reaches 10 million Spanish-language viewers in the U.S. set a new low in journalism, with extortion worse than tabloids.
According to the Miami Herald, a 45-minute conference call was then arranged July 7 and Univision's president of news, Isaac Lee, made Rubio's staff an offer he couldn't refuse: Lee's investigative team had dug up some dirt on Rubio's brother-in-law — a 1987 drug arrest — and offered to spike it if Rubio would appear on "Al Punto."
"You're saying that if Marco does an interview with Ramos, that you will drop this investigation into his family and the story will never air?" asked Todd Harris, Rubio's adviser, according to the Herald.
"While there are no guarantees, your understanding of the proposal is fair," Lee replied.
Showing himself to be a man who couldn't be blackmailed, Rubio then effectively channeled the Duke of Wellington, who once told a blackmailer to "publish and be damned," refusing to go along.
Instead of stopping himself, Lee went full bore with the latter and a string of sleazy tricks to deliver plomo to Rubio followed.”
Marco Rubio: Vice-president nominee?
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/587196/201110051849/Rubio-Vs-Univision.htm
