Republican Sen. Marco Rubio called out NBC News Thursday for mocking Bettina Inclan, who was recently named NASA’s associate administrator for communications.
Inclan previously held senior positions with Republican Govs. Rick Scott of Florida and Rick Snyder of Michigan, so naturally, NBC felt it could mock her…and her mother, Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, who recently ran to represent Florida’s 27th District.
While it’s true that Aguilera was an “unusual candidate” as the Miami Herald put it, given that she claimed to have been abducted by aliens when she was a child, as Rubio explained, the report should have focused on Inclan’s success story.
“This is really shameful by @NBCNews,” he tweeted. “This young woman is the daughter of immigrants who has worked hard to get ahead in her career. Instead of highlighting her as a success story you use your national platform to mock her & her mother? Why?”
This is really shameful by @NBCNews
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 21, 2018
This young woman is the daughter of immigrants who has worked hard to get ahead in her career. Instead of highlighting her as a success story you use your national platform to mock her & her mother? Why? https://t.co/UX366rSK35
Since NBC failed to report on it, here’s Inclan’s background:
Inclán comes to NASA with over 15 years of experience as a communications specialist and strategist -- building winning coalitions and crafting messages and crisis communications in the political, commercial and nonprofit spheres. She has worked with major technology firms and non-profit organizations, and has held senior roles with government leaders at the federal, state and local levels, including governors and within the U.S. House of Representatives. […]
Prior to coming to NASA, she served as President and Founder of Mira Mira Strategies, a public affairs and communications consulting firm working with organizations like RightNOW, a women's empowerment nonprofit focused on developing female leaders. She has held senior roles with Governor Rick Scott of Florida and Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan, and was named the "Woman to Watch" by Running Start, an organization that inspires girls to run for public office. She has also been recognized by Latina Magazine, Cosmo for Latinas and Newsmax as one of the most influential Hispanics in politics in the country.
Bettina graduated from Florida International University. She and her husband live in Alexandria, Virginia with their two young sons. (NASA)