Wednesday's New Day shut out social conservatives from a panel discussion on Senator Marco Rubio's Tuesday remark that "if you do not support same-sex marriage, you're labeled a homophobe and a hater," and that "the next step is to argue that the teachings of mainstream Christianity – the Catechism of the Catholic Church – is hate speech." Instead, the CNN morning show brought on a Republican and Democrat – Ana Navarro and Donna Brazile – who both blasted Rubio for his warning.

Navarro, who supports same-sex "marriage," had a blunt response to the Republican presidential candidate's comments: "Frankly, they made me cringe. I am very uncomfortable and disappointed with him....I just don't think this kind of rhetoric – stoking the flames – is helpful." Brazile replied to Senator Rubio by underling how it was "discouraging to hear that, somehow or another...being supportive of marriage equality is, somehow or another, an attack on religious freedom or faith." [video below]

Anchor Chris Cuomo previewed the Navarro/Brazile segment by noting the "big issue percolating for the 2016 race...is religion under attack? Are people of faith under attack? Senator Marco Rubio has just taken this to a whole new level. We'll tell you what he said, and what it means to his chances." An on-screen graphic hinted at what CNN thought of what Rubio's remarks are doing for his "chances" by wondering, "Bump In The Road For Rubio?"

Co-anchor Alisyn Camerota played the clip of the Florida senator's "hate speech" comments, and asked Navarro, "What did you think of his comments?" The socially liberal Republican strategist replied with her "made me cringe" reaction, and attacked the fringes of "both sides" of the marriage debate.
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Navarro continued with a compliment for Pope Francis's perceived approach for handling social issues. Cuomo responded with his own kudos for the pontiff:
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The liberal anchor, who is known for acting like an activist on LGBT issues, then asserted that social conservatives, including Rubio, were spinning the push for same-sex "marriage" as a campaign against Christianity. Brazile answered by echoing much of what Navarro said earlier.
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To her credit, Camerota followed up by asking a question that actually presented social conservatives' concern for religious freedom. However, Navarro returned to her targeting of the polarization on both sides of the issue. She continued by trumpeting Ireland's passage of same-sex "marriage" by popular vote
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It should be pointed out that as much as the anchors and guests touted Pope Francis's "approach," the most senior official at the Vatican after the Pope himself, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, condemned the Irish vote in favor of same-sex "marriage" as a "disaster for humanity." According to a Wednesday report in the Irish Times, the Vatican's spokesman later "not only confirmed that Cardinal Parolin had used these words but he also indicated that the Vatican was sticking by them, word for word."

Near the end of the segment, Cuomo repeated his contention that social conservatives were "spinning" the issue. Brazile replied by expressing her hope that the issue would just be settled to her side's favor – blanket support for the LGBT agenda across society.