ABC Hails Kamala ‘Blazing New Trails’ After ‘Biblical’ Biden Twist, Trump ‘Meltdown’

Curtis Houck
July 22nd, 2024 10:45 AM
Font Size

Always a loyal foot soldier for the left, ABC’s Good Morning America was ebullient Monday in fluffing Vice President Kamala Harris being handed an “extraordinary moment” as the likely Democratic presidential nominee with “a flood of cash” and “history” on her side now that President Biden has dropped out against “felon” Donald Trump.

Co-host Robin Roberts kicked things off in an opening tease: “Vice President Harris hitting the ground running. Dozens of top lawmakers and party officials quickly lining up behind the VP as she looks to make history again...The issues that define her and who could join her on the Democratic ticket?”

Certainly relieved Biden’s not running, co-host and former Clinton official George Stephanopoulos told viewers this “was already the most unusual race in American history” as it originally consisted of a face-off “between two former presidents — one a convicted felon who tried to overturn an election he lost, then survived an assassination attempt.”

Not even going to say Trump’s name there, George?

Perhaps the most loyal member of the White House press corps, chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce first commiserated with her guy, saying the decision to quit “was always Joe Biden’s to make and his alone, but ultimately, the pressure was just too much to bear” as he has “giv[en] up the job he spent a lifetime working towards.”

Adding the Covid diagnosis was “another blow” following a slew of party defections, she said he finally “reckon[ed] with his political reality” and touted a gooey statement from son Hunter Biden (a convicted felon himself)

She made sure to grease the skids for Harris (click “expand”):

Harris, who’s been hitting the trail hard in recent weeks, praising Biden for making the difficult decision writing, “With this selfless and patriotic act, president Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.” Then making clear she’s all in, saying “my intention is to earn and win this nomination...We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight and together, we will win.” This morning, many top party leaders now swiftly rallying around Harris as she’s working the phones, reaching out to key Democrats. Bill and Hillary Clinton writing, “now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it.”

Harris also securing endorsements from key constituencies, including the Congressional Black Caucus and several key governors like Gavin Newsom of California, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Roy Cooper of North Carolina all lining up behind her. The Biden campaign this morning now full steam ahead for Harris, even filing the paperwork. The campaign now officially Harris for President. Kamala Harris is now the frontrunner in this race. She could, of course, become the first black woman, the first Asian-American to top a ticket. But others could still jump in.

Congressional correspondent Rachel Scott was also excited, claiming this was “ curve ball the Trump campaign was preparing for, but this is not one they wanted” and lamented Trump would dare to criticize Harris because he “just days ago said he wanted to focus on this message of unity.”

Stephanopoulos then brought Bruce and Scott back alongside chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl, whom he declared “Biden really had no choice” but drop out. For his party, Karl bragged this was causing “an all-out meltdown” by Trump, as if to suggest Harris will be able to skate by.

Scott doubled down on Karl’s talking points about Biden dropping out being a massive boon for Democrats and then Stephanopoulos said these recent twists have been “Shakespearean, biblical, unprecedented, historic”. Karl also implied the age issues will remain given Trump’s age:

Senior White House correspondent Selina Wang also did her part for The Cause:

The second-half hour led off with a nauseating puff piece from 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts, but not before a lead-in from co-host Robin Roberts about Harris being granted an “extraordinary moment”.

Deborah Roberts — the wife of NBC’s Today co-host Al Roker — swooned over Harris as “poised to possibly shatter that elusive glass ceiling in American politics” and one “she’s become familiar with” as her life has been defined by “blazing new trails in public service”.

“Harris became known for her work on the Judicial and Intelligence committees, with a strong stance on civil and abortion rights which she grilled future Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanagh...As Vice President, Harris has taken the lead on the abortion rights issue following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade,” she added.

Ever the propagandist, she framed Harris’s work on the Biden crisis as marred by partisanship and puffed her personal life. Speaking of her gender, Stephanopoulos moments later used that to cue up Chris Christie to strongly imply Trump could go too far in attacking her (click “expand”):

DEBORAH ROBERTS: She’s also taking on immigration. In 2021, President Biden tasking her to lead the diplomatic efforts with three Central American countries to address the root causes of migration. The White House praising her work, but after migrant encounters hit record levels before decreasing, Republicans hit Harris on the hot button issue. 

[NIKKI HALEY CLIP]

DEBORAH ROBERTS: Before her VP role, Harris had presidential ambitions, taking on former president Donald Trump.

[HARRIS AD CLIP]

DEBORAH ROBERTS: Married for ten years to lawyer Doug Emhoff, Harris is known as Mamala to her stepchildren, Ella and Cole. When she was chosen as Vice President, she reflected on the historic moment with Robin.

(....)

CHRISTIE: It changes it, George. But the real question is we don’t how it changes it. And what’s going to determine how it changes is how these two candidates now perform in this new dynamic, right? So, here’s Kamala Harris going from number two to number one like that. And it’s gonna take a real transformation on her part. And she’s going to have to perform. Everyone’s going to be watching her closely. Donald Trump’s not going to have a different dynamic. Eight years ago, he want against a woman for president. But when he did, Hillary Clinton was a more known quantity and, quite frankly, was disliked by a lot of voters. Kamala Harris is not personally disliked. There’s a question of respect and whether they respect her or not. And that’s going to be in her control now. If she performs well, she’s going to make this a very close race.

To see the relevant transcript from July 22, click here.

Donor Privacy Policy