The three networks on Thursday hyped the “scathing” “political bombshell” of George H.W. Bush criticizing Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. In contrast, when Barack Obama’s former Secretary of State went on the record with harsh criticism of his former boss, ABC and NBC avoided it.
Speaking of the Bush family, Good Morning America’s Amy Robach trumpeted, “This is being called a political bombshell. In his new biography, the elder former President Bush delivers some scathing criticisms about key figures in his son’s administration.” In the book, Bush refers to Cheney as “too hard line” and Rumsfeld as “arrogant.”
On NBC’s Today, Savannah Guthrie touted, “The scathing critiques are included in a new biography.” Over on CBS This Morning, Gayle King underlined, “The New York Times reports on harsh words from President George H.W. Bush about key figures in his son's administration.”
In contrast, in September of 2014, when former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta criticized Obama for his handling of ISIS, ABC and NBC skipped the story. Only CBS covered it, first on the Evening News and then on 60 Minutes.
When another Secretary of State, Bob Gates, attacked Barack Obama on the record, the networks noticed it, but offered a defensive stance. On January 8, 2014, Today’s Matt Lauer asked David Axelrod about Gates: “Did you get a sense that he was a guy who...was disgruntled in any way?” ABC, NBC and CBS all made sure to point out that the ex-official was a Republican.
A transcripts of the news briefs:
GMA
11/5/15
7:15am ETAMY ROBACH: This is being called a political bombshell. In his new biography, the elder, former President Bush delivers some scathing criticisms about key figures in his son’s administration. He says his son was not supported well by his aides and singles out former Vice President Dick Cheney, saying Cheney became too hard line and hawkish and he calls former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrogant. The book is being published next week.
CBS This Morning
11/5/15
7:31am ETGAYLE KING: The New York Times reports on harsh words from President George H.W. Bush about key figures in his son's administration. His comments are in the upcoming biography "Destiny and Power." Bush said that Vice President Dick Cheney asserted too much “hard line influence” in George W Bush's White House. Bush also called Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld an arrogant fellow who served the president badly. Cheney called the remarks fascinating.
ANTHONY MASON: The book also says Donald Trump wanted to be Bush's running mate back in 1988.
KING: That would be interesting.
MASON: Yeah.
Today
11/05/15
7:19am ETMATT LAUER: Former President George H.W. Bush out with some surprising criticism for some of the key figures in his son's administration, including Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: George H.W. Bush Slams Cheney; Scathing Critiques Included in New Biography]
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: The scathing critiques are included in a new biography. On Cheney, he wrote – it’s written that, “He just became very hard-line and very different from the Dick Cheney I knew and worked with.”
LAUER: As for Rumsfeld, the former President says, “I think he served the President badly. I don’t like what he did, and I think it hurt the President having his iron-a** view of everything.” Bush goes on to say, “Rumsfeld was an arrogant fellow. And self-assured, swagger.”
GUTHRIE: Bush also touched on the topic of gay marriage, reportedly saying, “Personally, I still believe in traditional marriage. But people should be able to do what they want to do without discrimination.” The Jon Meacham biography, Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Hebert Walker Bush, is scheduled for release next week, already making headlines.
