ABC on Tuesday deliberately avoided a young questioner who challenged Hillary Clinton as “dishonest.” Instead, Good Morning America reporter Cecilia Vega only played the Democrat’s response in which she touted her desire to help people. NBC’s Today and CBS This Morning both used clips of the “uncomfortable" question, but they also made sure to promote her non-answer.
Bernie Sanders supporter Taylor Gipple confronted Clinton at an Iowa town hall event, accusing, “I've heard from quite a few people my age that they think you're dishonest, but I'd like to hear from you on why you feel the enthusiasm isn't there.” Vega vaguely noted that the event was a “tough night” for Clinton, but did not feature the question.
Instead, she jumped to this evasive answer: “They throw all this stuff at me and I'm still standing. I have been fighting to give kids and women and the people who are left out and left behind the chance to make the most out of their own lives.”
In contrast, Today’s Savannah Guthrie explained, “Right to the point. Hillary Clinton confronted with a tough question from a young voter.”
She included Gipple’s question. Andrea Mitchell underlined, “Within minutes, Hillary Clinton faced a blunt question from a young voter leaning toward Bernie Sanders.” Like ABC, she then highlighted Clinton’s response:
HILLARY CLINTON: Look, I've been around a long time. People have thrown all kind of things at me. But if you're new to politics, if it’s the first time you’ve really paid attention, you go, “Oh, my gosh, look at all of this.” And you have to say to yourself, “Why are they throwing all of that?” Well, I'll tell you why, because I've been on the front lines of change and progress since I was your age.
Over on CBS This Morning, Nancy Cordes allowed that the questions “were, in some cases, uncomfortable.” The reporter added, “Clinton faced perhaps the toughest audience question from a young Sanders supporter.”
Compare the length of time devoted to Gipple versus Clinton’s long response:
TAYLOR GIPPLE: I've heard from quite a few people my age that they think you dishonest, but I'd like to hear from you feel the enthusiasm isn't there.
CLINTON: Look I've been around a long time. People have thrown all kinds of things at me, but if you are new to pol and it's the first time you really paid attention, you'd go, "oh, my gosh, look at all of this." And you have to say, "Why are they throwing all of that?" I'll tell you why. Because I've been on the front lines of change and progress since I was your age. I've fighting to give kids and women and the people who are left out and left behind a chance to make the most out of their own lives.
A transcript of the GMA segment is below:
1/26/16
7am teaseGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Good Morning, America. Six days to Iowa. A furious fight to the finish.
HILLARY CLINTON: They throw all this stuff at me and I'm still standing.
7:01
STEPHANOPOULOS: But it is also crunch time in the presidential race. Those first votes closing in.
ROBIN ROBERTS: Just six days until Iowa. Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders facing off last night in a town hall. Everything from taxes to health care on the table. ABC's Cecilia Vega is on the campaign trail there in Des Moines, Iowa. Good morning, Cecilia.
CECILIA VEGA: The windy campaign trail this morning, Robin. Good morning to you. A tough night, indeed and a very tough day ahead with all of these stops that these candidates have. This is it. They are running out of time now to make their cases. Overnight, the closing arguments.
CLINTON: It's a tough campaign and it should be because it's the hardest job in the world.
VEGA: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in their final face-off before the Iowa caucuses.
CLINTON: They throw all this stuff at me and I'm still standing. I have been fighting to give kids and women and the people who are left out and left behind the chance to make the most out of their own lives.
VEGA: Taking on the issues, like how to pay for universal health care.
CHRIS CUOMO: You are going to raise taxes to do this.
BERNIE SANDERS: Yes, we will raise — we will raise the — we will raise taxes.
VEGA: And taking on each other.
SANDERS: I led the effort against Wall Street, deregulation. See where Hillary Clinton was on this issue.
VEGA: On the Republican side, the feud between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in overdrive.
TRUMP: My new battle is with a gentleman named Ted Cruz because you got to speak the truth. You got to speak the truth. The Canadian, the man from Canada.
VEGA: Cruz hurling an attack right back.
TED CRUZ AD: Donald Trump, New York values, not ours.
VEGA: And on the campaign trail.
CRUZ: Mr. Trump has had a lot to say about me lately. I got to say, each morning is interesting. I learn something new about myself from Donald every day.
VEGA: The fight that won't end. Now, Donald Trump says he may consider skipping this week's Republican debate. The host is Fox News, Megyn Kelly, you'll remember they had that fight. Fox is fighting back saying that we're very surprised he's willing to show that much fear, George, about being questioned by Megyn Kelly.
