On Thursday, all three network morning shows touted Hillary Clinton’s performance at CNN’s Democratic town hall event. On NBC’s Today, correspondent Andrea Mitchell gushed: “A different side of Hillary Clinton was on display Wednesday night.”
A soundbite ran of Clinton noting: “I’ve had to be in public dealing with some very difficult issues and personal issues.” Without explaining any of those “difficult issues,” Mitchell sympathetically declared: “Saying she relied on a Jesuit parable to get her through those times.”
However, Mitchell fretted: “...critics pounced on how she explained taking $675,000 from Wall Street for speeches....A closeness with Wall Street that has become a big issue for Bernie Sanders.”
Wrapping up the report, Mitchell promoted MSNBC’s upcoming Thursday night debate between Clinton and Sanders as “really Hillary Clinton's last chance to re-introduce herself to New Hampshire voters...”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, correspondent Cecilia Vega proclaimed: “Bernie Sanders may have the big lead in the polls here but that is not stopping Hillary Clinton from trying to mark her turf right here in his own backyard.”
While mentioning that Clinton was “on the hot seat” and “defending the big bucks she received for paid speeches,” Vega also touted the Democratic frontrunner “bringing back that famous phrase” of a “vast right-wing conspiracy.” A clip played of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper asking Clinton if she still believed in a conservative cabal against her. Clinton announced: “Yeah. It's gotten even better funded.”
Vega lamented: “And Clinton still hounded by the one question that just won't seem to go away.” An exchange played of a town hall participant questioning Clinton’s honesty, though no mention was made of the former secretary of state’s ongoing e-mail scandal.
On CBS This Morning, correspondent Nancy Cordes highlighted how Clinton and Sanders “both got personal about their entry into politics”:
SANDERS: You know, like in any school, you see big kids picking on little kids, you know? And I resented that. I always did. And you know, injustice bothered me very, very much.
CLINTON: I always wanted to be of service. I met my husband, who was such a natural, knew exactly what he wanted to do. I was happy to support him. I never thought I would do this.
Like Vega, Cordes also emphasized Clinton resurrecting the “right-wing conspiracy” talk and telling Cooper: “At this point, it's probably not correct to say it's a conspiracy, because it's out in the open.”
Ironically, NBC was the only network not to mention the conspiracy theory, even though Clinton first uttered the phrase during a Today show interview with Matt Lauer in 1998.
Here is a full transcript of Vega’s February 4 report on Good Morning America:
7:11 AM ET
AMY ROBACH: Well, now, George to the Democrats and Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders facing some tough questions at a town hall last night. They are, of course, preparing for a big debate tonight and ABC's Cecilia Vega is in Manchester with the latest on all of that. Good morning to you, Cecilia.
CECILIA VEGA: Amy, good morning to you. Bernie Sanders may have the big lead in the polls here but that is not stopping Hillary Clinton from trying to mark her turf right here in his own backyard. Overnight, Hillary Clinton on the hot seat. Defending the big bucks she received for paid speeches.
ANDERSON COOPER: Did you have to be paid $675,000?
HILLARY CLINTON: Well, I don't know. That's what they offered.
VEGA: Even bringing back that famous phrase.
COOPER: Do you still believe there's a vast right wing conspiracy?
CLINTON: Don't you?
COOPER: I'm asking you.
CLINTON: Yeah. It's gotten even better funded.
VEGA: And Clinton still hounded by the one question that just won't seem to go away.
WOMEN: What will you do to regain that trust?
CLINTON: I have to really demonstrate as clearly as I can who I am, what I stand for and what I've always done.
VEGA: In Bernie Sanders's own backyard the Vermont senator not holding back either.
BERNIE SANDERS: We are taking on the most powerful political organization in the country and that's, you know, the Clinton organization.
VEGA: But now, just days away from the nation's first primary, Clinton and Sanders both looking to the future. And Sanders and Clinton will face off in a debate tonight right here in New Hampshire. The DNC announcing there will be six more debates between now and May 1. Also in Flint, Michigan, Amy that means this race on this Democratic side will not end any time soon.
ROBACH: All right, Cecilia. Thanks so much.
