In a recap of the November 14 Democratic presidential debate, Sunday’s Nightly News avoided awkward moments, such as the candidates refusing to use the term “radical Islam” or Bernie Sanders doubling down on climate change being the greatest national security threat.
In contrast, even though ABC’s World News only managed 14 seconds on the debate, David Muir at least noted, “Hillary Clinton making headlines for refusing to say the fight against ISIS is a war against, quote, ‘radical Islam,’ saying that would be painting the fight with too broad a brush.”
On the NBC Nightly News, reporter Kristen Welker skipped the above topics, but allowed other criticisms of the Democrats to get through:
KRISTEN WELKER: The former Secretary of State in a corner. The candidate with the most foreign policy experience, now forced to answer whether she and her former boss underestimated ISIS, a question she dodged, Saturday.
HILLARY CLINTON: This cannot be an American fight, although American leadership is essential.
WELKER: Clinton was pressed to defend her vote for the Iraq War when she was a New York senator.
BERNIE SANDERS: The invasion in Iraq led to the massive level of instability we've seen right now.
CLINTON: I have said the invasion of Iraq was a mistake.
Another comment from a Democratic candidate, this one from Sanders, was ignored on NBC. As CBSNews.com explained:
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders doubled down on the link between terrorism and climate change Sunday in defense of his stance that global warming presents the greatest national security threat to the United States.
"If we are going to see an increase in drought, in flood, and extreme weather disturbances as a result of climate change, what that means is that people all over the world are going to be fighting over limited natural resources,"
The CBS Evening News did not air on Sunday due to football. A transcript of the November 15 NBC Nightly News segment is below:
LESTER HOLT: The three Democratic candidates for president are back on the campaign trail tonight after a debate last night in which the Paris attacks were a big focus. NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker tells us how the attacks have changed the race.
KRISTEN WELKER: Former President Bill Clinton appearing alongside his wife Hillary. But it’s the Paris attacks overshadowed these campaign.
HILLARY CLINTON: Attacking Paris, the city of light, reminds us that there is no middle ground in going after these terrorists.
WELKER: The tragedy transforming the 2016 conversation.
JEB BUSH: We should declare war and harness all of the power that the United States can bring to bear.
WELKER: The former Secretary of State in a corner. The candidate with the most foreign policy experience, now forced to answer whether she and her former boss underestimated ISIS, a question she dodged, Saturday.
CLINTON: This cannot be an American fight, although American leadership is essential.
WELKER: Clinton was pressed to defend her vote for the Iraq War when she was a New York senator.
BERNIE SANDERS: The invasion in Iraq led to the massive level of instability we've seen right now.
CLINTON: I have said the invasion of Iraq was a mistake.
WELKER: Clinton now trying to distance herself somewhat from President Obama, who recently said ISIS has been contained.
CLINTON: It cannot be contained. It must be defeated.WELKER: An opening Republican her rivals pounced on today.
BUSH: The policy of containment isn't going to work.
WELKER: Others focusing on what they say is Obama's failed foreign policy.
MARCO RUBIO: We are going to have to conduct an increased number of special operation attacks targeting ISIS leadership.
LINDSEY GRAHAM: We don't have until the next election to deal with ISIL. There is a 9/11 coming.
WELKER: Candidates across the board talking tough, but offering few details.
STEFFEN SCHMIDT (Iowa State University political science professor): Most candidates benefit from drawing a big picture and saying, you know, the United States is going to be a great country again.
WELKER: And another question: Will the attacks shake up the GOP field? After all, frontrunners Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson lack foreign policy experience. We'll know for sure when voters weigh in. The Iowa caucuses now just about two months away, Lester.
