NPR Anchor Honors Al Gore as a Graceful Loser in 2000

October 22nd, 2016 9:45 PM

NPR Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon offered an anti-Trump "Simon Says" commentary without ever mentioning Trump. But the worst part was hailing Al Gore. "I have a special respect for political losers," Simon said. And Gore earned his respect:

SCOTT SIMON: The people have spoken, and we respect the majesty of the democratic system, President George H.W. Bush said when he lost to Bill Clinton in 1992. Al Gore fought hard for a recount of Florida ballots and their hanging chads in the disputed election of 2000. But when the Supreme Court upheld the state for George W. Bush, Al Gore declared, let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I also accept my responsibility, which I will discharge unconditionally to honor the new president-elect and do everything possible to help him bring Americans together....

People who lose with grace win respect and can go on to do great things. Even or especially in defeat, they serve their country.

Simon did mention Trump -- obsessed over him -- for saying "I'll wait and see" about not challenging the election result in an interview with liberal Politico reporter Glenn Thrush.

SIMON: I don't want to get dramatic. But what's the possible impact of Donald Trump's statement that he believes the election's rigged and he might not accept the results?

THRUSH: Well, I think, you know, there are a lot of dramatic moments in this campaign. But I haven't really experienced anything like this. You know, when you cover these debates with other reporters, and you're on the scene at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, it's a thousand of us sitting in a room. And when he said that, you could literally hear people gasp. It's just not the kind of thing we've ever heard any presidential candidate say.

SIMON: Well, I mean, is the implication some kind of organized resistance to the result of the election?

THRUSH: I don't know. I mean, we had the sheriff, Sheriff Clarke, his supporter, the sheriff of Milwaukee...

SIMON: Milwaukee County, yeah.

THRUSH: ...Telling people to get the torches and the pitchforks. Look, I don't think that is going to happen. But this kind of precedent is dangerous. And it's really unnerving.

SIMON: Who's alarmed by the - by Donald Trump's statement on this? Is it just - forgive me - the political chattering class, which, I guess - ostensibly of which we are both members. (Laughter) And who he, Mr. Trump, says are helping to rig the election with biased media coverage in any case?

THRUSH: Yeah. Well, yeah. I guess that - I guess we are definitely - us corrupt journalists are definitely the ones who are in the danger zone here. But the real problem here is - let's presume - and all the polls are pointing in this direction - Hillary Clinton wins.

Simon and Thrush aren't really the kind of journalists who don't know they're biased. Thrush told Hillary aide John Podesta he was a "hack." Simon went on to praise Hillary's skill in saying nothing about her scandalous behavior:

SIMON: During that debate, Hillary Clinton kind of deftly avoided any real response on the Goldman Sachs speeches, on her husband's transgressions, if I might put it delicately, and accusations of pay-to-play relationship between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department. Do you think these are the kind of issues that might persist after November 8, whatever the result?

THRUSH: Absolutely. And, of course, the email issues, as well - we saw this report come out last week of a, quote, unquote, "potential quid pro quo" between the FBI and State Department investigators. This is something that I think Republicans are going to use to unite themselves.

This is a shattered, disunited party. And the one thing that they have in terms of cohesion is what seems to be, for the most part, their mutual collective disdain for Hillary Rodham Clinton.