CBS: Clinton Campaign Trying to Move Past 'Distractions' and 'Break Through the Noise'

May 5th, 2015 2:24 PM

Leading off a report on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign for Tuesday's CBS This Morning, correspondent Julianna Goldman proclaimed: "Secretary Clinton has been trying to frame her campaign around issues like immigration reform....But her message has been muddled by a series of recent distractions, including questions about donations to the Clinton Foundation. And this morning her campaign is once again trying to break through the noise."

In addition to dismissing the scandal as a "distraction" and "noise," Goldman touted the Democratic frontrunner's propaganda push: "...the Clinton campaign is launching what they're calling 'The Briefing,' a one-stop shop online and through social media that includes this video and provides, in their words, 'the facts about Hillary Clinton's position and records.'"

A soundbite ran of Clinton's campaign press secretary Brian Fallon declaring: "The bottom line is this. As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton made decisions based on her commitment to protecting America's national security and standing up for freedom and dignity around the world, not the interests of donors to the Clinton Foundation."

After highlighting Bill Clinton defending his wife and the foundation in an NBC News interview, Goldman noted: "So far the book and related stories revealed haven't established a quid pro quo or anything unlawful. But they have instances revealed where its foundation and affiliates were not as transparent as promised."

She briefly added that the issue "may be taking a toll of candidate Clinton" given that "61% said the word honest describes her only slightly well or not at all."

A clip ran of political analyst Larry Sabato offering gentle criticism: "When you vote for the Clintons, you get a lot of good things, but in the package also comes something kind of bad, which is ethical transgressions."

Continuing to see the Clinton Foundation scandal as a "distraction," Goldman wrapped up the piece: "Now to get back to the issues, Clinton later today will call for a full path to citizenship and say that anything less is second class status."

No soundbites of Republicans criticizing Clinton were featured in the report.

In contrast, on NBC's Today, even Andrea Mitchell managed to include a clip of newly-announced GOP candidate Carly Fiorina taking on Clinton: "Bill Clinton is saying what Hillary Clinton has said on many occasions, 'Just trust us. Just trust us.' And unfortunately, trust is earned through transparency. And I think they have not been particularly transparent on a whole host of things."

ABC's Good Morning America did not mention the foundation scandal, but did note her upcoming appearance before Congress to testify on Benghazi and her personal e-mails.

Here is a full transcript of Goldman's May 5 report on This Morning:

7:07 AM ET

CHARLIE ROSE: New poll numbers this morning show negative views of Hillary Clinton are on the rise, increasing to 42% from 36% a month ago. The trend started after she entered the presidential race. Meanwhile the former Secretary of State tells a House committee she will answer questions about her e-mails and the 2012 Benghazi attacks but she only wants to testify once later this month. The committee wants to question her at least twice. Julianna Goldman is in Las Vegas where Clinton will try to focus on her campaign while a controversial book could steal the headlines. Julianna good morning.

JULIANNA GOLDMAN: Good morning. Well, Secretary Clinton has been trying to frame her campaign around issues like immigration reform, which is what she'll be discussing here later today. But her message has been muddled by a series of recent distractions, including questions about donations to the Clinton Foundation. And this morning her campaign is once again trying to break through the noise. Timed to the release of a new book that alleges improper donations to the Clinton Foundation, the Clinton campaign is launching what they're calling "The Briefing," a one-stop shop online and through social media that includes this video and provides in their words "the facts about Hillary Clinton's position and records."

BRIAN FALLON: The bottom line is this. As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton made decisions based on her commitment to protecting America's national security and standing up for freedom and dignity around the world, not the interests of donors to the Clinton Foundation.
 
GOLDMAN: Clinton Cash officially hits book shelves today, but over the last several weeks advanced copies and other reporting have raised questions about Bill Clinton's relationships with wealthy donors and whether they expected anything in return from then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

BILL CLINTON: I asked Hillary about this and she said, you know, no one's ever tried to influence me by helping you.

GOLDMAN: During a tour of Clinton Foundation projects in Africa, former President Bill Clinton came to his wife's defense. The former president said they "have never done anything knowingly inappropriate" with the tens of millions of dollars the foundation receives from foreign donors. He also said he would continue to give paid speeches which in the past have fetched on average half a million dollars.

CLINTON: I've got to pay our bills.

GOLDMAN: So far the book and related stories revealed haven't established a quid pro quo or anything unlawful. But they have instances revealed where its foundation and affiliates were not as transparent as promised. And it may be taking a toll of candidate Clinton already. In a recent poll, 61% said the word honest describes her only slightly well or not at all.

LARRY SABATO: When you vote for the Clintons, you get a lot of good things, but in the package also comes something kind of bad, which is ethical transgressions.

GOLDMAN: Now to get back to the issues, Clinton later today will call for a full path to citizenship and say that anything less is second class status. Norah, from here she heads to California for a series of fundraisers.

NORAH O’DONNELL: All right, Julianna, thank you so much.