Considering that the ABC host is a former top aide to Bill Clinton, his objectivity might be somewhat suspect. Additionally, Stephanopoulos appeared to go out of his way to attack obscure Democratic candidate Mike Gravel as "the skunk at the party." Perhaps not so coincidentally, Gravel has been a strident critic of Senator Clinton, among others, at recent debates.
During the June 29 segment, Stephanopoulos favorably responded to a clip of Hillary Clinton blaming race as a reason why African Americans suffer a higher rate of HIV-AIDS:
Senator Hillary Clinton: "You know, it is hard to disagree with anything that has been said. But let me just put this in perspective. If HIV-AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25-34, there would be an outraged outcry in this country."
George Stephanopoulos: "The crowd loved it, Chris. And in every single one of her debates so far, Senator Clinton has managed to give spirited performances, solid performances. She goes in as the front-runner, bottom line, she comes out the front-runner."
A few minutes later, he derided former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, saying, "But in every single one of his answers, Mike Gravel was determined to be the skunk at the party and attack the other candidates." Stephanopoulos added that he suspected other candidates would soon become "angry" with Gravel and want him out of the debates.
Right after Stephanopolous’ segment, liberal PBS host Tavis Smiley appeared to discuss the debate and also the June 28 Supreme Court ruling that limited how race could be used in schools. Smiley, who also moderated the Democratic debate, certainly didn’t hold back in expressing his opinion of the "nativist" ruling that turns "Brown V. Board on its head":
GMA co-host Robin Roberts: "Well, as George and Chris were just talking about, the timing could not have been better for your All American Forum, as you call it, with what happened with the Supreme Court ruling yesterday. Do you think that this will– What effect will this have on minorities coming out to vote?"
Tavis Smiley: "Well, first of all is, I think George indicated earlier, he is right about the fact that the black vote this time around is going to be the most sought after and the most fought over Democratic demographic in this election. So this vote really does matter. I think the decision yesterday though really raises more questions than it answers. I'm trying to figure out how we advance the notion of inclusion in America when people, certain people, certainly the court system is becoming more hostile and in many ways more nativist about the issue of diversity. So, I think more questions raised yesterday than answers. It seems to, on balance, turn Brown V. Board on its head. We live in the most multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-ethnic America ever. How do we advance beyond race without taking into consideration of race from time to time?"
A transcript of the George Stephanopoulos segment, which aired at 7:13am on June 29, follows:
7:13
Chris Cuomo: "Let's turn now to last night's Democratic presidential debate at Howard University in Washington. The event put issues concerning minorities, particularly African Americans in the spotlight. Very high stakes, because the black vote is going to be critical to winning the nomination. Chief Washington correspondent George Stephanopoulos joins us now from the nation’s capitol with the bottom line. All right, George, you couldn't have asked for better timing for this forum especially at Howard University, especially after the Supreme Court decision limiting a school's ability to use race in trying to achieve diversity."
George Stephanopoulos: "And every single one of those candidates in the first answer of the night, Chris, slammed that decision, said they would appoint different Supreme Court justices who would reach different decisions. But it was Barack Obama here who really tried to establish a personal connection with the audience, saying he was a son of the civil rights movement."
Senator Barack Obama: "This is where Thurgood Marshall and the team from Brown crafted their strategy. And if it hadn’t been for them, I would not be standing here today."
Stephanopoulos: "Every single one of his answers last night, Chris, Barack Obama’s bottom line message was, I'm one of you."
Cuomo: "Yeah, he was playing to the home team there a little bit there, but he's not the leader, Hillary Clinton is. And how do you think she did last night?"
Stephanopoulos: "Another solid debate performance from Hillary Clinton. She's actually leading Barack Obama among African American voters right now, 47-42. And she got the biggest applause of the night on her answer about why blacks are suffering from AIDS at higher rates than whites."
Senator Hillary Clinton: "You know, it is hard to disagree with anything that has been said. But let me just put this in perspective. If HIV-AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25-34, there would be an outraged outcry in this country."
Stephanopoulos: "The crowd loved it, Chris. And in every single one of her debates so far, Senator Clinton has managed to give spirited performances, solid performances. She goes in as the front-runner, bottom line, she comes out the front-runner."
Cuomo: "Yeah, I mean, you really did see, you know, the effect last night. When she made that comment, everybody stood up. It definitely got the energy in the room. And interesting, every time the Democrats get together, Alaska Senator Mike Gravel distinguishes himself with his candor. Last night, how do you think he did?"
Stephanopoulos: "You know, he did what he does at every single debate. Last night’s debate– Listen, everyone on the stage basically agreed on every single issue, on AIDS, on education, on health care, on the need for racial justice, on Katrina. But in every single one of his answers, Mike Gravel was determined to be the skunk at the party and attack the other candidates. Look at this."
Former Senator Mike Gravel: "We have to have a president who has moral judgment. Most of the people on this stage with me do not have that judgment and have proven it by the simple fact of what they have done."
Stephanopoulos: "He gets some laughs there, Chris. But I guess sooner or later these other candidates are going to get kind of angry with that and wish he were out of those debates."
Cuomo: "We’ll start hearing that phrase, the skunk of the party maybe even more often. George Stephanopoulos, thank you very much for the insight."
