ABC's Muir Asks Obama About Liberal Positions, 'More Left Than Clinton'

ABC anchor David Muir asked Barack Obama about some of his liberal positions in a pre-recorded interview, which was shown on World News Saturday, in which Muir asked about the Democratic Senator's support for drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, and about being endorsed by "liberal legend" Ted Kennedy and MoveOn.org. The ABC anchor also brought up the New York Times' evaluation of Obama's economic policies as being "more left than the Clinton administration's." Muir: "Does that offer red meat for the Republicans, that you could possibly be more left than Hillary Clinton?" (Transcript follows)

Muir introduced the interview after a report by Kate Snow in which she mentioned that Spanish language newspaper La Opinion had endorsed Obama because of his support for issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Muir: "That Obama endorsement Kate mentioned from La Opinion, the largest Spanish language newspaper in the nation, does not come without controversy. Editors made their decision to endorse Obama, in part, because of his support of drivers licenses for illegal immigrants."

In the first two questions shown, Muir asked about whether the issue of drivers licenses for illegal immigrants could be a political liability for Obama:

Do you think that this could be a lightning rod if you go up against the Republicans in a national election?

Do you not believe that the Republicans will pounce on this issue, the fact that you support licenses for illegal immigrants?

Muir then brought up endorsements Obama had received from
"liberal legend" Ted Kennedy and MoveOn.org, and relayed the New York Times' contention that Obama's economic policies are "more left than the Clinton administration's policies." Muir: "You mentioned Senator Ted Kennedy out on the trail with you. He's known as the 'liberal legend.' MoveOn.org has now endorsed you, and today the New York Times called your economic policies more left than the Clinton administration's policies. Does that offer red meat for the Republicans, that you could possibly be more left than Hillary Clinton?"

Below is a transcript of all the questions that were shown on the February 2 World News Saturday on ABC:

DAVID MUIR: That Obama endorsement Kate mentioned from La Opinion, the largest Spanish language newspaper in the nation, does not come without controversy. Editors made their decision to endorse Obama, in part, because of his support of drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. We asked Senator Obama about this right after the endorsement.

Do you think that this could be a lightning rod if you go up against the Republicans in a national election?

[BARACK OBAMA]

Do you not believe that the Republicans will pounce on this issue, the fact that you support licenses for illegal immigrants?

[OBAMA]

You mentioned Senator Ted Kennedy out on the trail with you. He's known as the "liberal legend." MoveOn.org has now endorsed you, and today the New York Times called your economic policies more left than the Clinton administration's policies. Does that offer red meat for the Republicans, that you could possibly be more left than Hillary Clinton?

[OBAMA]

Senator, I wanted to talk about women now, if I could. I've been out on the campaign trail. They have said, many of them, that they are really inspired by what you have to say. But when they get behind that curtain, they ask themselves, as women, how could we not support or try to elect the first female President?

[OBAMA]

We know that Oprah is coming back on the trail for you, and I'm curious, how does this work? Do you call Oprah and say, "This is the 11th hour, it's awfully close in California, but we could use your help." How does this all go down?

[OBAMA]

Do you actually pick up the phone and call her?

[OBAMA]