ABC Gushes Over Hillary ‘Talking about Age and Breaking a Barrier’ at Campaign Rally

June 15th, 2015 9:27 PM

Following its Jeb Bush coverage on Monday, ABC’s World News Tonight took a few moments to not highlight any of the scandals surrounding Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton but instead gush over how she “address[ed] age and breaking a barrier” on Saturday in that, if elected, she would be both the first woman and grandmother president of the United States.

In a tease, anchor David Muir noted that “Jeb Bush is in and taking aim at Hillary Clinton” as Clinton “talk[ed] about age and breaking a barrier.”

At the conclusion of the Bush segment, Muir reported that Clinton was asked in New Hampshire on Monday “if she had any advice for Jeb Bush, who has said his last name doesn't matter.” While “Clinton call[ed] that a tempting question,” Muir stated that she declined to give an answer. 

Turning to her campaign kickoff event on Saturday afternoon in New York, Muir touted the fact that “she did address age and breaking a barrier” before playing a soundbite of Clinton telling the crowd that: “While I may not be the youngest candidate in this race, but I will be the youngest woman president in the history of the United States.” Muir then concluded: “She went on to add that she'd be the first grandmother president as well.”

In addition to zero mentions of the Clinton Foundation or e-mail scandals, World News Tonight failed to bring up the number of recent polls that have shown majorities of voters expressing distrust in her. 

For example, a CNN/ORC poll from June 2 found that 57 percent of Americans do not see her as “honest and trustworthy.” Also released on June 2, an ABC News/Washington Post poll revealed that 52 percent of respondents indicated her to be dishonest and untrustworthy.

Earlier on Monday, the network morning newscasts largely stayed away from any of the Clinton scandals and focused on the “stumbles” of newly-declared GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush. Only ABC’s Good Morning America gave equal time to the two candidates and how they both face “the legacy issue.”

The transcript of the tease and brief from ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir on June 15 can be found below.

ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir
June 15, 2015
6:30 p.m. Eastern [TEASE]

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: It’s Official]

DAVID MUIR: It's official, Jeb Bush is in and taking aim at Hillary Clinton. And Mrs. Clinton, talking about age and breaking a barrier. 

(....)

6:40 p.m. Eastern

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Clinton Questions]

MUIR: Meantime, Hillary Clinton, in New Hampshire, asked if she had any advice for Jeb Bush who has said his last name doesn't matter. Clinton calling that a tempting question, but saying she wouldn't answer. This weekend in her campaign kickoff in New York, she did address age and breaking a barrier. 

HILLARY CLINTON: Well, I may not be the youngest candidate in this race, but I will be the youngest woman president in the history of the United States.

MUIR: She went down to add that she'd be the first grandmother president as well and later this week, I'll be out on the campaign trail with Jeb Bush live from Iowa Wednesday night. We'll be covering this race every step of the way.