On Thursday's NBC Today, correspondent Andrea Mitchell cheered Hillary Clinton "carving out her own identity as a candidate" by "breaking ranks with a key part of her husband's legacy – a tough anti-crime bill now blamed for some of the problems dividing communities like Baltimore."
Mitchell explained: "Among other reforms, Clinton called for an end to 'the era of mass incarceration.' But that is a rejection of tough measures signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1994....it led to the imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of men, largely black men, for relatively minor offenses."
Touting other moves to the left by Clinton, Mitchell noted:
Crime isn't the only issue on which Hillary Clinton is parting company from her husband's policies as president. Whereas he backed a federal law that defined marriage as being between a man and woman, a move he now regrets, Hillary Clinton has fully embraced gay rights in this campaign.
Bill Clinton also promoted trade deals. She is skeptical.
Wrapping up the fawning segment, Mitchell proclaimed: "The Clinton campaign is trying to play down differences between the candidate and her – the former president. But while he was elected as a centrist Democrat, times have changed, and Hillary Clinton clearly is not afraid to run as her own woman."
None of the recent Clinton scandals were mentioned in the piece. The only reference to the Clinton Foundation was substitute co-host Tamron Hall mentioning:
Well, now to a scary moment for former President Bill Clinton. While touring Africa for his family's foundation, one of the engines on his propeller plane cut out shortly after takeoff. The pilot returned to the airport, where the problem was repaired.
Here is a full transcript of the April 30 segment:
7:09 AM ET
TAMRON HALL: Well, now to a scary moment for former President Bill Clinton. While touring Africa for his family's foundation, one of the engines on his propeller plane cut out shortly after takeoff. The pilot returned to the airport, where the problem was repaired.
Meantime, here at home, a move by Hillary Clinton is raising eyebrows. The Democratic presidential candidate now distancing herself from some of the crime policies put in place by her own husband's administration. NBC's Andrea Mitchell has more on that. Andrea, good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Clintons' Complicated Relationship; Hillary Distances Herself From Bill's Policies]
ANDREA MITCHELL: Good morning to you, Tamron. Hillary Clinton is carving out her own identity as a candidate, even if that means contradicting policies of the Clinton White House, her husband's.
Hillary Clinton in her first speech as a candidate, breaking ranks with a key part of her husband's legacy – a tough anti-crime bill now blamed for some of the problems dividing communities like Baltimore.
HILLARY CLINTON: We have to come to terms with some hard truths about race and justice in America.
MITCHELL: Among other reforms, Clinton called for an end to "the era of mass incarceration." But that is a rejection of tough measures signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1994, with Hillary Clinton looking on. But it led to the imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of men, largely black men, for relatively minor offenses. Bill Clinton now concedes, "we have overshot the mark."
And Hillary Clinton said Republicans like Rand Paul agree with her reforms. But Rand Paul's campaign tweaked her, saying, "[She] was trying to undo some of the harm inflicted by the Clinton administration."
Crime isn't the only issue on which Hillary Clinton is parting company from her husband's policies as president. Whereas he backed a federal law that defined marriage as being between a man and woman, a move he now regrets, Hillary Clinton has fully embraced gay rights in this campaign.
Bill Clinton also promoted trade deals. She is skeptical. [To Clinton] Do you have any concerns about the trade deal?
CLINTON: Any trade deal has to produce jobs and raise wages and increase prosperity and protect our security.
MITCHELL: The Clinton campaign is trying to play down differences between the candidate and her – the former president. But while he was elected as a centrist Democrat, times have changed, and Hillary Clinton clearly is not afraid to run as her own woman. Tamron...
HALL: Alright, Andrea, thank you-
MITCHELL: ...and Matt.
HALL: Thank you very much.
