On Tuesday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer proclaimed: "potential presidential candidate Jeb Bush under fire now from both Democrats and fellow Republicans....a comment that, just like his brother, he would have authorized the 2003 invasion of Iraq." The headline on screen read: "Jeb's First Interview Fail?; Slammed by Both Parties Over Iraq Comments."
Leading off the report, White House correspondent Kristen Welker declared: "Jeb Bush is standing by his controversial comments about Iraq this morning....But his family name continues to be both an asset and perhaps his biggest liability."
After playing a clip of Bush telling Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly that he "would have" authorized the invasion of Iraq at the time and that "In retrospect, the intelligence that everybody saw...was faulty," Welker touted: "No surprise, Democrats pounced, releasing this attack ad."
Bush also made the point that Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the Iraq war when she was a senator. In response, Welker wrapped up the segment by offering the Democratic frontrunner's line of defense: "As for his assertion that Hillary Clinton would have also authorized the Iraq war, the Clinton campaign points her many statements saying that she later regretted her vote in support of the war."
While NBC was eager to seize on Bush's supposed "interview fail," the coverage made no mention of Clinton refusing to sit down for an interview since announcing her 2016 campaign.
Though according to NBC, Welker did get an "exclusive interview" with Clinton in April – which lasted eight seconds.
Here is a full transcript of the May 12 report:
7:15 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Meanwhile, potential presidential candidate Jeb Bush under fire now from both Democrats and fellow Republicans. It all stems from Bush's first major interview in months. And a comment that, just like his brother, he would have authorized the 2003 invasion of Iraq. NBC White House correspondent Kristen Welker has more on that. Kristen, good morning to you.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Jeb's First Interview Fail?; Slammed by Both Parties Over Iraq Comments]
KRISTEN WELKER: Matt, good morning to you. Jeb Bush is standing by his controversial comments about Iraq this morning. Polls show if he runs for president, he's the one to beat. But his family name continues to be both an asset and perhaps his biggest liability.
Jeb Bush has insisted he's not a carbon copy of his brother, but now new questions after Fox News asked him if like former President George W. Bush he would have authorized the war in Iraq.
MEGYN KELLY: Knowing what we know now, would you have authorized the invasion?
JEB BUSH: I would have. And so would have Hillary Clinton, just to remind everybody. And so would have almost everybody that was confronted with the intelligence they got.
KELLY: You don't think it was a mistake?
BUSH: In retrospect, the intelligence that everybody saw, that the world saw – not just the United States – was faulty.
WELKER: But Bush acknowledged a failure to focus on security once the war was waged.
BUSH: By the way, guess who thinks that those mistakes took place as well? George W. Bush.
KELLY: Your brother.
BUSH: Yeah. I mean, so, just for the – you know, news flash to the world if they're trying to find places where there's big space between me and my brother, this might not be one of those.
WELKER: No surprise, Democrats pounced, releasing this attack ad.
GEORGE W. BUSH [DNC AD]: Fool me, you can't get fooled again.
WELKER: But it's the criticism from the right that could do the most damage, including from conservative radio host Laura Ingraham.
LAURA INGRAHAM: What he said was just rubbish. You can't still think that going into Iraq now, as a sane human being, was the right thing to do.
WELKER: With a majority of Americans now saying the Iraq war wasn't worth it, Bush has previously tried to distance himself from his brother's legacy.
BUSH [FEBRUARY 18, 2015]: I'm my own man. And my views are shaped by my own thinking and my own experiences.
WELKER: And on Fox, Bush said despite his famous last name he's well equipped to take on Hillary Clinton, also the product of a political dynasty.
BUSH: I haven't been in Washington over the last – ever. I'm not part of Washington.
WELKER: Bush also said his brother is one of his top advisers on the Middle East. When asked if he stands by his comments about Iraq, the Bush team indicated his remarks to Fox News stand.
As for his assertion that Hillary Clinton would have also authorized the Iraq war, the Clinton campaign points her many statements saying that she later regretted her vote in support of the war. Matt, Savannah.
LAUER: Alright. Kristen Welker for us at the White House this morning for us. Kristen, thanks very much.
