The journalists at Good Morning America on Friday hyperventilated about Ben Carson being “under fire” and investigated for possible lies about his childhood. On the same show, a segment on Hillary Clinton simply cheered her latest late night comedy appearance.
Co-host George Stephanopoulos opened the program by hyping, “Ben Carson facing new questions about his life story. Accusations he made up his violent past. The GOP front-runner's claims of attacking people with hammers, bats, even stabbing someone.”
Co-host Robin Roberts demanded, “this morning, GOP candidate Ben Carson is coming under fire, facing questions...” Reporter Tom Llamas lectured, “ Dr. Carson said he welcomed the vetting process, actually welcomed being under the magnifying glass and right now that's exactly where he finds himself.”
Regarding a new rap radio commercial promoting Carson, Llamas actually explained to his audience: “ It's pretty catchy but that's not actually Carson rapping right there.” Of course the ad never makes that claim and it’s obviously someone else’s voice.
This story occurred prior to Politico claim that the Republican “fabricated” his West Point scholarship. (The website later changed its headline.)
No such skepticism was allowed for Hillary Clinton. The Democrat appeared on Thursday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. The hosts laughed at Clinton’s claim that she could beat her husband Bill.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: That would be a debate a lot would tune in to. Bill versus Hillary.
LARA SPENCER: Absolutely! Unbelievable.
ROBERTS: You got that right!
The exact same type of coverage, regarding Carson and Clinton, appeared on NBC, Friday.
A transcript is below:
GMA
11/6/15
7am tease
ABC GRAPHIC: Carson under FireGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Ben Carson facing new questions about his life story. Accusations he made up his violent past. The GOP front-runner's claims of attacking people with hammers, bats, even stabbing someone. While Hillary Clinton stays up late and weighs in on her husband.
HILLARY CLINTON: If I were going to run against him, would I win? Yeah.
...
7:08am ET
ABC GRAPHIC: Ben Carson Under Fire: Accused of Lying About Violent Past
ROBIN ROBERTS: The race for president now. And this morning, GOP candidate Ben Carson is coming under fire, facing questions about stories he tells on the stump about his violent past. ABC's Tom Llamas is in the studio with us for that. Good morning, Tom.
TOM LLAMAS: Robin, good morning. Back in January, Dr. Carson said he welcomed the vetting process, actually welcomed being under the magnifying glass and right now that's exactly where he finds himself. This morning, Dr. Ben Carson facing new accusations, claiming he made up part of his compelling life story which he mentions frequently on the campaign trail.
BEN CARSON: At age 14, another teenager angered me and I had a large camping knife and I tried to stab him in the abdomen and fortunately under his clothing he had on a large metal belt buckle and the knife blade struck with such force that it broke.
LLAMAS: But CNN says several friends, neighbors and classmates don't recall that ever happening.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I was a little surprised by it.
LLAMAS: Back in 2000, Carson recalled the same story in a documentary, going into detail about his violent temper.
CARSON: I would hit people with hammers and bats, throw rocks at people, almost put a guy's eye out one time. Tried to even hit my own mother in the head with a hammer.
LLAMAS: Carson calls the investigation comical and claims CNN interviewed the wrong people.
CARSON: I want to point out how silly the CNN investigation is because when I would have flashes of temper, it would only be to people who were directly involved. It wouldn't be something that everybody else would know.
LLAMAS: And he's also now under fire from gay rights groups for saying this.
CARSON: How about we have a transgender bathroom? It is not fair for them to make everybody else uncomfortable.
LLAMAS: His recent comments following another unorthodox move. His campaign releasing this rap ad running today in several cities.
[Clip from Ben Carson rap ad.]
LLAMAS: It's pretty catchy but that's not actually Carson rapping right there. The campaign says the strategy is to appeal to younger black voters, which at this point in the race, Republicans usually don't go after.
ROBERTS: Another debate, of course, coming up next week so who is in, who is out? Give us the starting lineup.
LLAMAS: Big, big news. Now only eight. I know. We say only eight. Let’s take a look at the lineup right now, the two people missing Governor Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee. This is not good for their campaigns. The stage will be smaller. Because of low polling numbers those two won't be there. They'll be in the lower card debate so we'll see how this changes the debate.
ROBERTS: There will be a lot of attention, again, on this debate.
LLAMAS: And whether you can fight yourself back onto the stage once you’re off. We’ll find out. Okay, Tom. Thanks.
