The journalists on ABC and CBS came up with different conclusions to the fact that Hillary Clinton has been avoiding the press. It’s now been 248 days since she held a formal news conference. On CBS This Morning, Bob Schieffer conceded it “would be good” for the Democrat to talk to the reporters. However, Good Morning America’s Matt Dowd flat-out advised Clinton to stay quiet.
Former Bill Clinton operative turned host George Stephanopoulos fretted, “Hillary Clinton stepped in it again over the weekend with those new comments about the e-mail server. How does she hold on, consolidate the lead she now has?” Analyst Dowd concluded, “Don't go on the air. I think the best thing that she has done in the course of this is let Donald Trump occupy the media landscape which he's consistently done and consistently made mistakes."
Dowd added, “And as she's disappeared, her poll numbers rise and that is pretty consistent over the last eight years.”
Over on CBS This Morning, Charlie Rose noted that “Clinton's last formal news conference was last December in Iowa, more than 240 days ago.” Rose played a clip from Friday where Clinton, in a break with her pattern, briefly talked to a few reporters.
The Washington Post’s Ed O’Keefe requested of Clinton, “On behalf of all us, we encourage you to do this more often with reporters across the country, especially those news organizations that travel the country with you everywhere you go.”
This prompted Rose and Bob Schieffer to agree that it would be “good” for “everyone” if Clinton actually talked to reporters:
CHARLIE ROSE: She also failed to respond to Ed O’Keefe — I think I'm seeing the full conference she had there, although how limited it was — She failed to respond to the idea of having more press conferences too. She sat there and smiled but did not respond.
SCHIEFFER: I think more press conferences would be good.
ROSE: For her and for the press.
SCHIEFFER: I just think it's better for everybody.
Not exactly the toughest example of speaking truth to power. But at least the journalists at CBS didn't suggest Clinton avoid them.
The MRC’s Curtis Houck recounted on Friday that reporters raucously applauded Clinton (and offered her softballs) at Friday’s mini-news conference.
A transcript of the GMA exchange can be found below:
GMA
8/8/16
7:13GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: It worked for Ross Perot back in 1992. Finally, Hillary Clinton stepped in it again over the weekend with those new comments about the e-mail server. How does she hold on, consolidate this lead she now has?
MATT DOWD: Don't go on the air. I think the best thing that she has done in the course of this is let Donald Trump occupy the media landscape which he's consistently done and consistently made mistakes. And as she's disappeared, her poll numbers rise and that is pretty consistent over the last eight years. As she goes off the media platform, her numbers rise. So if I were her cede it to Donald Trump and let Donald Trump keep doing what he's doing.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Go to the states. Local media strategy, Matt Dowd, thanks very much.
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