ABC's Donaldson: Who Cares if Hillary Smears Obama in the Debate?

ABC reporters Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts acted as debate coaches for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on Thursday's "Good Morning America." Previewing the January 31 debate between the two, Donaldson suggested that Clinton be aggressive and "put [Obama] on the defensive."

The veteran journalist then casually asserted that it doesn't matter whether the New York senator's charges would be true or not. He spun, "Now, you say, what-- does she come up with something that really isn't accurate? In a sense, unfortunately, doesn't matter. If she can put him on the defensive, so that he has to try to answer something, I think that's what she should probably do." Cokie Roberts contributed more simple advice: Clinton should just let her genius shine through. She enthused, "I think Hillary Clinton should just wow everybody with all of her knowledge, you know, the New York Times editorial calling her brilliant. She should show us that brilliance and not get irritated by him and not go after him."

It must be pointed out that Roberts did manage one non-liberal zinger. After Sawyer played a clip in which Clinton said that she can control her husband, Roberts sarcastically replied, "-Well, you know, that one is very dangerous to go near, Diane. But controlling Bill Clinton-- If she could control him, lots of things might not have happened."

A transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:07am on January 31, follows:

ROBIN ROBERTS: That sets up our coaches.

DIANE SAWYER: It does indeed. We're going to turn to our political round table. Joining us live from Washington, ABC's Cokie Roberts, Sam Donaldson, great to see you both this morning. Okay, here are the two candidates tonight, getting ready to go on the stage tonight. You two are the coaches. Cokie, what would you tell to each one of them they have to do?

COKIE ROBERTS: I'd tell them to be wonky. I think Hillary Clinton should just wow everybody with all of her knowledge, you know, the New York Times editorial calling her brilliant. She should show us that brilliance and not get irritated by him and not go after him. And he needs to show substance. I mean, he keeps talking about change and hope which are nice words but what do they mean? I think, for him to put a little bit of substance behind all that inspiration would make some sense.

SAWYER: Sam, she votes for wonky, but what about you?

SAM DONALDSON: No, I vote for aggressiveness, but within bounds. I think she has to try and put him on the defensive. She has to play John McCain. Now, you say, what-- does she come up with something that really isn't accurate? In a sense, unfortunately, doesn't matter. If she can put him on the defensive, so that he has to try to answer something, I think that's what she should probably do. And I think that's what she will do.

SAWYER: Let me ask you about something we just saw in Dan Harris' piece. Because, Senator Obama has been, I guess it's his word, audacious in taking on former President Clinton's slogan, one of his main phrases from 1992. As we heard, Bill Clinton used to day, "Tonight, let us resolve to build that bridge to the 21st century." And let's hear again what Obama did to, well, make that a boomerang.

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: I know it's tempting to simply turn back the clock, to look backwards and try and build a bridge back to the 20th century.

SAWYER: What's he doing here, Sam?

DONALDSON: Well, I think it's smart what he's doing. I mean, it is about the future. It is about change. There's Clinton fatigue in the Democratic Party and in the country to some extent. I think he should play on that. I think that's what he's doing. I think that's smart.

COKIE ROBERTS: He better not-- But he better not be making it look like he's accusing her of being old. He'll get some older women not so happy about that.

DONALDSON: Oh, Cokie. Perish the thought, saying to me, accusing her of being old.

SAWYER: Land mines out there, huh?

COKIE ROBERTS: Right.

SAWYER: Well, I want to address something else, because Cynthia McFadden of "Nightline" had a "Nightline" interview with Hillary Clinton and asked a little bit about the Bill factor yesterday, saying one thing Senator Clinton said she takes responsibility if anything went too far and then there was this exchange.

CYNTHIA MCFADDEN: So, here's what a lot of people want to know. Can you control him?

SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON: Oh, of course. You know, there's only one president at a time. Campaigns get a little heated. We all know that. But when you have to make the tough decisions, I have to make the decision.

SAWYER: Cokie?

COKIE ROBERTS: [Hesitates and pauses briefly] --Well, you know, that one is very dangerous to go near, Diane. But controlling Bill Clinton-- If she could control him, lots of things might not have happened. But on the other hand, I think she does have to make the point that she's the person who is going to be president and it's what she says and does that matters.

SAWYER: I love, Cokie -- What phrase is that? [Imitates Roberts earlier hesitancy and mumbles]

DONALDSON: You know, Diane, I don't think she wants to control him in this case. A lot of people complained about what Bill Clinton did in South Carolina. And he did some things that I think were sort of reprehensible. On the other hand, he has a rule and I think makes sense. You concentrate on this election, not the next one. Because if you don't win this one, there is no next one for you. So, he tried to raise concerns about Barack Obama and hoping that he put in, talk about land mines, land mines there for the future.

SAWYER: All right. Quickly before I leave you, Arnold Schwarzenegger weighing in for McCain, big impact, Sam?

DONALDSON: Some impact for the margins. But, remember, McCain needs conservatives in Republican ranks to believe that, okay, he's conservative enough. And Arnold Schwarzenegger is not the guy. He should have Rush Limbaugh or Bill Bennett, someone like that.

SAWYER: And, Cokie, big, little, medium?

COKIE ROBERTS: That's right. No, I think Schwarzenegger brings star power but that's about it. He doesn't bring the conservatives that McCain needs on Tuesday.