ABC's Martha Raddatz Extols 'Combative, Charming, Disarming' Hillary Clinton

ABC's Martha Raddatz on Thursday swooned over Hillary Clinton's Senate testimony on Benghazi, lauding the outgoing Secretary of State as "combative, charming, disarming and clearly ready for a fight." The Good Morning America correspondent seemed to enjoy the day as theater, hyping, " It was truly a riveting day on Capitol Hill...with Secretary Clinton as some have never seen her before."

Raddatz allowed that Clinton didn't convince "some Republicans," but returned to a style discussion. She continued, "But this was certainly a memorable way to close out her tenure." Focusing on the emotion of the Senate appearance, the journalist empathized that "when Clinton spoke of her four fallen colleagues, the pain, the memories were still raw." [See video below. MP3 audio here.]

She marveled, "She was, at times, combative, charming, disarming and clearly ready for a fight."

Clinton was "combative?" On Wednesday's GMA co-host George Stephanopoulos flatly insisted such conflict wouldn't happen: "I can't imagine they're really going to beat her up on her last few days as Secretary of State."

On Wednesday's World News, Diane Sawyer was in awe: "The indignation. And then, the tears in her eyes." 

Raddatz on Thursday did highlight GOP opposition by Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson. Yet, again, the journalist returned to her emotional description, hyping the fact that the Secretary of State "fought back aggressively."

The ABC correspondent insisted that Clinton "did not hesitate to shoulder the blame." Yet, she never wondered what, exactly, that meant.

In 2012, Raddatz moderated the vice presidential debate. Considering her deep affinity for Clinton, perhaps Republicans should look elsewhere for a host in 2016.

A partial transcript of the January 24 segment follows:

7:05

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We're going to turn now to Hillary Clinton. Her final appearance before the Senate as Secretary of State comes today when she introduces the man named to replace her, Senator John Kerry. And that comes just a day after her passionate and combative testimony about the terrorist attack in Benghazi that killed a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans. ABC's chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz was there for all of the action in Washington. Good morning, Martha.

MARTHA RADDATZ: Good morning, George. It was truly a riveting day on Capitol Hill. We don't say that very often, with Secretary Clinton as some have never seen her before. She was, at times, combative, charming, disarming and clearly ready for a fight.

HILLARY CLINTON: It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator.

RADDATZ: But when Clinton spoke of her four fallen colleagues, the pain, the memories were still raw.

CLINTON: I stood by President Obama as the Marines carried those flag-draped caskets off the planes at Andrews. I put my arms around the mothers and fathers, the sisters and brothers, the sons and daughters.

RADDATZ: And Clinton did not hesitate to shoulder the blame.

CLINTON: As I said many times, I take the responsibility.