GMA Calls Hillary’s Fundraising ‘Historic,’ But Wants Source of Romney Money

Photo of Scott Whitlock.

When Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton announced she had taken in $26 million in campaign donations on Monday, "Good Morning America" focused on the "historic," "staggering," and record shattering nature of the total. But on Tuesday, April 3, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney received only suspicion over his equally impressive announcement of a $23 million fund-raising total.

GMA host Robin Roberts repeatedly asked Romney questions such as "where is the money coming from, Governor?" Ms. Roberts also wondered how the candidate’s Mormon faith factored into his fund-raising. She even challenged the Republican hopeful to take a page from John Kennedy and address his faith:

Robin Roberts: "Many are wondering if you will do, take a page from former President Kennedy, who had addressed the nation about his Catholic upbringing. Do you anticipate, anticipate doing the same?"

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Mitt Romney: "Well, you know, time will tell about that. There's probably not a single interview I do with you guys that doesn't raise that issue, so of course we talk about it from time to time....And all you have to do is look at my wife and me and our marriage of 38 years and my family and recognize our values are as American as you'll find anywhere in this great country."

In comparison, on April 2, ABC reporter Kate Snow filed a report on Hillary Clinton’s fund-raising. Now, while it is true that Clinton’s total did break records, Snow only briefly mentioned the sources of the New York Senator’s money (such as Hollywood liberals). For the piece, airing at 7:11am, Diane Sawyer introduced Kate Snow this way:

Diane Sawyer: "We turn now to the presidential race for 2008 and staggering dollar signs. In fact, Senator Hillary Clinton has taken in a record $26 million in the first three months of the year, she has announced. And ABC's weekend anchor Kate Snow is here with the rest of it. Kate?"

Kate Snow: "Well, Diane, big numbers are seen as is a sign of strength. Small numbers can mean the end for a candidate. And while we still don't know this morning how the leading Republicans stack up, we have heard from several Democrats and we sure know who is on top. What does Barbra Streisand have in common with rapper Timbaland? They both chipped in to help Hillary Clinton make history. Shattering the record held by Al Gore when he ran for president, Senator Clinton raised $26 million over 10 weeks."

ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos went on to describe Clinton’s fund-raising total as a "shock and awe announcement" and there was no further mention of the Senator's Hollywood connection.

On April 3, however, GMA co-host Robin Roberts did term Romney’s total "staggering," but quickly moved past that and began grilling him about Mormonism and its connection to his surprising fund-raising total:

Robin Roberts: "Well, Claire, now we're going to talk to the man of the morning, former Governor Mitt Romney. We spoke from Watertown, Massachusetts to discuss those staggering fund-raising totals that are the talk of the town. Governor Romney, we certainly do appreciate your time this morning. Third in the Republican polls, but you have everybody's attention this morning. So, where is the money coming from, Governor?"

Romney: "Well, frankly, from all over the country. I think from all 50 states. I'm very heartened by the fact that people who have heard my message and have seen me have been willing to part with some money and send it my way. It's giving us a great boost, a great start, and, of course, it's very encouraging and heartening to know the message is connecting with people across the country, particularly in the early primary states."

Roberts: "You say the money is coming from all the states. The ‘New York Times’ this morning is reporting that 15 percent of the money raised in your campaign is coming from the state of Utah. Many speculate that it has something to do, of course, with your being a Mormon. Does your, does your religion factor in at all in your campaign and in your fund-raising?"

Romney: "Of course not. The number one state is California and I lived, of course, for several years in Utah and helped organize the Olympic games there. So it's pretty natural that some of the folks who know me there and that are good friends have been supportive of my effort of my effort there. I think this is a campaign about changing Washington. Americans want a person who is willing to make some real dramatic change there and transform government to make it more responsive to the needs of our people, to bring stronger families, better jobs, better schools, better health care. And they're tired of all the bickering in Washington. They don’t want a life-long politician. They want somebody who will actually bring change."

Roberts: "Many are wondering if you will do, take a page from former President Kennedy, who had addressed the nation about his Catholic upbringing. Do you anticipate, anticipate doing the same?"

Romney: "Well, you know, time will tell about that. There's probably not a single interview I do with you guys that doesn't raise that issue, so, of course, we talk about it from time to time. But, you know, what I find as I go across the country is the people I talk to want a person of faith to lead the country, but they don't particularly care what brand of faith the person has, so as long as they have American values and we have shared values. And all you have to do is look at my wife and me and our marriage of 38 years and my family and recognize our values are as American as you'll find anywhere in this great country."

So, while GMA focused its Clinton report entirely on the impressive nature of her financial totals, Romney had to deal with questions about where his money came from.

It’s also important to remember that on March 26, GMA hosted Clinton for a 30 minute, multi segment "town hall" meeting. The event featured soft ball questions and no mention of the fact that Hillary Clinton has taken millions of dollars from liberal Hollywood celebrities. Although GMA has promised that the town hall event will be a series with several political candidates, a second edition has yet to be announced. When ending the April 3 segment with Mr. Romney, Roberts only vaguely promised, "I know that we will be talking to you in the, in the days and weeks and months ahead in the campaign trail."

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.


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The hypocrisy is staggering.

The hypocrisy is staggering. How do these people sleep at night?

They can sleep because either

They can sleep because either, a) they have no conscience, or b) they're completely oblivious to their own blatant bias and hypocrisy, or c) a combination of both. 

The ideological myopia which causes this is a fundamental characteristic of Liberalism.  Liberalism is to be accepted, without debate or critical analysis (See Algore).  Thus, to Liberals, their views are simply what IS, those who disagree are outsiders, and are therefore automatically wrong.

So, giving Hitlery a pass while grilling Romney is virtuous behavior.

Wow the MSM is scared of Ro

Wow the MSM is scared of Romney. They really want to shove his religion down everyones throat so people really don't get to know him.

The media seems to fear a Romney candidacy.

Yup, that's what I've been saying, too.   The media has gone out of it's way to attack Romney, and I think it's because they see him as one of the more difficult candidates for Hillary to beat.   Drooling Chris Matthews attacked him yesterday because of his successful fundraising.  He claimed, without a shred of proof, that it all came from "big money", as if Hillary's money is all grass roots.

If Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson are the GOP candidate this time, we win in 08.

Mitt has outraised Dean on the Net

I agree, the left is defintely afraid of Romney since he is articulate, smart, a great business man and not a career polictician. Plus he is a conservative who can appeal to those that are center left.

Mitt was saying on the radio the other day that the Time Cover Stories about Howard Dean and his miracle internet fund raising should be applied to him as well.

He claimed to have more than doubled Dean's 2004 output and yet, a collective Yawn by the Press.

I guess massive grass-roots internet fund raising is only a cover story if you are looney lefty.

Even Gary Trudeau is attacking Romney

Ha.  Even Gary Trudeau has been attacking Romney in Doonsbury with ridiculous exaggerations and misrepresentations.   I definitely see fear in their eyes.   ;^>

"I know how to veto. I like vetoes. I've vetoed hundreds of spending appropriations as governor"  -Mitt Romney

The problem is that the MSM a

The problem is that the MSM and Hollywood gave to Clinton. Massive amounts of money. The fact that one can amass that much from the average Joe out in the world is just such a staggering thought they cant accept it. It cant be true that so many people would support such a man. Must have come from the church. After all, he has no talent! He cant have! Hes a Republican!!!

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

otoh, they'll cook hillary's goose

Who was that wise man who said, "When your enemy is hanging himself, don't get in his way; offer him more rope."

This may become a blessing for the GOP, in my honest oinion.

Romney might well win the Republican nomination, but he'd get nuked by Hillary. No way does he win the White House. Not because good Republicans won't vote for him; it's just the numbers. We need a candidate who'll fire up ALL our voters; not just a likeable guy. Romney won't bring out all the voters. A sizeable segment of them will stay home on election day, handing it all over to Hillary.

The Mormon aspect divides much of the Religious Right out of hand. We need a united voter base.

We actually need a canidate

We actually need a canidate who will not be marginalized by the Clinton Media Machine. They made Bob Dole to old and unlikeable. A likeable, smart Canidate with few skeletons in his closet like Romney could withstand this.

Robin Roberts needs to hang it up

At one time Robin Roberts was a fine pitcher, in fact she has been elected to the Hall of Fame, but she seems so stuck up and rah rah Hillary, that she needs to go back to the minor leagues of interviewing.  I think she should probably be sent to some minor league ABC affiliate.  It's a tragedy to see a once great pitcher now just not able to dominate like she once could.

"I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane"  Waylon Jennings

It is amazing how Robin Fawne

It is amazing how Robin Fawned all over Hillary in that "infomercial" they did on her last week.

Yet a Rebublican canidate steps up to the mike and it's 5 min. your done. 

And yep they going to make religion an issue.

OK lets get this straight. Wh

OK lets get this straight. When you talk about this woman you have to things to consider. 1(she is a bleeding heart liberal period) 2( she is a black liberal bleeding heart liberal) OK now you do the math. 1+2=3(call a spade a spade please im tired of dancing around issues with these stinkin liberals. You got what you got when you put 1+2 together GOT IT GOOD!!! GET IT AND DON"T FORGET IT!!!!! These people make me want to lose my dinner.

The media really owes the Ame

The media really owes the American people a much closer look at Hillary's fund raising.  How much such looking will satisfy those not in their camp - the camp of the power of a past popular President, thought to be put out of business by 22nd Amendment, and the flexing of such political power?

How many Clintonites are just giving money to get back the already tried and exploited power of their "twofer"?

I am not yet sure myself that any of Hillary's fundraising numbers are actually good news for American democracy.

You?

The LBMSM, and the DNC are sc

The LBMSM, and the DNC are scared s-less. If thier front runner only put up 3 million dolleros more than ours, and by their rationale, if America's majority have turned decidedly Liberal, or are tired of our WOT, than they should have blown any Republican out of the water.

If Rosie got her hooves on this story, she would claim Haliburton financed Romney.

I look at it as, it only took 3 months for America to have already gotten tired of a bunch of anti-America blowhard traitors, and defeatists , who are being led around by their dog collars by the moonbat-kook-fringe that they bow to.

In the immortal words of Scooby concerning the DNC, and LBMSM, Ruh-Roe Raggie!!

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "

                   - Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.

Guess what. Saw the same q

Guess what. Saw the same question about Romney's money on MSNBC---to the effect that rich people in Utah are funding him. Or maybe it was CNN.?
How about rich people in Hollyweird funding the ClyntOOns?

The big media creeps are so isolated from REAL AMERICA that they believe the average American is too dumb to notice that the media tilts far-left.

But recent studies by Zogby and Gallup both show the US public thinks the media are lefties or far-lefties.

The stupid ones are the new chief of CBS and Zucker at NBC.

Okay, I think I have it.  Ri

Okay, I think I have it.  Rich Democratics are good; rich Republicans are bad.  (Rich religious Republicans should be banned from politics altogether.)

Mormon straw man?

Perhaps the MSM is trying to keep Romney's Mormonism before the public because they are trying to enflame the religious right, whom they believe won't tolerate a Mormon.  Romney's main problem with the religious right is that his record on things like abortion is inconsistent at best.  I think the MSM is trying to drive a wedge into the GOP.

Come on, anyone that knows an

Come on, anyone that knows anything at all about the Morman religion would know that he only got 10% from them :)

Making Romney Illegitmate

You know I read this earlier today and had some reaction, yet when I went to lunch and thought about it some more it dawned on me.

The left is going to try to make Romney illegitimate because he gets his support from a Religious Organization. The left will use "seperation of Church and State" to say that those who support him cannot support him because they are a "Church" and therefore cannot be involved in influencing elections.

This is a clandestine (only because the media will not allow the message to be broadcast as such). operation to esentially make any form of Christianity Illegal as it relates to politics and keep those who have a life-guiding faith OUT of Public Office.

That is why they have been

That is why they have been neglecting to mention the second half of their preciously taken out of context establishment clause. Here it is if you've never heard it. "Congress shall
make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." They're really trying like hell to remove Christianity from America, but it makes me wonder how they'll like shar'ia law.

Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish...Euripides

Making Romney Illegitmate

You know I read this earlier today and had some reaction, yet when I went to lunch and thought about it some more it dawned on me.

The left is going to try to make Romney illegitimate because he gets his support from a Religious Organization. The left will use "seperation of Church and State" to say that those who support him cannot support him because they are a "Church" and therefore cannot be involved in influencing elections.

This is a clandestine (only because the media will not allow the message to be broadcast as such). operation to esentially make any form of Christianity Illegal as it relates to politics and keep those who have a life-guiding faith OUT of Public Office.