On Tuesday, all three network morning shows ran with an unconfirmed claim from prominent Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend that former President George H.W. Bush supposedly told her he was voting for Hillary Clinton. On NBC’s Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie excitedly told viewers: “Is a Bush ready to back a Clinton? Yes, according to a Kennedy...”
She continued: “On Facebook, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend said former President George H.W. Bush told her he will vote for Hillary Clinton. The daughter of Robert Kennedy...included a photo of herself shaking hands with the former president.” Guthrie briefly noted: “In a statement to Politico, a Bush spokesman would neither confirm nor deny that claim.”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host George Stephanopoulos similarly took Kennedy’s word for it: “Meanwhile, maybe a big defection on the Republican side from Donald Trump, but the news is coming from a member of the Kennedy family.” Correspondent Jon Karl gushed: “Yeah, this is unbelievable....[she] visited with former President Bush up in Maine. And she says that he said that he's voting for Hillary Clinton.”
Karl added: “Now the interesting thing is there's no denial from the Bush family on this. The spokesperson simply says nobody overheard their conversation.” That prompted raucous laughter throughout the studio.
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On CBS This Morning, co-host Norah O’Donnell proclaimed: “Politico says a Kennedy is reporting that former President George H.W. Bush will vote for Hillary Clinton in November. In a Facebook post yesterday, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend announced, ‘The President told me he’s voting for Hillary.’”
O’Donnell pointed out that “A spokesman for the former president would not confirm or deny the post” and mentioned that Bush “said earlier this year he would not comment on a presidential candidate. “
Fellow co-host Charlie Rose observed: “It is interesting.” Co-host Gayle King agreed: “Very interesting.” Rose asked: “Wonder if the former president had gave his approval to say that?” King chimed in: “I was wondering about that too. Was that a private family conversation?” O’Donnell suggested: “Or an interesting way to put that out there.”
While the elder Bush has become very friendly with the Clintons in recent years and could potentially vote for Hillary Clinton in November, the willingness of the broadcast networks to repeat unsubstantiated assertions by a partisan Democrat on the matter was remarkable.
Here are transcripts of the coverage on all three morning shows:
Today
7:32 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And that brings us to Today’s Campaign Moment. Is a Bush ready to back a Clinton? Yes, according to a Kennedy, okay? You with me so far? On Facebook, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend said former President George H.W. Bush told her he will vote for Hillary Clinton. The daughter of Robert Kennedy used her middle name Hartington, and included a photo of herself shaking hands with the former president. In a statement to Politico, a Bush spokesman would neither confirm nor deny that claim.
GMA
7:13 AM ET
STEPHANOPOULOS: Meanwhile, maybe a big defection on the Republican side from Donald Trump, but the news is coming from a member of the Kennedy family.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Is Bush 41 Voting for Hillary? Facebook Post Raises New Questions]
KARL: Yeah, this is unbelievable. The two most famous political families in America, the Kennedys and the Bushs. And this was Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the oldest child of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, visited – there you see her – visited with former President Bush up in Maine. And she says that he said that he's voting for Hillary Clinton. Now the interesting thing is there's no denial from the Bush family on this. The spokesperson simply says nobody overheard their conversation.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And of course Jeb Bush has said he's not – [laughter] – has said he’s not voting for Trump, but has not said he's voting for Hillary.
KARL: Yeah, exactly.
CBS This Morning
7:32 AM ET
NORAH O’DONNELL: Politico says a Kennedy is reporting that former President George H.W. Bush will vote for Hillary Clinton in November. In a Facebook post yesterday, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend announced, “The President told me he’s voting for Hillary.” A spokesman for the former president would not confirm or deny the post. The elder Bush did not attend the Republican convention and said earlier this year he would not comment on a presidential candidate. That’s interesting.
CHARLIE ROSE: It is interesting.
GAYLE KING: Very interesting.
ROSE: Wonder if the former president had gave his approval to say that?
KING: I was wondering about that too. Was that a private family conversation?
O’DONNELL: Or an interesting way to put that out there.
KING: That’s right.
