CNN's Kate Bolduan badgered the RNC's Sean Spicer on Thursday's At This Hour over Donald Trump passing on speaking at the NAACP's convention. Spicer called out the media for not "reporting when folks don't go meet with conservative groups." Bolduan underlined, "Trump is polling at zero percent with African-American voters in Ohio...not showing up to speak...how does that help with that number?" The guest retorted, "The liberal media wants to talk about one particular group as if that's the only way to communicate....you don't ask Hillary Clinton about groups that she is refusing to speak to." [video below]
Anchor John Berman raised the issue of the liberal group's annual meeting near the end of the interview: "The NAACP meeting this weekend — they invited Donald Trump to come speak. John McCain spoke to them in 2008. Mitt Romney went in 2012. Trump's not going. Do you think he should?" Spicer replied, in part, with his point about Democratic presidential candidates not meeting with conservatives. He also asserted, "I don't think it is the sole way that you can reach out to the issues and concerns that plague members of that group."
Bolduan shot back, "Of course not!" She continued by spotlighting how in "the new Marist poll that's out, Donald Trump is polling at zero percent with African-American voters in Ohio, and zero percent with African-American voters in Pennsylvania." She asked, "Trump not showing up to speak before the NAACP — how does that help with that number though?"
This question prompted a back-and-forth between the CNN anchor and Spicer, which culminated in his "liberal media" line. Bolduan objected, "Oh, come on! Don't 'liberal media' us! Come on, Sean!" She also shook her head negatively when he gave his final response: "You don't ask Hillary Clinton about groups that she is refusing to speak to, or doesn't go down to. So, I think there's a double standard when it comes to what groups that we, in the Republican Party, choose to go speak to or not."
Berman ended the segment by stating, "Sean Spicer, on behalf of all the media, we thank you for being with us today." Bolduan added, "Liberal and non-liberal alike."
The transcript of the relevant portion of the Sean Spicer segment from CNN's At This Hour With Berman and Bolduan on July 14, 2016:
JOHN BERMAN: Sean, the NAACP meeting this weekend — they invited Donald Trump to come speak. John McCain spoke to them in 2008. Mitt Romney went in 2012. Trump's not going. Do you think he should?
[CNN Graphic: "Trump Declines NAACP's Convention Invitation"]
SEAN SPICER, CHIEF STRATEGIST, REPUBLICAN NATL. COMMITTEE: Well, I think it's not a question of what groups he goes to. I think Mr. Trump knows that demographically and vote-wise, we need to continue to reach out to different groups the party hasn't done that well with in the past; and he has already made a commitment to do that. I think much to do is about one particular group, though. I mean, this is — you know, I don't see too many — too many folks in the media reporting when — when folks don't go meet with conservative groups. And the NAACP definitely has an agenda. And I don't think it is the sole way that you can reach out to — to the issues and concerns that plague members of — of that group.
KATE BOLDUAN: Of course not! But, you know, if you look at the new Marist poll that's out, Donald Trump is polling at zero percent with African-American voters in Ohio, and zero percent with African-American voters in Pennsylvania. You know, Trump not showing up to speak before the NAACP — how does that help with that number though?
[CNN Graphic: "Poll: Trump Polling At 0% With Black Voters In Ohio, PA; July 5-10: NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll: Choice For President, African-American Voters: OH: Clinton, 88%; Trump. 0%; PA: Clinton, 91%; Trump, 0%; Sampling Error: +/-3.4% Points"]
SPICER: Well, it's not a question of help or hurt; and I think that you're making this sound like some kind of binary proposition, where it's an either/or — and it's not. I think — look, when you look at Donald Trump's record on race in particular, in the — in 1985, when he bought Mar-a-Lago, and the liberals down in Florida didn't open up clubs to minorities and Jews, it was Donald—
BOLDUAN: Right, but he can push — he can push that message—
SPICER: No, hold on, Kate. But — but no, no — right—
BOLDUAN: To the group, Sean — at the NAACP—
SPICER: I know, but you make it sound like if he doesn't show up to one particular meeting, that that's the only way he can reach out. I think he has shown a willingness to go — to talk to different groups. He has met with evangelical pastors in the past—
BOLDUAN: Right—
BOLDUAN: He's talked to business people. Look, so I get it, but I think that the liberal media wants to talk about one particular group—
BOLDUAN: Oh, come on!
SPICER: As if that's the only way to communicate to them, and I think it's a false — no! I think, look — but the point is he has an amazing record on — on stuff that he's—
BOLDUAN: Don't 'liberal media' us! Come on, Sean!
SPICER: Well, I mean, but you don't ask Hillary Clinton about groups that she is refusing to speak to, or doesn't go down to. So, I think there's a double standard when it comes to what groups that we, in the Republican Party, choose to go speak to or not.
BERMAN: Sean Spicer, on behalf of all the media, we thank you for being with us today—
BOLDUAN: Liberal and non-liberal alike—
BERMAN: Great to speak to you, Sean.
