Snow cooed, "And the gift that he [Clinton] gave her was a turquoise necklace. But the gift she gave him was time to watch football on television on Saturday." Snow also cited Democratic Congressman John Lewis and his incendiary comparison of the McCain campaign's tone to segregationist George Wallace. The ABC journalist did not question the parallel that Lewis made over the weekend. She didn't mention that the congressman implied McCain might be creating a climate that could lead to violence, just like Wallace "created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights."
Instead, Snow neutrally prompted, "And he [Lewis] referred to George Wallace, the segregationist, when talking about the McCain campaign. Do you agree with that?" (Lewis later backtracked from his statement.)
The weekend anchor also offered Clinton the opportunity to complain about press coverage. Referencing a piece by liberal Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen attacking Governor Sarah Palin's performance during the vice presidential debate, she repeated the writer's contention that "if you, if Senator Clinton had done the 'hiya sailor' wink....And if you had said some of the things that Governor Palin said in the debate, you would have been criticized by the press. Do you think she's being treated by a different standard?"
Snow has developed quite a history of boosting the Clintons. On August 4, 2008, she interviewed Bill Clinton and actually told him that he didn't have to answer one of her questions: "Pretty simple question. And maybe you don't want to answer it right now and I respect that fully. But, if you want to answer it, do you personally have any regrets about what you did campaigning for your wife?"
During the 2008 presidential primaries, Snow repeatedly raved over Hillary Clinton. A November 30, 2007 NewsBusters post recounted some of Snow's more over-the-top coverage:
On October 1, she reported on the former First Lady's laugh, which many found odd and off-putting. However, according to the GMA correspondent, the cackle is representative of someone either having a great time or "she's the master of a shrewd political skill, disarming her critics with a gleam in her eye and a roar straight from the belly."...
A few weeks later, on October 25, Snow rhapsodized over Hillary Clinton's 60th birthday and how Bill and Hillary are both "masters of spin" and are experts at "turning bad news into good." The ABC reporter, beaming once again, marveled that "instead of facing gray hair and retirement, for Hillary Clinton, being a member of AARP is fund-raising gold." She also credulously touted marriage talking points: "On the eve of this birthday, Hillary is trumpeting the strength of their marriage."
A transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:14am on October 13, follows:
CHRIS CUOMO: Now, Robin, both vice presidential candidates were out on the campaign trail over the weekend. Governor Palin spoke to a crowd in southeastern Ohio. And Senator Biden was joined by both Bill and Hillary Clinton in his home state of Pennsylvania. Now, our Kate Snow, GMA weekend anchor, caught up with Senator Clinton to ask her about everything that is going on. Her take, how was it?
KATE SNOW: Very interesting, Chris. Both Senator Biden and Senator Clinton are from Scranton, Pennsylvania. And they were quite a threesome up on that stage yesterday. The former president and the two senators up there. Senator Clinton told voters no matter what the polls are saying, they can't get complacent. And we started off talking about the economic challenges that so many Americans are facing. People are really worried right now.
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON: People should be worried. We've had a terrible economic crisis and, unfortunately, very poor economic leadership. And the last eight years have kind of come home to roost with these liquidity crises and the markets freezing up. And what we've got to do is convince the private sector to begin leading to one other again. Nobody trusts anybody, Kate. They are thinking, "Well, I know I've got a lot of junk on my books and I bet so-and-so has a lot of junk on his books." So, the government has to step in and put this money into the banks and then has to say, you've got to lend it. And we want transparency, we want to know what's on your books. Look, if we've got problems, let's get it all out now. And I think that will do a lot to restore confidence.
KATE SNOW: Do you think Democrats will win this election in a landslide?
CLINTON: I think we are headed toward a very big win and for the right reason. We're headed for a big win because the economy is in crisis. I think the American voter rightly has more confidence in the Democratic Party to fix the problems that we're facing.
SNOW: This weekend, civil rights leader John Lewis had some very strong things to say about John McCain. He said that the campaign, McCain's campaign, was sowing the seeds of hatred and division. And he referred to George Wallace, the segregationist, when talking about the McCain campaign. Do you agree with that?
CLINTON: Well, I think they've been negative. But I think that Senator McCain himself has publicly said that's not the direction he wants to go. And I appreciate that. Because this campaign is too serious to, you know, be pulled into negativity and the kind of diversionary politics that doesn't serve our country well.
SNOW: I want to ask you about a column that was written in the Washington Post. They were talking about the Palin/Biden vice presidential debate and this columnist said if you, if Senator Clinton had done the "hiya sailor" wink and said some of the- This is literally what this person wrote, if you had done that, and if you had said some of the things that Governor Palin said in the debate, you would have been criticized by the press. Do you think she's being treated by a different standard?
CLINTON: Oh, I don't know. I think that each of us gets plenty of criticism by the press. I think that kind of goes with the territory. But, I thought Joe Biden did a great job in that debate. I think he came across with gravitas that I know he possesses and which he gets from a deep well of experience having served for so long.
SNOW: Very quickly, have you been watching "Saturday Night Live" at all?
[SNL clip]
"SARAH PALIN": You know, John McCain and I, we're a couple of mavericks.
CLINTON: You know, I've seen it a few times, and I think, look, they've done a great job. And, sometimes, it's hard to tell, is it really what we're looking at or is it the spoof that "Saturday Night Live" puts on.
SNOW: Governor Palin?
CLINTON: Yes, right. And Amy does a great job, you know, she plays me.
SNOW: And she has a little more time to watch TV right now. She said she and the former president actually celebrated their 33rd anniversary on Saturday. And the gift that he gave her was a turquoise necklace. But the gift she gave him was time to watch football on television on Saturday.
CUOMO: And that is priceless.
