Former Clinton donor George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday grilled the only serious opponent to the Democratic frontrunner. The Good Morning America co-host, who worked in the White House of Bill Clinton, peppered Bernie Sanders. He wondered, “How about this argument from Hillary Clinton yesterday? Clearly believes that she can make the pitch she's far more electable than you are.”
Parroting talking points, Stephanopoulos demanded, “Secretary Clinton says that her plans to take on Wall Street are tougher than yours.” In May of 2014, it was revealed that the ABC journalist secretly donated $75,000 to the Clinton Foundation. Stephanopoulos did not tell his bosses at the network or viewers until he was caught.
During the segment, the GMA host required specificity on some of Sanders’s left-wing attacks: “You've also said that you're upset that the leaders of those financial institutions, some did not go to jail. Can you point to any one that there was evidence they committed a crime?”
He followed-up, quizzing, “Can you name an individual?”
In October, after the first Democratic debate, Stephanopoulos hyped Clinton’s “best day of the campaign.” In November, the co-host interviewed GOP contender Marco Rubio and wondered if he was a “risky bet.”
A transcript of the January 6 segment, which aired at 7:10am ET, is below:
7:10am ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Bernie Sanders, Senator Bernie Sanders here now, Democratic presidential candidate. I want to get to that argument from Hillary Clinton in a second. But first, this breaking news overnight from North Korea. Another nuclear test, perhaps a hydrogen bomb, if you were in the Oval Office what would you do about it?
BERNIE SANDERS: Well, first of all, we'll have to lean on China. China is North Korea's closest ally. They're going to have to push North Korea to start adhering to international agreements.
STEPHANOPOULOS: How do we lean on China?
SANDERS: Well, China and we have a relationship. China is equally concerned about what North Korea is doing. North Korea is a paranoid, isolated nation. They are — when you have a hydrogen bomb, if that’s true, you are a threat to China, as well.
STEPHANOPOULOS: How about this argument from Hillary Clinton yesterday? Clearly believes that she can make the pitch she's far more electable than you are.
SANDERS: Well, I would Suggest Secretary Clinton look at the last Quinnipiac poll which has me leading Trump by a significantly higher margin than she does and that's true of other polls as well. Look, two things: Number one I believe that our campaign is generating the kind of grassroots excitement that will result in a high voter turnout. Democrats need a high voter turnout to win. I think we can do that. Second of all, for a variety of reasons I think we can do better against Trump or other Republicans than can Secretary Clinton.
STEPHANOPOULOS: What's the number one reason?
SANDERS: The number one reason I think is that the issues that we are talking about, the disappearing middle class, massive levels of income and wealth inequality, the fact that Wall Street's greed has had a huge impact on the lives of millions of people, people want leadership now to stand up to the big money interests, protect working people. That's what I've done my whole life.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Secretary Clinton says that her plans to take on Wall Street are tougher than yours.
SANDERS: Well, actually they are not. We're talking about breaking up the large financial institutions so that the middle class of this country will not have to again bail them out. We’re talking about the banks that have assets equivalent to 60 percent of the GDP of America. That is dangerous to our economy and to our political life. You have to break them up. You have to re-establish Glass-Steagall legislation. That is not Secretary Clinton’s position.
STEPHANOPOULOS: A lot of experts said that's not fundamentally at the core of what the problem is but I want to get to another point —
SANDERS: Well, I disagree with that. That is exactly what the core is.STEPHANOPOULOS: But so many of the problems were created by the banks that weren't under Glass-Steagall.
SANDERS: They were funded by the banks, by the large financial institutions.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And you've also said that you're upset that the leaders of those financial institutions, some did not go to jail. But can you point to any one that there was evidence they committed a crime?
SANDERS: George, since 2009, large financial institutions have paid over $200 billion in fines. Now, if you're paying $200 billion in fines for illegal activity and reaching settlements with the government, you tell me if there was not culpability.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Can you name an individual?
SANDERS: Give you one example, Wachovia, which was later bought by Wells Fargo, was convicted of laundering Mexican drug money. What do you think? You think somebody might be guilty? $200 billion in fines. Nobody prosecuted. I think what you have is a situation where banks are not only too big to fail, bankers are too big to jail.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Just about out of time. About three and a half weeks away from Iowa. You going to win there?
SANDERS: I think we got a real good shot at it. We got a great ground organization. There’s a lot of enthusiasm. We’re bringing out big crowds.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator Sanders, thanks for joining us this morning.SANDERS: Thank you.
