CBS’s 60 Minutes on Sunday devoted 11 minutes to potential presidential candidate Oprah Winfrey’s conversation with voters in the swing state Michigan. Winfrey’s questions included pressing these selected Americans on Donald Trump’s mental fitness as well as accusations of sexual abuse against the President.
At one point, Winfrey wondered: “There have been some members of Congress, including Republicans, questioning his stability and fitness for office. What do you think of that, and do you believe he has the temperament to be president?”
Later, she probed the voters on the Me Too movement, a topic she gave a speech on for this year’s Golden Globes. Those remarks started furious speculation amongst liberals in the media about her 2020 presidential plans.
On Sunday, Winfrey asked voters in Grand Rapids, Michigan:
One person who hasn't been touched by the movement is the president himself. During the campaign, we are all aware that some 20 women accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior. There was the Access Hollywood tape of course. What do you all think about that?
Winfrey did not mention the inappropriate sexual behavior of Bill Clinton or her own connection to alleged sexual predator Harvey Weinstein.
After the 60 Minutes aired, an angry Trump tweeted that the segment was “biased and slanted.” In reality, the segment featured seven voters who supported Trump and seven who did not. Many of the questions were bland and innocuous, such as this one: “So the tax plan... are you gonna personally benefit from that?”
However, CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King admitted on Friday that she is lobbying her friend Winfrey to run. At a certain point, the talk show host's presence on CBS and interview segments with swing state voters should be considered a conflict of interest.
A partial transcript of Winfrey’s questions can be found by clicking “expand” below:
60 Minutes
2/18/18OPRAH WINFREY: So the tax plan, do you feel, are you gonna personally benefit from that?
...
WINFREY: So the tax plan, do you feel, are you gonna personally benefit from that?
...
WINFREY: Tom, you said the quote that was so memorable the last time, I love him more and more every day. Do you still feel that?
TOM: I do.
WINFREY: Do you still send a check every time he does something that you approve of?
TOM: When he fulfills a campaign promise, yes I do.
...
WINFREY: Who here believes that he made the comment about, quote, "s*ithole countries?"
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WINFREY: Okay, so polls are showing that respect for the United States is eroding around the world. Do you care what the world thinks of the United States?
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WINFREY: How do you feel safer? Tell me how you feel safer?
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WINFREY: There have been some members of Congress, including Republicans, questioning his stability and fitness for office. What do you think of that, and do you believe he has the temperament to be president?
...
WINFREY: One person who hasn't been touched by the movement is the president himself. During the campaign, we are all aware that some 20 women accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior. There was the Access Hollywood tape of course. What do you all think about that?
