ABC’s World News Tonight arrived on the political scene eleven minutes into the newscast on Wednesday – but still hyped a “war” Donald Trump declared against the Clintons. David Muir warned of Trump’s “new assault,” and Cecelia Vega warned of his “hurling his harshest words yet,” that Bill Clinton was “one of the great abusers of the world.”
Muir noted “there are many pointing to what Trump has said” about Monica Lewinsky in the past. Vega also made sure to note “the twice-divorced billionaire, opening up his own private life to scrutiny, too.” ABC showed a reporter asking Trump “Are your own personal indiscretions fair game?”
Like other liberal journalists, Vega consigns Bill Clinton’s abuses of his office – not just the sex with interns, but the lying under oath and the months of lying denials of an affair with Lewinsky – as a “private life” thing that’s rude to discuss.
DAVID MUIR: In the meantime tonight, we turn to the race for 2016. Donald Trump and his new assault on the Clintons, saying Hillary Clinton has a major problem, adding, it's right in her own home. Trump saying former President Clinton is fair game, bringing up Monica Lewinsky, but there are many pointing to what Trump has said about that in the past. ABC's Cecilia Vega on the campaign, every step of the way.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Race for 2016; Trump Declares ‘War’; Taking on the Clintons]
CECILIA VEGA: Tonight, there's just one word to describe it.
DONALD TRUMP: We view this as war. Don't we view this as war?
VEGA: In Donald Trump's direct line of fire —
TRUMP: Hillary is a disaster. [Screen wipe] Hillary doesn't have a clue. [Screen wipe] She has lower energy than Jeb Bush. [Screen wipe] I just have to turn off the television. So many times. She gives me a headache.
VEGA: The GOP front-runner who once called former President Bill Clinton's infidelity “totally unimportant” —
TRUMP [in 2008]: They tried to impeach him, which was nonsense.
VEGA: — now hurling his harshest words yet.
TRUMP: And she wants to accuse me of things, and the husband is one of the great abusers of the world? Give me a break.
VEGA: This heated battle reaching fever pitch. Today, in South Carolina, Trump supporters showing up by the thousands. Last night, Trump opening up his private plane, Trump Force One.
TRUMP [TO REPORTERS]: Try not to crash the woodwork. [Screen wipe] Watching the ceiling, please.
VEGA: But the twice-divorced billionaire opening up his own private life to scrutiny, too.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER [TO TRUMP]: Are your own personal indiscretions fair game?
TRUMP: Yes, they would be.
VEGA: Tonight, the Clintons not commenting, but how far this former group of friends has fallen. Trump writing back in 2008, “I know Hillary, she'd make a great president of vice president.” But now, in an election year, this —
TRUMP: I love the concept. I love, love, love having a woman president. Can't be her. She's horrible. She's horrible.
VEGA: And Bill Clinton hits the trail on Monday. His first solo trip for his wife Trump will be just 20 miles away on the very same date, David. This may be just the beginning of this feud.
One sign David Muir nods to politics as a boring subject? He led the show by promoting five stories, none of which touched the campaign. On Thursday’s Good Morning America, chunks of the same Vega story appeared:
CECELIA VEGA: This morning, Hillary Clinton in the bullseye once again.
DONALD TRUMP: She said he's got a — he's demonstrated a penchant, I demonstrated a penchant for sexism. Can you believe it? Me. Nobody respects women more than Donald Trump. That I can tell you.
VEGA: Trump even pulling out that famous line he's used on Jeb Bush and recycling it for her.
TRUMP: Low energy can be applied to Hillary. I just don't like to use the same thing twice on one of my enemies, right? Because I consider them enemies.
VEGA: But the GOP front-runner now has his sights set on another target.
TRUMP: She wants to accuse me of things and the husband is one of the great abusers of the world? Give me a break.
VEGA [showing tabloid visuals]: The twice-divorced billionaire who made tabloid headlines himself, is now hurling his harshest words at Bill Clinton, and Trump supporters showing up to this rally in South Carolina by the thousands are eating it up. One-time friends, now in a heated battle reaching fever pitch. So far, no comment from the Clintons on this war of words, not likely to cool down they time soon.
TRUMP: We view this as war. Don't we view this as war?
VEGA: War is the word he is using. We will not see Trump or Clinton again until 2016, not that far away, but Bill and Donald will come close to being face-to-face next week when they campaign just a few miles apart. Guys, 2016, finally here. It will be a huge year.
It's easy to predict: in the new year, ABC will be shocked, shocked at the harshness of Republican rhetoric, but the Clintons can compare the Republicans to Iranians and other villains with impunity.
