On Monday, CNN's New Day put ABC and NBC's morning newscasts to shame by actually raising the ongoing e-mail scandal during their interview of Hillary Clinton. Alisyn Camerota pointed out "the issue that has bedeviled your campaign," and noted that "your opponents have said that this is...a big deal." She asked, "How do you convince voters today not to be concerned about this?" When Mrs Clinton claimed that "there is nothing new" with the controversy, Camerota underlined that "several media outlets have said that their sources in the FBI say...'something's going to happen.' What does that mean to you?" [video below]
The anchor first tossed a softball question at the Democratic presidential contender: "How are you feeling, and how do you plan to spend the next 12 hours?" The former secretary of state replied, in part, "I am feeling great. I am so proud of the campaign we've run here in Iowa." Camerota followed up with her questions about the e-mail scandal.
Mrs. Clinton played up, in her answers, that "it's a little bit like what the Republicans and others have tried to do with respect to Benghazi — just a lot of innuendo; a lot of attacks....people are selectively leaking and making comments that have no basis in anything I'm aware of. And, you know, I regret that that seems to be part of the atmosphere — because we need to — you know, let this inquiry run its course — get it resolved."
The CNN journalist then raised how "the New York Times endorsed you. They wrote that you are the right choice in terms of experience and 'vision.' I'm sure that was music to your ears." She wondered, "Do you think the New York Times endorsement plays in Iowa?"
The Democratic politician asserted that "when very respectable and responsible outlets...look at all the candidates — interview us; ask us really hard questions — and conclude that I'm their choice for president, I find that incredibly validating. And I do hope that voters pay attention to it, because it's a pretty tough vetting process they go through."
Camerota ended the interview of Mrs. Clinton by asking about she would "bring the country together." She also mentioned how "once again, you find yourself here in Iowa with an opponent who some think, sort of, came out of nowhere, but who has garnered a lot of excitement."
The Big Three networks' morning newscasts all interviewed the former New York senator on Monday. However, CBS This Morning stood out as the only one that raised the e-mail scandal. Meanwhile, NBC's Today and ABC's Good Morning America gave Mrs. Clinton the kid glove treatment.
The full transcript of Alisyn Camerota's interview of Hillary Clinton from the February 1, 2016 edition of CNN's New Day:
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (from campaign event): I hope you will fight for me. And I promise you this: I will stand up and fight for you every single day of this campaign. And then, when we win, I will fight for you in the White House. Thank you and God bless you!
[CNN Graphic: "Democratic Candidates Battle To Win Iowa Caucuses; Hillary Clinton Talks Iowa Caucuses"]
ALISYN CAMEROTA (live): A powerful close to Hillary Clinton's last campaign event of the night Sunday. The former secretary of state spent most of the day making her way through Iowa, in a last-ditch effort to rally caucus-goers ahead of tonight's vote.Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton joins us now. Secretary Clinton, good morning.
CLINTON: Good morning, Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: Okay. How are you feeling, and how do you plan to spend the next 12 hours?
CLINTON: I am feeling great. I am so proud of the campaign we've run here in Iowa. I've got the most dedicated campaign team — the organizers who've been on the ground; the thousands of volunteers. We actually knocked on 125,000 doors this weekend. So, there's just a lot of excitement and energy, and I'm urging everybody to come out and caucus tonight — to be part of this unique American process. I hope they'll come out and caucus for me.
CAMERORTA: So Secretary, let's talk about the issue that has bedeviled your campaign — and that, of course, is the ongoing investigation into your e-mails. On Friday, the State Department withheld 22 e-mails. They didn't release them because of material deemed top secret. I know you've been asked this six ways to Sunday along the campaign trail — and I know that you've always said there's nothing there — but your opponents have said that this is big. It's a big deal. How do you convince voters today not to be concerned about this?
[CNN Graphic: "Clinton Faces Fresh Scrutiny Over Her Emails"]
CLINTON: Well, Allison, there is nothing new. And I think the facts are quite helpful here. It's a little bit like what the Republicans and others have tried to do with respect to Benghazi — just a lot of innuendo; a lot of attacks. And I just know that after I testified for 11 hours — answered every question — nothing new came up, and most voters have made up their minds — and I'm grateful for that — the same here. And I think most of the voters who have followed this know exactly what's going on here.
I never made any different explanation than the one that I've made over and over again. I take classified information seriously. I did not send or receive any material marked 'classified.' And I want all of these released; and this is a dispute about retroactive classification — quite a mouthful.
So what people talk to me about is how I'm going to get incomes up; how I'm going make sure the Affordable Care Act works and get prescription drug costs down; and make college affordable and relieve student debt. That's what's on voters' minds; and that's what I'm talking about. And that seems to be what is exciting and energizing people as they move toward the caucus tonight.
[CNN Graphic: "Clinton: "There Is Nothing New' On Emails; Clinton: I Want All Emails Released"]
CAMEROTA: But Secretary Clinton, something does seem to be happening with this investigation — or at least the FBI seems to be talking about it more — because in the past week, several media outlets have said that their sources in the FBI say — quote, 'Something's going to happen.' What does that mean to you?
CLINTON: It means that people are selectively leaking and making comments that have no basis in anything I'm aware of. And, you know, I regret that that seems to be part of the atmosphere — because we need to — you know, let this inquiry run its course — get it resolved.
But I can tell you, Alisyn, that is not on the minds of the, literally, thousands of people that I've seen in the last few weeks. And I'm glad it isn't — because the facts are the facts. And no matter how much selective leaking or anonymous sourcing and all that kind of stuff that goes on, what people want to know is what I can do to be the best possible president for them and their families. And I've been thrilled at the kind of reaction and response I've been getting — the crowds that we had. That last event last night was just overwhelming. And I'm looking forward to people coming out; expressing their opinion about who can be the President and commander-in-chief for the Democratic Party; and then, getting on to win the Democratic nomination and being successful next November.
[CNN Graphic: "Clinton: 'We Need to Let This Inquiry Run Its Course; Clinton: "The Facts Are The Facts' On Emails Probe"]
CAMEROTA: Yesterday, the New York Times endorsed you. They wrote that you are the right choice in terms of experience and 'vision.' I'm sure that was music to your ears. Do you think the New York Times endorsement plays in Iowa?
[CNN Graphic: "New York Times Endorses Clinton For Dem Nomination"]
CLINTON: Well, I don't know; but I know the Des Moines Register does, and they endorsed me. And I know the Boston Globe matters; and a lot of the newspapers in New Hampshire that have endorsed me.
And this is very gratifying, because — yeah; there is a lot of static that goes on; and the Republicans and their allies are determined to do everything they can to try to bring me down. They don't know me very well, because I don't quit when I'm fighting for what I believe in; and I believe that I can be the president who makes progress for people. And I'm just going to stick with it.
And so, when very respectable and responsible outlets, like the Register or the Times or The Boston Globe, and others, look at all the candidates — interview us; ask us really hard questions — and conclude that I'm their choice for president, I find that incredibly validating. And I do hope that voters pay attention to it, because it's a pretty tough vetting process they go through.
[CNN Graphic: "Clinton On Newspaper Endorsements"]CAMEROTA: Secretary Clinton, let's talk about the Republicans and what's going on in terms of how the electorate feels. I know that you know that this campaign has been about how angry and how anxious people are feeling out there; and, of course, all of the division in this country. Some people say we've never seen anything like it. You've made a point, during the campaign, of talking about how you don't really like how the Republicans do business in many ways. So how would you bring the country together — including Republicans?
[CNN Graphic: "Clinton On The Republican Race"]
CLINTON: Well, the same way I always have. When I'm not actually running for office, I work closely with everybody, including Republicans, to find common ground. That's what I did when I helped to create the Children's Health Insurance Program that insures eight million kids. I worked with Democrats and Republicans. It's what I did when I got to the Senate and — you know, worked with Republicans to get health care for our National Guard and reserve members when they weren't being deployed. I worked on responding to 9/11. I found common ground on a number of issues, with respect to health care and the like — and as secretary of state, the same thing.
So, Alisyn, I think that you've got to work at it every single day. There's no shortcut. You have to build the relationships; and you have to be willing to try to meet people where they are and move them over. That's the way politics works in America. That's the way our system is set up to work. Now, we can get frustrated by it. We can wish that — you know, it were smoother. But I'm very proud of the record that President Obama has compiled — you know, the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd-Frank regulations on Wall Street, getting our economy out of the ditch the Republicans put it into; working to put those sanctions on Iran, the effort that I led — and so much more.
So I know how you get things done. I am a progressive who wants to make progress, and actually produce real results in people's lives. That's what I'm offering. I'm not over-promising. I'm laying out the plans that I have. I'm asking people to look at them. And I'm asking people to hold me accountable — because I want to get back to working together; to try to unite this country; to make it possible for us to — you know, set big goals and achieve them. And that's what I intend to do.
[CNN Graphic: "Clinton: 'Very Proud' Of Obama's Record; Clinton: 'I Know How You Get Things Done'"]
CAMEROTA: Let's talk about how this differs for you than 2008. Once again, you find yourself here in Iowa with an opponent who some think, sort of, came out of nowhere, but who has garnered a lot of excitement. So why isn't this deja vu all over again for you today?
[CNN Graphic: "Deja Vu For Clinton In Iowa; Clinton: 'I Always Thought We'd Have A Close Contest'"]
CLINTON: Well, look, I've — I always thought we had a close contest, and I think that's good. It's good for the Democratic Party. But I'm thrilled at my campaign. And we learned a lot of lessons. We've applied those lessons. We've got a great team working, literally, around the clock. I think I'm a better candidate. I think — you know, my experience as secretary of state gave me a depth and understanding about what the next president will face that, frankly, nobody else running on either side could have.
And I think that what voters are looking for is a way out of their frustration. Yeah, people are angry. People are disappointed. People are worried. You know, what happened in the great recession was a body blow. I mean, nine million people lost their jobs, and five million houses were lost; and $13 trillion and family wealth was wiped out. And people haven't gotten a raise. You know, they've been working, but they don't feel like they're getting ahead.
So, they deserve — the American people deserve to be worried; but what I'm offering is a way forward. You know, once you get through the anger and the political attacks and all the rest of it, people have to ask themselves, who can do the most for me and my family? Who can protect our country? Who can get the economy going and incomes rising; and make sure the Affordable Care Act works and get prescription drug costs down? I know how to do this, and I'm ready. I'm experienced, and I think I've got the best shot at becoming both the nominee and the next president.
CAMEROTA: Secretary Clinton, we will be watching, of course, with great interest, what unfolds over the next 12 hours. Thanks so much for taking time to be on New Day.
CLINTON: Thank you.
