Face the Nation host John Dickerson decided to dedicate portions of his show to airing clips from his recent softball interview with the “grandmother running for commander-in-chief,” Hillary Clinton. Dickerson’s interview ranged in topics from the e-mail server to how her mother influences her campaigning in terms of the example she is setting. The interview also featured questions about Republican divisions and how Clinton could exploit them.
One of Dickerson’s first questions to the former secretary of state was about her campaign’s plans to peel Republicans away from Donald Trump. “Some of your aides talk about something called Republicans for Hilary,” the host pitched to Clinton, “How do you get that voter? … What's the pitch to them?”
Clinton responded by stating that she is campaigning to get all the votes she can regardless of what party they are in. “I think for a lot of people, again, who take their vote seriously and who really see this as a crossroads kind of election I am asking people to come join this campaign,” she proclaimed. She then went on to say that she has received many calls from Republicans looking to talk about ideas moving forward.
The interview did include questions about the FBI investigation of her private e-mail server surprisingly, but the questions were lobbed at best. His first pair of questions were about whether or not that FBI has reached out to contact her for an interview yet. “Not at this point,” she claimed, and reiterated that she was willing to talk with agents.
Dickerson followed up that fast ball with another scorcher, “What is your answer to those who think, “gee, FBI inquiry, that's a big deal.” What do you say to them?” Clinton repeated the same old line that it’s just a “security inquiry” and that she never sent or received classified e-mails. There were no questions asked regarding the hacker Guccifer or his claims that he was able to access Clinton’s private server.
The interview ended with Dickerson praising Clinton as the, “mother and grandmother running for commander-in-chief” and asking if she thinks about her mother on the campaign trail. “I think about my mother a lot of because she campaigned with me and for me in 2008,” she said, “and she was the most formative influence in my life by far.”
Partial transcript below:
CBS
Face the Nation
May 8, 2016
10:38:48 AM EasternJOHN DICKERSON: Some of your aides talk about something called Republicans for Hilary. They think with Donald Trump getting the nomination it opens a certain Republican voter to you that may not have been available before. How do you get that voter? The skeptical voter. Who is skeptical of Hillary Clinton but you might be able to get now. What's the pitch to them?
HILLARY CLINTON: Well obviously, I'm reaching out to Democrats, Republicans, independents, all voters who want a candidate who is running a campaign based on issues. Who has been willing to put out plans and explain those plans and talk about how to pay for those plans. Who has a track record of getting results for people. Who understands although we live in a dangerous world there's nothing we can't meet in terms of the challenges we face if we put our minds to it. And so, I think for a lot of people again who take their vote seriously and who really see this as a crossroads kind of election I am asking people to come join this campaign. And I’ve had a lot of outreach from Republicans in the last days who say they are interested in talking about that.
…
10:41:18 AM Eastern
DICKERSON: Let me ask you about developments in the investigation into your e-mail server. Apparently the FBI's contacted your team in terms of talking to you. What can you tell us about that?
CLINTON: No one has reached out to me yet but last summer, I think last August I made it clear I'm more than ready to talk to anybody anytime. And I've encouraged all my assistants to be very forthcoming and I hope this is close to being wrapped up.
DICKERSON: So nobody said Hillary Clinton we'd like to sit down and talk to you from the FBI?
CLINTON Not at this point.
DICKERSON: If there is this moment where voters are looking now in a general election context. They’re thinking of you versus Donald Trump. Some voters may be paying attention now in a different kind of way. What is your answer to those who think, “gee, FBI inquiry, that's a big deal.” What do you say to them?
CLINTON: I say what say now and for many many months. It's a security inquiry. I always took classified material seriously. There was never any material marked classified that was sent or received by me and I look forward to this being this wrapped up.
…
11:25:35 AM Eastern
DICKERSON: And now we’ve got a mother and grandmother running for commander-in-chief.
When you're out campaigning, are you following the example of your mother or thinking about the example you're setting for your daughter and granddaughter.
CLINTON: Well, I think about my mother a lot of because she campaigned with me and for me in 2008. And she was the most formative influence in my life by far. And her encouragement given her own very difficult life to get back up when you're knocked down and to serve people and to think about ways that you can improve the world. You know, I hear that voice all the time.
