Part one of ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir’s exclusive Hillary Clinton interviewed aired on Wednesday’s Good Morning America and, to the surprise of no one who visits this site, Muir bowed down the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee as he faithfully shepherded her to a window so she could oversee the massive crowd as was about to address.
Co-host, former Clinton aide, and Clinton Foundation donor George Stephanopoulos couldn’t hide his excitement in teasing “Muir's exclusive with Clinton on the brink of this historic moment” and later introducing him by remarking how there was “a lot of emotion in the room” at the Clinton ally.
“Oh, there was a lot of emotion, George and Robin, and it was eight years ago to the day, hard to believe that Hillary Clinton was giving that other speech conceding to Barack Obama but last night, she was back this time having clinched the math for the nomination and making history,” Muir began (with part two airing on World News Tonight).
If it hadn’t already been made clear that it wouldn’t be a tough interview, Muir illustrated the lengths the media will go to praise her as he ushered her into a room above the crowd in Brooklyn so she could witness it:
MUIR [TO CLINTON]: I just want to show you this. This is the crowd that is waiting for you.
HILLARY CLINTON: Oh, my gosh. Look at that. Oh.
MUIR: So, this is eight years ago to the day that you conceded and tonight you will be out there —
CLINTON: That's right.
MUIR: For a very different reason.
CLINTON: That's right. It's almost hard to take in. It really is.
MUIR: Is it sinking in?
CLINTON: Oh, this is sinking it in, I can tell you that. It's — it's an overwhelming feeling, David, really.
Muir followed with quite the softball question concerning this notion of “unfinished business” for women in the United States and around the world to have a female U.S. president: “You have talked so often about the unfinished business, not only in this country but around the world when it comes to women's rights. Is having the first female American president part of that unfinished business?”
The remainder that was shown centered around inquiring about possible contact with Bernie Sanders and retelling a conciliatory meeting she had in 2008 after then-Senator Barack Obama sealed up the Democratic nomination.
In previewing some actual topics of substance that’ll come in part two, Muir gushed about Clinton’s reaction to debating Trump: “I also asked is she ready to debate Donald Trump? and, George and robin, that's when her eyes lit up ans she said I'm not only ready, it will be a singular moment in her words in American history.”
The transcript of the tease and segment from ABC’s Good Morning America on June 8 can be found below.
ABC’s Good Morning America
June 8, 2016
7:00 a.m. Eastern [TEASE]
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking News]
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Trump and Clinton now set for an epic showdown and this morning, David Muir's exclusive with Clinton on the brink of this historic moment.
HILLARY CLINTON [TO MUIR ON THE CROWD]: Oh, my gosh. Look at that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Only on GMA.
(....)
7:05 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: ABC News Exclusive; Hillary Clinton on Making History; First Interview Since Clinching Nomination]
STEPHANOPOULOS: Now to that ABC News exclusive. World News Tonight anchor David Muir sat down with Hillary right before she went on stage last night. He’s here and, boy, Dave a lot of emotion in the room.
DAVID MUIR: Oh, there was a lot of emotion, George and Robin, and it was eight years ago to the day, hard to believe that Hillary Clinton was giving that other speech conceding to Barack Obama but last night, she was back this time having clinched the math for the nomination and making history. We were with her in a room perched above the crowd and when she walked in she had not yet seen the thousands waiting. Take a look [TO CLINTON] I just want to show you this. This is the crowd that is waiting for you.
HILLARY CLINTON: Oh, my gosh. Look at that. Oh.
MUIR: So, this is eight years ago to the day that you conceded and tonight you will be out there —
CLINTON: That's right.
MUIR: For a very different reason.
CLINTON: That's right. It's almost hard to take in. It really is.
MUIR: Is it sinking in?
CLINTON: Oh, this is sinking it in, I can tell you that. It's — it's an overwhelming feeling, David, really.
MUIR: I've heard you were editing the speech right up until 30 seconds ago.
CLINTON: That's right. Exactly.
MUIR: Secretary Clinton had been working on the speech all day. In the car, moments before driving to Brooklyn and she revealed to us that former President Bill Clinton had weighed in. [TO CLINTON]: You have talked so often about the unfinished business, not only in this country but around the world when it comes to women's rights. Is having the first female American president part of that unfinished business?
CLINTON: It is, David and it is, of course symbolic, but symbols mean something and symbols often can spark hope and action in people, particularly young people and I think it would be a real milestone with my nomination for our country, but it will also send a signal around the world.
MUIR: We asked her if a meeting with Bernie Sanders is now coming. Eight years ago, it was Clinton conceding meeting with then-Senator Barack Obama who had just beaten her, quietly meeting at Senator Dianne Feinstein's home. [TO CLINTON] There we two chairs. Two glasses of water. You were alone.
CLINTON: Actually two glasses of wine too.
MUIR: That helps.
CLINTON: Diane had to pour us both some, you know, California wine.
MUIR: Have you heard from him yet?
CLINTON: We've continually talked throughout this process and —
MUIR: But since the math added up to you from you heard from the President?
CLINTON: We were supposed to talk tonight but we haven't yet connected. We'll probably do it later tonight.
MUIR: Has he signaled to you that he’s ready to fight the fight for you?
CLINTON: Well, I think he has signaled that he's ready to fight the fight against Donald Trump.
MUIR: Do you think it's time for a meeting with Senator Sanders?
CLINTON: Well, I'm certainly reaching out. Our campaigns are talking to one another. I want to unify the party.
STEPHANOPOULOS: One step at a time, David. That phone call with President Obama right after she came off the stage?
MUIR: Right after she came off the stage they did talk and told me, George, that she does see them campaigning in her words side by side. We also asked about the VP short list, about the FBI and her e-mail. If there's anything coming that could derail her campaign. I also asked is she ready to debate Donald Trump? and, George and robin, that's when her eyes lit up ans she said I'm not only ready, it will be a singular moment in her words in American history.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And we'll see all that on World News Tonight.
MUIR: Can’t wait. Thanks guys.
ROBIN ROBERTS: We’ll be watching as always. Thanks, David. Thank you.
