ABC let its bias known Thursday evening during World News Tonight as their presidential debate recap was a glorified Hillary Clinton highlight reel. Opening his report, ABC’s Tom Llamas seemed to wag his finger at Donald Trump for his comments about not accepting the result of the election. From there he hyped Clinton’s performance and her attacks on Trump, “Hillary Clinton painting Trump as a chronic whiner.”
“Trump's comments, unprecedented in American politics, come as his poll numbers plummet,” he chided, “Clinton pointing out Trump defended himself in part by attacking the looks of his accusers.” He went on to tout how Clinton was able to bait Trump into saying “such a nasty woman,” and how she learned the art of interrupting from Trump.
Llamas rounded out his report by mocking Trump for his demeanor after the debate while he was still on stage and glorifyed Clinton’s:
The debate ending like it started, with no handshake, Trump alone at his podium, tearing off his notes, stuffing them in his pocket as Hillary Clinton walked away. Shaking the moderator's hand, relief on her face. The debates, finally behind her.
ABC immediately followed up their collection of Clinton’s greatest hits with playing up President Barack Obama’s and First Lady Michelle Obama’s speeches for Clinton on the campaign trail. “Moments ago, perhaps her most powerful advocate, First Lady Michelle Obama and reacting to Trump's words over whether this election will be legitimate,” hyped Anchor David Muir, “And the president, too, on what he saw last night.”
“Hillary Clinton walked to the back of her plane, all smiles,” ABC’s Cecilia Vega reported gleefully, “Her performance earning this ringing endorsement from President Obama -- "Outstanding 3 for 3 debate sweep."”
Obama was in Florida Thursday on Clinton’s behalf to slam Trump and Vega seemed amused by it, “And tonight, the president ripping into Donald Trump for refusing to say he'll accept the results of the election.” And “First Lady Michelle Obama, firing up the faithful” in Arizona according to Vega, who flaunted the Clinton campaign’s expansion into the state:
Arizona hasn't voted a Democrat into the White House in two decades. The Clinton team has 150 staffers on the ground there. Visits just this week alone from Chelsea Clinton, Bernie Sanders, of course Michelle Obama. They really think they have a shot at Arizona, and not just there. They are trying to make inroads in other red states like Georgia, even Texas now.
ABC's glorification of Clinton lasted for seven minutes, 12 seconds.
Transcripts below:
ABC
World News Tonight
October 20, 2016
6:31:20 OM EasternDAVID MUIR: And what a brawl it was, and tonight, with just 19 days to go, so many talking about Donald Trump's declaration last night. That he is not sure he will accept the results of the election. What an election this has been. You'll remember at their first debate, the candidates shaking hands. There was none of that last night. This was about as close as they came to one another, and it was bruising. And look at this tonight. A Virgin Air flight, and nearly every monitor on that plane, the debate. More than 70 million tuning in. And today, Trump held firm on that notion about the election. ABC's Tom Llamas, leading us off.
...
LLAMAS: Hillary Clinton painting Trump as a chronic whiner.
CLINTON: Every time Donald thinks things are not going in his direction, he claims whatever it is, is rigged against him. The FBI was rigged. The Republican primary was rigged. The court system and the federal judge is rigged against him. There was even a time when he didn't get an Emmy for his TV program three years in a row and he started tweeting that the Emmys were rigged.
TRUMP: I should have gotten it.
CLINTON: This is a mindset. This is how Donald thinks. And it's funny, but it's also really troubling.
LLAMAS: Trump's comments, unprecedented in American politics, come as his poll numbers plummet.
...
LLAMAS: The debate ending like it started, with no handshake, Trump alone at his podium, tearing off his notes, stuffing them in his pocket as Hillary Clinton walked away. Shaking the moderator's hand, relief on her face. The debates, finally behind her.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: All right, well, at least the debates are behind us. Tom Llamas with us live tonight. Tom, Donald Trump said he will accept the election results if he wins. He did go further today, saying he reserves the right to take action if he doesn't think the election is fair?
LLAMAS: He did, David. He says he'll accept a clear election result, but he reserves the right to contest or file a legal challenge on a questionable result. He finished the thought, saying, bottom line, we're going to win so big. David?
MUIR: Tom llamas leading us off tonight. Tom, our thanks to you, as always.
...
ABC
World News Tonight
October 20, 2016
6:35:45 PM Eastern [2 Minutes 47 Seconds]DAVID MUIR: And now to Hillary Clinton tonight. Moments ago, perhaps her most powerful advocate, First Lady Michelle Obama and reacting to Trump's words over whether this election will be legitimate. And the president, too, on what he saw last night. It was their own one-two punch, as they try to help Clinton on this day after. Here's ABC's Cecilia Vega.
[Cuts to video]
CECILIA VEGA: Fresh off that debate stage –
HILLARY CLINTON: Hey, everybody.
VEGA: Hillary Clinton walked to the back of her plane, all smiles.
CLINTON: I'm feeling, you know, both relieved and very grateful.
VEGA: Her performance earning this ringing endorsement from President Obama -- "Outstanding 3 for 3 debate sweep." And tonight, the president ripping into Donald Trump for refusing to say he'll accept the results of the election.
OBAMA: Trump becomes the first major party nominee in American history to suggest that he will not concede, despite losing the vote, and then says today that he will accept the results if he wins? That -- that is -- that is not a joking matter.
VEGA: He didn't stop there.
BARACK OBAMA: You've got see the bigger picture and say that here in America, we believe in democracy and we accept the will of the people.
VEGA: The president campaigning in Florida, while across the country in Arizona,
MICHELLE OBAMA: You do not keep American democracy in suspension.
VEGA: First Lady Michelle Obama, firing up the faithful.
M. OBAMA: I have been reminded of the importance of hope. I think that one of the reasons this election has been so difficult for so many of us is because that's what's being lost. You see, in this race, we have a candidate whose vision for our country is completely and utterly lacking in hope.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: And Cecilia Vega with us live, as well. The president was in Florida today, always a battleground. But the first lady is campaigning in Arizona. Typically, reliably red state. Hillary Clinton sensing an opening there, Cecilia?
VEGA: They definitely do, David. Arizona hasn't voted a Democrat into the White House in two decades. The Clinton team has 150 staffers on the ground there. Visits just this week alone from Chelsea Clinton, Bernie Sanders, of course Michelle Obama. They really think they have a shot at Arizona, and not just there. They are trying to make inroads in other red states like Georgia, even Texas now. David?
MUIR: Cecilia Vega in Ohio, where the Clinton team will be tomorrow. Cecilia, thank you.
