Counting down to the midterm elections one week away, on Tuesday, ABC’s Good Morning America offered a report that labeled Republicans as “combative” while hailing Democrats for “stressing unity.” No mention was made of any of the recent incendiary comments from prominent Democrats on the campaign trail.
Noting that President Trump’s campaign team was “hitting the airwaves” with an ad for the midterms, Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce observed that “many Republican candidates are running as close to the President as possible.” She lamented GOP contenders “adopting Trump’s signature combative style.”
Soundbites followed of Republican ads that called out “left-wing mobs paid to riot in the streets” and “The screaming, the violence, the smears, and death threats” against conservatives across the country.
Bruce then cheered how “most Democrats are going in the opposite direction, stressing unity.” One clip ran of Texas Congressman and Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke telling voters in an ad: “You may have seen some of these negative attack ads seeking to scare you about what we’re trying to do for this state and our country at this critical moment.” Another was featured of embattled North Dakota Senator Hedi Heitkamp claiming: “I approve this message because this is why I put party aside.”
The reporter briefly acknowledged that “Democrats are also on the attack on health care and the economy,” amid soundbites of ads going after Republicans over their opposition to ObamaCare and support for tax cuts.
Conveniently missing from the story was any discussion of prominent Democrats specifically calling for less civility. Back in June, Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters encouraged the harassment of Trump administration officials. On October 9, Hillary Clinton told CNN: “You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for.” The same week, a video was leaked of former Attorney General Eric Holder telling Democratic voters to “kick” Republicans.
But according to ABC, Democrats have just been “stressing unity” throughout the campaign.
Here is a full transcript of Bruce’s October 30 report:
8:04 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay, we’re gonna count down to the midterms now. One week away and we have some big numbers. More than 19 million people have already voted in what could be the most expensive midterms ever, spending expected to hit a record $5.2 billion. Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce on Capitol Hill with the latest on all that. And, Mary, the President all in, in this final week.
MARY BRUCE: Absolutely, George. One week to go and President Trump is making an all-out push to rally his base, holding 11 campaign events in 8 different states over these next 7 days.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Trump’s Campaign Blitz; President Releases First TV Ad With One Week to Midterms]
With just one week to go, President Trump is hitting the airwaves.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN [ANNOUNCER, TRUMP CAMPAIGN AD]: There’s more opportunity and security to invest in the ones that matter.
BRUCE: The Trump campaign out with its first midterm ad, but one thing missing, any mention of the President himself.
WOMAN: Choose the right future.
BRUCE: Trump admits the midterms are a check on his presidency.
DONALD TRUMP: Get out in 2018 because you’re voting for me in 2018. You’re voting for me.
BRUCE: And across the country, many Republican candidates are running as close to the President as possible.
[RON DESANTIS CAMPAIGN AD]
BRUCE: Many Republicans adopting Trump’s signature combative style.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [ANNOUNCER, NRCC CAMPAIGN AD]: Prima donna athletes protesting our anthem, left-wing mobs paid to riot in the streets.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN B [ANNOUNCER, FUTURE45 CAMPAIGN AD]: The screaming, the violence, the smears, and death threats.
BRUCE: While most Democrats are going in the opposite direction, stressing unity.
REP. BETO O’ROURKE [CAMPAIGN AD]: You may have seen some of these negative attack ads seeking to scare you about what we’re trying to do for this state and our country at this critical moment.
SEN. HEIDI HEITKAMP [CAMPAIGN AD]: And both parties do nothing but fight. I approve this message because this is why I put party aside.
BRUCE: But Democrats are also on the attack on health care...
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN C [UNDERWOOD CAMPAIGN AD]: He lied about taking away my health care coverage.
BRUCE: ...and the economy.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN B: The Republican tax scheme gives huge breaks to corporations but raises taxes on middle class families.
BRUCE: Now, the President has been calling for a softer tone, urging politicians to stop treating their opponents as being, quote, “morally defective.” But President Trump himself is still on the attack, recently labeling one Democratic candidate as a “thief” and calling one top liberal donor a “crazy lunatic.” So, George, we’re really seeing a tale of two Trumps here as he makes this final push.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Yeah, a lot of mixed messages there. I’m going to be anchoring our coverage of the midterms next Tuesday night, right here at 8:00 p.m. Our whole team will be here all night long.
