Why does ABC News entrust its coverage of Hillary Clinton stories to one of the former first family’s longtime capos?
George Stephanopoulos, who served for years as an adviser to former President Bill Clinton, can sit across from former FBI director James Comey and say things like, “Your critics say this is a clear, clear, clear double standard. You revealed information about Hillary Clinton. You concealed information about Donald Trump. That elected Donald Trump,” and “you’ve decided to say publicly there is a criminal investigation — of Hillary Clinton, which many considered a break with precedent” and the press considers this scene to be perfectly normal.
Stephanopoulos, whom Clinton aides credited for using their work after the newsman had a particularly combative interview with Clinton Cash author Peter Schweizer, can ask Comey, “do you think that the FBI would be in better shape today … if you had simply put out that one line statement, ‘We decline to prosecute’?” and “Can you assure people today — can you assure them that the Obama Justice Department was not protecting Hillary Clinton?” and this is ordinary.
Stephanopoulos, who as a news anchor used to partake in daily strategy calls with fellow Clinton White House alums James Carville and Paul Begala, can ask Comey questions like, “Your critics say you offered way too much information,” and “to Hillary Clinton supporters, that sounded like you’re accusing her of a crime even though you don’t prosecute,” and few — if any — in the press blink an eye.
After all, Stephanopoulos, whose knee-jerk response to the Clinton email scandal was to say, “we’ll also see if her critics overreact on this one,” is a “well-respected” member of the press; he’s “one of the biggest stars” on television.
If you think it’s strange that a former Clinton aide and Clinton Foundation donor should be assigned the task of interviewing Comey on the Clinton email scandal, you’re probably not alone. It’s strange indeed that no one at his network seems to care.
