Big Trouble for Little Stephanopoulos

Rush Limbaugh.com ^ | May 18, 2015 | Rush Limbaugh

[Kaslin]

RUSH: We got George Stephanopoulos in bigger trouble at ABC than anybody knows. ABC is more worried about this than anybody knows. That's the story on Page Six of the New York Post today, and I tend to think that it's probably true. I really do. Stephanopoulos was to be, for lack of a better term, the anchor of their entire 2016 presidential campaign coverage. And he has just rendered himself -- well, in the game of pretense, where we all pretend the media's objective, and we all pretend the media is all journalists and so forth, under that umbrella of pretense, Stephanopoulos has blown himself out of the deal.

Now, I don't believe that's really gonna be the case. I think ABC is gonna try to find any number of ways to get this guy, Stephanopoulos, back involved in the 2016 campaign. I think the real test is gonna be just how cooperative the Republicans end up being with whatever plan ABC has, 'cause really he was it. He was the guy that was gonna do the debates. He was the guy that was gonna anchor all the coverage, Democrat and Republican. He was the guy that was gonna anchor all of the election night, all the campaign, he was it, and now he's jaundiced, now he's tainted.

But they're gonna find a way, mark my words, they're gonna let time pass, they're gonna let things go, hope people forget, try various ways to rehab Stephanopoulos. But Peter Schweizer has a new column in USA Today and it turns out that Stephanopoulos has only told half the story about his real involvement with the Clinton Crime Family Foundation. It wasn't just that he donated 75 large. He was an employee, for all intents and purpose. He was moderating seminars.

He was acting as an employee of the Clinton Crime Family Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative when they were running around doing seminars and panel discussions at various places. He was right up there as an advocate, not just a donor. I mean, that's bad enough that he donated and didn't tell ABC. Well, he didn't come clean about its totality. And there are other aspects of this that apparently have not come out that are effervescing behind the scenes, under the surface that might bubble over, which is gonna give ABC an even greater challenge in rehabbing Stephanopoulos between now and when it really picks up, as far as the 2016 campaign.

Jeff Greenfield, just have to mention this, John Nulty has a note at Breitbart, that Jeff Greenfield who worked at ABC for many, many moons, Jeff Greenfield, noted liberal media specialist, he worked at ABC 14 years as an analyst, and he was a speechwriter for John Lindsay, Senator Robert Kennedy, and he says what I said last week. What Stephanopoulos was doing was buying access, like everybody has to do with the Clintons. You want access, you pay for it. And he was buying access.

He had a memoir, autobiography of sorts, and in it he was kind of cutting to the Clintons in several places. He was hard on the Clintons and Bill when it came to Monica Lewinsky, and it's now thought that much of this money that was spending was to reingratiate himself with his former bosses. And I think all of that is just a bunch of muckety-muck for public consumption.

In times like this, I don't think the Clintons are ever gonna doubt Stephanopoulos' loyalty. I mean, nobody would know who he is if it weren't for the fact they had hired him way back when to work with Carville and The Forehead running the Clinton campaign in '92 and the war room and so forth. But it still has execs at ABC a little troubled.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: This little sound bite here from Howard Kurtz on Sunday, his Media Buzz show. And again he's speaking with the former Bush White House spokesman, Mercedes Schlapp about Stephanopoulos and giving 75 grand to the Clinton Crime Family Foundation and not disclosing it. Kurtz says, "Can the Republicans trust George Stephanopoulos to be fair?" Now, she's here to assess whether or not Stephanopoulos, despite this, could still, say, moderate a debate, or report fairly on a Republican campaign. Kurtz wants to know can Republicans trust Stephanopoulos to be fair. The question itself is -- (laughing) -- you know, the question, it's so filled with hope. It's got so much hope in it. (imitating Kurtz) "But look, despite all this, can George still do it? Can the Republicans still trust George?"

SCHLAPP: You worry about the fact that will he be able to even give Hillary Clinton a fair interview, an objective interview. You know, it makes everyone very concerned on the right. You're starting to see these stories pop up on National Review. Rush Limbaugh even talked about it, about him, that he was never a journalist in the first place. So it does impact I think, George, especially for this particular presidential cycle where Hillary Clinton is running.

KURTZ: I don't think it's fair to say he's never been journalist in the first place. I think he's worked hard in 18 years to put his partisan past behind him. This brings it up again.

RUSH: (laughing) He just was discovered giving 75 grand to the Clinton Crime Family Foundation! He's worked hard to put his partisan past behind him. He's worked so hard, maybe he should have give an 150 grand to prove that he's putting his partisan past behind him. He hasn't worked hard to put it behind him. He'd worked hard to cover it up. He started out as a political hack. If you don't like the term, campaign consultant and advisor, one of the troika that ran the Clinton war room, the purpose of which was to destroy anybody that got in Clinton's way, be it a bimbo, be it Ken Starr, be it a Republican.

That's what Stephanopoulos did. He was never a journalist, and then one day he's hired by ABC, and immediately by virtue of that alone became a journalist. And then for 18 years started working really hard on putting his hackery behind him, but somewhere in the midst of working real hard for 18 years he saw necessary to donate 75 large to the Clinton Crime Family Foundation. Guess that was a temporary setback in working hard to putting his partisan past behind.

My point is he never was a journalist, he never became a journalist, he's not a journalist now. I wonder what they would say, let's say hypothetically on Friday of this week, I open the program by announcing to you that I am leaving the EIB Network, that I have been offered Brian Williams' job and starting in September I'm going to be the lead anchor for the NBC Nightly News. Do you think Howard Kurtz would say, "No, let's give him a chance to put his partisanship behind him and see if he can become a journalist here."

Do you think -- (laughing) -- the Drive-By Media would be open to the idea of me anchoring the NBC Nightly News, when NBC announces that Brian Williams is not coming back? How do you think that would work? Of course it's preposterous. They wouldn't accept it. They wouldn't put up with it, and somebody would bomb NBC. But when Stephanopoulos comes out of the Clinton war room hired by ABC to be a journalist, "Oh, yeah, it's just a natural next step," which it is in their world.

It's just a natural next step. You come from partisan political hackery, war rooms, purpose of which is to destroy political opponents of the Clintons, next thing you know you're doing Good Morning America as a journalist, hell, yes, it's a natural progression in one's leftist career. Yeah, it's not fair to say he's never been a journalist. He's worked hard 18 years to put the past behind him. (laughing) Then ABC shouldn't be worried.

ABC should be telling us, "What you mean, pull him off the debates? Hell, no, we're not gonna pull him off. I don't care if he said he's not gonna moderate. We're gonna put him in the debates. He's a journalist, he's worked hard for the past 18 years. 75 grand? Hell, he didn't know. He's just trying to be nice to 'em. I mean, they gave him his first shot in politics. He's just being nice, that's all it was, maybe buying a little access, but he wasn't partisan." That's the way they look at this.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

It’s a shame, Stephanopoulos had a great future in dwarf tossing.

[eyedigress]

Big Media is going to have a problem with Hillary.

Go ahead and blow a billion dollars up Americas collective ass. George is nothing.

Watch the Clinton machine implode!

[navyguy]

Unfortunately the reality is that Stephanopoulos isn’t in any trouble at all with anyone on the Left. Most of the media won’t even mention this issue.

Criminal activity, blatant conflicts of interest, totally incestuous politics and media... all of this is perfectly normal and acceptable to the Left. To them it’s just the normal way the world works.

The Left has no principles, it only has goals.

[lowbridge]

I never needed evidence of him giving away money to the clinton foundation as proof that he is a biased hack democrat activist under the guise of a journalist. I knew this way back when ABC first announced hiring him, before even his first day on the job.

[longfellow]

Another one that should be on his knees on the capitol steps with a gun to the back of his head.

[oust the louse]

The Left has no principles, it only has goals.

I’m using this as my new tag line...

[navyguy]

Have at it! And spread it around... it’s the freakin’ truth.

[VRW Conspirator]

This charade has been going on for close to 20 years. Stephie is and always will be a Democrat hack, bought and paid for. ABC knew then and know it now. ABC was in on it.

[Theodore R.]

I have never watched his program and never will. Let the American people learn from his views as they are so uninformed.

[I want the USA back]

Shed no tears for pretty face. He will get a job in TV right away.

[Be Free]

"Stephie is and always will be a Democrat hack"

Yeah, but there's something else going on here. He's isn't just a democrat hack, he's a Clinton shill.

In the recent weeks/months, Brian Williams was taken out, Hillary is under relentless attacks, and now Stephie. It's almost like someone is clearing the decks to make way for a new entrant.

As it's all very Alinsky-like, you must consider whether Obama & Co. are behind it, making sure THEY pick the next nominee, not the "inevitable" Hillary to be sure.

It could also be the Godfather of the Clinton Family, Bill himself. It would kill him if Hillary was better; and would harm his legacy if she were worse.

I really can't believe the republicans can organize a 1-mile hike for Boy Scouts, so I'm doubting anyone on the right. Other theories?

Regardless, it'll be fun to watch - and to see who gets it when the next shoe drops.

[Liz]

AN OUTSTANDING POST BY FREEPER TRAVIS MCGEE: "Most viewers of the Jan 7 New Hampshire Republican primary debate, wondered why debate moderator George Stephanopoulos of ABC-News kept asking seemingly off-topic questions about the candidates’ views."

We now understand White House War Room “General” Valerie Jarrett had been coaching hard-left suckups to deliver the administration's “talking points” and strategic memes in the effort to dupe America voters.

Transitioned into an ABC-TV (gag) journo, the Clinton White House War Room “General” George Stephanopoulos just happened to pick debate questions that the cunning Obama White House wanted to float, as a diversion......

[Liz]

When Barack Obama took office in 2009....ABC-TV "Good Morning America" anchors and guests gushed at the (cough) 'sheer brilliance' of Obama's incoming cabinet, and referenced Obama's "team of economic gladiators"...which included "gladiator" Secy of the Treasuey Tim Geithner (who had a problem filing taxes).

BIG BARFER Predictably, reconstituted Clinton factotum, George Stephanopoulos, now an ABC-TV newsman, rhapsodized about the Obama picks on ABC-TV: "We have not seen this kind of combination of star power and brain power and political muscle this early in a cabinet in our lifetimes," Steffie gushed onair at ABC-TV.

[Liz]

THERE'S AN OLD SAYING: Once a Clinton factotum always a Clinton factotum: George Stephanopoulos transitioned into an ABC journo (without surgery--snix). He donated $75,000 to the Foundation and was deeply involved; Clinton Cash author, Schweizer, has been assembling the track record:

<><> •In 2006 Georgeopoulous was a featured attendee and panel moderator at the annual CGI meeting.

<><> •in 2007 he was listed as a featured attendee at the CGI meeting alongside big money Lucas Lundin, Frank Giustra, Frank Holmes, and Carlos Slim.

<><> •He was a 2008 panelist at the annual meeting.

<><> •In 2009 he was a panel moderator at the CGI annual meeting.

<><> •In 2010, he was a “notable member” of CGI's exclusive members-only club w/ a $20,000 membership price tag.

=============================================

THIS IS FROM THE CLINTON FOUNDATION ARCHIVES:

[Liz]

BACKSTORY CIRCA 2009---OBAMA TAKES OFFICE Seems phone calls were being made between Obama's then-COS Rahm Emanuel and ABC-TV's George Stephanopoulous.

Media Research President Brent Bozell, a vocal critic, made the claim that these were "strategy phone calls," and requested ABC to respond. "With each passing day, ABC's failure to speak to, and about, this issue tarnishes further the network's reputation as a legitimate news entity," Bozell writes.

ABC-TV responds to Brent Bozell

Dear Mr. Bozell,

Thank you for your letter regarding George Stephanopoulos. To be crystal clear, George Stephanopoulos does not advise Rahm Emanuel nor anyone else in the Obama Administration. He reports on the Obama Administration. He speaks to Mr. Emanuel, a friend he has know for nearly two decades, as a source, just as he speaks to countless sources across the political spectrum each and every day. That is his job as an anchor and reporter and one that he does according to the highest standards.

In your letter, and public utterances, you falsely assert that ABC News has been silent on this matter. That is simply untrue. Upon reading your press release last week, we reached out to the MRC to make it abundantly clear that you had totally mischaracterized the Politico story written by John Harris last Tuesday.

Indeed, Politico posted a story last Friday by Ben Smith pointing out exactly how badly you had mangled the facts. In that post, Harris stated that, " The calls are certainly a fascinating Washington ritual, but by no means do I think that George Stephanopoulos is participating in strategy sessions.

To my mind, he established his journalistic bona fides more than a decade ago, even as the Clinton administration was still underway, when he showed his willingness to report aggressively on Democrats as well as Republicans."

To give further lie to your claim that ABC News has not responded to your distortions, our senior vice president was quoted in the Politico story saying, "George speaks to Emanuel, but he speaks to plenty of conservatives and Republicans every single day -- that's part of his job.

The idea that there is some kind of daily conference call that George hops on is just nonsense and not true." Furthermore, last Friday, a reporter from CNS News, which was founded by you and continues to be directly affiliated with the MRC, contacted our media relations staff for a piece he'd been assigned to write on this very topic.

We cooperated immediately and provided him an on the record response. We have since learned from your reporter that his story was killed. You have said, "if the charges are false, provide the evidence. We will gladly accept it and consider the matter closed."

From the moment you issued your first press release on the Politico story last week - and numerous times since - we have made it clear to you and your staff that your assertions regarding Mr. Stephanopoulos and ABC News are false and based on a willful and knowing distortion of John Harris' original story.

Sincerely,

Kerry Smith, Senior Vice President
Editorial Quality, ABC News

[EternalVigilance]

The fact that Republicans will have anything to do with Democrat fake media outfits like ABC, much less with partisan hacks like Steponallofus, is just one of a billion data points that prove that we no longer have a “two-party system.”

It’s just more glaring evidence of the existence of the Uniparty.

Shoot, fifteen years ago at the Philly convention I observed with my own eyes and ears a personal encounter between Rove and Carville. Couldn’t have been cozier or more friendly. They were jokng around like old drinking buddies.

[Hatteras]

Clinton looks like Ted Kennedy in Rush’s crime family pic...

[Rumplemeyer]

I make a prediction, Hilary will raise Hundreds of Millions of dollars for Her “campaign”, when the roof falls in, she will blame ________ (fill in the blank, declare she is ending Her “campaign” and donate ALL campaign funds to charity.

Want to guess which charity that is?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Looks like Stepinawfulpis finally “stepped in it”.