• March 28, 2024

The Media Sets The Stage For The Victim, Hillary

While the 2016 campaign has been hard to predict, the media know how they want to play it: Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee, will be the dignified victim of relentless “attacks” from her wild and hostile Republican opponent, Donald Trump.

The press has painted the picture clearly in the days since Trump became the de facto GOP nominee. In a May 6 interview, NBC “Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt encouraged Trump to “start on her” by asking if there is anything that is “off the table” when it comes to campaigning against her.

“You’ve said a number of times that you haven’t started on Hillary Clinton,” said Holt, inviting Trump to strike his opponent. “So start on her. Give me three words that you would use to define her, that you will use as you press forward.”

By comparison, Holt interviewed Clinton in January and he asked her to respond to criticism she faces from her political opponents.

“I was wondering, you’ve obviously been in tough battles, political battles,” said Holt. “But do you get your feelings hurt sometimes?”

Granted the opportunity, Clinton took it. “I have led a very public life now for 25 years,” she said. “I’ve been subjected to all kinds of attacks, in large measure because of what I stand for and what I fight for. But I’m going to answer questions regardless of where they come from or who poses them.”

Jake Tapper told the same story in a May 6 interview on CNN.

“[Trump] has taken politics to a new place with his negative branding … and for his supporters, it’s really worked,” the anchor said to Clinton, prepping the former secretary of state with a how-will-you-possibly-cope-with-what’s-coming question.

“He has lately taken to calling you ‘Corrupt Hillary,’ and he’s had some rather personal, pointed tweets. Have you learned anything from watching the way that Republicans dealt with him in the primaries that will inform how you will deal with such an unconventional candidate?”

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