Former ABC Anchor Carole Simpson Endorses Hillary [from the woman who brought us 'Ponytail Guy']

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

It took 15 years to become official, but Carole Simpson has now confirmed what we always suspected: she's a Clinton backer. Readers will recall that during the 1992 campaign, the then ABC News anchor moderated a presidential debate in which she made life uncomfortable for George 41, notably with her snide "who would like to begin, the education president?" poke.

According to this Boston Globe article, back in 2003 Simpson was "eased out" of her anchor chair in favor of Elizabeth Vargas. Simpson has now taken a teaching position at Emerson College in Boston, and last night turned up at a Clinton campaign stop in Salem, New Hampshire, where she proceeded to endorse Hillary's presidential bid. Here's how "First Read," a frequently-updated analysis of the day's political news from the NBC News political unit, reported it [emphasis added]:

Here's a fascinating endorsement for Clinton. Former ABC News veteran Carole Simpson surprised the campaign last night when she showed up in New Hampshire to endorse her, according to NBC/NJ's Athena Jones. “For 40 years I’ve been a journalist, and I have covered our national leaders from Lyndon Johnson to President George W. Bush,” said Simpson, who was there with her class. “I endorse you for president of the United States. It’s very freeing now that I’m not a journalist, that I’m able to speak my own mind and free expression, but I just wanted you to know that I had a dream that before I died I would see a woman as president of the United States. I think you are the woman and I think this is the time.”

“That means a lot to me, Carole,” Clinton said. “Thank you very much.”

Veterans of the 1992 Clinton campaign will recall that Simpson was the moderator of the now-infamous town hall debate between Bill Clinton-Bush-Perot, in which Bush was criticized for looking at his watch. During that debate, Simpson was particularly tough on Bush to the chagrin of the Bush campaign and other Republicans.

Well, this is refreshing: a former leading MSMer endorsing a Dem presidential candidate. But why should members of the liberal media wait to be "eased out" before letting their Dem flags fly? Why not convene a major TV special, simulcast on all the broadcast networks plus MSNBC and CNN, say a week or so before the Iowa caucuses, in which all the anchors, reporters and "correspondents" from the leading MSM outlets were brought together and given the opportunity to endorse their favorite Dem candidates? Just a thought.

Aside: it was that same Richmond debate moderated by Simpson that brought us the famous "ponytail guy," the fellow Rush has had so much fun with over the years who entreated the candidates to "treat us as your children."

[theDentist]

Gee, I’m surprised. :-|

[rockabyebaby]

Her daughter is a doctor here in Boston.

I'm SHOCKED, SHOCKED that Ms. Simpson would back Hillary, SHOCKED I tell ya!

[bmwcyle]

She looks stupid also.

[Badeye]

I’d say she wants to be the first African American Press Secretary in future Clinton administration.

That said, who DIDN’T KNOW who this woman supported for fifteen years on television?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"Vote Hillary - the unanimous choice of vacuous Liberal newsreaders!"

(...and vote often.)

[weegee]

ABC Political Director Mark Halperin Memo Dated Friday October 8, 2004

It goes without saying that the stakes are getting very high for the country and the campaigns - and our responsibilities become quite grave I do not want to set off (sp?) and endless colloquy that none of us have time for today - nor do I want to stifle one. Please respond if you feel you can advance the discussion.

The New York Times (Nagourney/Stevenson) and Howard Fineman on the web both make the same point today: the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done.

Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.

We have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, but that doesn't mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides "equally" accountable when the facts don't warrant that.

I'm sure many of you have this week felt the stepped up Bush efforts to complain about our coverage. This is all part of their efforts to get away with as much as possible with the stepped up, renewed efforts to win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.

It's up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But as one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest. Now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right.

[Red Badger]

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Bucking for WH spokeslady spot in the next Clintoon Administration.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Carole Simpson, the former ABC anchor who brought us Ponytail Guy, has publicly endorsed Hillary. Ping to Today show list.

[johnny7]

She looks stupid also.

A pompous, sh•t-for-brains...

[roses of sharon]

OMG, she is teaching? God help us.

[donna]

ABC News anchor Carole Simpson to Bill Clinton:
"You’ve got the big plane, you’ve got the big house, you’ve got the cars, the protection. Aren’t you going to suffer great post-partum depression after you leave office?"....

Simpson to Clinton while inside Arkansas tomato factory:
"I have to bask in this moment, for a moment, because I am here talking to the most powerful man on the planet, who was a poor boy from Arkansas..."

Clinton, cutting her off:
"A place like this."

Simpson:
"Place like this. I am an African-American woman, grew up working class on the south side of Chicago, and this is a pretty special moment for me to be here talking to you. How does it feel talking to me? That I made it, too, when people said I wouldn’t be able to?"

-- From Simpson’s taped interview with President Clinton, on ABC’s World News Tonight/Sunday, November 7.

http://www.mediaresearch.org/notablequotables/bestof/1999/best13-15.asp

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Journalistic professionalism went out with Watergate.

[sweet_diane]

"It’s very freeing now that I’m not a journalist, that I’m able to speak my own mind and free expression,"

Funniest darn thing I've read all day!

[Migraine]

Simpson, who sang “Happy Days are here Again” with Phil Donahue, on his show, the day after Clinton’s election in Nov., 1992, is and has been a shill and a media ho.

[TNCMAXQ]

Yet none other than Mr Bush his own self thanked her at the end of that debate and complimented her on being so fair. Like his son, that civility is part of the problem, I think.

[N. Theknow]

How tragic!

She suffers from the same pigment destructive disease as Michael Jackson.

While it affected his nose, it only seems to have gotten into her hair.

[capt. norm]

She had the most irritating voice in all of television. It was a raspy, harsh voice that my wife would not tolerate and it always caused her to pick up the remote and change channels.

When she would say her name on the air, it sounded like she was verbally reprimanding her entire audience.

I have no idea how this vile sounding woman (according to the consulting services, voice/audio is 70% of how the average viewer rates the people who show up on their 'tube')

There had to be a mountain of political correctness that allowed her to get that job.

[quark]

Ho-hum Dog Bites Man headline: “Dirtbag Media Skank Endorses Hillary Rodham Satan”