One could argue that ABC was playing games with Blinken Thursday when George Stephanopoulos, Good Morning America cohost and ex-Clinton official, aired a friendly interview featuring Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Stephanopoulos claimed in a tease that Stephanopoulos was trying to get Blinken to share the latest information on the pressing issues facing our country right now.
Stephanopoulos once even told Blinken that his “face just lit-up” when he expressed pride at being an American.
Stephanopoulos interviewed Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019. However, the liberal journalist behaved very differently. Stephanopoulos actually accused Pompeo of being part to ethnic cleansing.
The interview was dominated by Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine. The first question was not even asked. Stephanopoulos instead remarked that “in parts Russia it seems like [Vladimir Putin] is] preparing for war all out.” He then asked the first question: “How bad will it get if it has to retreat from Kherson?”
Stephanopoulos did not continue to ask questions but instead made statements about Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrianian President. Only with the next Russian president.
George asked a question that viewers who have pulses knew Blinken would not answer shortly after: “Your read, your read, so many analysts says that Vladimir Putin is losing the war. He’s desperate. What happens if he responds by launching a nuclear weapon?
Stephanopoulos shifted to China after being asked whether Putin is rational. Instead of pressing Blinken about U.S. foreign policies in the Asia-Pacific, and whether their weakness has given China an opportunity like Russia felt with Ukraine, he continued playing it softly (click “expand”)
STEPHANOPOULOS : Let’s talk China. President Xi is about to begin a second term. You stated that you are now convinced that China will seek reunification of Taiwan in a much shorter time frame. What does this mean?
(….)
STEPHANOPOULOS – By any means necessary.
BLINKEN: By any means possible, including pressure and coercion, and possibly force if necessary. Taiwan is the largest manufacturer of semiconductors. All smart phones have chips. Most of this is made in Taiwan. That could lead to major disruptions.
STEPHANOPOULOS : But — but China has so much more power than Taiwan. They will take Taiwan if they want, won’t?
Stephanopoulos’s last region to discuss was Saudi Arabia. Again, it was more about a discussion between like-minded liberals than seeking accountability or information.
STEPHANOPOULOS – President Biden is about to announce the afternoon release of oil from his strategic petroleum reserve, at a time when Saudi Arabia has not been cooperating on the energy front. Many of the President’s aides have begun to question whether Saudi Arabia is really an ally.
(….)
STEPHANOPOULOS – These are not the actions of an ally.
BLINKEN
Stephanopoulos concluded by asking Americans, who are distressed by the news and what’s going on around the world, “What do you say?” He concluded that “the world is now more dangerous than ever.”
Stephanopoulos retorted that Blinken had said that “[m]ost] of the problems we actually have to solve” involved “hav[ing]] to work with other nations.” This reminded him of the pride he takes in attending naturalization ceremonies.
BLINKEN: I will be sworn in as a new American citizen in Philadelphia later today, which is one of the most satisfying parts of my job.
STEPHANOPOULOS – Your face just lit up.
BLINKEN: It’s about the renewal of our nation. My stepfather, who died in 2008, became a citizen of the United States. He used to tell me that he was born in America and that he was an American citizen. I chose to be an American. This is a powerful thing, and it’s what propels our country forward.
Advertisers such as Dove and Carmax made it possible for ABC to wink at Blinken. Follow these links to view their contact information on the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back Page.
Click “expand” to see the relevant ABC transcripts from October 20.
ABC’s Good Morning America
October 20, 2022
7:00 a.m. Eastern (TEASE)
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE] ABC News Exclusive; Secretary Of State One-on-1
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS – Vladimir Putin tries tightening his grip on Ukraine. The secretary of state responded at home this morning. ABC News exclusive. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discusses Putin’s escalating war hours after declaring martial laws in parts of Ukraine. President Zelenskyy calls for people to leave. What’s next in this war? [TO BLINKEN] The consensus of many military analysts and yours is that Vladimir Putin is losing the war. He’s desperate. What happens if he responds by using nuclear weapons? [VOICE-OVER] Plus the secretary on China’s threats to Taiwan and Saudi Arabia for not cooperating on energy issues. [TO BLINKEN] This has led many of the President’s allies to question if Saudi Arabia is still an ally. Is Saudi Arabia still an ally? [VOICE OVER] The latest news on the pressing issues facing our country right now.
(….)
7:06 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADER: ABC News Exclusive; One on One with Secretary of State; Antony Blinken, Ukraine, Oil & the Global Challenges Facing the U.S.]
STEPHANOPOULOS – Now for our exclusive interview with Antony Blinken, Secretary of State. We started with Putin’s latest moves regarding Ukraine.
(….)
7:06 a.m. Eastern
STEPHANOPOULOS : In some parts of Russia, it also seems that he is preparing for war.
SECRETARY of STATE ANTONYBLINKEN: We’ve already seen the steps Putin has taken to go after the people, indiscriminately bombing power plants, bombs falling upon schools, and hospitals. That’s pretty close.
STEPHANOPOULOS – How bad will it get if he retreats from Kherson?
(….)
7:07 a.m. Eastern
STEPHANOPOULOS – But he said that he wouldn’t negotiate with Vladimir Putin. Only with the next Russian president.
BLINKEN
STEPHANOPOULOS – You, and so many analysts, believe that Vladimir Putin is losing the war. He’s desperate. What happens if he responds by using a nuclear weapon?
(….)
7:08 a.m. Eastern
STEPHANOPOULOS : Do you think he is still rational?
BLINKEN: It’s difficult to imagine yourself in another person’s shoes. I believe he is rational, but his decisions are not rational.
STEPHANOPOULOS – We have seen him using these Iranian drones.
BLINKEN: This is a sign that Russia’s sanctions, including the export controls, have been denying it much of the technology that it needs to replace or build new things. It’s therefore having to look all around the world to find more weapons.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE] ABC News Exclusive; One on One with Secretary of State; Antony Blinken discusses Facing the Challenge From China
STEPHANOPOULOS : Let’s talk China. President Xi is about to begin a second term. You stated that you are now convinced that China will seek reunification of Taiwan in a much shorter time frame. What does this mean?
(….)
7:09 a.m. Eastern
STEPHANOPOULOS – By any means necessary.
BLINKEN: By any means possible, including pressure and coercion, and possibly force if necessary. Taiwan is the largest manufacturer of semiconductors. All smart phones have chips. Most of this is made in Taiwan. That could lead to major disruptions.
STEPHANOPOULOS : But — but China has so much more power than Taiwan. They will take Taiwan if they want, won’t?
(….)
7:09 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE] ABC News Exclusive; One on One with Secretary of State; Blinken on Oil Prices and Saudi Arabia’s Cooperation on the Energy Front
STEPHANOPOULOS – President Biden is about to announce the afternoon release of oil from his strategic petroleum reserve, at a time when Saudi Arabia has not been cooperating on the energy front. Many of the President’s aides have begun to question whether Saudi Arabia is really an ally.
(….)
7:10 a.m. Eastern
ON-SCREEN HEADLINE – ABC News Exclusive; One on One with Secretary of State; Antony Blinken discusses the Global Challenges Facing America]
STEPHANOPOULOS – These are not the actions of an ally.
BLINKEN
STEPHANOPOULOS – We spent the last 20 minutes looking at all the problems facing the United States right currently. And, you know what? When I talk to my friends and family, they see the headlines every morning and say that it seems like the world is now more dangerous than ever. What would you say to them?
(….)
7:11 a.m. Eastern
BLINKEN This is the essence of diplomacy. I will have the opportunity to swear in new American citizens later today in Philadelphia. This is one of my favorite parts of my job.
STEPHANOPOULOS – Your face just lit up.
BLINKEN: It’s about the renewal of our nation. My stepfather, who died in 2008, became a citizen of the United States. He used to tell me that he was born in America and that he was an American citizen. I chose to be an American. This is a powerful thing, and it’s what propels our country forward.
STEPHANOPOULOS : These naturalization ceremonies are always so powerful. Yesterday’s ceremony saw two dozen people swear in from all over the globe, including Russia, China, and Ukraine.
AMY ROBACH: Wow.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Michael.
MICHAEL STRAHAN : It’s all right. George, you did a great job.
