George Stephanopoulos

George Stephanopoulos, Dick Morris started off the week on Monday by going after ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, a former colleague of his during his tenure with President Clinton, for being a “paid Democratic hitman.” That comment was made on Hannity, and tonight Morris was on The O’Reilly Factor, where host Bill O’Reilly made him elaborate on his point and chastised him for claiming there was an exchange of money between Stephanopoulos and the Democratic National Committee.

Morris explained that he believed Stephanopoulos was the first to bring up contraceptives as a serious national issue during a debate earlier this year, and it was not until recently that the Democrats took that ball and ran with it in the debate currently in the air about the Catholic Church having to abide by a mandate from the President. “This is all of a piece to set up contraception as the new social issue replacing abortion to separate the left and the right,” Morris argued, a claim O’Reilly didn’t entirely see the merit to.

“If I was Stephanopoulos, I’d slap you with the biggest lawsuit in the world,” he told Morris, noting that he understood the framing of the contraceptive issue but adding that it was a big jump to make between that conclusion and the transfer of money. “Certainly, George Stephanopoulos is obsessed with contraception,” O’Reilly ceded, but “you can’t say he’s on the take, he’s in their pocket.”

Morris lay clear that he thought Stephanopoulos “had been contracted by the Democrats to lay a hit on Romney,” and added his personal experience: “you neglect to realize that I worked with him, and in fact for a year he basically worked for me, and we were constantly doing that.” O’Reilly once again argued that Morris had “taken it too far– you can’t prove it and it’s not fair.” Morris finally ceded that he did not believe Stephanopoulos had taken “a paper envelope with 20s,” but insisted there was little difference between that and what he believed was actually going on. O’Reilly remained unconvinced for the rest of the segment.

George Stephanopoulos Wife | USsPost.com

George Stephanopoulos Wife | USsPost.com:Clinton-aide-turned-political-journalist George Stephanopoulos had some reservations about whether he would be the right person to replace Diane Sawyer on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

But the 48-year-old said adjusting from his Sunday political talk show “This Week” to morning television wasn’t as hard as he thought it would be. It didn’t hurt that he scored the first interview with President Obama after the Democrats lost the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat last month.

Q. I know you were a morning person before this, but how has your routine changed?

A. I get up around 3:45 and I’m in the office by 4:25. I used to think I worked hard. It’s nothing compared to this. The intensity, how packed your days are — it’s like you’re back in the White House, except that you have to be on TV all the time.

Q. What has been the most surprising aspect of “GMA?”

A. How much fun it’s been, and so far, how relatively easy the transition has been. I thought it was going to be much more awkward.

Q. What did you think was going to be awkward about it?

A. The whole dynamic, you know. Four (anchors) instead of one. The range of subjects. The amount of chat. I’m much more used to doing my own analysis or driving the hour-long show myself. All television is a team effort, but this on the air is far more than I had been used to.

Q. In the same week you interviewed President Obama you also talked about Heidi Montag’s plastic surgery and did a cooking segment with Emeril. Do you ever feel like, “I’m a Rhodes scholar, what am I doing?”

A. Not exactly. First of all, I got to spend a half-hour with the president, which I wouldn’t be doing if I hadn’t gotten this job. Listen, I had real questions about taking this job. I was wrong. I don’t feel like I have really given up so much and I’ve gained so much more.

Q. But do you find some of the lighter segments uncomfortable?

A. Yeah, some of them. But there are so many, and you’re not going to bat a thousand. It’s a much more forgiving medium. On “This Week,” if I make a big mistake in my own wheelhouse on a once-a-week show, I think about it for a day or two. Here, you’ve got another segment in five minutes.

Q. During your recent interview with Rudy Giuliani, he made a statement that there were no domestic t*rror*sm attacks under President Bush, and you didn’t challenge him. What were you thinking at the time?

A. I absolutely should have caught him on it. It was one of those things, we’re 30 seconds from wrapping up, I’m getting the call. And it was the kind of thing — again, this is no excuse — that looks different in print than when it was happening.

Q. Some of your competitors have implied that you got the Obama interview because of your friendship with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

A. I don’t think that’s what it was. I talk to a lot of people there all the time. I just think this is one of the places where experience and persistence pays off. Obviously, I’ve been involved in these issues for an awful long time: I’ve reported on them, I’ve lived through them in the White House and in my political life.

Q. Some conservatives have suggested that you have a friendship with Rahm in which you advise him.

A. That’s insane.

(EDITORS: STORY CAN END S-EX-RE)

Q. I imagine you have a vested interest in seeing what happens to “This Week.” Do you have any thoughts on who should succeed you?

A. Oh, if I did, I couldn’t tell you. I think so far both Terry (Moran) and Jake (Tapper) have done great work. One of the unfortunate things is that we’re in this situation now where there’s not a final answer, but it will come soon enough.

Q. Is there any secret pop culture obsession that you now get to indulge in on “GMA?” Are you a big fan of, say, “Brothers & Sisters?”

A. (laughing) No. The truth is, I’m just having to learn. But that’s part of the fun of it.

Q. What have you found is the difference between interviewing celebrities and interviewing politicians?

A. I’m still feeling my way through that. I try to approach it in the same way in one respect: I try to think hard before the interview, just what are we trying to get out of it? Everyone is different. Some people come on who are just there to play. Others have something to sell. Others aren’t exactly sure why they’re there. The best advice I’ve gotten is that 90 percent of the show is really a variation of the Woody Allen role: not just showing up, but really being there. Letting it happen and letting yourself react in a human way, in an intelligent way.

Q. Any segment you’ve found incredibly fun?

A. I didn’t do a very good job, but getting to interview Meryl Streep was just a gift. And I confess, by Friday morning when Emeril comes on, I could use the food.

Sour: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100210/FEATURES12/2100311/1023/FEATURES12

Diane Sawyer

Diane Sawyer:“For one more time, ‘Good Morning America.’ I’m Diane Sawyer.”After nearly 3,000 shows, Diane Sawyer said “Good Morning America” for the last time today as anchor of the broadcast. Sawyer opened the show with grateful words for her fellow anchors and the “GMA” audience.

“I’m going to try to take the advice of that immortal philosopher, Dr. Seuss, who says, ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.’ And this morning I am beaming at all of you. My heart is smiling. And the privilege of sharing my mornings with all of you has been more than I can say.”

Calling Sawyer “the queen of television,” co-anchor Robin Roberts said, “Thank you for your leadership, your guidance and your love for us all.”