Only CBS Notices NPR Host Grilling Hillary Over Her Flip-Flop on Gay Marriage

On Friday, CBS This Morning was the only one of the Big Three network morning shows to cover Hillary Clinton's testy Thursday exchange [1] with NPR host Terry Gross over Clinton's shifting position on gay marriage. Neither NBC's Today nor ABC's Good Morning America bothered to mention the unflattering incident for the potential 2016 presidential candidate. [Listen to the audio [2]]

This Morning co-host Charlie Rose informed viewers: "Politico says Hillary Clinton rejects the idea that politics affected her views on same-sex marriage....In an interview Thursday, NPR host Terry Gross repeatedly asked Clinton about the issue." A clip followed of the contentious back and forth in which Clinton ranted to the liberal host: "I think you are being very persistent, but you are playing with my words and playing with what is such an important issue."

After the clip, Rose noted: "Clinton also said to Gross, the interviewer, quote, 'I did not grow up even imagining gay marriage and I don't think you did either.'"

Fellow co-host Gayle King then previewed an interview with Clinton set to air on CBS Sunday Morning: "Clinton's conversation with [newly-named Sunday Morning contributor] Jane Pauley touches on issues like Benghazi, her health, and whether Americans are tired of that famous last name."

In a clip of the exchange, Pauley wondered: "President Clinton told someone who was with us in this room personally, 'Hillary says everyone's sick of the Clintons.' Is that how you feel?" Clinton replied: "...that wouldn't influence my decision one way or the other because I think the voters have the right to choose whoever they want."

On the Benghazi scandal, Pauley sympathetically observed: "Your explanation will never satisfy everyone." Clinton argued:

Well, as I write, this was in the fog of war and there were a lot of confusing pieces of information flooding in to us from the very first moment we heard about it. We did our best to sort it out. I did my best to fully cooperate with the Congress. I respect the Congress's oversight responsibility, but there's a difference between unanswered questions and unlistened to answers.

Here is a full transcript of the June 13 This Morning segment:

8:31 AM ET

CHARLIE ROSE: And Politico says Hillary Clinton rejects the idea that politics affected her views on same-sex marriage. Clinton expressed support after resigning as secretary of state. It also came after President Obama and other leading Democrats gave their endorsement. In an interview Thursday, NPR host Terry Gross repeatedly asked Clinton about the issue.

TERRY GROSS: So that's one for you changed your mind?

HILLARY CLINTON: You know I really, I have to say, I think you are being very persistent, but you are playing with my words and playing with what is such an important issue.

GROSS: I'm just trying to clarify so I can understand-

CLINTON: No, I don't think you are trying to clarify. I think you're trying to say I used to be opposed and now I'm in favor and I did it for political reasons. And that's just flat wrong.

GAYLE KING Clinton also-

ROSE: Clinton-

GAYLE KING: Oh, sorry, it says Charlie. Sorry. Sorry, Charlie.

ROSE: You just want to read my copy, don't you?

KING: Yes, I do.

ROSE: I know, I know. We'll let you to that later.

KING: Okay.

ROSE: okay?

KING: Sorry, my bad.

ROSE: Clinton also said to Gross, the interviewer, quote, "I did not grow up even imagining gay marriage and I don't think you did either."

KING: Okay. Now it says Gayle. This weekend, CBS Sunday Morning has a wide-ranging interview with Secretary Clinton. She's on a book tour promoting her new memoir. It's published by Simon & Schuster, which is a division of CBS. Clinton's conversation with Jane Pauley touches on issues like Benghazi, her health, and whether Americans are tired of that famous last name.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Clinton Fatigue? Hillary on Overexposure, Health, Benghazi]

JANE PAULEY: President Clinton told someone who was with us in this room personally, "Hillary says everyone's sick of the Clintons." Is that how you feel?

CLINTON: Well, a lot of people have said that besides me, but that wouldn't – that wouldn't influence my decision one way or the other because I think the voters have the right to choose whoever they want.

PAULEY: Is health an issue?

CLINTON: No. For me personally, no. Thankfully. I fell on my head and got a concussion and worked through, you know, the lingering effects of dizziness and double vision. And that's all gone and I'm 100%.

PAULEY: And then, there's Benghazi.

CLINTON: I stood next to President Obama as the Marines carried those flag-draped caskets off the plane at Andrews.

PAULEY: Your explanation will never satisfy everyone.  

CLINTON: Well, as I write, this was in the fog of war and there were a lot of confusing pieces of information flooding in to us from the very first moment we heard about it. We did our best to sort it out. I did my best to fully cooperate with the Congress. I respect the Congress's oversight responsibility, but there's a difference between unanswered questions and unlistened to answers.

KING: And you can see Jane Pauley's full interview with Hillary Clinton this weekend on Sunday Morning, right here on CBS. It's so good to see Jane Pauley on CBS. I like it.

NORAH O'DONNELL: I know. I like seeing Jane.

ROSE: Sounds like a good interview, too.

KING: Yeah.