On Friday's CNN Newsroom, during a discussion of whether it has been a "defining week" for the Obama presidency, CNN commentator and Daily Beast editor John Avlon declared that President Obama has been a "prophet figure" who "presages" the political implications of the nation's "changing demographics."
At about 9:45 a.m., CNN anchor Carol Costello introduced the segment:
When President Obama arrives in Charleston today to deliver the eulogy for the Pastor Clementa Pinckney, he'll be nearing the end of what could be a defining week of his presidency. From talking bluntly about race to a huge win on health care, here's a look back at his drop the mike moments.
After playing clips of President Obama from the past week, Costello brought aboard Avlon and Van Jones -- both of whom are liberal CNN commentators -- for further discussion. After reading from a recent article in Politico about recent events Obama can celebrate, she posed: "He's supposed to be a lame duck, John?"
After Avlon argued that President Obama has been "liberated by the fact it's the fourth quarter of his presidency," the CNN anchor then turned to Jones and joked: "Van, maybe every President should just serve four years and be a lame duck, if that's the answer."
After Jones made a positive prediction of President Obama's planned speech in Charleston, South Carolina, Costello turned back to Avlon and posed: "And I hope Van Jones is right, John, because I think this is the time because it seems to be a tipping point, what happened in Charleston."
Avlon began his response:
I think in many respects it has been, and one of the strengths I think Obama has is, you know, he's lost a lot of political battles and even cultural battles, pushbacks on his presidency. But in terms of the long-term demographic changes of the nation, reflected in the millennial generation, President Obama is something of a prophet figure because he presages -- and I mean that solely in the sense that he is a symbol of the kind of America we are going to be increasingly in the 21st century.
The Daily Beast editor then added:
And a lot of the, a lot of the sort of retrenchment and resistant and reactionary impulses in our cultural debate -- symbolized in part by the Confederate flag -- those things now increasingly seem on the wrong side of history, like people who are trying to fight the gay civil rights movement that we're experiencing, expecting a Supreme Court decision on. So he's surfing that wave, and he can do it with real political power that not only exists in this moment but may extend beyond his presidency.
Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Friday, June 26, CNN Newsroom from about 9:45 a.m.:
CAROL COSTELLO: When President Obama arrives in Charleston today to deliver the eulogy for the Pastor Clementa Pinckney, he'll be nearing the end of what could be a defining week of his presidency. From talking bluntly about race to a huge win on health care, here's a look back at his drop the mike moments.
[Shows recent clips of President Obama]
[Costello bring on John Avlon and Van Jones, then reads from the Politico article "Obama Bounces Back" recounting recent events President Obama can celebrate]
COSTELLO: He's supposed to be a lame duck, John?
JOHN AVLON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No, look, this is a president who has not stuck to the lame duck script. He's been liberated by the fact it's the fourth quarter of his presidency. I think liberated by the fact that he doesn't have to look after Democratic congressional control or his own reelection. So he's doing and saying the things he thinks are right.And when you pursue leadership from that kind of confidence and moral authority, it can be powerful, particularly at a time when the country is debating race. But also with those significant victories with Republicans in the House on trade and the Senate without any Democrats, it should be added. And the Supreme Court yesterday. So he's had a big, big week leading up to a very big speech today. There's some storm clouds on the horizon -- Iran and other issues. But he's had a big week and a confident stage of his presidency rather than try to slink out and look exhausted as he had sometimes in the past.
COSTELLO (LAUGHING): Van, maybe every President should just serve four years and be a lame duck, if that's the answer.
VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: ...You're now seeing the Obama 3.0. This President, he's fearless, he's showing he's fearless, he's showing you, I guarantee you today he's going to give a speech that's going to touch the heartstrings. Obviously, we're in a real tragedy. but he's not going to pull any punches to talk about some of the tough stuff, some of the hard stuff America has not been willing to deal with, and this is Obama 3.0. This is a very different Obama on race and every other issue than we have seen.
COSTELLO: And I hope Van Jones is right, John, because I think this is the time because it seems to be a tipping point, what happened in Charleston.
AVLON: I think in many respects it has been, and one of the strengths I think Obama has is, you know, he's lost a lot of political battles and even cultural battles, pushbacks on his presidency. But in terms of the long-term demographic changes of the nation, reflected in the millennial generation, President Obama is something of a prophet figure because he presages -- and I mean that solely in the sense that he is a symbol of the kind of America we are going to be increasingly in the 21st century
And a lot of the, a lot of the sort of retrenchment and resistant and reactionary impulses in our cultural debate -- symbolized in part by the Confederate flag -- those things now increasingly seem on the wrong side of history, like people who are trying to fight the gay civil rights movement that we're experiencing, expecting a Supreme Court decision on. So he's surfing that wave, and he can do it with real political power that not only exists in this moment but may extend beyond his presidency.
