Anchors w/ Obama 'Not Like North Korean TV Covering Kim Jong Il' Really?

Photo of Brent Baker.
  • Bookmark and Share

Will Katie Couric be as tough with Barack Obama as North Korean television is with Kim Jong Il? The last time Couric (and the other anchors to, for that matter) interviewed Obama the liberal Democrat had no more to fear from her and them than the communist dictator ever has from his state media.

Pressed at the TV critics session with the networks in Beverly Hills on Friday as to whether ABC, CBS and NBC sending their anchors along with Barack Obama on his overseas trip is “justified or reflect media infatuation with the presumptive Democratic nominee,” the AP's Lynn Elber reported (as did the Washington Post's Lisa de Moraes) CBS News correspondent Jeff Greenfield predicted: “I have a strong hunch the people interviewing Obama will have tough questions. It's not like North Korean television covering (communist leader) Kim Jong Il.” Couric, also appearing via satellite from New York City, promised: “It's not going to be like, 'How do you like the weather in Jordan, Senator?'”

Yet, when Couric last sat down with Obama, back on June 4 when he had become the presumptive nominee, Couric was so giddy she couldn't complete her question: “Did you ever think you'd see this day? I mean, are you still just completely-” Pressing Obama about picking Hillary Clinton as his VP consumed five of her seven questions aired in the CBS Evening News excerpt.

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

Couric was hardly unique in genuflecting before Obama that night. My June 4 NewsBusters item about the very same three anchors who will interview Obama this coming week, “Anchors Exult: Obama Making History, 'Son of Gun, I've Done This?'” recounted:

The ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts all led Wednesday night with celebratory interviews with Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama -- with ABC and NBC plastering "MAKING HISTORY" on screen -- as the three anchors luxuriated in Obama's success. ABC's Charles Gibson wondered: "I'm curious about your feelings last night. It was an historic moment. Has it sunk in yet?" Gibson followed up by prompting Obama to share his excitement: "When everybody clears out, the staff is gone, you're in the hotel room at night, and you're alone, do you say to yourself, 'Son of a gun, I've done this?'" On CBS, Katie Couric was so giddy she couldn't complete her question: "Did you ever think you'd see this day? I mean, are you still just completely-"

Echoing Gibson, NBC's Brian Williams began: "What was it like for you last night, the part we couldn't see, the flight to St. Paul with your wife, knowing what was awaiting?" Williams next cued him up: "And you had to be thinking of your mother and your father." Then Williams excitedly informed Obama of the popularity on the Internet of the "fist pound"with his wife on stage the night before:

"And your wife came up on stage with you last night, and in an otherwise private moment, attempted to give her husband a fist pound the way a lot of Americans do, the way a lot of couples do. Only problem was, it was an inside move shared in front of seventeen and a half thousand people in the arena and millions watching at home. It's the most talked about fist pound on the Internet today, you'll be happy to know."

All three pressed Obama about picking Hillary Clinton as his running mate, with Couric the most aggressive. The topic consumed five of her seven questions aired in the Evening News excerpt, starting with her stroll through history: "In our latest poll, 59 percent of Democratic primary voters, including 46 percent of your voters, think you should select Senator. Clinton to be your running mate. So, in the spirit of Kennedy picking Johnson, and Reagan choosing Bush, why not pick Sen. Clinton? And please don't tell me it's premature to ask that question."

Only Williams posed a question that challenged Obama, an inquiry about McCain's much-greater experience, though from the angle of what he plans to do to overcome that reality: "In an election that, who knows, could turn on national security, how do you go up into a debate on national security with a man with the service record John McCain has from the Academy, to naval aviator, to five plus years as a POW, some in solitary confinement?"...

No doubt Couric, Gibson and Williams will be tougher this coming week if only to show they are not totally in the tank for Obama.

—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center


Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

hahahahahaha

OH my this is rich...
the MSM is so far up Barracks A$$ that he sees them when he brushes his teeth...
I for one would think that is uncomfortable...

NOBAMA 08 !!!

BigPAPA....Lets start a contest/chain letter...The MSM is ..

The MSM is so far up Barracks A$$ they know what he had for Breakfast...

next..

The Republican Revolution will not be Televised

They'll know what his

They'll know what his answers are going to be before they come out of his mouth...

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

oh,,,

I like that,,, because they probably put them there for him!!!

NOBAMA 08 !!!

Bp...and we all know where

Bp...and we all know where he really speaks from...

(...his arse...for those of you in Rio Linda)

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

absolutely BT

 His arse his mouth,,,, what's the difference...

"It's good to be the king"

 NOBAMA 08 !!!

Bp... Well...I did think

Bp...

Well...I did think of saying they're so far up his arse they have his pet gerbil trained...

...but thought that not PC...

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

BT....You're hurting me I'm laughing so Hard...

Trained Pet Gerbal...ROFLMAO....

The Republican Revolution will not be Televised

JT.... well, it's all your

JT.... well, it's all your fault...you started this all...

I'm laughing too...

correction...Bp started it...you made the suggestions to carry on ect...heck we all need some laughter...

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Laughter is most excellent

Especially when it isn't far from the truth!!!! How do you train a Gerbil?????? Give him a little cave helment and light??? And then a press pass..

NOBAMA 08 !!!

Your killing me pop!!!....I got one..

"go towards the light"........................ 

"If a man does his best, what else is there"?

General George S. Patton Jr.

It isn't safe in here

The minah birds are dropping like penguins.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

ok,,,

it took me a while...
but that's bad,,, really bad

NOBAMA 08 !!!

Wow...bt, I step away for a few....

and you got me..ROTFLMAO!!!  I wish I got in on the begining.... pet gerbil.....LMAO!!! 

"If a man does his best, what else is there"?

General George S. Patton Jr.

What would be really

What would be really delicious if on Nov. 4th we can tell him and the msm that are so far up his arse to kiss it good-bye and POOF...they all disappear!!

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

POOF? Poor little gerbil

POOF? Poor little gerbil :(

"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"

Bush needs to Follow up with a Trip to IRAQ - A victory Tour

Bush can blow the Doors off Obama's Trip and Perception ...Bush can meet with more "Grateful" Iraquis and Proud Troops than Obama can rustle up in 20 Trips.

Bush Should Take McCain with him....do some Photo Opportunities for the TROOPS....take some Pictures...the Troops will BLOG the Pictures all over  the Internet, and send 'em to Family.

The Alphabet Networks would be in a Quandry...would they Cover a "Victory" tour by the President ? ?  I think not, it might eat into the Obama Daily Worship session......but BUSH should make a Visit.....about 2 weeks before the Elections.

 

The Republican Revolution will not be Televised

I just can't possibly see

I just can't possibly see them being any tougher on him than they ever have been..

I will be breathlessly waiting though...

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Thank you Mr. Greenfield...............

 CBS News correspondent Jeff Greenfield predicted: “I have a strong hunch the people interviewing Obama will have tough questions. It's not like North Korean television covering (communist leader) Kim Jong Il.”

Really Mr. Geenfield?  Thanks for the visual......good comparison by the way.

"If a man does his best, what else is there"?

General George S. Patton Jr.

B A R F !

B A R F !

Pravda, American Style

 

If they (three wise men) address BHO as "Great Leader", we're toast.