The broadcast networks continued their infatuation Thursday night with Michelle Obama as ABC anchor Charles Gibson teased: “Center stage. With substance and style, the First Lady steps onto the world stage, becoming something of a mega-star.” He soon equated her popularity with Jacqueline Kennedy, the last First Lady to so enchant the press. On NBC, Dawna Friesen trumpeted how “she has dazzled Britain with her style and her substance. From the palace to the streets, she has taken London town.” Highlighting the First Lady's appearance before a largely-minority group of school girls, Friesen hailed: “To such a diversity of girls from such an inspirational woman, the message couldn't have been more powerful.”
Two noteworthy quotes from the CBS Evening News:
> In a wrap-up piece on the G-20 summit, anchor Katie Couric decided it was relevant to stress: “The people of London treated the Obamas like rock stars, the kind of reception an American President has not received in some time.”> CBS reporter Chip Reid, over video of many waving raised hands from journalists trying to catch Obama's attention, pointed out how excited Obama made the press corps during his news conference: “The President continued his charm offensive with the nearly two thousand members of the international press corps who literally begged to ask questions.”
On Wednesday night, as recounted in my earlier NewsBusters post, NBC's Chuck Todd touted “America's unofficial royalty, the President and First Lady,” while Williams related: “There is no denying the Obamas from America are receiving a rock star reception on this trip. One London paper today called them 'American royalty.'” The CBS Evening News put “Michelle Mania” on screen and Couric teased: “The British give America's First Lady a welcome fit for a Queen.”
Gibson set up the laudatory story about Michelle Obama aired on Thursday's World News:
Well, the headlines from here are all about world leaders and economics. But the buzz, that's been about Michelle Obama. John Kennedy, on a trip to France once said, 'perhaps I should introduce myself. I'm the man who's accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris.' That's the impression she made then. The impression made by Michelle Obama now has been similar.
On the Thursday, April 2 NBC Nightly News, Brian Williams set up his network's fawning piece:
First Lady Michelle Obama has become a traveling event here in London. And there was evidence today proving why. In a new poll this week, her approval rating is right now higher than her husband's. Mrs. Obama visited a local school in London and positively overwhelmed her audience.
Some of Dawna Friesen's report:
FRIESEN: She has dazzled Britain with her style and her substance. From the palace to the streets, she has taken London town....It was a speech from the heart. Mrs. Obama telling them they could all be just like her.
MICHELLE OBAMA, TO SCHOOL GIRLS: We need strong, smart, confident young women to stand up and take the reins. I want you to know that we have very much in common. For nothing in my life's path would have predicted that I'd be standing here as the first African-American First Lady of the United States of America. I wasn't raised with wealth or resources or any social standing to speak of.
FRIESEN: To such a diversity of girls from such an inspirational woman, the message couldn't have been more powerful.
MICHELLE OBAMA: You too can control your own destiny. Please remember that. If you want to know the reason why I'm standing here, it's because of education.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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Comments Policy
Wanting the contact number....
April 2, 2009 - 21:35 ET by ScrapironThose were the reporters left off the list for the latest white house release of Phone numbers. All of them wanted in on the 'sex' shop listing maintained in/by the white house. Did O'Dumbo take the list to the white house with him or did someone find Slick Willie's hiding place?
Old, Retired and glad of it.
Glad I don't watch...
April 2, 2009 - 22:00 ET by P. Aaronthe MSM anymore. This stuff is sickening. It's People Magazine media coverage.
all this
April 2, 2009 - 22:09 ET by traderjamesI am befuddled about all this adulation about them as 'rock stars', etc. Did anyone see hordes of Great Britain people congregate in the streets in worship of the messiah or his wife? All I remember is demonstrators bashing in windows of bank buildings.
Could it be that our MSM friends are conjuring up all this praise? No, never !!!
Just get a freakin' room already.
April 2, 2009 - 22:27 ET by JWFIt is bad enough to see people kissing in public.
This constant slathering of gushy love kisses all over the Obama butts is just beyond the pale.
The MSM and the Obama's just need to get a room already and leave us alone.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
I just don't understand this
April 2, 2009 - 23:21 ET by ThatDudeI just don't understand this influx of Michelle love going on. Why do they feel the need to raise her up like this? My own personal opinion is that she is both dull in the shallow sense and a bore in other ways. It seems like each of her high points is manufactured by someone and repeated ad nauseum until they are in agreement that it is one of her fine features. I don't know. It bores me to hear her speak and I see no extravagance otherwise. The way I see it, she can do one of two things as first lady: she can be the silent support behind her husband, or an activist using the stage. She's too boring for the latter, and at least the media doesn't seem to want to allow her to be the former. Oh well, this rambling has gone on long enough.
Dear
April 2, 2009 - 23:41 ET by Old EuropeDear Michelle,
you're always gonna be Lady Macbeth to me....and what's so elegant about being so tall? She is as attractive as a female 6"3 basketball player with a lady tash.
A rock-star with
April 3, 2009 - 02:53 ET by snaggletoothieA rock-star with substance: until this moment a contradiction. All of these reporters seem to have an incredible backlog of wish fulfillment that is getting dumped on the Obamas. Welcome to the brave new world of fantasy-news on steroids.
I awoke early this morning
April 3, 2009 - 06:14 ET by ricklailI awoke early this morning so I turned on the TV. ABC News was on. It was evident that they were covering up for this empty suit that we call Dear Leader. Two thirds of the broadcast was about Michelle- her style in clothes, and her charm. I have seen Joe @#*& the ragman dress better. As for charm, I don't see. There is no substance in either one. Lord help us through the next 4 four years if all they are going to report about is Michelle's dress and not Chairman Mao-Bama's lack of intelligence.
"Democray used to be a good thing, but now it has gotten into the wrong hands"-Jesse Helms (Prophetic?)
Begging to ask questions
April 3, 2009 - 06:29 ET by eaglewingz08Begging to ask questions means that Obama isn't giving news conferences (apparently because OPTUS is in storage). Imagine if Bush or any Republican refused to answer questions the press wouldn't 'beg' for them to do so, they'd be on the front pages with headlines about the stonewalling, the secrecy, the questions about whether the President was being shielded by handlers or didn't have the competence to answer questions posed by the foreign press.
It might be better this way.
April 3, 2009 - 07:02 ET by snaggletoothieThe foreign press could embarrass Obama so much that the Dow would fall under 4000. It might be better this way.