ABC Hypes Obamas' Love Life, Barely Mentions Impending Fiscal Cliff

ABC’s Good Morning America barely talked about the upcoming fiscal cliff on Wednesday but found time for another Obama-promoting fluff piece. Previewing Barbara Walters's upcoming interview with Mr. and Mrs. Obama on Wednesday evening’s Nightline, GMA picked a clip of Walters fawning over the couple's romance.

Walters touted "the most-shared photograph in the history of Twitter" of the President and his wife hugging. She later asked, "How do you keep the fire going?"  [See video below jump.  MP3 audio here.]

Although fill-in co-host Amy Robach described the interview as a "wide-ranging conversation" revealing "intimate moments from the campaign trail," ABC's teaser only showed Ms. Walters asking the Obamas hard hitting questions like "why were you hugging her so hard in Iowa?"

"Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, there's a photograph of you that went viral. Became the most-shared photograph in the history of Twitter," Walters held up the photo. "When you look at this picture, what do you think? At what point was it taken?"

ABC only had time to run two quick news briefs on the impending fiscal cliff, which could feature tax hikes on all Americans in six days. However, it spent more than two minutes on a Christmas card-esque look at the Obamas' love

See relevant transcript below. 

ABC

Good Morning America

December 26, 2012

7:15 a.m. EST

AMY ROBACH: In their first interview since the election, President and Mrs. Obama sat down with Barbara Walters. In this moment from their wide-ranging conversation, the first couple is revealing intimate moments from the campaign trail.

BARBARA WALTERS: Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, there's a photograph of you that went viral. Became the most-shared photograph in the history of Twitter. Here it is. When you look at this picture, what do you think? At what point was it taken?

BARACK OBAMA: I think we were campaigning in Iowa.

WALTERS: So why were you hugging her so hard in Iowa?

OBAMA: Because I love my wife.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Well, and also, I hadn't seen him in a while. When you're campaigning, we're two ships passing in the night. And the first time I saw him was when I walked onstage to greet him. And that's my honey giving me a hug.

BARACK: I like giving you hugs.

WALTERS: How do you keep the fire going?

MICHELLE: That's a good question.

BARACK: You know, we've been married now 20 years.  And like every marriage, I think you have your ups and you have your downs. But if you work through the tough times, the respect and love that you feel deepest.

MICHELLE: And then there's a lot of laughter. You know?

WALTERS: And you're funnier?

MICHELLE: Yeah.

BARACK: Everybody thinks she's pretty funny. I'm funnier than people think.

MICHELLE: Yeah, you are.

WALTERS: That may be. You may be funnier than people think.

BARACK: I am.

ROBACH: All right. You can see all of Barbara's interview with the first couple tonight on Nightline.