Tuesday’s CBS Early Show praised Michelle Obama for meeting and surpassing high expectations with her Monday night speech at the Democratic convention, as co-host Julie Chen asked co-host Harry Smith: “...do you get the feeling that Michelle Obama accomplished what she set out to do? Because I definitely -- I definitely do, after watching from television -- you know, on television last night.” Smith replied: “Yeah, I think the bar was set pretty high and I think she went over that bar and probably then some.”
At the top of the show, Chen and co-host Maggie Rodriguez fawned over the speech, using the terms “compelling,” “impressive,” and “inspiring.” After Smith established that Obama had exceeded a “high bar,” Rodriguez mentioned Ted Kennedy’s speech as well and concluded that overall, “It was a special night for them. I think the Democrats should be very happy.”
Later, Smith discussed Obama’s speech with political analyst Jeff Greenfield and asked: “Talk about a bar set high for her to get over in terms of reintroducing herself to the American public.” Greenfield gave a glowing review of the speech: “So all of those stories -- this was a speech, that, if it were a painting, Norman Rockwell would have painted it. This is the American dream. This is what the American spirit is all about.”
Smith also talked to former Hillary Clinton campaign manager Terry McAuliffe and former Bill Clinton Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers. He teased the segment by declaring: “America was reintroduced to Barack Obama's wife Michelle last night at the Democratic convention. Her speech brought the delegates to their feet.” Smith later began the segment by again commenting on how Obama’s speech exceeded expectations: “We talked a little earlier with Jeff Greenfield about a bar set so high, it seems, I think, there's pretty much a consensus that she got over it.” After both Myers and McAuliffe completely agreed, Smith concluded: “Alright, so all of this yummy gummy good feeling, Kumbaya last night.”
Finally, Smith invited back liberal political analyst Laura Schwartz, who on Monday’s show looked at Michelle Obama’s fashion sense and observed: “So we are seeing that she is setting a trend, not just in politics, but really in everybody's everyday lives.” On Tuesday, Smith observed: “She set a high bar oratorically, am I saying that right? In terms of the speech that she gave. What about fashion-wise, style-wise, did she exceed?” Schwartz replied: “I think she succeeded. I think that's exactly what she's going for because today we're talking about the message more than just the overall bling.”
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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Yeah, I think the bar was
August 26, 2008 - 15:20 ET by motherbeltYeah, I think the bar was set pretty high and I think she went over that bar and probably then some. -Harry Smith
Wow. Was Harry Smith ever a college professor? Because that is a masterpiece of grade inflation.
“So we are seeing that she
August 26, 2008 - 15:27 ET by SickofLibs“So we are seeing that she is setting a trend, not just in politics, but really in everybody's everyday lives.”
Whaaa? Huh? All pretenses to reality are hereby suspended until November 5 when the universe is restored to it's former state... and Obama embarks on his next four-year quest to take over the world.
If I had written that
August 26, 2008 - 17:21 ET by celatorIf I had written that speech for Mrs. Obama, I would have closed with the line:
"And finally, let us work together and move forward, with courage and persistence, to achieve our long-sought goal of mediocrity in everything we do. Let us never be afraid to dare to be average."
Yep, I would have.
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
A high bar????
August 26, 2008 - 17:44 ET by KC MulvilleHer impossible task was to go out and prove that she didn't hate her country. She responded by telling the country that she is a normal parent who doesn't hate her country.
THAT's the high bar?
* * * * *
What sort of blithering idiot would hear that speech, which was a tribute to being a normal American, and be overwhelmed by it? Could there ever be anyone so shallow, so impressionable, and so prejudiced that this simple testimony would be counted as proof of presidential greatness? Could there be such a fool in these United States???
KC you Magnificent B*$tard
August 26, 2008 - 17:58 ET by Cool ArrowNormalcy is not that high a bar.
I ♣ my seal
KC... I just read your
August 26, 2008 - 18:02 ET by bigtimerKC...
I just read your post and I Second what Cool posted above.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
And I have four kids, and
August 26, 2008 - 18:20 ET by general companyAnd I have four kids, and they're all Irish, which means my job is at least twice as hard ...
Way to funny,
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
“I think she succeeded.
August 26, 2008 - 17:57 ET by bigtimer“I think she succeeded. I think that's exactly what she's going for because today we're talking about the message more than just the overall bling.”
The overall bling...
Well, heck that did it for me too!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Why do these stupid white reporters....
August 26, 2008 - 18:05 ET by BEGRUNThave to toss in the "ghetto" words like "bling"etc. Do they think they're hip? With it? They just sound stupid, and promote bad language skills.
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
Michelle O hates the poor
August 26, 2008 - 23:45 ET by Cool ArrowShe does not appreciate poor people getting treated at her hospital. It's bad for business.
I ♣ my seal