Network Morning Shows Fawn Over Obama Vacation Photos

Photo of Kyle Drennen.
  • Bookmark and Share

Barack Obama, NBC The Tuesday morning shows of NBC, ABC, and CBS all promoted Barack Obama’s celebrity status as hosts and reporters ogled the latest paparazzi photo of Obama in swim trunks while on vacation in Hawaii, as NBC’s Matt Lauer declared on Today: "And fit to serve, Barack Obama photographed shirtless in Hawaii and a lot of women are giving him the presidential seal of approval."

On ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host Diane Sawyer outlined Obama’s workout routine: "...these photos of the first abs, which we've all been analyzing this morning. I just want to reminder you, to get those abs, he does standing triceps push-downs, shoulder presses, sit-ups with a high platform, one set of triceps, and calf raises." Fellow co-host Chris Cuomo added: "The most important thing that he does to be fit, is his diet. He's very careful about his diet. He's in good shape, certainly for a man his age. But I think it's how he eats."

On the CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith proclaimed: "Obama in Oahu. Why he’s getting a lot of attention." Smith later referenced a newspaper cover with the shirtless picture of Obama: "This picture is in a lot of papers around the country...‘Fit For Office.’" Meanwhile, fill-in co-host Debbye Turner Bell held up the paper declaring: "Take a look at this. I'll be happy to pick this up!"

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

While all three shows were eager to show the photos of the president-elect, all were concerned with his privacy at the same time. On NBC’s Today, correspondent Samantha Guthrie explained: "Secluded behind a tight Secret Service barrier, glimpses of Obama in vacation mode are rare. Not surprisingly, he draws a crowd on any venture out, like after his daily workout Monday."

On ABC’s GMA, Cuomo went so far as to ask: "You will be seeing this picture a lot. However, they are not enjoying it in private. This morning, many are wondering how did a photographer get these pictures? He got within 200 feet of the incoming president, apparently without any action by Secret Service. So what was going on?"

Finally, on the CBS Early Show, correspondent Ben Tracy described how: "Paparazzi on the beach are being watched themselves by Secret Service but they did manage to get a shot of the president-elect in his least formal wear...The Obamas chose this location in part because the house is located at the very end of this secluded beach. Unlike the tourist-filled Waikiki beach a half hour away."

Only NBC’s Today brought up the expense of the vacation, as Lauer asked NBC political director Chuck Todd: "Hey, let me touch briefly on this vacation for the Obama family...I've read some comments in the last day or two, some pretty snarky, about this home they're renting. Is this a big deal? I mean, they don't have a ranch, they don't have Hyannisport or Newport from the Camelot days. They're renting a home. Is it a big deal?" Todd dismissed it as an issue: "Well, don't forget Kennebunkport or the Reagan Santa Barbara ranch, no I don't think it's that big a deal in this sense, this is where they've gone every year...it's not like they picked this out of a hat or they said, you know, ‘let's go to the chi-chiest place we could find somewhere in the United States.’"

—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst 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.

Sources claim Harriet Smith

Sources claim Harriet Smith was later seen ducking into the men's room with that newpsaper.

SOL, Chris Matthews' legs

SOL,

Chris Matthews' legs must have tingled so much that he vibrated clean off the set...

AAARRRRRGGH!!!

That's an image I didn't need in my head!!  It's suppertime!

I am so sick these Obasms already!!

I am so sick these Obasms already!!

Seems to be the same fawning they had over JFK, and look at how his real story played out!

v

Yeah, he's not even in

Yeah, he's not even in office yet and I'm already sick and tired of him.

A long four years. 

Chris Matthews' legs must have tingled so much...

Great visual Chris...make sure you get the credit when SNL uses it in their skit!

v

Can you picture Matthews

Can you picture Matthews doing the Can-Can? :)

Can you picture Matthews doing the Can-Can?

Naw...just shaking uncontrollably while drooling excessively.

v

So Who is More Annoying

... Harry Smith or Junior Miss Diane Sawyer?

Al, for me, Harriet 'The Tap

Al, for me, Harriet 'The Tap Dancing Termite' Smith, by a mile.

Sawyer only makes me moderately sick to my stomach. 

Chris - I'm sure Tingles is

Chris - I'm sure Tingles is on vacation this week, but still, I dare not even attempt to "monitor" the show as usual tonight.

OMG...I've been way past

OMG...I've been way past the barf-bag time regarding this BS... enough already!

Bah-humbug....

Merry Christmas to all!

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

Me too....

Look above.  LOL!

Desnse is as Dense Does

I find it amazing that the news media are missing the point that these mansions cost $10k a day each!  That's $30k a day for anyone with basic math skills.  Who is paying the bills??  How does a Senator and an out of work lawyer pay those type of amounts on their salary?

 

"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feed you."

→ Obama schlepped here

Maybe they are giving Obama a discount for him lending historical value to the property.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

Up... Exactly...I haven't

Up...

Exactly...I haven't read up on it as to how this is getting paid for, because it just doesn't matter and I really don't care...most likely donated to them..

I do know one thing though, like I said somewhere last night, if this was any Prez-elect...that had an 'R' after their name, we would never hear the end of all the lavious rich life-style, ect from the msm 24/7, plus they would be inserting the economy, the recession/depression, all the bail-outs ect ect ect....

If these leftist talking head creatures think tons of us out here, do not notice the blatant hypocrisy/bias, they are out of their ever-lovin' loony leftist minds.

It is pure madness. 

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

Well, in the midst of all

Well, in the midst of all this recession/depression/whatever, the Chosen One needs to kick back little and be pampered, you know, in a place "fit for a king" before he has to tackle  the crate of crushing problems — some old, some new, all ugly — that he
is about to inherit as the 44th President of the United States.
-Time Magazine

mb... Yeah I read that

mb...

Yeah I read that drivel from Time too...another despicable piece of tripe.

Anything for O ahead of time, as if we can't see what their agenda is...

AHEAD of TIME!

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

I do believe this deserves

I do believe this deserves one of Mr. Bozell's Obamagasm Awards. I don't remember the newsies oogling photos of Ronald Reagan in his very handsome movie star days, did I just forget?  I like the way this is presented as some sort of accidental event. I read somewhere he had just had his chest waxed, { yuck, TMI}, and this whole deal has that Angelina Jolie "accidental staged" look. If you haven't voted on Drudge, he is u against Putin for best beefcake. I had to go with the majority, Putin looks like the more manly of the two. Didn't Obama get the memo "tor-fro" is back in!

tbdi... LOL...I just

tbdi...

LOL...I just voted about 20 minutes ago...same as you did too.

By the way, O's report, exonerating all involved with his transition team and Blago was just put out, less than 20 minutes ago, because O said so, this is over and done with...msm has moved on, nothing to see...move along.

Can anyone imagine this would be happening if this involved any repub administration with the msm?

I am living in an unreal country in so many ways, this is like nothing I have ever seen, and I thought the press/msm with the Clintoon Brigade was bad. 

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

bt... CASE CLOSED! Not

bt...

CASE CLOSED!

Not for me.

Hot Obama Love

 

 Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

Ct... Nor for me

Ct...

Nor for me either...not by a long shot.

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

"O" Dumbo

 

 I'll bet that photo sends a tingle down B Franks leg. 

UGH!

I watched GMA this morning.  I was actually embarrassed by Diane Sawyer's fawning over the "first abs".

Obamanation

It is all illusion of course. Symbolism . Inside his chest is a pair of lungs screaming for  fresh air. His blood stream struggles to sort through the molecules of gases zooming by that nicotine clogged membrane that filters all inrushing gasses. He coughs some too and that 'll get worse as the years slide by . Later the coughing will be chronic and and the agony of dependency will eat at his intellect.

 He has tried to quit and he knows he cannot. He hopes it won't kill him. After food or intercourse his psyche screams for it , it cannot be denied. But right now he is a God on display.

 

He is a god (little "g") on

He is a god (little "g") on display.  He's a deity only to the media.  Rational thinking folks recognize him for what he is and we didnt get snake-bit.

I heard some media sound bites about this on Rush this morning.  It was purely sickening.  It was like little children fawning and gasping running around behind Santa Clause.

I hope the media will be happy with him.  They duped to public into voting for him. 

C-L-A-U-S.

It's Santa Claus, not "Clause."  

The title of the 1994 motion picture The Santa Clause was a play on the similarity of the words "Claus" and "clause," the latter of which is being used in the contractural context.

"Well, I've got nothing against the press...they wouldn't print it if it wasn't true..." -- Joe Jackson, "Sunday Papers"

WR Jonas... Uh, thanks

WR Jonas...

Uh, thanks alot. I'm quitting on New Years Eve (again).

You sure know how to encourage someone. You must be lot's of fun at Pep Rally's ;-)

Hot Obama Love

 

 Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

Me too CT

I stopped when I was 25 at the insistance of my then wife. I did it and didn't start again until after our divorce at 40! Been doing the Andy Griffith thing every since then, one or two a day, can't quite stop. Gonna try again in '09, wish me luck and I'll wish you luck. Crappy habit! Merry Christmas!!

Uncle Gary

A Blessed Christmas to All!

WR Jonas

When's the novel coming out? LOL

It's Proof!

It's proof that metrosexuals do shave their bodies.

Dignified

I think it's ever so dignified for the President of the United States to walk around half naked.

And the puppy dog media - feh! 

I mean, they don't have a ranch, they don't have Hyannisport or Newport from the Camelot days. They're renting a home. Is it a big deal?"

So they're a couple of rich bums like the Clintons. Right, what is the big deal?

 

Just like the

Just like the Clintons....they're sponging off rich people for their vacations.

I'm picturing Chris

I'm picturing Chris Matthews gasping and swooning.

-Dave

Merry Christmas everybody!

I like how the media says

I like how the media says they don't have a RANCH, a slam at the Bush's. I have seen their ranch, it's very nice, but honestly not ostentatious, at all. I have homes in my neighborhood that are bigger and nicer. No, the Obama's don't have a ranch, they have a very nice pad in Hyde Park, though. Have I missed the coverage, I thought the whole reason he was going to be going to HI in Dec. was for a memorial service for his "white" grandmother? Not saying he can't golf and swim while there, but I can't find any mention of the memorial. I remember thinking I was being cynical back right after the election, because I heard that he was going to go in Dec. instead of right after the election. My first thought was, hey, vacation in HI for Christmas, get away from the cold, the kids are out of school, why not do a combo?

Would it be racist to call

Would it be racist to call these media Obamented sycophants "brown-nosers"?

mattm...you might be the first...

to bring this up.  And my guess is that phase and others will become unPC during the next 4 years.

v

My four biggest surprises:

Meatloaf, Adam Sandler, LL Cool J, Fitty Cent.

Who knew?

Of course, I'd like to chat with Patricia Heaton any time. 

Ooooopssss...how'd I post this in the wrong thread???   

It should matter.

It has since been pulled, but the cost to rent those properties was $2500 to $3500 per day.  So for 12 days and three properties that could be anywhere from $90,000 to $126,000 just for the rent.  This is simply obscene given the current economic situation, and if he didn't pay for it himself, then this is a serious issue.  Elected officials cannot recieve gifts of monetary value.

On a side issue, if they are going to fawn over Obama, they should at least know what exercises work the abs.  None of the exercises listed work the abs except the platform situps, and if you want abs run and do situps, that is all you have to do.   Furthermore, this is obviously a set up photo event.  Obama wanted this picture to be taken, he wants to be viewed as a celebrity, he is a self-absorbed me first person that will do only what he thinks is politically beneficial. 

He doesn't look all that.

He doesn't look all that. He's not attractive or hot to me at all.

Honestly, I'm sure Todd Palin could put him to shame. Rawr. 

“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill

Sure doesn't look very

Sure doesn't look very Presidential, more like the local man-child pimp.

Bush vs. Obama on mountain bikes?

On ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host Diane Sawyer outlined Obama’s workout routine: "...these photos of the first abs, which we've all been analyzing this morning. I just want to reminder (sic) you, to get those abs, he does standing triceps push-downs, shoulder presses, sit-ups with a high platform, one set of triceps, and calf raises." 

Then, after Secret Service clears the area, he goes to a windowless room for a smoke.

I don't believe anyone has seen George W. Bush without his shirt on, but he's been called the most fit President on record.  I wonder who would win a mountain bike duel between W. and Zero -- it's an aerobic exercise that requires a lot of breath.   

"Well, I've got nothing against the press...they wouldn't print it if it wasn't true..." -- Joe Jackson, "Sunday Papers"

LMS yes sir ree.

A hill climb would be great...Or a lap around the ranch. ANYTHING longer than a sprint. Love to see the 0 in the dust, lol


FREEDOM

(D)

 

Clean yourself up, Diane!!

Aww. How cute. Diane Sawyer had an Obamagasm right on the air. Will she possibly recover by Christmas?

Topless

...yet another area where Sarah Palin excels over Obama.

~Chad

Cincinnati, OH

I feel like barfing.

I feel like barfing.

Kyle... You should see

Kyle...

You should see what the Obama masses think... Hot Obama Love

 

 Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

Forgive me if this has been

Forgive me if this has been mentioned, but the media had nothing but resentment for Bush being in such good shape and running on a daily basis. But now they slobber over Obama's shaved chest?

I can't wait to watch Obama develop gray hair and a beer gut over the next four years.

-25F with the wind chill

If the Zero were a real man he would be shirtless on the beach in Chicago and not Hawaii.

He looks like the skinny

He looks like the skinny punk from the hood.

Hey Barry, maybe Santa can bring you some barbells for Christmas.  

My wife...

My wife says that a nice chest on a man is "squarish breasts". Not sure what that means but she said He has man boobs. I'll take her word for it. The wife knows I guess, she picked me so I should be gratefull, hehe!

Uncle Gary

A Blessed Christmas to All!

Obama Moobs

Wonder who has the bigger set between O & M? We know she has him beat in the stones department...

→ Mystic Moobs

Maybe he got them from a Moob Synthesyzer.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

Dan

LOL! You got that right! Too funny! Thank you!!!

 

Uncle Gary

A Blessed Christmas to All!

"Behold!  I am Emperor

"Behold!  I am Emperor Loins!  Infallible leader of the Fourth Reich!"

"Let the Manathalon begin!"

Liberal: a power worshipper without power. George Orwell

Then call me "pretty snarky"

Dem poor Obamas - ain't got no Hyannisport, ain't no Kennebunkport, ain't got no Newport, ain't got no port.

All dey got is this crappy $30 million hellhole they "go to every year", huh, Lauer?

Coming from someone who considers himself lucky if we can rent a crummy bungalow at the Jersey shore every once in while, I'm not feeling the misery here like Chi-Chi Todd and Lauer.

George Bush is in EXCELLENT

George Bush is in EXCELLENT health and would STILL kick this guys arse.  However, the media likes to portray Mr. Bush as a wimp.

Sorry, I know this is immature of me to mention but I am on vacation.  Let me be immature (just like the media). 

Obama has no class at all

The one major difference between Obama and Bush is that Bush has class. Obama doesn't and neither will Michele.

He's done nothing

And he's on a vacation from it.

Ultimately, donated or not, the taxpayer/consumer ends up footin' the bill for this.  Whoever is poppin' for this little getaway, aint doin' it for free...as has been said here.

Never mind all that...I don't know about you guys n gals, but I haven't had a vacation in 6 years.  I'm building, and in some cases, bailing water furiously from my pest control business.  Just me...trying to get ahead.

This guy's supposed to be the big change the left was looking for.  I would have thought...right...as if logic applies.

Oh yeah...I 'bout hurled when I saw that pic.  Is there no end to the Obamathon?  

Happy Trails...

Ugh!

There is no way Obama let these pictures be taken without his knowledge, approval, or participation.  Put on a shirt, Barry.  Some guys should stay covered!

smokin' Bod

 

I guess nicotine does control weight gain. Keep puffn Bar,I don't want them man boobs gettn any bigger

 

 

 

they say

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Lucky for me, I'm practicly blind. I wonder of the big O would like Kramer's man bra? LOL. He really does have man boobs, huh?

Dear lord, 4 more years of this circus. Palin in 2012. If we're gonna have a president with...never mind.

 

Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Any Republican that wants

Any Republican that wants to run for President in the future, and is keeping an eye on the proceedings for Obami needs to remember everything the media does.

They will never like any Conservative Republican.  They don't even like so-called moderate Republicans. (In my view a moderate Republican is a democrat).

President Nixon said that he had "given them a sword", and they used it.  Let any and all Republicans use this as an abject lesson, and never repeat these same mistakes.

We, as Conservatives should never again accept any but Conservatives running for National offices.  Do not be dismayed, Conservatives win as Conservatives.

So that's where all the bailout money went

The Chavez's, I mean Obama's stole it for their vacation. Mystery solved. 

Did Chris Matthews fly out to Hawaii as well to stalk them and tingle whenever they were spotted?

"Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15." Ronald Reagan

They did nothing but bitch

About W's workout routine - it "took  away from his busy schedule"

Pox on all of them.

 

Maybe I'll become a Democrat, then I'll get away with anything and be lauded for it.

 

Pathetic.

I would like to see a picture of BARRKY after he's been ...

... chokeslammed onto a pile of thumbtacks in the wrestling deathmatch that I officially challenge him to RIGHT NOW!  Hey skinny guy with BIG EARS.  I'm talkin' to you, BARRKY.  Are you a man or a mouse?  Come on, squeek up.

I am reminded of the old

I am reminded of the old Italian newsreel with Mussolini shoveling or something out in a field with his shirt off to show off his (I guess) masculine bod.

I'm pretty sure the fawning over a politician's physique would be considered by the Communists as Bourgeois and Fascist. 

Oh, unless it's Obama of course.

I guess The One is also trying to emulate Teddy Roosevelt now, too...how many presidents is he now all rolled up into one? 

One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.

Putin's ego is second only

to SOBama's.
And the misses has a fondnes for RED too!

Is there any way we could convince the One and his old lady to stay in the FAR FAR WEST ISLANDS?

OMG. One minute of the two of them is enough to make me ...

Four years will, for me at least, be full of old time movies.

As noted by several others

As noted by several others above…. staged. Sooner or later it will dawn on someone in the media that it’s kind of creepy having a President (elect) who stages beefcake shots.

I wonder if any of these

I wonder if any of these media saps have ever taken a close look at the former governor of Minnesota or the present Governor of California.  Either one of them make this jackanape president-elect look like a 98 lb. weakling, and Obama isn't likely to be a better chief executive than either of them into the bargain!

Booby's

Better cover up them things Barrak

Don't let Col. Sanders see those, Buffalo Chicken Titties, uh, Tenders are all the rage dontcha know.

Uncle Gary

A Blessed Christmas to All!

→ WOW Morning Joe

Is anybody watching Morning Joe?

Joe called Mika out, somewhat but not totally jokingly, on her "soft bigotry of low expectations.

I hope there's a thread on this later.  Mika's expression is priceless.

  • Fairness is not an attitude. It's a professional skill that must be developed and exercised. - Brit Hume

→ Joe keeps swinging

Joe throws out the codespeak and and they're eating it up.

  • Fairness is not an attitude. It's a professional skill that must be developed and exercised. - Brit Hume

He's very careful about

He's very careful about his diet. He's in good shape, certainly for a man his age.

Except he smokes, that's a bad example for the children, and smoking is the unforgivable sin in Liberal Land.  His diet isnt going to save him from lung cancer and emphysema or heart failure.

Bush was in good shape too, but all he got from the Democrat News  Network (DNN) was riducule. 

 

But I think it's how he eats.

Yeah, Diane, how you eat does determine your diet. You stupid, silly woman. No offense to the smart women out there.

I just had to post this again

Al Gore brought us carbon credits. The Obama's bring us.....drumroll please...Caring Credits!!
Yes folks, you too can pretend to care about poor people!
For the exceptionally low price of your eternal soul, self respect, AND dignity; you too can loll in self-indulgence and pomposity while your Caring Credits purchase the adulation of idiots everywhere!
Available exclusively at ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC and other FINE bullshitters.
(offer void where prohibited by reason, logic, and common sense)

In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.

Our own little Marlboro hunk

I actually think he looks skinnier in clothes--if skinny is the desired look. Let's hear it for smoking! I think he finally did go to the memorial service for his grandmother--finally. But he sure looked larky dancing through the surf the days beforehand. If the woman who had raised me, given me food stamps or gotten me huge scholarships, or however the narrative goes these days, had died, I would be feeling a little subdued. But hey--whatever. I guess he's thankful to Mrs Dunham for being yet another diversion--this time from the Blago self-evaluation.

Now, can we move on to how he doesn't give his kids Christmas presents. I bore easily.

 

→ StarAZ

He does give his kids Christmas Presents.

He's sending them to a private school in DC rather than one of those Public Schools Joe Biden has identified as inferior because of the high percentage of African American kids.

  • Fairness is not an attitude. It's a professional skill that must be developed and exercised. - Brit Hume

"Awahu"?

Try "Oahu".

This foto will reappear in

This foto will reappear in the near future when the wheels begin coming off. The caption will read: "The Emporer Has No Clothes!"

Pecs?! Really?

Since when have people found gynecomastia attractive?

Oh Chrissie!!!!

My initial wager offer was, 2 years before Obama's busted with a white woman! I'm changing that to 1 year before he's busted with a white person (probably Chris Mathews if Chris can hold it back long enough)

Oh Chrissie!!!!

My initial wager offer was, 2 years before Obama's busted with a white woman! I'm changing that to 1 year before he's busted with a white person (probably Chris Mathews if Chris can hold it back long enough)

Viewing options

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