CBS Looks Back At ‘Exciting and Historic’ Year in Politics

On Tuesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez introduced a segment on 2008 politics and declared: "The end of 2008 brings to a close one of the most exciting and historic years in national politics." At the top of the story, Mike Allen of the Politico explained what made the year so exciting: "2008 was the year that Barack Obama re-wrote the book on American politics."

The segment was comprised of various clips of campaign coverage, with the majority centered around Obama. In one clip, following an Obama primary victory, Early Show co-host Harry Smith exclaimed: "The polls may have predicted it. It was still no less a breath-taking win for Barack Obama."

The most time in the segment given to the McCain campaign focused on mocking Sarah Palin, including a clip of Katie Couric asking Palin what newspapers she read and Rodriguez declaring: "The McCain campaign under fire for spending $150,000 on clothes and accessories." A clip of Tina Fey impersonating Palin on Saturday Night Live was played, after which Allen remarked: "Never again will a presidential nominee pick a vice president who is identical to one of the greatest comedians in the country." Meanwhile, no clips of Joe Biden’s numerous gaffes were shown.

Allen concluded the segment by observing: "The most extraordinary poll came out recently that showed more than 80% of Americans approve of Obama's cabinet choices....It's already a revolutionary year and a revolutionary transition and it's not quite over." Scandals involving prominent Democrats John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer, and Rod Blagojevich were briefly mentioned at the end of the segment, but no party affiliation was given.

After the compilation of clips was played, fill-in co-host Chris Wragge mentioned: "What a year, and of course, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th president on January 20th, 2009." Rodriguez then added: "Can't wait...Can't wait for the inauguration, because after covering the election for so long I still have a bit of withdrawal from the political coverage."

Here is the full transcript of the segment:

8:00AM TEASE:

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: The year in politics, we'll look back at one of the most exciting presidential election races in history.

BARACK OBAMA: At this defining moment, change has come to America.

8:01AM TEASE:

RODRIGUEZ: We're going to talk about the year in politics and what a year it was.

8:05AM TEASE:

RODRIGUEZ: Up next, from Sarah Palin to John Edwards to, of course, Barack Obama. A look back at the amazing year in politics here on The Early Show on CBS.

8:08AM SEGMENT:

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Just two days left in this year. The end of 2008 brings to a close one of the most exciting and historic years in national politics.

CHRIS WRAGGE: Here's a look back at some of the highs and the lows of this past year's race for the White House.

BARACK OBAMA: I owe a debt to all of those who came before me and that in no other country on earth is my story even possible.

MIKE ALLEN [POLITICO]: 2008 was the year that Barack Obama re-wrote the book on American politics.

UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: It's the Late Show with David Letterman!

JOHN MCCAIN: I am announcing that I will be a candidate for President of the United States.

DAVID LETTERMAN: Oh, boy.

HARRY SMITH: The polls may have predicted it. It was still no less a breath-taking win for Barack Obama.

UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Mac is back! Mac is back!

MCCAIN: Tonight, we sure showed them what a comeback looks like.

[SONG: IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN]

HILLARY CLINTON: I have so many opportunities for this country.

BILL CLINTON: This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen.

ALLEN: It was not always pleasant to watch the Clintons wrestle with being finally put to the side.

OBAMA: Thank you!

BOB SCHIEFFER: By the end of this week, Barack Obama will be over the top and will be able to claim victory.

UNIDENTIFIED SINGERS: Yes, we can. Yes, we can.

OBAMA: I will be the Democratic nominee.

[SONG: RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW]

MCCAIN: Tonight, my friends, I will be the Republican nominee.

OBAMA: The next vice president, Joe Biden!

MCCAIN: Vice President of the United States, Sarah Palin.

[SONG: OH I'M JUST A GIRL, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT ME]

SARAH PALIN: Nice to meet you. Can I call you Joe?

JOE BIDEN: You can call me Joe.

PALIN: Thanks.

KATIE COURIC: What newspapers and magazines did you regularly read?

PALIN: All of them.

RODRIGUEZ: The McCain campaign under fire for spending $150,000 on clothes and accessories.

PALIN: Those clothes, they are not my property.

TINA FEY [AS SARAH PALIN]: And now I'd like to entertain everybody with some fancy pageant walking.

ALLEN: Never again will a presidential nominee pick a vice president who is identical to one of the greatest comedians in the country. For the second half of 2008, the biggest issue by far was the downturn in the economy.

MCCAIN: The fundamentals of our economy are strong, but these are very, very difficult times.

GEORGE W. BUSH: All of us around the table take this issue very seriously.

SMITH: The debate is supposed to happen here tonight. The question, will John McCain show up?

OBAMA: Ten days ago, you said the fundamentals of the economy are sound.

MCCAIN: We're talking about Joe the plumber

OBAMA: Joe the plumber.

MCCAIN: Where is Joe? Is Joe here with us today?

OBAMA: In this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

ALLEN: The most extraordinary poll came out recently that showed more than 80% of Americans approve of Obama's cabinet choices.

RUSS MITCHELL: Edwards admitted today that he had an extramarital affair.

[SONG: BAD BOYS]

JOHN EDWARDS: I made a very serious mistake.

ELIOT SPITZER: I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family.

ROD BLAGOJEVICH: I have done nothing wrong.

ALLEN: It's already a revolutionary year and a revolutionary transition and it's not quite over.

[SONG: DON'T STOP BELIEVING, HOLD ON TO THAT FEELING]

WRAGGE: What a year, and of course, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th president on January 20th, 2009.

RODRIGUEZ: Can't wait.

WRAGGE: Incredible year. You think about it, when we look back next year, will some of the same issues, politics aside, obviously, with the Obama presidency, is going to be a huge issue, but all of the talk of the economy right now, the housing slump, the auto industry, will those problems still exist? Or who knows?

RODRIGUEZ: They'll have to be tackled, for sure. Can't wait for the inauguration, because after covering the election for so long I still have a bit of withdrawal from the political coverage.

WRAGGE: 18 months and now it's all finally-

RODRIGUEZ: Absolutely.

WRAGGE: -closed down.