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NBC Cheerleads for Obama, Praises His 'Rousing' and 'Optimistic' Speech About 'Fairness'

By Kyle Drennen | January 25, 2012 | 12:03

A  A
Kyle Drennen's picture

Moments after President Obama concluded his State of the Union address on Tuesday, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams could barely contain his glee over the speech: "A rousing recitation, a reminder of why the nation is great from President Obama." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]

Meet the Press host David Gregory was next to take up the pom-poms, as he proclaimed: "Well, this is the power of the presidency....This was a president who was very forceful.... This was his pitch for re-election. Economic fairness is at the core of it." Williams played off Gregory's comment and sounded like a White House spokesman: "Chuck Todd, anything wrong with reminding people that as a nation we're best when we have each other's backs and what is great about America?"

NBC's chief White House correspondent took the not-so-subtle cue and framed the address as a boost for Obama's re-election campaign: "No and that's what – the other thing that struck me about this is that he was going – look, you know, we always know that the President that paints the most – the presidential candidate that paints the most optimistic picture does usually end up winning election or re-election....This was, if you will, optimistic populism."

Trying to hammer home the President's class warfare message, Gregory chimed in: "Can I just add the fairness piece is that the rich need to do more. I mean, that's where, I think, is really about the fairness argument."

Later in the fawning exchange, Todd gushed: "...we talked about the tone being a very optimistic tone, pro-America and I think you interspersed – the word 'America' may have been said more times than in a while in a State of the Union."

During that same exchange, Andrea Mitchell joined the discussion and also touted the President's patriotic tone while dismissing Republican criticism: "...it would be very hard to say that he is apologizing for America. This was resoundingly positive and optimistic in every way."

Read the transcript of the January 24 exchange.

About the Author

Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow Kyle Drennen on Twitter.
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Comments

They loved it. What a surprise.

Submitted by NeoKong on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:19pm.

Kyle could have written this article a week ago with 100% accuracy.

Follow me on Twitter
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Agreed

Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:17pm.

Everyone knew what he was going to say; they liked what he was going to say; and he said it.

AP was a bit critical, though, saying that it sounded like his previous SOTU -- a wish-list.

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I'm gonna vomit.And I woke

Submitted by killa37 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:21pm.

I'm gonna vomit.

And I woke up to find that Boy BadAss - conveniently on the same night as his pathetic speech - used the Navy SEALS as a prop again to rescue a couple people in Somolia. It just HAD to be a coincidence, huh???

That speech could have been real short - 'America, you're screwed'!!!

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Timing is everything.

Submitted by Newsbubba on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 2:27pm.

I'm just wondering how long the RBFSOBCINC has held off the SEALS from pulling off this mission so the timing would work out best for him?!?

No way in hell he would have them go early if the opportunity presented itself, but he would sure as hell have rushed it up, even if they weren't ready just to get the great press. Their lives or the lives of the hostages had little or nothing to do with the timing of this mission, I'm guessing.

BTW, check out the grade level assigned to the RBFSOB's magnificent speech:

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/01/state-of-the-union-registers-...

Comrade Bubba
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newsbubba

Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 2:33pm.

even if it is willful ignorance I am still going to chose to believe that the President of the US would not do such a thing.

I'm not saying a politician wouldn't take advantage of a potential coincidence but to put people in danger to boost a speech is something else all together.

. . Socialist = Modern Liberal = Parasitoid
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No wonder

Submitted by Dukehoopsfan on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:22pm.

It's no wonder they liked it. last night was the third time they heard the speech. Fortunately for us it will be three and out.

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Hey, here's fair....

Submitted by c5then on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:28pm.

Maybe we could institute a 100% withholding rate and then, in April, everyone fills out a refund request and the Government sends you back what it thinks is fair?

Somwhere, Karl Marx is smiling and Ayn Rand is shaking her head in unbelief.

 

Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it! 

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Ayn Rand

Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:32pm.

If she is shaking her head it is because we are going down the rabbit hole even after so many historic examples and so many warnings. But she went through it once and knows very well how it happens.

. . Socialist = Modern Liberal = Parasitoid
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Sure, I trust the government

Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:26pm.

Sure, I trust the government explicitly. I trust them to screw me over.

Nuke em til they glow; then shoot em in the dark
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Barry

Submitted by grammajane on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:29pm.

has torn down and critized America most of his adult life. His writers got wind of the fact that tearing down America is not a smart move so, wrote his speech to make it appear that he is proud. Very easy to figure out so wonder why all of a sudden mitchell and the rest of those libs applaud his words and refuse to acknowledge his past comments. And these jerks, who claim they are so smart and elite can't figure out something that simple. After all his campaign speech last night had to include praise for America because he has zero to run on with all his failures.

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Rousing?

Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:30pm.

In that snooze-fest of a campaign kick-off speech the only thing that "roused" me was this:

"The executive branch also needs to change. Too often, it's inefficient, outdated and remote. That's why I've asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy so that our Government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people."
-and-
"With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions...."

In other words, Sheik Barack Hussein al Baloney wants to become EMIR, so that he can rule unilaterally over the "slow" and "obstructionist" Congress and the rest of us who aren't intelligent enough to recognize his omniscience.

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Yep, Sheik Barack Hussein bin

Submitted by killa37 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:45pm.

Yep, Sheik Barack Hussein bin der-don dat yer booti Obama isn't even attempting to disguise his quest to become our Dear Leader..............he's been skirting around the edges for a while, 'softening up the beachhead', but last night he stood in front of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the people of America, and basically told them that our Constitution, our basic founding principles, our liberties, and our freedoms do not MATTER to him and what he wants to do.

In another era, this pathetic piece of Kenyan Kow Krap would have been shot at dawn for being a traitor to this country. And now he's our 'President'????

My father is rolling over in his grave.

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Can u imagine the response to

Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:28pm.

Can u imagine the response to President Bush if he said something like I am not obeying congress' wishes?

Nuke em til they glow; then shoot em in the dark
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That's the thing, Dan.

Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:42pm.

Bush was a real American, he wouldn't have done anything like the actions that this dictator has been doing.

-Jon

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Rousing?

Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:16pm.

Ooops, double tap.

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Definitions Please

Submitted by River City on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:38pm.

Until the media start asking for definitions to these empty words I will continue to dismiss them as empty populist rhetoric.

Obama needs to define fairness.

Obama needs to define American ideals

Obama needs to define social justice.

There are lots more phrases he uses that have meanings to him that are totally different than what the average American thinks they mean.

When the MSM actually engages then I'll pay attention. Until then it's empty, ideological, partisan rhetoric.

"Money is the scourge of the men who attempt to reverse the law of causality--the men who seek to replace the mind by seizing the products of the mind."  Ayn Rand

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River City,

Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:45pm.

"Until then it's empty, ideological, partisan rhetoric." - This exactly the way they want it and the way the media want it to stay. It is how socialism 'sounds good' to so many people even though they know it is wrong. Empty rhetoric can be twisted to fit any narrative or any defense. But more importantly, to speak against empty rhetoric open you up to attack. (If you don't believe in Social Justice then you are jailing dissenters or a racist).

. . Socialist = Modern Liberal = Parasitoid
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Agreed

Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:22pm.

The terms sound fine until one gets into the details.

OWS is the personification of this. Ostensibly, it was about fighting Wall St. greed, but once it assembled at the various venues, participants discovered that a great many of their fellow demonstrators were not only more radical than themselves, but tied the central issue to myriad leftist movements. So, once the cold weather arrived, those disillusioned by the radicals soon departed.

When words mean all things to all people, few get alienated.

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"An' den"

Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:22pm.

Like the drive-thru window scene in "Dude, Where's My Car?" we need to keep asking, "And then?", meaning, "to what ends do we take fairness, social justice, etc."

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Fairness

Submitted by ahusser on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 4:27pm.

Sounds good but is ultimately just a vagueism. Fairness out of Obama's mouth is code for "social justice" which is another lefty vagueism. So what is fair? Cecil Fielder making 216 or whatever million for playing baseball? Forty eight of the population not paying taxes? You tell me what is fair. I think life is inherently unfair. Somebody on one of the talk shows threw out a statistic that the top 1 percent owns 30+ percent of the assets in this country triple what it was 10 years ago. If true is that because the 1 percent is greedy or is the government policy systematically destroying small business and the middle class. So basically Obama just said a bunch of meaningless vague nothing drivel. Or all is code to continue with class warfare and implement he and his party's socialist agenda. Be aware that he wants to appear centrist (again) to be re-elected. Unfortunately I think he has a high probability of success because 1) he is the incumbent. 2) doesn't have to fight for his party's nomination 3) 95 percent of the media carry his water and 4) Half of the electorate is apparently brain dead. In my mind it will be more important to hold on to the House and regain the Senate, conceding the possible loss of the Supreme Court through Obama's probable re-election.

"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'

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How much more fair does he want?

Submitted by Order270 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:41pm.

I make about 25% less and work about 25% harder now than I did five years ago. I don't care about fault or blame. I do know who is responsible and I don't see reason to continue on that path.

There have always been rich and poor and this will always be. I would like to think that I could possibly be rich. That is in at least a part of the American dream. Class mobility is at the root of the American society and its culture. The Middle Class is that ladder and Obama is cutting out the rungs from underneath.

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Mirror Mirror on the wall?

Submitted by desert3030 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:41pm.

Upbeat, positive,....ah I heard it the first time in '10 & '11. When will the NBC, MSNBC operting units of the DNC tell us "what is the fair share? Is it 30%, 35%,....duh what is the fair share.
Any...... and every time you hear fair share, you need to respond with...what is the number?

Desert3030
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The absolute arrogance is just jaw-dropping.

Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:53pm.

Why doesn't he just go all the way, dissolve congress, and rule by decree?

So let it be written; so let it be done.  -Ramses II in "The Ten Commandments."

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He's workin' on it,

Submitted by killa37 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:11pm.

He's workin' on it, MB...........remember, he keeps talkin' about having to finish his 'work' - that's why he needs another term, because by then - there won't be any more 'terms' to be had.

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⇒ BUILT TO (finish) LAST

Submitted by Cool Arrow on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:19pm.

There! Now the title to his speech makes some sense.

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Oh, we all have each other's backs?

Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:02pm.

Sorry, Chief White House Mouthpiece, but I can see the knife from here, so don't ever sneak up behind me.

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⇒ In some circles. SOL

Submitted by Cool Arrow on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:10pm.

In some circles Americans do have each others backs.

Observe, if you will, the Barney Frank Conga Line.

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Blecccch!

Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:22pm.

.

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Wasn't it

Submitted by oldmanatee on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 1:54pm.

just a few years ago the libs went bat crap crazy when anyone dared say America was better at (fill in the blank)?

Now it's about time our nation was great????

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Is it fair to take from me

Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 3:02pm.

Is it fair to take from me whom labored to produce it: to give to someone who did no labor at all without asking my permission?..

answer that question, Obama, to my face, and you better have the answer which fits my desire.

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David Gregory should've

Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 3:09pm.

David Gregory should've said..Obama's speech is the power of the presidency to force us all be his slave. it will be a cold day in hell before that occurs in its entirety.

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I must have not read the warning label for this video clip...

Submitted by gmaniac1 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 3:23pm.

I think I just threw up in mouth a little bit... these people seriously need help and quick!

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What else can you expect,

Submitted by John21 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 3:45pm.

What else can you expect, they have staked their future on the far left liberal party line when Obama (the incompetent) is replaced in November what very little credibility they have left would be flushed down the toilet. That would move the DNC PR department (NBC and MSDNC) to the gutter snipe division, depending on how successful the next administration is that would mean 4 very long years in the outback and with their minimal ratings maybe (if America is lucky) bankruptcy. That would be absolute disaster for the no talent personnel of these networks.

Just imagine the crackheads that would be working at McDonnels

Tigle legs Mathews
No Clue Gregory
Kool-ade Stephonopolus
Special Ed Shultz
Lost in Space Madcow

They will be a failure there just like at their current positions

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The word "fair" is inherently

Submitted by Smartypants on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:15pm.

The word "fair" is inherently undefined. Nobody can clearly point to anything and say that is fair or unfair. Is it fair for the government to take more than 50% of what a private citizen earns in taxes? Is it fair to assume that all successful people have somehow cheated the less successful? Is it fair to make a small percentage of the country pay for stuff for the rest of the country? Is it fair to portray everything that goes wrong as Bush's fault and to take credit for whatever goes well? Is it fair as President to more or less dismiss the motives and intentions of anybody who does not agree with your politics? What is "fair," Mr. President?

 

 

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How about Obama be fair to the rest of us and

Submitted by ohio granny on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:15pm.

How about Obama be fair to the rest of us and shut the F**k up? He just repeats and repeats and repeats.

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Stop Censoring The Gosnell Trial!

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