CNN’s Moos Features Grannies for Obama and Clinton, Only One for McCain

CNN correspondent Jeanne Moos, who is known for her light and often humor-tinged reports on a variety of topics, profiled politically-active elderly women in a report which aired on Wednesday’s "American Morning" and "Newsroom" programs, devoting all but six seconds of her two-and-a-half plus minute report to "granny" supporters of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. While the Democratic supporters are seen dancing at rallies and posting YouTube videos, the only McCain supporter who appeared in the segment was McCain’s own 96-year-old mother, who merely stood in a background during a campaign stop.

Moos (whose name rhymes who "hose") introduced her report, which first aired at the end of the 8 am hour of Wednesday’s "American Morning" by juxtaposing the stereotypical politician kissing babies moment with the politically-enthusiastic seniors. "It's the babies who get the oos and aahs, but it's the grannies who can actually vote.... Whether singing for Obama in a rocker or dancing for Hillary at a rally, the battle of the grannies is on." As she gave her voice-over, clips of the "grannies" cheering on either Clinton or Obama played.

The report featured a total of ten different Democratic "grannies." All of them were energetic, gung-ho supporters of their respective candidates. Moos’s voice-overs reenforced this impression. "There are groovy grandmas for Clinton... grooving to see a woman president." Also, "And it was a woman of a certain age who gave Obama one of his best-known chants, a local councilwoman from South Carolina."

Moos devoted only two sentences to a "granny" supporter of John McCain. "One white head deserves another. That's John McCain, kissing his 96-year-old mother." Unlike the vocal supporters of Obama or Clinton, McCain’s mother is seen only being applauded while standing on a stage with her son.

The full transcript of the Jeanne Moos’s report, which first aired on Wednesday’s "American Morning:"

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the babies who get the oos and aahs, but it's the grannies who can actually vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #1: We want Hillary.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #2 (singing): Obama, Obama, you wonderful one, wonderful man.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #1: We want Hillary.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #2: Yay! Yay!

MOOS: Whether singing for Obama in a rocker or dancing for Hillary at a rally, the battle of the grannies is on.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #3: Hillary all the way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #4: White-haired women can speak for themselves for Obama.

CROWD: Yes, we can.

MOOS: White hair doesn't disqualify you from YouTube. Check out Grandmas for Obama' 08.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #5: This is a feeling like a mother feels for her son.

MOOS: There are groovy grandmas for Clinton...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #6: I'm Groovin Grannie.

MOOS: ...Grooving to see a woman president.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #7: I have lived for 80 years, waited for this to happen.

MOOS: Eighty-two-year-old Jean Weiss didn't just wait. She addressed Barack Obama in person.

JEAN WEISS, OBAMA SUPPORTER: I thank you, sir, but you better be president. You've got to be president.

OBAMA: I tell you what, thank you.

MOOS: And it was a woman of a certain age who gave Obama one of his best-known chants, a local councilwoman from South Carolina.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #8: Fired up!

OBAMA: Fired up!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #8: Ready to go!

OBAMA: Ready to go!

MOOS (on-camera): You know, we have all these great video moments of Obama with oldsters, but it's actually Hillary who tends to win the older, female vote.

MOOS (voice-over): Ninety-one-year-old Jule Hodges ended up in a Hillary ad with her heartfelt endorsement.

JULE HODGES, CLINTON SUPPORTER: ...And is ready, willing, and able to bring America back up to be polished like gold.

MOOS: When it comes to white-haired supporters...

CROWD: Barack Obama for president!

MOOS: ...One white head deserves another. That's John McCain, kissing his 96-year-old mother. And how about this 104-year-old Hillary supporter? It's enough to inflate even your alter ego.

CLINTON: I think this is quite an amazing accomplishment.

MOOS: Older supporters offer wisdom.

WEISS: Don't hit on Hillary. Bring this all down. Let her do that stuff. Leave her alone. You don't need to do that. You're higher than that.

OBAMA: I just want to know, will you be my running mate?

MOOS: And with that offer, she ran down for a kiss.

OBAMA: Give me a kiss.

MOOS: But who cares about being a running mate? At this age, it's great to still be able to run -- or dance. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.