During Thursday’s Situation Room, CNN’s Zain Verjee exclaimed about how much “the world is waiting” for President Obama to begin his international travels: “The world wants Obama, the road show.” She also gushed over how his “rock star vibe will make his personal diplomacy a much more potent tool” and how he will be in “really big demand overseas.”
The correspondent made her “road show” comment during an introduction to a short report on the President’s first trip to Canada, which gave a little history of the past two presidents’ first foreign trips, and also possible other overseas destinations for the commander-in-chief in the near future. The report also featured two clips from Darrell West of the Brookings Institution, who highlighted the importance of international trips for President Obama, and how other world leaders will want to interact with him, in order to “get a piece of him, find out who he is, what his priorities are.”
After her report, Verjee gave her “rock star vibe” line. Anchor Wolf Blitzer then asked, “His personal background -- how much of a difference do you think that will make?” The correspondent replied, “Yeah, it’s going to be a critical difference, because beyond the media attention, beyond the public interest, beyond the potency of his office -- he’s really considered a world citizen. He has ties to people in places no other president has had.”
In other words, Verjee is referring to the President’s years in Indonesia, as well as his familial ties to Kenya. On that note, if McCain had been elected, would the mainstream media highlight how he was born in the Panama Canal Zone, and his many years in a Vietnamese POW camp?
The full transcript of Verjee’s report, which aired at the bottom-half of the 4 pm Eastern hour of Thursday’s Situation Room:
WOLF BLITZER: So much on his agenda -- the president of the United States -- he’s got a huge economic crisis at home. He’s also got major national security issues, and now, there’s word he’s planning a visit to a foreign country, the first of its kind. Let’s bring in Zain Verjee -- she’s working at this story. Zain, where is he going and when is he going?
ZAIN VERJEE: Well Wolf, the first travels of a new president always have great symbolic value, and the world is waiting.
VERJEE (voice-over): The world wants Obama, the road show.
DARRELL WEST, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: It is important for President Obama to travel around the world, even though our -- his chief focus has to be on the domestic economy, the global situation very much affects that economy.
VERJEE: Only one foreign trip has been nailed down for President Obama -- Canada, February 19th.
President Bush’s first trip was to Mexico on February 16th, 2001. President Bill Clinton took his first foreign trip in April of 1993 to Vancouver, Canada, and met with Russia’s leader. President Obama will have to consider going to key world meetings. Just in April alone, 20 countries with the largest economies meet in London; a NATO meeting in France; the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. President Obama has also promised to address the Muslim world from a Muslim capital.
WEST: He is the new kid on the block, so every world leader wants to get a piece of him, find out who he is, what his priorities are. Obama talked a lot during the campaign about how he wants the United States to act differently, and so leaders around the world want to see exactly what does that mean.
VERJEE (on-camera): Some experts say Mr. Obama’s rock star vibe will make his personal diplomacy a much more potent tool, and he is going to be in really big demand overseas, Wolf.
BLITZER: He certainly will be. His personal background -- how much of a difference do you think that will make?
VERJEE: Yeah, it’s going to be a critical difference, because beyond the media attention, beyond the public interest, beyond the potency of his office -- he’s really considered a world citizen. He has ties to people in places no other president has had.
BLITZER: He certainly does, and he made a point of that, especially in that interview with Al Arabiya.
VERJEE: Right, exactly.
BLITZER: All right, thanks very much, Zain, for that.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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Zane Who?
January 29, 2009 - 19:09 ET by bigtimerZane Who?
InZane in the membrane...
January 29, 2009 - 22:34 ET by Dan DiegoInZane in the membrane...
cue the corny organ music.
January 29, 2009 - 19:16 ET by mizflame98LOL mizflame... You hit
January 29, 2009 - 19:19 ET by bigtimerLOL mizflame...
You hit the nail on the head...
I cannot stand Zane V....never have from day one.
Good gawd this is getting old with O BS.
Obama has shown his priorities already
January 29, 2009 - 19:18 ET by c5thenAbortion, spending as much money as possible and appeasing terrorists.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
Alan Keyes / Sarah Palin - 2012
C5
January 29, 2009 - 19:51 ET by UpNorthdon't forget thermostats set at 80 in the WH, and $50-60/pound steak to celebrate. Not to mention abortion, grass seed, windmills, global warming, and on and on.
Frankly Verjee, the world can have him. Keep him, don't send him home.
I got nothing. Once again I
January 29, 2009 - 19:52 ET by HeavyChevyI got nothing. Once again I am tapped out of insults and look to my fellow NBer's to fill the void. I'm tired.
HeavyChevy
January 30, 2009 - 08:31 ET by choselife3xHa ha, I know how you feel.
They cover it all pretty well, don't they?
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
choselife3x
January 30, 2009 - 12:30 ET by HeavyChevywatching these nuts is like working on a car; sometimes it get so frustrating you just have to back away and collect ones self.
Couple of guesses to
January 29, 2009 - 20:34 ET by BKeyserCouple of guesses to follow:
If these assumptions are in fact, true, is it safe to say that these people can say such outrageously childish things because they don't have to look in a mirror?
Barf. One should take
January 29, 2009 - 20:55 ET by rbosqueBarf.
One should take heed. If the world loves him, then let them have him. We should worship God alone!
A black man seducing the
January 29, 2009 - 21:01 ET by eaglewingz08A black man seducing the world with his big tool. Am I reading this correctly. Is this the post racial prose that passes for reporting nowadays?
eaglewingz
January 29, 2009 - 23:58 ET by thebutlerdiditAnd that was it. I just knew when I read this, that someone would make the "big tool" comment. LOL
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Madeline Kahn voice
January 30, 2009 - 08:03 ET by motherbeltIt's twoo !! It's twoo !!
Please don't take that as a personal remark about the President.
But that just reminded me of that line from "Blazing Saddles." LOL
Why?
January 29, 2009 - 22:33 ET by DoktorFrankenWhy take off all over the world? Isn't there enough to do right here at home?
Let some of those Muslims Hussein wants to kiss up to come here. Isn't that the purpose of the White House? To intimidate heads of state?
''University Approved History Of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara''
The Obama Road Show...
January 30, 2009 - 03:55 ET by Army BratI mean...we knew that's what it was and is, but whoda thought one of his own would use the phrase... and think it was a good thing.
Happy Trails...
“rock star vibe will make
January 30, 2009 - 05:54 ET by RR GOP“rock star vibe will make his personal diplomacy a much more potent tool”
Isn't this the same MSM who a few years ago expressed concerns over the personality of presidents and their personal friendships with world leaders being a bad thing given the temporary nature of the Presidency, and thus this being a bad thing for the country's policies as a whole over the long term?
They questioned this concerning both Clinton and Bush.
But now it's quite OK. Interesting.
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.
Name something after Obama
January 30, 2009 - 06:17 ET by dmntd1Yeup!
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy." - Winston Churchill
Oh yeah!
January 30, 2009 - 08:02 ET by motherbeltLet's start building the shrine now!
Start collecting the relics! No item too insignificant!! (tickets and passes?)
Good ever-lovin' grief!!
"Zain, You Ignorant Slut"
January 30, 2009 - 07:54 ET by midnight cowboyNot so fast there Zain. It seems like our beloved Europeans are not so happy with the "one". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4389597/US-EU-trade-war-looms-as-Barack-Obama-bill-urges-Buy-American.html
Reincarnation of Smoot Hawley act of 1933 which drove the recession into a depression.
I pray for the USA cause we
January 30, 2009 - 08:07 ET by eaglewingz08I pray for the USA cause we have a big leftard tool in the WH and two big commie tools as heads of Congress.
Oh, yeah, the Euros are
January 30, 2009 - 08:26 ET by SickofLibsOh, yeah, the Euros are plenty pissed.
Unfortunately, just try and find any consumer electronics, cameras, etc. that are still manufactured in the US.
"Potent tool." OMG. That
January 30, 2009 - 08:21 ET by SickofLibs"Potent tool."
OMG. That just HAS to be a finalist in MRC's Notable Quotables for 2009.
Obamanation
January 30, 2009 - 08:48 ET by WR JonasI think he needs to spend a month in Hawaii to settle the problems there before he has to visit any cold countries. He dislikes cold you know. So Sweden and Finland better exhale for awhile. Iceland? Not a chance.