CNN correspondent Randi Kaye gushed over the “dynamic duo” of Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, whom she heralded as “a powerful duo -- a duo women want on their side.” The two first ladies had made a joint appearance at President Obama’s announcement of the new White House Council for Women and Girls, and Kaye’s report, which aired on Wednesday’s Anderson Cooper 360, made it seem like it was the best thing since sliced bread. Kaye saved her most laudatory language for the two at the conclusion of her report: “Today was a good day to be a woman.”
Host Anderson Cooper introduced Kaye’s segment by labeling the two first ladies as “two of the most visible champions, perhaps, of women’s rights in the country.” A graphic accompanying Cooper on-screen proclaimed the “dynamic duo” of Obama and Clinton. During the rest of the report, another graphic applauded the “Obama-Clinton power duo.”
Kaye’s report consisted largely of Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton sound bites, and the correspondent’s gooey voice-overs. After playing the initial clips from the first ladies, Kaye underscored the apparent qualifications of the two to speak on behalf of women: “Both grew up working class. Both carved out successful law careers and raised children. But it wasn’t always easy. They know the challenges women face, which made this event so fitting. Together, they honored women from around the globe for their courage and their strength.”
In addition to sound bites from Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Clinton, Kaye played two clips from Faye Wattleton, current president of the Center for the Advancement for Women and former president of Planned Parenthood. During the first bite, Wattleton gushed that “the coming together of these two women creates a very powerful image that’s going to be positive for women all over the globe.”
Later in the report, the correspondent highlighted Mrs. Clinton’s record on several issues: “She has long worked to improve health care, education, and equality for women. She’s fought against sex trafficking and for more comprehensive sex education.” Kaye’s inclusion of “comprehensive sex education” in this list of issues makes it clear that she is lauding Clinton (and Mrs. Obama, for that matter) for her liberal viewpoints. She also gushed over President Obama’s move to start the White House Council: “And it’s not just Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Obama looking to better women’s lives. This afternoon, the president announced the newly-formed White House Council for Women and Girls. Mr. Obama promises that all federal agencies, when drafting policies, will take into account the needs of women and girls.”
The full transcript of the segment, which began 42 minutes into the 10 pm Eastern hour of Wednesday’s Anderson Cooper 360:
ANDERSON COOPER: Raised by a single mom, President Obama today reflected on his own childhood as he pledged to provide others with opportunities his mom never dreamed of. Listen.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: That’s why so many of us are here today, because of the women who came before us, who were determined to see us sit in the high seats -- women who reached for the ballot, and raised families and traveled long, lonely roads to be the first in the boardroom, or in the courtroom, or on the battlefield, or on the factory floor. Women who cracked and shattered those glass ceilings so that my daughters, and all of our sons and daughters, could dream a little bigger and reach a little higher.
COOPER: With that, the president signed an executive order creating the White House Council on Women and Girls. The mission: to help women of all ages face challenges at home, work, and to improve their economic security and status. Now, two of the most visible champions, perhaps, of women’s rights in the country are, of course, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. Today, they were talking together about their roles and their reach. ‘Up Close’ tonight, here’s Randi Kaye.
RANDI KAYE (voice-over): They are a powerful duo -- a duo women want on their side.
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA: I am so proud to be a woman today and every single day.
KAYE: First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
HILLARY CLINTON: The status of women and girls is a key indicator of whether or not progress is possible.
KAYE: Both grew up working class. Both carved out successful law careers and raised children. But it wasn’t always easy. They know the challenges women face, which made this event so fitting. Together, they honored women from around the globe for their courage and their strength.
FAYE WATTLETON, CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN: Just simply, the coming together of these two women creates a very powerful image that’s going to be positive for women all over the globe.
KAYE: The first lady’s focus has been on working mothers and military wives.
M. OBAMA: The president and I share the belief that communities are only as strong as the health of their women.
KAYE: Mrs. Clinton’s focus is a bit more global, especially with her new role as secretary of state.
CLINTON: The rights of women -- really of all people -- are at the core of these challenges, and human rights will always be central to our foreign policy.
CLINTON (from 1995 speech at the U.N. 4th World Conference on Women): It is time to break the silence.
KAYE: She has long worked to improve health care, education, and equality for women. She’s fought against sex trafficking and for more comprehensive sex education.
KAYE (on-camera) And it’s not just Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Obama looking to better women’s lives. This afternoon, the president announced the newly-formed White House Council for Women and Girls. Mr. Obama promises that all federal agencies, when drafting policies, will take into account the needs of women and girls.
B. OBAMA: Women still earn just 78 cents for every dollar men make. Women are more than half of our population, but just 17 percent of our Congress.
KAYE (voice-over): In making that announcement, Obama recalled how his mother put herself through school while she struggled to raise him and his sister. He spoke of his grandmother, too.
B. OBAMA: ...One of the first women bank vice presidents in the state of Hawaii, but I also saw how she hit a glass ceiling.
WATTLETON: Recently, it has been assumed that women in this country have it made, but today is a very symbolic message that the work in this country is not done.
KAYE: Today was a good day to be a woman. Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.





ANDERSON COOPER: Raised by a single mom, President Obama today reflected on his own childhood as he pledged to provide others with opportunities his mom never dreamed of. Listen. 














Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Buttons and Bows?
March 12, 2009 - 16:16 ET by metaphorsbwithuIn light of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's "Reset Button" debacle and First Lady Michelle Obama's celebrated fashion sense, perhaps somone should suggest recording an updated duet featuring the dynamic duo singing the old classic Buttons and Bows.
metaphorsbwithu
Actually, I had another song in mind...
March 13, 2009 - 00:27 ET by Mike BrattonSing it, ladies...
Brings a tear to the eye...
--Mike
www.thebrattonreport...
Yeah Mike...I'm crying a
March 13, 2009 - 00:51 ET by bigtimerYeah Mike...I'm crying a river here...pass the Kleenex please...
Nothing like ol' fashioned political whoring now is there to get you where you want to be...these two gals are perfect examples, one just has more experience than the other...and look where they both are now that have a lot to do with the control of all of us to a certain extent...
Oh they stand by their man alright, come thick or thin...their claws have always been out to reach that top...whatever it takes, selling ones soul must be easy for some.
now now, bt - I distinctly remember hearing Hillary
March 13, 2009 - 12:53 ET by Cape Conservativesay - on NATIONAL TELEVISION, no less - that she was NOT a Tammy Wynette 'stand by her man' kind of gal ;~) Short, short memories - guess it comes with the territory - you know dodging bullets and all that other 'stuff''
Neither one of these women would be where they were without 'standing by their man' - I have NO respect for either of them!!!
This is one woman who does not need to be told by an empty skirt that 'today is a good day to be a woman' - EVERY DAY is a good day for me!!!!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Maybe after a couple of stiff shots?
March 13, 2009 - 03:27 ET by metaphorsbwithuHillary certainly has the (phony) accent down. Remember this performance?
I don't feel no ways tired
I've come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me that the road would be easy
I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me.
Michelle might have to work on it a little.
We may have a concept going here.
Can you imagine if a Republican had pulled that stunt??!!
March 13, 2009 - 12:54 ET by Cape ConservativeIt is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Wanna make a bumper sticker?
March 13, 2009 - 13:19 ET by metaphorsbwithuThat's a tag that could be appplied to almost every bit of news we hear coming from and about this administration.
Bumper sticker
March 13, 2009 - 13:30 ET by BuffNBoneBumper sticker suggestion
YMI$4U
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
It's "community disorganizers" now ...
March 13, 2009 - 18:30 ET by metaphorsbwithuIn case you haven't heard, Eric Holder says we're not to call them "bombers" anymore.
I saw that phoney-baloney
March 12, 2009 - 16:26 ET by bigtimerI saw that phony-baloney love-fest yesterday...Shrillster, the smartest woman in the world using the phrase 'Smart Power' cracked me up...still does...and the other smart as heck gal, Michelledumb-belle that followed her was just dynamic I tell ya...dynamic!
Kaye is dumb as a box of rocks.
Simple as that...she should just go bleach her brain cells some more.
If a woman isn't always proud to be a woman from day one...well, she has major 'issues'.
Amen, bt - last line says it all!
March 13, 2009 - 12:55 ET by Cape ConservativeIt is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
"Smart Power!"
March 13, 2009 - 22:19 ET by Mike BrattonDo Hillary and Michelle look at one another and do a fist bump when they say that?
You know, sort of like "Wonder Twin powers, activate!"?
--Mike
www.thebrattonreport...
Power Duo
March 12, 2009 - 16:47 ET by Gothampc"two of the most visible champions, perhaps, of women’s rights in the country."
Except under two conditions:
when those women are unborn and their mother wants to abort them
are in a condition where they need care (i.e. Terri Schiavo)
Goth... Amen!!
March 12, 2009 - 17:31 ET by bigtimerGoth...
Amen!!
Dynamic at what?
March 12, 2009 - 17:02 ET by the strugglerDynamic at what?
"Communities are only as strong as the health of their women."WHAT?
That's deep.
I'm starting to think Roseanne Roseannadana was.....
Yep, they are smart
March 12, 2009 - 17:08 ET by MidAmericaYep, they are smart women. They've maximized as much benefit as they can from their husbands success. Of course, riding the elevator isn't quite as much of an accomplishment as climbing the stairs.
Spandex Time!
March 12, 2009 - 17:28 ET by heldmywFirst Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will next clack their ornate and arcane rings together, cackle; "Wonder Girls Power---Activate!" and morph into a pair of feckless. pretentious liberal loonies bent on destroying the family!
Oh. Wait.
Wonder Twins
March 12, 2009 - 17:59 ET by CaligulaWonder twin powers...ACTIVATE! I forgot about that one. I would not be suprised if it happened. What form would they take?
Dumb as a box of rocks is good, dumb as a box of hair I like better.
Today was a good day to be
March 12, 2009 - 20:01 ET by fitzfongToday was a good day to be a woman. Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.
Randi Kaye reporting from CNN's non sequitur bureau.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Good day to be a woman if
March 12, 2009 - 23:44 ET by Clear thinkerGood day to be a woman if you enjoy being used by the Democrats.
Obama Communism Part 2.
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
~What a load of bull
March 13, 2009 - 13:07 ET by choselife3xSuccessful law careers my @$$.
Hope and Change= Despair and Socialism
Good evening chose
March 13, 2009 - 13:17 ET by cocodrieThey had quite successful law carreers. They parlayed affirmative action degrees tnto government jobs while stealing millions without ever seeing the inside of a courtroom.
Typical democrat success story.
Jesus Loves You
~Coco
March 13, 2009 - 13:23 ET by choselife3xThat would be funny if I weren't crying.......
Hope and Change= Despair and Socialism