David Muir and the journalists at Good Morning America were thrilled over Cuba’s “day of history,” hyping an exclusive interview with Barack Obama. Yet, the same network spent just a scant ten seconds on the arrest of more than 50 dissidents hours before the President arrived.
After Obama brought up the fact that “we still have significant differences around human rights and individual liberties inside of Cuba,” Muir meekly wondered, “What are you looking for for proof that there’s been progress?” That was it. No follow-up. The only specific mention of the latest abuse came when co-host Robin Roberts noted, “[Obama will] l meet with Raul Castro later this morning as the country faces protests over human rights. Dozens arrested just hours before President Obama landed on Sunday.”
That ten second mention paled in comparison to the rest of GMA’s coverage: Three segments and a total of six minutes and 15 seconds. In contrast, ABC journalists used some variation of “historic" nine times over the show.
In order (including network graphics), here they are: “History-making,” “day of history,” “historic visit to Cuba,” President Obama making history,” “history made here in Cuba,” "President Obama making history in Cuba,” “President Obama’s historic visit to Cuba,” “history has been made here” and “a historic moment.”
Instead, Muir pushed Obama on lifting the trade embargo: “You hear from a lot of American businesses who say if we don't lift this embargo, other countries are going to get in there and get the deals.” He added, “Does it happen during your presidency?”
The best Muir could do on the generic subject of human rights was a discussion of Obama’s address to Cuban TV. He queried, “I asked how far will he go? Will there be a Berlin Wall type moment here?”
More often were occasions when Roberts gushed, “President Obama making history, becoming the first U.S. President in nearly 90 years to step foot on Cuban soil.”
Muir marveled, “The President and First Lady and their daughters coming off Air Force One in Havana, Cuba. For decades, an image unimaginable.”
A second Muir interview will air on Monday’s World News Tonight. Over on NBC and CBS, the other two networks celebrated the Obamas “acting like tourists” during a “historic” Cuba trip.
A transcript of the first GMA segment is below:
3/21/16
7am teaseROBIN ROBERTS: ABC News exclusive. David Muir goes one-on-one with President Obama. His history-making trip to Cuba this morning. The first U.S. President on the island in nearly 90 years.
BARACK OBAMA: Change is going to happen here and I think Raul Castro understands that.
ROBIN ROBERTS: The President preparing for a meeting with Cuba’s leaders as human rights protesters hit the streets.
...
7:01
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Day of history in Cuba. President Obama is there right now. He's going to meet with leader — Cuban leader Raul Castro today. They got a little bit of a downpour last night. Cuba so abuzz over that visit. Look at that low-landing for Air Force One. People gathering on the streets of Havana seeing the President land.
ROBERTS: Looking up and seeing that. And President Obama sending this tweet as soon as he landed. Translated, that means, “what's up, Cuba?” And that e's looking for forward to meeting and hearing directly from the Cuban people. And we’re going to have David Muir’s exclusive interview with President Obama coming up.
...
7:04:15 to 7:08:33
4 minutes and 18 secondsABC GRAPHIC: One-on-One With President Obama on Historic Visit to Cuba: “The Time Is Right”
ROBERTS: Now to that other big headline this morning. President Obama making history, becoming the first U.S. President in nearly 90 years to step foot on Cuban soil. He'll meet with Raul Castro later this morning as the country faces protests over human rights. Dozens arrested just hours before President Obama landed on Sunday and he spoke exclusively with World News Tonight anchor David Muir who is there in Havana for us. Good morning, David.
DAVID MUIR: Good morning, Robin. History made here in Cuba. Not just Calvin Coolidge has a U.S. President visited Cuba. But as you point out, this visit doesn't come without controversy. A little more than year ago, I asked the President would he be visiting Cuba, he said, “let's wait and see.” But shortly after landing right here in Havana, he explained why the time is right. The President and First Lady and their daughters coming off Air Force One in Havana, Cuba. For decades, an image unimaginable. And just a short time after touching down, our interview with the President. Mr. President, we meet in Cuba.
BARACK OBAMA: Good to see you. How about that?
MUIR: How about that? You know, as you're well aware as we spoke last time, I asked you if you would be visiting Cuba before the end of the presidency and you said, “let's see how things evolved? So why now?
OBAMA: The time is right. Obviously, our attention has been to get the ball rolling, knowing that change wasn't going to happen overnight. But what we have already seen is the reopening of the embassy and although we still have significant differences around human rights and individual liberties inside of Cuba, we felt that coming now would maximize our ability to prompt more change.
MUIR: But you often said when you visit countries around the world, they put a fresh coat of paint up. They spruce the place up.
OBAMA: Absolutely.
MUIR: Is there any concern that Cuba is doing that here? What are you looking for for proof that there’s been progress?
OBAMA: I think that there's no doubt that the Cuban government is still a one-party state that's exerting control and is stifling dissent.
MUIR: But the President argues that he's already seen Cuban entrepreneurs blossom. You hear from a lot of American businesses who say if we don't lift this embargo, other countries are going to get in there and get the deals.
OBAMA: Well, there's no doubt that we still have some work to do. And part of that is bringing the end of embargo that’s currently in place.
MUIR: Does it happen during your presidency?
OBAMA: It may not happen between now and then, particularly since we’re in an election year. But it is inevitable.
MUIR: When you look out across Havana, you see the young people gather on the street corners to borrow the wi-fi. I mean, fewer than five percent of the homes here in Cuba have access to the internet.
OBAMA; Right. Well, that's why these changes will be significant. One thing we'll be announcing that Google has a deal to start setting up more wi-fi access and broadband access on the island.
MUIR: How quickly does that change a country? When you go from five percent internet access in people’s homes to suddenly having access to the World Wide Web?
OBAMA: Well, you know, change is going to happen here and I think that Raul Castro understands that.
MUIR: The President telling us change is going to happen here and he'll be visiting with president Raul Castro a little later today in a private meeting. He says he'll be very open with him about his critique of human rights, saying it needs to get better here and the freedoms of ordinary Cubans. And Robin, we’ll sit down again with the President right after that meeting.
ROBERTS: We’re looking forward to that. But you referred to the meeting with Raul Castro later today. He did not greet the Cuban president— Did not greet President Obama at the airport and many critics are making note of that, David.
MUIR: Making headlines around the world, in fact, Robin, not waiting there on the tarmac. But, a lot of people point to Raul Castro as a leader trying to keep a firm grip on this island nation here. Lot of people say they still believe in Raul Castro while inviting President Obama and the first family with open arms. It's a delicate dance and we'll hear what happens inside that meeting room a little later today.
ROBERTS: Delicate, indeed.
