MSNBC’s Movie Trailer-Style Promo for ‘United’ Dems and ‘History’

July 28th, 2016 8:28 PM

MSNBC on Thursday night offered a movie trailer-style promo, complete with dramatic music and exciting visuals to tout the “united” Democrats “embracing history.” This is quite the contrast to the opening video to last week’s Republican National Convention. (See both below.) Starting the primetime coverage of the Democratic convention, an announcer intoned, “The baton has been passed... A party stands united.” 

Quick clips appeared of Barack Obama heralding, “There has never been a man or a woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton!” Bill Clinton cheered, “Hillary will make us stronger together.” As the music swelled, the announced extolled, “A nominee embraces history!... It’s the final night of the Democratic National Convention.” 

To say the least, the package for the final night of the RNC was a little different. The same announcer played a clip of Ted Cruz’s speech and reminded, “Following a stunning night of defiance... by the rival who refused to endorse him.” 

The announcer chided, “And after days of campaign stumbles, all eyes are on Donald Trump as he takes control of the party and lays out his vision for the country. Will he meet the moment?” The unnamed speaker dryly concluded, “It all comes down to this. The final night of the Republican National Convention." 

After Thursday’s excited promo for the Democrats, Brian Williams marveled at the pictures of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama embracing: 

BRIAN WILLIAMS: Chris, while you have been talking, we have been looking. We watched this in video in real time last night but I have not seen the still photos that it yielded. Wow. Did they get the still photos you would want after a night like last night between incumbent and party nominee. This is what you want.

Transcripts of the two promos can be found below:  

MSNBC
7/28/16
7pm

ANNOUNCER: The baton has been passed. 

BARACK OBAMA: There has never been a man or a woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton!

ANNOUNCER: A party stands united. 

MICHELLE OBAMA: Hillary Clinton has never quit on anything in her life. 

JOE BIDEN: Donald Trump would literally make us less safe. 

BILL CLINTON: Hillary will make us stronger together. 

ANNOUNCER: And a nominee embraces history. 

BARACK OBAMA: Reject cynicism and reject fear. Elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the united States. 

ANNOUNCER: It's the final night of the Democratic National Convention.

vs. 

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MSNBC
7/21/16
7pm

ANNOUNCER: Tonight, Donald Trump accepts his party's nomination. 

DONALD TRUMP: We're going to win. We're going to win so big. Thank you. 

ANNOUNCER: Following a stunning night of defiance — 

TED CRUZ: Vote your conscience. 

ANNOUNCER: -by the rival who refused to endorse him. 

CRUZ: I am not in the habit of supporting people who attacked my wife and attacked my father. 

ANNOUNCER: And after days of campaign stumbles, all eyes are on Donald Trump as he takes control of the party and lays out his vision for the country. Will he meet the moment? It all comes down to this. The final night of the Republican National Convention.