NBC's 'Today' Show Touts 'Obama Thongs'; Skimps on Bush Farewell

NBC's 'Today' Show Touts 'Obama Thongs'; Skimps on Bush Farewell

By Scott Whitlock (Bio | Archive)
January 16, 2009 - 12:40 ET

The three network morning shows on Friday almost totally skipped any coverage of President Bush's farewell address to the country on Thursday. Despite having a combined eight hours of air time, NBC's "Today," CBS's "Early Show" and ABC's "Good Morning America" devoted only 55 seconds total to reporting on Bush's speech. Instead, important topics such as "Obama thongs" and cheddar biscuits were highlighted.

Over a period of two hours, "The Early Show" ignored the speech entirely. "Good Morning America," which has a similar running time, allowed a mere 17 seconds. The "Today" show, which now encompasses four hours of broadcast time, provided the most, with 38 seconds of information about the address. None of the three programs featured any clips of Bush's farewell. (In contrast, on March 19, 2008, the day after then-presidential candidate Barack Obama's speech on race, these same shows allowed nine and a half minutes of sound bites of the Democrat.)

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Of course, much of Friday's programming recounted the incredible tale of passengers and pilots who survived a water landing on the Hudson River in New York. However, the three shows certainly had time to revel in the frivolous, including silly stories related to President-elect Barack Obama. On "Today," host Hoda Kotb held up the latest in Obama thongs. (Kotb and co-host Kathie Lee Gifford giggled at the "Momma Got Hope" logo on the front of one thong.)

Over on GMA, co-host Robin Roberts and others spent over four minutes cooking bacon and cheddar biscuits with Emeril Lagasse. Additionally, co-host Diane Sawyer discussed whether Obama had the right dancing moves for the inaugural dance.

Finally, the "Early Show," which had zero coverage of Bush's speech, featured two Obama related segments, one on patriotic arts and crafts and a second on a Harlem school that will be having a group of children perform at Barack Obama's inauguration.

What little coverage there was of Bush's speech often featured Obama. On GMA, guest news anchor Deborah Roberts announced, "President Bush's next public event will be attending Barack Obama's inauguration." Natalie Morales on NBC said of Bush: "And he praised President-elect Obama, calling him a man whose history reflects the enduring promise of our land."

Transcripts of the three January 16 news briefs follow:

Today

7:21am

12 seconds

NATALIE MORALES: And it was President Bush's farewell address last night. He said, while some don't agree with his decisions, he said [sic] he always acted in the best interests of the country and is leaving office filled with gratitude.

8:04

26 seconds

MORALES: President Bush is defending his two terms in office as he prepares to leave office on Tuesday. During his farewell speech last night, the President claimed foreign policy successes in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also said his administration took decisive action to save the nation's economy when it slipped into recession. And he praised President-elect Obama, calling him a man whose history reflects the enduring promise of our land.

GMA

8:10am

17 seconds

DEBORAH ROBERTS: President Bush's next public event will be attending Barack Obama's inauguration. In his farewell address to the nation last night, Mr. Bush recognized that he's had good days and bad days. And he said while some in the nation didn't agree with his tough decisions, they must agree that he was willing to make them.

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.

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"Liberals"

January 16, 2009 - 12:46 ET by iveseenitall

Once again, the hypocrisy of the so-called "liberal" rears its' ugly head. These are the "tolerant", "sensitive" folks who have lectured the rest of us for decades. They viciously ply their hate-filled trade on America's airwaves and do not care how disgusted multi-millions of Americans are at their antics. How sad.

NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"

Disrespectful, despicable

January 16, 2009 - 12:47 ET by rimsky

Disrespectful, despicable bunch of eletist liberal snobs.. the whole stinking lot of 'em! God help me I loathe these people.

I admire your ability not

January 16, 2009 - 13:08 ET by mattm

I admire your ability not to use profanity when refering to those #%$%$#% libzis.

If someone asked me what my most lasting memory of the Bush presidency will be, I would say the media's utter lack of professionalism, integrity and fairness in covering the president, and their total combative and hateful treatment of him.

There aren't enough derogatory terms in all the languages of the world to describe the MSM.

I do not watch the letter

January 16, 2009 - 13:38 ET by jistincase

I do not watch the letter networks for news at all and rarely did before all this. It is totally sickening, disgusting and mind numbing. I hope that the blogosphere will double all the retoric against the one that has happened to GB. Maybe the lack of porta potties will cause a big breakout of dysentery and we will be rid of about 4 million stupid liberals all at once.

(Save a seal, club a liberal)

How did Kotb manage to get

January 16, 2009 - 13:08 ET by SickofLibs

How did Kotb manage to get Harriet Smith's thong???

CAPTIONFEST ANYONE?

January 16, 2009 - 13:27 ET by Priebles

Hoda: These are so much more comfortable than those "Got Bush?" chastity belts from 2001.

Get used to it

January 16, 2009 - 13:48 ET by AFBayouPatriot

We have at least 4 more years of this media orgasim over Obama. I'm sure thongs are tame compared to some of the mechandise yet to come and be talked about in the Obamamessiahorgasim media. Chris (Screwball) Matthews and that tingle running up his leg was only the start. The airheads that host the democratic media morning shows are allergic to real news and issues and can't wait to get rid of Bush and Cheney. May God save us all.

AFBP

January 16, 2009 - 17:00 ET by thebutlerdidit

I guess that means you haven't seen the Obama condoms, then? I am surprised they didn't show those on there. After all, who else but the guys here at NB even watch Hoda and KathyLee? There's no one to complain!

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

Photo Caption

January 16, 2009 - 13:53 ET by AFBayouPatriot

Hota Kotb; These look pretty fresh this morning considering I got them from "my friend" who wore them to her part time last night.

These democrat/liberal nut

January 16, 2009 - 14:04 ET by pitter43

These democrat/liberal nut cases that try to act as if they were actually journalists make me sick. They should have a job where the hardest thing they have to do is ask if you want fries with that order. I haven't watched network news for three years and stupid things like this are why. That goes for most actors, college professors and defense layers as well. No common sense at all. I wonder how they even manage to get their shoes tied in the morning.

CAPTIONFEST 2 choices

January 16, 2009 - 14:07 ET by Priebles

#1) Hoda: I don't know about you Kathie Lee, but mine are a little moist.

#2) Hoda: Why are these white?

Another network that was

January 16, 2009 - 14:20 ET by bigtimer

Another network that was absolutely disgusting was C-SPAN's the Washington Journal...it was disgraceful, from the Bush hating guests they had on to the majority of the phone callers.

Since Brian Lamb has basically left the show and let others take over it has become nothing but a basic left arm of the dem party also.

You had to have seen it to understand where I am coming from, one of the worst examples of hatred towards a man after his fare-well speech that I have ever witnessed.

Infuriating.

"You've gone beyond the law"... Sen. Kerry~ Head of Foreign Relations Committee to Hillary at Sec.of State confirmation hearings~1-13-09

I think it is a good thing

January 16, 2009 - 14:21 ET by general company

devoted only 55 seconds total to reporting on Bush's speech

These guys dont represent hardly anyone in the States, the more irrelivent there programing is the more folks will turn them off.

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

President George W. Bush

January 16, 2009 - 14:24 ET by Greenhornet

President George W. Bush will be treated more kindly by historians than by the current crop of liberal buffoons calling themselves "journalists". Much has been said now about the President's legacy, both good and bad, but it will reflect positively upon the man. I doubt that history books will mention Oblabla's underwear or his choice of dog.

Here's a label

January 16, 2009 - 14:29 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnson

Instead of 'liberal buffoons' how about "Bombastic Buffoon Brigade"?

It fits the side show media nicely, as well as accurately.

When I was but a mere child

January 16, 2009 - 14:24 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnson

In the 50's, the news was presented as a public service as a condition of their broadcasting license.

If we returned to the "Public Service" and took the profit potential out of the 'news', maybe we would get the "NEWS" instead of an endless barrage of agenda driven garbage.

Any programming presented as "news" would be 'as a public service' and non-profit.

Opinion shows would be listed as "OPINION" and they can make all the money the advertisers will pay.

That way, the viewers/American Voters could get the true news and the opinions would be separated out.

January 16, 2009 - 14:24 ET

January 16, 2009 - 15:49 ET by Firmworm

January 16, 2009 - 14:24 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnson

Opinion shows would be listed as "OPINION" and they can make all the money the advertisers will pay.

I'm old enough to remember a time when real journalists on TV had to add a disclaimer to their personal opinions by calling them an 'editorial'. Not anymore !

At this time

January 16, 2009 - 15:40 ET by RD King

it appears Chrissy Matthews is the only one to have seen Clueless actually wearing his thong.

MSM

January 16, 2009 - 16:03 ET by rick007

The MSM has become irelovent

Thing, thing a thong....

January 16, 2009 - 17:01 ET by Pilgrim1949

It jutht maketh a thong for Obama rithe up in my....

(turns head around, looks down behind her, then looks back at camera, sweetly smiling)

Um, never mind! TMI!!!

Getting personal...

January 16, 2009 - 17:03 ET by Pilgrim1949

I knew the Obamagasmic adminstration wants to get into our pants, but I thought it was only for our wallets!

The thongs allow easier

January 16, 2009 - 18:47 ET by Slickster

The thongs allow easier access for obama to screw you. He's thought of everything.

Hoda?

January 16, 2009 - 19:03 ET by blazermaniac

Nice picture, Hoda! Like we care about Obama and a thong. It's still hard to believe that the Today Show has a fourth hour.

"O" Dumbo

January 16, 2009 - 19:05 ET by rick007

I'll bet he wears them also.

I thought it was bad enough

January 16, 2009 - 19:17 ET by bigtimer

I thought it was bad enough when it was boxers or briefs.

Now we have a so-called talking head holding up a piece of cloth called an Obama thong with glee.

Talk about low-life, no-class.

...and they wonder where the kids go wrong on these pathetic shows that are nothing but a waste of time.

These people are talking about the next President and they hold up this...what a disgrace.

Yes,

January 18, 2009 - 22:47 ET by DEVILDOCMOM

missed your post when I wrote mine...certainly a disgrace at best.

does anyone know if the

January 17, 2009 - 00:47 ET by TN Mom

does anyone know if the KoolAid the MSM is drinking was ever approved by the FDA?

We need Congressional Hearings on Journalist Reporters on Obamasiah Steroids.

I dont care how big the guy is...

January 17, 2009 - 02:17 ET by MightyMouth

...but if I see anyone wearing one of those Obama jocks I am going to kick his ass!

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Exactly how many more of

January 17, 2009 - 02:34 ET by RR GOP

Exactly how many more of these Obamatravaganzas are we going to have to endure?

Is there really any reason for him to speak publicly until the State of the Nation address next year?

Somehow, I don't think he's going to go into seclusion...has to keep campaigning you know...

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.

I almost feel sorry for

January 17, 2009 - 03:05 ET by RR GOP

I almost feel sorry for these guys who 'hook up' with these girls that have the Obama 'tramp stamps' tattoed above their behinds. Even if a guy's a Liberal, I would think seeing The One staring at you during a time of passion would be unsettling to say the least.

Hey, know it's crude, but I wasn't the one who brought up thong undies here!

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.

Invoking the Fairness

January 17, 2009 - 20:30 ET by Trix Rabbit

Invoking the Fairness Doctrine, I say that Mr. Shy should be allowed to go on the Today show - without charging him any advertising time - and sell his ShyWear products.

Fair is fair, ain't it?

Liberal: a power worshipper without power. George Orwell

I just cannot believe

January 17, 2009 - 21:48 ET by DEVILDOCMOM

that TV “news” has sunk to this low. Who in the world can think this is appropriate for anyone to watch? Who would actually watch this trash? It speaks volumes that they did not cover the President.

DevilDocMom... I more

January 18, 2009 - 02:29 ET by bigtimer

DevilDocMom...

I more than agree as you can see above somewhere.

Sorry I missed you if you've left...you have a comrade in your profession here, I thought of you when I saw his post/replied on OT, wondered if you have to go through same situations too.

He is sms5127....it was towards the end of thread last I saw.

Catch ya' when I catch you next...hope all is well with you and yours.

All is well, thanks

January 18, 2009 - 22:44 ET by DEVILDOCMOM

Just have been busy with teaching an extra clinical nursing class...always glad to see you and talk to you. :)

Obamathong

January 18, 2009 - 02:00 ET by anorm

One word....Gross. Ok, maybe two words. Super Gross.

Is it April 1st?

January 18, 2009 - 02:41 ET by G. May

While I appreciate being recently approved to comment here at Newsbusters, I think I'm going to have to stop visiting this site. I don't need to be reminded why I forsook traditional media back around '02, so I guess I'm just an internet rubbernecker.

But to stop by today, and see that THIS is what's making it on the airwaves is not only depressing - it's intellectually disgusting. I don't normally use the following acronym, but seriously...

WTF?