During Monday's "Good Morning America," the show's anchors and reporters did not hold back on the hyperbole while discussing Barack Obama's inauguration. While co-host Diane Sawyer discussed those Americans who drove across country to see the inauguration of the 44th president, an ABC graphic trumpeted, "Inauguration of Barack Obama: The American Pilgrimage."
During an earlier segment, referring to a star-studded concert for the President-elect, Sawyer gushed, "They are calling it Obama-Stock because the performances were unbelievable." In a third piece, former Clinton aide-turned journalist George Stephanopoulos breathlessly narrated how Obama has been handling final preparations for his speech: "...The President-elect is a real writer...He's in the tinkering stage, which means, like, he's even looking at each word and saying, 'Wait, do I need two syllables and not one?'"
While discussing the soon-to-be President's plans for the first 100 days, Stephanopoulos repeated the misrepresentation that George W. Bush somehow banned stem cell research. The "This Week" host said he expected action "on issues like stem cell research, repealing the ban on stem cell research." Of course, all Bush did with his 2001 decision was limit the use of federal funds for research on infant stem cells. States, private research and adult stem cell studies were unaffected.
A transcript of the George Stephanopoulos segment, which aired at 7:06am, follows:
DIANE SAWYER: And right now we have the bottom line, George Stephanopoulos here. Here come to you, George.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Good morning.
SAWYER: Great to see you. So, bring us up to date on this morning in the life of the President-elect. Is the speech finished?
STEPHANOPOULOS: I think Jake is right. I think the speech is basically done. They set aside some time last weekend for the President-elect to do his own real work. He likes to dig in on the speech and he did rehearse over the weekend including trying to get a handle on when you're up at that podium and you've got these hundreds of thousands of people going all the way to the Washington monument it's very hard to get a sense of the crowd and they're trying to warn him to be ready for the silence that you're not going to get a lot back immediately from the crowds. But also, as you know, Diane, the President-elect is a real writer. And now, as Jake said, he's in the tinkering stage, which means, like, he's even looking at each word and saying, "Wait, do I need two syllables and not one?" And really trying to get the rhythm of the speech down. But, it's done. No all-nighters on Monday night for this.
SAWYER: Even though his daughter did say, better be good.
STEPHANOPOULOS: High standard.
SAWYER: Yeah, right. It's great.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Go ahead. Beat Lincoln.
SAWYER: Something else is going to take place today which is also a measure of the bridges they are trying to build. They're going to have a dinner tonight which is going to honor John McCain.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And that really is remarkable. This is an amazing story right here coming right out of this election and elections are always bitter. The President-elect and his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel made it a point to reach out to John McCain. They had a meeting in the first week after the election, with John McCain on a host of policy issues. When John McCain went overseas in December, came back and gave an interview to me and said, "First thing I did was called Barack Obama. He called me." Gave him a briefing. They've been vetting national security appointments by John McCain. I think the President-elect knows that he will be judged on his claims of bipartisanship if he can reach out to his opponent and I think he's hoping that John McCain on two big issues, national security and government spending, will be a key, key ally. He's really working it.
SAWYER: We should also say that General Colin Powell will be honored.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And Vice President-elect Joe Biden.
SAWYER: And Vice-president elect. There is a story afoot that the White House staff is going to peel off right after- the White House staff-to be now- is going to peel off right after the speech and go right to work.
STEPHANOPOULOS: I think that is very, very true. I mean, they have an agenda set for this first 100 hours of the first 100 days where they want to demonstrate, as they say, that they're going to hit the ground running. And it means actions on foreign policy. It means actions, executive order, maybe not in the first minutes but in the first couple of days on issues like stem cell research, repealing the ban on stem cell research. It means appointing new envoys to hot spots like Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to demonstrate a fresh start in foreign policy, as well.
SAWYER: And we should also point out that the President-elect gave an interview to the Washington Post about race and basically talked about the fact that it will change how black children look at themselves and white children look at black children this election.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And we're already see this in the country in our own polling show the number of Americans who see racism is a problem has dropped in half over the last ten years and the election clearly has reinforced that and I don't know how much time you had a chance to walk around here in Washington yesterday, Diane. But you can feel it everywhere. African-American families bringing young kids into Washington, all to capture this moment when an African-American takes the oath and it's just completely different.
SAWYER: Saw it on the train down. Linking arms with white families. They didn't even know and walking into-
STEPHANOPOULOS: I think for very young kids growing up white or Hispanic, it's just going to be natural pace, African-American president.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.



















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Do these people even listen to what they're saying?
January 19, 2009 - 12:52 ET by danebramage"STEPHANOPOULOS: And we're already see this in the country in our own
polling show the number of Americans who see racism is a problem has
dropped in half over the last ten years and the election clearly has
reinforced that and I don't know how much time you had a chance to walk
around here in Washington yesterday, Diane."
The duplicity and disingenuousness here is staggering. Snuffleupagus is saying that racial attitudes have changed markedly for the better throughout Bush's time in office, yet does Bush get credit for that the way he gets blamed for everything bad that happened on his watch? No, of course not. Somehow, even though S. says with his mouth that Obama's election merely "reinforces" this fact, it's clear that we're supposed to be crediting Barry with this amazing feat.
Oy Vey!
January 19, 2009 - 12:53 ET by stratmanLefties finally get their Hajj To Mecca.
I'm verklempt. Talk amoungst yourselves while I calm myself by looking adoringly at The Messiahn't and his wife Aunt Esther on the all-Obamunist Channel.
They should call it Fraudstock.
January 19, 2009 - 13:06 ET by superconCan they at least wait until Obama serves his first day in office before they label him the greatest President ever?
Prediction:Obama will recieve the Nobel Peace Prize before the end of his term.
They may even put his face on the dollar bill.
Because with a name like Obama... you know it has to be good.
Stephanopoulosis NOT a
January 19, 2009 - 13:29 ET by kgStephanopoulosis NOT a journalist. He is nothing more than a political hack at a different desk. Same party though.
Also Obama being a writer is likely to be false. Obama's books closely resemble the writings of William Ayers.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Accuracy alert!
January 19, 2009 - 13:56 ET by KarinSteph said, "repealing the ban on stem cell research." George you ignorant slut. It's FEDERAL funding for EMBRYONIC stem cell research. They always get this wrong.
If all these pilgrims are
January 19, 2009 - 15:49 ET by SlicksterIf all these pilgrims are trekking to DC, how was it that I was able to get a last minute flight there without any problems? BTW, I when on business, not to see Uncle O's roadside circus, traveling freak show and all metro-sexual transvestite review.
Because the nasty
January 19, 2009 - 16:30 ET by stratmanBecause the nasty capitalist airline owners would not give away free flights like, you know, ahh, how the Messiahn't will with rent, gasoline, etc..
All Hail Beloved Comrade Socialist Emperor!
'Wait, do I need two syllables and not one?'"
January 19, 2009 - 16:45 ET by Army BratBwahahahaha!
Happy Trails...
One Syllable Is Sufficient
January 19, 2009 - 17:03 ET by stratmanIt won't be long before Obama will be going number's one and two in his pants. Maybe then this arrogant pup will temper his ego.
Karin... You are exactly
January 19, 2009 - 17:15 ET by bigtimerKarin...
You are exactly right!
I get so sick of all the talking heads excluding the simple facts you stated...
I yell at the TV sometimes when they continually omit the simple facts of this issue as you did...I know, I know, it;s useless to yell at the TV screen, but sometimes one can't help it...it is beyond aggravating.