Is the man running to be president . . . or Saint Barack of Chicago? Hard to tell after GMA's hagiography this morning. The segment was a run-up to Obama's planned announcement tomorrow of his presidential intentions.Obama's own advertising consultants might have balked at the presentation as too over-the-top in its worshipful tone and substance. Here's what we got:
Robin Roberts introduced the segment by saying that while Barack is a presidential front-runner, "he may also be the least well known." Was that Robin's way of disputing HIllary's claim to being "the most famous person you don't know"?
Claire Shipman narrated the segment and began by describing Obama as "calm and charismatic." Explaining that despite all the media attention, "there are some things about Barack Obama you might not know," Shipman began the elucidation with a clip of Obama bagging groceries, as he explained "I used to work as a bagger in a grocery store." Hmm. George H.W. Bush: supposedly unfamiliar with checkout scannners. Barack: worked as a bagger. Check.Next, Shipman assured us that "he's a listener." To drive home the point, a sash appeared in the corner of the screen flatly stating, yes, "Listener." After mentioning that "he's renowned for his compelling oratory" and treating us to a short sample thereof, Shipman added "insiders say his real talent is hearing people." Not only does he listen, he hears.
Could that be another shot at Hillary -- she of the 'listening tours'? You might suspect so, particularly after we heard from Harvard Law classmate Brad Berenson: "unlike some people who make a show of listening, and announce their own opinion, he always struck me as a person who really was trying to listen, and not just listen, but understand." Got that, Hillary?As another corner sash, reading "Inspiration," appeared, Shipman informed us that "he found his political inspiration in Chicago. Just out of college, Obama spent three years as a community organizer." As Shipman strolled in front of a boarded-up building, she continued "it was here on the city's troubled South Side that friends say Obama first began to understand the bleak lives of the underprivileged -- and began to ruminate on how he might make a difference." As Shipman explained that he would preach "empowerment even to panhandlers," a community organizer was brought in to tell us of how Obama "would look at the person and say, 'now young man, is this really what you want to be about? I think you're better than that.'"
The next sash read "Family." Cut to Kennedyesque footage of the photogenic Obama family gamboling in a park. And how's this for a tidbit that might endear Barack to women voters?: "here's something you might not now about Obama: he married his boss!" Not afraid of strong women, that Barack! Shipman explained that Michelle, the woman he eventually married, had been his mentor at a Chicago law firm.
Shipman assured us: "she's got plenty of power in that relationship. She was the final sign-off in his decision to run." Cue the family friend: "if she said no, he wouldn't be doing it. There's no doubt in my mind about that."
I suppose every saint should have an endearing fault. Shipman closed by disclosing that Obama is "a stealth smoker." But not to worry: Claire let us know he's quitting cold turkey. Guess that will make him . . . perfect.
Aside: While the segment's purported purpose was to tell us about "the least known candidate," note that it was entirely content-free when it came to Obama's political views. That would have required letting us know that Obama is a doctrinaire liberal with ratings to the left of Hillary, and might have spoiled the saint-of-all-the-people image ABC was working so assiduously to portray.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
Update 11:49 by Matthew Sheffield. Check out this funny fictional interview that "24"'s Jack Bauer has with the MSM over their Obama coverage.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.















Editor at Large

Comments Policy
Oh, brother. Did Shipman pu
February 9, 2007 - 10:36 ET by GalvanicOh, brother. Did Shipman put her clothes back on at the end of this piece?
Moist
February 9, 2007 - 11:20 ET by BBallleaperI watched this adulation and drew the same inference. She looked " moist" as she breathlessly described his "essence". Read between the lines.
Additional Red Sash's: Smoker
February 9, 2007 - 10:37 ET by OklahomaIsShapedFunnyAdditional Red Sash's:
Smoker
Islamist
Liberal
with correspoding video
"everymorning and everyday, I bossa nova with you"
obama
February 9, 2007 - 10:38 ET by iveseenitallOsama H. Obama--BAARF!
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
What's the big deal about Osama (er Obama) Smoking, Mark.
February 9, 2007 - 10:45 ET by acaiguanaWhat's the big deal about Osama (er Obama) Smoking, Mark.
Gee, Stalin smoked.
ACA
...
Hillary Clinton says: "I want to take those profits."
So,so young to have already s
February 9, 2007 - 10:55 ET by ucSo,so young to have already stopped writing his own political material. Was beatification in the Church/cult of Hillary, I haven't seen the ads? Is my memory correct the Ken Melman (sp?) was a classmate of Baracks Hussein Ob.?
Barack's accomplishments = ???
February 9, 2007 - 11:09 ET by Six String SpiffBarack does not have the experience to become a president of this great nation.. What has the guy done while in the Senate? Nothing! Oh wait, I forgot about the traffic light that was installed on the corner of 5th and Main ST. What an INSULT. To think that this man believes he has what it takes to run this country... What an utter disgrace. BTW it's Barack Hussein Obama... Nuff said. Lets go Republicans!! Got off your A$$E$ and come up with some candidates already! And no, not "Weather Vane" McCaine! Mit is about the best so far.. If only he got some publicity...
Sure, I watch the MSM... Through a pair of crosshairs.
After mentioning that "
February 9, 2007 - 11:35 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsAfter mentioning that "he's renowned for his compelling oratory"
But don't you dare call him 'articulate'!
"here's something you might not now about Obama: he married his boss!"
Could this marriage be the result of sexual harrassment in the workplace?
disclosing that Obama is "a stealth smoker."
OK for dems, not so for the great unwashed.
D
Want your elected reps to know what you think? Go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/, it's real easy.
Everyday I learn something--
February 9, 2007 - 12:03 ET by misterbillEveryday I learn something--on NB. Sometimes it's something about myself. Today I realized that an anger that lurks within me is a commandment:
"4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." This is in reference to Obama.
I found that I cannot stand the way the media attempts to create false gods. I should have realized that after all these year by the fact that I stopped watching network news. I admit that I have been a "hero worshipper" in my life, but I never went over the edge. I always knew that my heroes were human. I also know that I have , many times marched to what I thought was the beat of a different drum. My gratitude to you, Mark and to the publishers, editors, writers and members of NewsBusters. I am happy to find I am not alone, the drum beat is in step with many of you. I am happy I can speak my thoughts about things I see wrong and find so many supporters on NB. Every day I say a prayer for my country. There are many in power who are , in fact, evil. They are for themselves and not for the good of our country. I lump the majority of the media in that group. Nowhere, is it written that they were chosen to guide our country.
Thank you all. You are a voice of sanity in an upside down, sinful, misguided world.
Lets see....Obama a great ora
February 9, 2007 - 12:10 ET by bigtimerLets see....Obama a great orator...
Alan Keyes...a nobody that didn't get to do much of the orating with the leftists in the msm...unless it was vilified or ignored...after-all he was a conservative...who is one of the best orators in the USA.
What smug hypocrites.
"insiders say his real talent
February 9, 2007 - 12:22 ET by NoMoreClintons"insiders say his real talent is hearing people." Not only does he listen, he hears.
With ears the size of Texas I would imagine his hearing is pretty darn good!
It's kinda sad to see Barak H
February 9, 2007 - 12:45 ET by GordyIt's kinda sad to see Barak Hussein Obama get 'Howard Dean'ed this election season. He seems so happy, like, he has a shot. Meanwhile, the Dems have already thrown this media darling under the bus.
His 'I have a scream' speech should resonate. I'll set my Tivo now...
After mentioning that "h
February 9, 2007 - 18:39 ET by winston smithAfter mentioning that "he's renowned for his compelling oratory" and treating us to a short sample thereof, Shipman added "insiders say his real talent is hearing people." Not only does he listen, he hears.
Wowwww! I bet he walks on water too, huh Claire?
With ears like that? You know
February 9, 2007 - 18:45 ET by bassndudeWith ears like that? You know he has to hear well....
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!