Meredith Vieira stopped short of breaking out the pom-poms, but the 'Today' crew otherwise did its best to cheer Barack Obama and his appearance on last night's Monday Night Football. For those who missed MNF, the broadcast opened with a deadpan Obama seemingly on the verge of announcing his candidacy for president, before simply endorsing his home-state Chicago Bears.
Call me a grump, but watching it live last night my first reaction was "how's this for millions in free advertising, courtesy ABC-ESPN?"
But the folks at NBC clearly weren't troubled by a little politicking by their rivals at ABC. Nary a discouraging word was heard, and to the contrary, the Today cast tried to outdo each other with their praise for Barack and his performance:
I had a screen-capture malfunction this morning, but here is the closed-caption transcript of the exchange among Meredith, Matt Lauer and Al Roker.
(Update 9:50am: The transcript has now been checked against the MRC's recording of Today):
[Sustained laughter]
Matt Lauer: "That was good."
Al Roker: "That's very good."
Lauer: "Great idea by the folks at ESPN, and also it's great. I mean, it's a-la Clinton appearing, you know, playing saxaphone on the Arsenio Hall show in the early 90s. It takes him out of his comfort zone and shows he's got a sense of humor."
Meredith Vieira: "And he can act, which means he definitely could be President, right? So there you go.
Lauer: "Exactly right, it shows he's one of the guys. He likes the Bears."
Roker: "Da Bears."
Vieira: "Da Bears."
Lauer: "Whether he wins the presidency or not, he's big in Chicago, no question."
Vieira: "Absolutely, absolutely."
Are you ready for some Pepto?
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
Update 15:15. Hot Air found a video of the Obama appearance on YouTube.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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If leftists ever wished for n
December 12, 2006 - 09:15 ET by AlgerHissIf leftists ever wished for non-leftists to puke, vomit, up-chuck...or blow lunch, they are getting their wish with this sophomoric worshiping of Prince Douche Bag.
Rochester, Minnesota: A Fem_Leftist City!
So when is MNF going to invit
December 12, 2006 - 09:27 ET by paperheadSo when is MNF going to invite McCain or Rudy to give equal time?
Ugh.
December 12, 2006 - 09:55 ET by Dave Pierrepaperhead: "So when is MNF going to invite McCain or Rudy to give equal time?"
Exactly! A free publicity stunt like this would NEVER happen with a Republican candidate all by himself. The MSM would never allow it ... or even think about it.
This episode reveals how wide and pervasive the liberal bias in the MSM really is.
Why has a freshman Senator of such little accomplishment and experience gotten so much free, glowing adulation and publicity?
The bias is astounding ...
Frankenlies.com: Al Franken debunked ...
LIBERAL voting record
December 12, 2006 - 11:04 ET by TheTruthDave Pierre Says: ". . .Why has a freshman Senator of such little accomplishment and experience gotten so much free, glowing adulation and publicity?. . ."
Because he has a near perfect LIBERAL voting record.
* * * Obama Orgasma * * *
Fresh "Prince" of Explosive Vomitus!
December 12, 2006 - 11:01 ET by BBallleaperCouldn't agree more. Born in Chicago, a die-hard Cub and Bear fan, it almost made me want to root for the Rams. My first thought was how frail and feminine this little twerp looks and how incongruous it was to associate him with the rough and violent game of football. One safety hit to this thin-stick pretzel coming across the middle and they'd be laying a wreath for him instead of hollow vapid praise!<p>
But speaking of the Bears it is obvious that their "Cover-2" defense is over-rated and failing. With Brown and Harris out for the season you can see Urlacher playing farther off the LOS and giving up short passes and run lanes. The 3 and 4 man fronts were lucky to even sniff Bolger's jock last night. He passed at will and while I haven't seen his stats he must have been at least 35 for 45. He had to be over 300 yards. Without Hester the game was a 1 point victory.<p>
No blitz packages, can't stop the run, can't stop the pass. The Bears defense spent so much time on the field last night I thought they were the grounds crew! Look for NO to roll over them in the playoffs.
His name is Barak Hussein Oba
December 12, 2006 - 12:17 ET by mattmHis name is Barak Hussein Obama.
He'll never be president.
He-could-not-be-my-President!
December 12, 2006 - 09:33 ET by rimskyHe-could-not-be-my-President!!!!!
I almost wish for the days be
December 12, 2006 - 09:34 ET by ucI almost wish for the days before television when a weekly newspaper might be only exposure. What is this - is it even news - national news? New Hampshire is a great place and plays a fun role with its early voting but do they all really want to be on stage this early? New Hampshire? Oh, a book signing.
Best O-no-bama e mail
December 12, 2006 - 09:38 ET by reelman46All this media brouhaha for Obama is to make him a worthy veep for
Hillary so that they can ride the wave of public adulation together
into the promised land of the White House and into the great nirvana
of the great American socialist state together. For the good of the
people, of course.
Reelman, I think you nailed i
December 12, 2006 - 09:41 ET by rimskyReelman, I think you nailed it.. this is probably the only way for Hillary to get into the WH.. not sure she could win without a superstar, manufactured as he is, like Obama-Man.
Obama and his agents are very
December 12, 2006 - 09:41 ET by GalvanicObama and his agents are very clever. This is one of the most successful book promotion campaigns in a long time, elevating Obama to "rock-star status" (according to the MSM) while earning him millions of dollars. Earning big bucks was Priority #1; testing the political waters was #2. If he never ran for office again, he'd be set for life financially.
But politically, could he be peaking about a year too soon for the '08 Election? Or was this necessary to drown out the potential rivals?
We'll see. My guess is that he'll fade somewhat --- not as quickly or as completely as Howard Dean, but similarly.
Galv -- anyone know what O'Ba
December 12, 2006 - 09:57 ET by Jack BauerGalv -- anyone know what O'Bama did between graduating college and becoming a Senator?
Apart from forgetting he had a white mother who raised him alone from age 2 when his dad left.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
Obama
December 12, 2006 - 10:03 ET by Sugar LandUh... I 'm pretty sure he was feeding the hungry and healing the sick. At least that's what I would hope he was doing for this kind of gushing.
Heck, enjoy it. It's WAAAAY to early for a candidate to peak, and it's going to be a blast watching this FAR FROM READY for primetime player unravel. He's believing his own press now, which is always a smart move, right. And he's going to be square in the sights of the ultimate attack machine - Hillary's hit squad - for months to come.
This is going to be entertaining.
I'm pretty sure he was feedin
December 12, 2006 - 10:09 ET by Jack BauerI'm pretty sure he was feeding the hungry and healing the sick. At least that's what I would hope he was doing for this kind of gushing.
I would have thought he'd be raising the dead for the press he's getting.
Not that in ANY way is the DemocratStreetMedia hoping praying and working to get a Democrat in the White House.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
Wait till we find out he has
December 12, 2006 - 10:22 ET by FastEdWait till we find out he has some chippy on the side - - oh wait, that's typical demolib behavior and celebrated in the press - maybe he has some ill-begotten gains stashed in a refrig - that's been done and ignored, sponsor legislation annoying sombody - actually, needs to sponsor anything.
Got it! Wait for the Clinton machine to finish their investigation - then we'll see how info is spun against a young, AA male, by a gererationally different white female.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
So Newt Gingrich is a typic
December 12, 2006 - 10:33 ET by sarcasmoSo Newt Gingrich is a typical demolib? Wow. I learn something new every day around here...Either that, or someone's perhaps a tiny bit deficient in the "sauce for the gander" department! :)
JMR
Perhaps if there was someon
December 12, 2006 - 11:08 ET by balboaPerhaps if there was someone as charismatic as Obama on the right, they'd get some attention, too?
Do you think Walter William
December 12, 2006 - 11:19 ET by sarcasmoDo you think Walter Williams has ever been on Oprah? Google seems to indicate this column as the top hit for "walter williams oprah." Walter's been a prominent black dude since Barak Obama was in highschool, but for some reason AFAIK he's never been on her show. Do you wonder why? I sure as hell don't!! Granted, Oprah's not the news media, but the biases that make up her show reflect the general antiLibertarian ("liberal" is a word with no coherent day-to-day definition anymore) bias of the news media. Aside from occasional Rush Limbaugh substitutions & my usual Thank-God-For-The-Internet invocation, Williams -- despite his obvious intellect -- basically gets no media exposure whatsoever.
JMR
Think maybe Prof Williams wou
December 12, 2006 - 11:30 ET by FastEdThink maybe Prof Williams would be TOO good on the O? Over shadow the host?
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
I'd hope he'd actually conv
December 12, 2006 - 11:37 ET by sarcasmoI'd hope he'd actually convince her that the government needs to be smaller, but that's obviously my own personal fantasy-world bias showing. :)
JMR
Keep chipping away, sar, ther
December 12, 2006 - 11:40 ET by FastEdKeep chipping away, sar, there's much to be said for some fantasy-worlds!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
You're saying Sam Brownback
December 12, 2006 - 11:19 ET by Mark FinkelsteinYou're saying Sam Brownback isn't charismatic? ;-)
Oh he's a charmer, no doubt
December 12, 2006 - 11:34 ET by balboaOh he's a charmer, no doubt.
I forgot - seems MY bias is s
December 12, 2006 - 11:11 ET by FastEdI forgot - seems MY bias is showing!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
He was a state senator in Ill
December 12, 2006 - 10:06 ET by GalvanicHe was a state senator in Illinois, no?
He was a state senator in Ill
December 12, 2006 - 10:06 ET by Galvanic(This space for rent)
>> And he can act so he
December 12, 2006 - 10:14 ET by FastEd>> And he can act so he could be president. - This is the way the msm (Looser stumped media) sees the presidency. Sort of a Washingwood way of thinking - "act" presidential and everything will be fine, no more wars, (or over in a day or two, according to the script), everyone working, (even if you don't want to - can't have unemployed) everyone with health care (we know how to take care of you, even if you don't want it), etc. These nut cases have been in TV-land so long, they just don't get it. The GOOD thing, unfortunately for Hillary (short term) and us (long term) is that the looney media will grow tired of Obama, and go back to their adoration of the Hillary, and as usual, disregard everone outside of their "inner circle" of like-thinkers.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
Obama is about as qualified t
December 12, 2006 - 10:27 ET by dallas7107Obama is about as qualified to be President as I am.
Whoa there Dallas - your giv
December 12, 2006 - 10:34 ET by ValendilWhoa there Dallas - your giving Obama waaaay too much credit!
The raised hand in the pictur
December 12, 2006 - 10:35 ET by Chris NormanThe raised hand in the picture - is that Obama's healing hand?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
You changed pictures on me. I
December 12, 2006 - 10:46 ET by Chris NormanYou changed pictures on me. I hate it when you do that.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
We like to keep our NB read
December 12, 2006 - 10:56 ET by Mark FinkelsteinWe like to keep our NB readers on their toes ;-)
But seriously, I'm grateful to MRC staff for inserting photos from this morning's Today and for cleaning up the transcript. The shot of Meredith clutching her hands to her breast speaks volumes.
One's comments quickly become
December 12, 2006 - 11:01 ET by Chris NormanOne's comments quickly become outdated in the fast changing, up to the second, world, that is NewsBusters:)
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Or there's a lot of morphing
December 12, 2006 - 11:10 ET by FastEdOr there's a lot of morphing going on! Will we have a pic of Obama with powdered wig, leading the horse of dems to water?
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
or as Moses to the Promised L
December 12, 2006 - 11:12 ET by Chris Normanor as Moses to the Promised Land?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
. .Mao on the Great March?T
December 12, 2006 - 11:14 ET by FastEd. .Mao on the Great March?
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
F*ck MNF and F*ck BALACK Obama
December 12, 2006 - 10:48 ET by Six String SpiffI have not watched MNF since they allowed that racial pimp, Spike Lee air time to blatently LIE about Hurrican Katrina. I am Glad 'da Bears" won though! BALACK Obama is whats happening here. All the socialists are creaming themselves over the prospect of a BLACK, Woooooo! a BLACK President...! It's f*cking sickening. What does his resume look like? What are his major accomplishments? I thought military service was required to be president...? The fact that this man is considering running, and the MSM cheerleading for him under some false impression is arrogant on its face. To think that a person with SO LITTLE public service in his past can become our Commander in Chief is absolutely infuriating.
Don't expect the MSM to ask any real / important questions though. I'm sure it will be softies like; "You want world peace, right?" "How does it feel to be the first BLACK presidential candidate?", and other useless and falacious questions. Jesus, I can't take f*cking sh*t much longer...
Not all Muslims are Terrorists. However, all the Terrorists have been Muslim.
Military service is NOT requi
December 12, 2006 - 12:42 ET by GalvanicMilitary service is NOT required to be President. The last President without military service was Bill Clinton. FDR and most of the Presidents before him lacked military service.
Wrong. Depending on who you
December 13, 2006 - 00:41 ET by UnsaneWrong. Depending on who you are, military service is a requirement, and it MUST be active duty, not the Guard or Reserves (i.e., Bush is not qualified becuase he was just in the Guard).
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
Military service is NOT requi
December 12, 2006 - 12:42 ET by Galvanic(Deleted)
Military service is NOT requi
December 12, 2006 - 12:43 ET by Galvanic(Deleted)
Lauer: "Whether he wins
December 12, 2006 - 11:16 ET by FastEdLauer: "Whether he wins the presidency or not, he's big in Chicago, no question." - and it's called the Windy City because . .?
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
"the broadcast opened wi
December 12, 2006 - 15:16 ET by RunningBeer"the broadcast opened with a deadpan Obama seemingly on the verge of announcing his candidacy for president..."
Wouldn't it be wise of him to develop some kind of platform before blurting out that he's going to run? Being a rookie senator and writing a book isn't exactly the strongest of credentials.
This about made me want to vo
December 13, 2006 - 00:38 ET by UnsaneThis about made me want to vomit. I watch football games to FORGET about things like this for a few hours!
And brace yourself, if antics like this continue, I can practically guarantee that we are in for a media-manufactured personality cult that will make Turkmenbashy tame by comparison...
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)