In a q and a with George Stephanopoulos on Saturday's World News, ABC anchor David Muir decided to sum up President Barack Obama's week in Europe by displaying a picture of jovial Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arm-in-arm with President Barack Obama during the G-20 group photo session, an image Muir contended showed how “other heads of state are seemingly trying to get close to the head of the class, or the cool kid in the class, if you will, President Obama.”
Muir cued up Stephanopoulos: “Have you seen much of this in recent history?” Stephanopoulos put style over substance as he declared “the President's stagecraft on this trip and his star power have really held up all through his trip to Europe.” Though he acknowledged that “on the substance the President hasn't gotten all he wanted either at the G-20 or at this NATO summit,” the host of ABC's This Week decided “he's done a good job of managing expectations.” As Stephanopoulos demonstrated, Obama has certainly met and exceeded media expectations.
The exchange on the Saturday, April 4 edition of ABC's World News:
DAVID MUIR: And George, as we wrap up the week we wanted to take note of these images we've been looking at, particularly this one where other heads of state are seemingly trying to get close to the head of the class, or the cool kid in the class, if you will, President Obama. What do you make of this? Have you seen much of this in recent history?
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We have not, David, and the President's stagecraft on this trip and his star power have really held up all through his trip to Europe so far. As Jake [Tapper] pointed out, though, on the substance the President hasn't gotten all he wanted either at the G-20 or at this NATO summit, but he's done a good job of managing expectations.
