An overseas trip has done nothing to quell the liberal media’s war of words with President Donald Trump, but when Barack Obama went on his first Euro-trip as president, he and First Lady Michelle Obama were lavished with bouquets from the press.
On the March 31, 2009 edition of MSNBC’s Hardball, host Chris Matthews gushed over the scenes from London: “He is the new us! That’s right, President Obama is in London tonight as the new emblem of the American people. He is us, just as - to the consternation of our allies and the often cringey-ness of his countrymen - George W. Bush was us for eight years....I thought about that scene for months, the first time they get to come as our American couple - to represent us, really in a new way, a kind of a sophisticated new leadership.”
An overly impressed Chuck Todd, on the April 1, 2009 NBC Nightly News, was amazed by Obama’s pace: “In just a few short hours, the President was able to do a diplomatic decathlon, packing in a week’s worth of international diplomacy into 12 hours.”
ABC anchor David Muir, on the April 4 World News, boasted that other world leaders were mere nerds compared to Obama: “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.”
And of course Michelle Obama received the celebrity-like coverage that, so far, First Lady Melania Trump has yet to garner from the liberal press. On April 1, 2009 CNN’s Alino Cho offered this glowing review: “There’s no denying that Michelle Obama is a rock star in America, but how is her style and personality playing abroad? Well, the early reviews are very good. The apparent love affair with the U.S. First Lady is flourishing in Europe.” Over on the April 1, 2009 Today show, NBC’s Keith Miller cooed: “What the Obamas bring to Buckingham Palace is a charisma not seen since the Kennedys, when the First Lady, Jacqueline, dazzled the royal court.”
The following are just a few examples of over-the-top gushing the Obamas received from the liberal media from their 2009 European trip, as culled from the MRC archives:
Obama “Thrills” Chris Again; “He Is the New Us!”
“He is the new us! That’s right, President Obama is in London tonight as the new emblem of the American people. He is us, just as - to the consternation of our allies and the often cringey-ness of his countrymen - George W. Bush was us for eight years....We’ve got Barack Obama as our President and Michelle Obama as our First Lady. We’re all immensely proud....I thought about that scene for months, the first time they get to come as our American couple - to represent us, really in a new way, a kind of a sophisticated new leadership.”
— MSNBC’s Chris Matthews on Hardball, March 31, 2009.
“When they were both walking to the helicopter the other day, Marine One, there was something like, when he looked at her, you could just tell he said, ‘Isn’t this something?’ You know, you could tell like they were experiencing the - I’m getting old here - the grooviness, the excitement of being this first American couple heading towards Marine One, which is cool in itself, heading from there to Air Force One, to a quick flight across the Atlantic, on your own plane, and to meet with the world leaders as, like, the centerpiece of the world....I’m saying it again, I’m getting a thrill....We agree, we girls agree. I don’t mind saying that. I’m excited. I’m thrilled.”
— MSNBC’s Chris Matthews talking to Michelle Bernard of the Independent Women’s Forum and Washington Post writer Lois Romano about the Obamas’ trip to Europe, April 1, 2009 Hardball.
America’s “Royal Family” Goes to Europe
“In just a few short hours, the President was able to do a diplomatic decathlon, packing in a week’s worth of international diplomacy into 12 hours....America’s unofficial royalty, the President and First Lady, reconnected tonight for more ceremonial duties, including a private audience with actual royalty, the Queen herself.”
— NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd, April 1, 2009 Nightly News.
“There’s no denying that Michelle Obama is a rock star in America, but how is her style and personality playing abroad? Well, the early reviews are very good. The apparent love affair with the U.S. First Lady is flourishing in Europe....As America’s First Lady embarks upon her first trip to Europe, the world is watching the royal family of the United States.”
— CNN’s Alina Cho on American Morning, April 1, 2009.
Reporter Keith Miller: “What the Obamas bring to Buckingham Palace is a charisma not seen since the Kennedys, when the First Lady, Jacqueline, dazzled the royal court.”
Vanity Fair’s Victoria Mather: “This is going to be the most exciting encounter of her long and successful reign. I think she’ll be absolutely fascinated.”
— NBC’s Today, April 1, 2009.
Star-Struck Over Fascinating Obamas
“In 1961, when Jacqueline Kennedy came to Europe, she enchanted even the crustiest of world leaders, and she's remained a tough act to follow for every First Lady since. But Michelle Obama looks more than equal to the task of impressing and delighting even the grandest of them....To be honest, most Europeans were going to like whoever replaced President Bush. But there's no doubt Michelle and her husband have an extra je ne sais quoi.”
— CBS’s Elizabeth Palmer on The Early Show, March 31, 2009.
“From the moment the Obamas landed in Britain, hand in hand, many here were already star-struck....Here, they’re calling it ‘Michelle’s magic.’ There’s the media fascination with her clothes...but awareness, too, that with her Ivy League education and relaxed, easy charm, she’s impressive....She’s been hailed by the fashion press as a modern-day Jacqueline Kennedy, who dazzled Brits when she met the Queen.”
— NBC correspondent Dawna Friesen on Nightly News, April 1, 2009.
She’s Just Too Good to Be True
Correspondent Dawna Friesen: “Her husband is, of course, the big star of the show, but this is Michelle Obama's first foray on to the global stage as First Lady. And you can bet that her every move, her every fashion decision will be dissected and analyzed, especially when the couple go to meet the Queen. But she's got a lot of good will on her side.”
Video of Michelle Obama shown as Andy Williams sings: “You’re just too good to be true/Can’t take my eyes off of you.”
Friesen, as song continues playing in background: “Ask the British about Michelle Obama, and you'll hear a lot of what you hear in the states.”
Woman on the street: “Oh, I think she’s really cool. She’s got a lot of really good styles. It makes a change from politicians’ wives to look good.”
Man on the street: “She looks supportive and that's what a man needs in life.”
Second man: “I have been totally stunned at the awesome nature of Michelle Obama.”...
Friesen: “Then there’s those arms, the envy of a lot of British women....”
— NBC’s Today, March 31, 2009.
Obama’s Week Through ABC’s Prism: “Cool Kid in the Class”
“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.”
— ABC anchor David Muir, over a photo of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arm-in-arm with President Barack Obama during the G-20 group photo session, April 4, 2009 World News.
"The last President we had that went to Europe, I mean no one wanted to see him. There was great hostility. This President's changed the tone. Just changing the tone was a great plus for the United States."
— Retired ABC News veteran Sam Donaldson on HBO’s Real Time, April 3, 2009.
Washingtonians Flocking to YouTube to Watch Obama
“He spoke of the modern realities and the modern difficulties that we’ve had in our relations with other countries. How many times have you heard people say ‘I’m going to go on YouTube and watch the President’s speech because I heard it was so good’? And I heard that all over Washington this week. And that is just an amazing thing.”
— NPR’s Nina Totenberg on Obama’s speeches in Europe, April 11, 2009 Inside Washington.
