This morning CNN journalists let former President Obama take a turn at spewing hate towards President Trump and the millions of Americans who voted for him. During both the 7 am hour of New Day and 10 am hour of CNN Newsroom, the anchors celebrated Obama's new memoir, by highlighting the most “juicy” parts where he bashes Trump voters as racists and praises his former Vice President, Joe Biden.
New Day co-host Alisyn Camerota hailed Obama’s divisive language from the start: “The book deals with how his historic election in 2008 led to Republican obstructionism and ultimately Donald Trump,” she touted, before prodding correspondent Jeff Zeleny for the “juicy” details: “[H]e got his hands on a copy and has a preview. Jeff, is this juicy stuff?”
Zeleny, who famously asked Obama shortly after he was elected what “enchanted” him most about being president, was just as enchanted with this memoir. He touted the former president claiming "millions of Americans" were "spooked by a black man in the White House" and Donald Trump "promised an elixir for their racial anxiety."
Camerota and Zeleny also spent time fawning over Obama praising his own VP as "decent loyal and honest" as well as the Obamas' marriage. Again during the 10 am hour, Zeleny gushed over the memoir with former Obama administration official, Jim Sciutto.
Like they did in the 7am hour, Sciutto touted Obama’s braggadocious claim his presidency “exposed and fueled” Republicans’ racism:
“As President-Elect Biden prepares to lead a sadly divided nation his former boss President Obama says in his new memoir that his election in 2008 may have exposed and fueled bitterness and anxiety within the Republican party,” he touted.
Co-host Poppy Harlow continued fawning over Obama essentially calling half the country racists:
He writes in "A Promised Land", the title of his new book, quote, ‘it was at if my very presence in the White House had triggered a deep seated panic, a sense that the natural order had been disrupted. Which is exactly what Donald Trump understood when he started peddling assertions that I had not been born in the united States and was, thus, an illegal -- illegitimate I should say president. For millions of Americans spooked by a black man in the White House he promised an elixir for their racial anxiety.’
Hopefully Obama gave credit to his former “green jobs czar” Van Jones for that “whitelash”-esque smear.
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Read partial transcripts below:
CNN New Day
11/12/2020
JEFF ZELENY: It's certainly the first time we've heard from former President Barack Obama about the consequences of his election, and how he believes it led to a reaction in the country that ultimately led to president Donald Trump and Sarah Palin. He talks about her a lot, as well. Let's look at a few of these excerpts we're looking at this morning. He talks directly about race when he says this. He said, 'it was as if my very presence in the White House had triggered a deep-seated panic, a sense that the natural order had been disrupted, which is exactly what Donald Trump understood when he started peddling assertions that I had not been born in the United States and was thus an illegitimate president. For millions of Americans spooked by a black man in the White House, he promised an elixir for their racial anxiety.' So, again, the former president speaking directly about all of that to birtherism, the talk we heard so much about that led to the rise, of course, of Donald Trump.
ALISYN CAMEROTA: What does he say in there about Joe Biden and Joe Biden's, I don't know, chances as well as his own pick of him as VP?
ZELENY: Well, Alisyn, he does talk about his former Vice President, his friend, his running mate. And he talks specifically about this. He said, ‘I like the fact that Joe would be more than ready to serve as president, if something happened to me. And that it might reassure those who were still worried I was too young. What mattered most, though, was that my gut told me that Joe was decent, honest, and loyal. I believe that he carried about ordinary people and when things got tough, I could trust him. I wouldn't be disappointed.’ And throughout the book, he also talks extensively about the decision making and how he saw Joe Biden face-to-face during all of these moments. And they didn't obviously always agree, either. So some interesting moments on that, as well.
CAMEROTA: I mean, he couldn't have known when he was writing this just how chaotic this transition would be, that we find ourselves in, but did he touch on the transition?
ZELENY: He did, indeed. He talked about his transition to power, specifically. And you're right, it is so prescient, given the moments that we're living in right now.
…
CAMEROTA: That is so important to think about, as we live through this moment. The tone that the Bush family set, even though, you know, they probably weren't happy with the outcome, they set that sort of gracious tone. Okay, how about -- is there anything juicier there. Anything about Michelle, anything about his marriage?
...
CNN Newsroom
11/12/2020
JIM SCIUTTO: Welcome back. As President-Elect Biden prepares to lead a sadly divided nation his former boss President Obama says in his new memoir that his election in 2008 may have exposed and fueled bitterness and anxiety within the Republican party.
POPPY HARLOW: He writes in "A Promised Land", the title of his new book, quote, ‘it was at if my very presence in the White House had triggered a deep seated panic, a sense that the natural order had been disrupted. Which is exactly what Donald Trump understood when he started peddling assertions that I had not been born in the united States and was, thus, an illegal -- illegitimate I should say president. For millions of Americans spooked by a black man in the White House [sound of approval from Sciutto] he promised an elixir for their racial anxiety.’With us now CNN's senior correspondent Jeff Zeleny. Good morning, Jeff. There is a lot in here.
JEFF ZELENY: Good morning. There certainly is. We have never heard former President Obama confront really the rise of President Trump through his eyes of his presidency. So it's extraordinary to hear those words from him in the first volume of the book but he's also talking about so much more, including Joe Biden, the timing of this of course so interesting he does write about his former running mate and working relationship with him. Let's take a look at some of the passages directly about Joe Biden. He says this, 'I like the fact that Joe would be more than ready to serve as president if something happened to me. And that it might reassure those who still worried I was too young. What mattered most, though, was what my gut told me, that Joe was decent, honest and loyal. I believe that he cared about ordinary people and that when things got tough I could trust him. I wouldn't be disappointed.' So certainly interesting words there about Joe Biden who of course is on the cusp of becoming the next president.
