In a report designed to separate fact from fiction on Wednesday's NBC Nightly News, White House correspondent Savannah Guthrie decided to blur fantasy and reality as she compared President Obama's press conference announcing the release of his birth certificate to a moment from the 1995 movie, "The American President." [Audio available here]
After a clip was played of Obama declaring: "We live in a serious time right now, and we do not have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do," Guthrie proclaimed: "At that moment, the real president sounding a lot like that Hollywood one." Then footage ran of the fictional President Andrew Shepherd – played by actor Michael Douglas in the liberal film – denouncing one of his Republican opponents: "This is a time for serious people, Bob, and your 15 minutes are up. My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I am the president."
Douglas, of course, narrates the introduction to NBC Nightly News.
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Here is a partial transcript of Guthrie's April 27 report:
7:04PM ET
(...)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: The President has grown increasingly tired of the issue. With NBC's Brian Williams last year.
BARACK OBAMA: I can't spend all my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead.
GUTHRIE: Today, as [Donald] Trump held forth in New Hampshire, the cable TV split screen gave way to the President, who played his Trump card.
OBAMA: We live in a serious time right now, and we do not have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do.
GUTHRIE: At that moment, the real president sounding a lot like that Hollywood one.
MICHAEL DOUGLAS [THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT]: This is a time for serious people, Bob, and your 15 minutes are up. My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I am the president.
(...)
