It exposed just how warped their news judgment was. While America was still suffering from the coronavirus and with new symptoms appearing in children, the CBS Evening News set aside time Wednesday to fawn for former First Lady Michelle Obama’s new documentary and hype Democratic calls to have her become Joe Biden’s running mate. There was no mention of the rape allegation against the presumptive Democratic nominee she would be working with.
“Michelle Obama as Biden's VP? Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say they want the former first lady to serve as vice president, but is she interested,” anchor Norah O’Donnell announced during the opening tease.
When they finally got to the report, O’Donnell gushed about what plans the Obamas had in the coming months:
Speaking of campuses being closed, schools are looking for ways to honor seniors at this year's commencement ceremonies. In early June, former President Obama and Michelle Obama will headline a YouTube virtual ceremony. And a documentary out today is offering new insights into the life of the former First Lady.
The rest of the report was handled by political correspondent Ed O’Keefe, who kicked off the video by jumping right into the effort to draft the former First Lady to be vice president.
“If Joe Biden needs advice on who to pick for a running mate, Democrats have a suggestion. Nearly two-thirds say they'd like to see former first lady Michelle Obama on the ticket,” he said, pointing to a recently released CBS News poll. He added that “Biden says he'd take her in a heartbeat.”
But he lamented that “she's not interested,” as he shifted to touting her new Netflix documentary. He directly pointed out how Obama was “especially blunt in voicing her concern with what happened in 2016,” and boosted her scolding of people who exercised their right not to vote:
O’KEEFE: The film tags along on a recent national tour for her autobiography. The former first lady is especially blunt in voicing her concern with what happened in 2016.
OBAMA: I understand the people who voted for Trump. The people who didn't vote at all-- the young people, the women-- that's when you think, man, people think this is a game. Our folks didn't show up. After all that work, they just couldn't be bothered to vote at all. That's my trauma.
O’Keefe also had to tout the Obama daughters too:
O’KEEFE: And there are rare comments from Obama daughters Malia and Sasha.
SASHA OBAMA: I'm excited for her to be proud of what she's done, because I think that's the most important thing fair human to do is to be proud of themselves.
And of course, no report about an Obama would be complete without boasting about their criticism of President Trump. “In the film, Mrs. Obama does not criticize President Trump by name, but at one point does say, quote, ‘When you're president of the United States, words matter,’” he concluded.
While ABC and NBC also gushed about the documentary that morning, they had moved past it by the evening to focus on obviously more important issues.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
May 6, 2020
6:31:18 p.m. Eastern [Opening Tease]NORAH O’DONNELL: Michelle Obama as Biden's VP? Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say they want the former first lady to serve as vice president, but is she interested?
(…)
6:44:41 p.m. Eastern
O’DONNELL: Speaking of campuses being closed, schools are looking for ways to honor seniors at this year's commencement ceremonies. In early June, former President Obama and Michelle Obama will headline a YouTube virtual ceremony. And a documentary out today is offering new insights into the life of the former First Lady. CBS's Ed O’Keefe reports.
[Cuts to video]
ED O’KEEFE: If Joe Biden needs advice on who to pick for a running mate, Democrats have a suggestion. Nearly two-thirds say they'd like to see former first lady Michelle Obama on the ticket. Biden says he'd take her in a heartbeat.
JOE BIDEN: She knows her way around.
O’KEEFE: But, she's not interested, as she makes clear in a new Netflix documentary.
MICHELLE OBAMA: My life is starting to be mine again.
O’KEEFE: The film tags along on a recent national tour for her autobiography. The former first lady is especially blunt in voicing her concern with what happened in 2016.
OBAMA: I understand the people who voted for Trump. The people who didn't vote at all-- the young people, the women-- that's when you think, man, people think this is a game. Our folks didn't show up. After all that work, they just couldn't be bothered to vote at all. That's my trauma.
O’KEEFE: And there are rare comments from Obama daughters Malia and Sasha.
SASHA OBAMA: I'm excited for her to be proud of what she's done, because I think that's the most important thing fair human to do is to be proud of themselves.
[Cuts back to live]
O’KEEFE: In the film, Mrs. Obama does not criticize President Trump by name, but at one point does say, quote, "When you're president of the United States, words matter." Norah.
O’DONNELL: Ed, thank you.
