After five days of silence, Barack Obama on Tuesday finally denounced mega-donor Harvey Weinstein, a man now accused of raping three women, harassing others and exposing his genitals to a young reporter. Yet, you wouldn’t know this was a big deal on the networks. ABC, CBS and NBC on Wednesday allowed a total of 58 seconds to the ex-President belatedly getting around to condemning the man who gave him $45,800 (not counting money to his political party).
Good Morning America managed a scant five seconds. At the end of a report on the Hollywood mogul, journalist Linsey Davis briefly noted, “And Weinstein has been condemned by the Obamas, by Hillary Clinton, by his friends.” That was it.
Keep in mind, this is a two hour program that, on the same day, devoted 3 minutes and 23 seconds to the new Winnie the Pooh movie. Perhaps GMA co-host George Stephanopoulos, who previously worked for Bill Clinton, just wasn’t interested in covering a powerful man who had inappropriate relationships with women.
Over on the Today show, at least reporter Stephanie Gosk mentioned the pertinent detail that Obama allowed his daughter to intern for Weinstein this past summer:
Former President Obama, who has received political donations from Weinstein and whose daughter once interned for the Weinstein Company, says, “Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion, needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status.” Hillary Clinton also spoke out after days of pressure. Like Obama, she received campaign donations and is friends with Weinstein, now saying she is shocked and appalled by the allegations.
Still, Today is a four hour program. This amounted to 28 seconds. As a contrast, NBC allowed 5 minutes and 46 seconds to the topic of the accuracy of menus at chain restaurants. Priorities, right?
CBS This Morning only offered 25 seconds. But reporter Jericka Duncan explained some of the staggering amounts of money the producer gave to Obama: “Weinstein hosted numerous Hollywood fund-raisers over many election cycles for President Obama and then-Democratic nominee Clinton. One fund-raiser at Weinstein’s home in 2013 brought in over two million dollars.” (This is a shift for CBS. On Monday, the network hammered Democrats for their connection to Weinstein.)
The evening newscasts on Tuesday did cover Hillary Clinton’s belated denunciation, which also took five days.
[The bias on ABC, CBS and NBC was sponsored by Gain laundry detergent, Pampers and Home Depot.]
Transcripts of the Obama mentions can be found below:
CBS This Morning
10/11/17
7:12:00 to 7:12:25JERICKA DUNCAN : Former President and Mrs. Obama said, in part yesterday, they were “disgusted by recent reports” about Harvey Weinstein. Hillary Clinton said she was “shocked and appalled.” Weinstein hosted numerous Hollywood fund-raisers over many election cycles for President Obama and then-Democratic nominee Clinton. One fund-raiser at Weinstein’s home in 2013 brought in over two million dollars.
Good Morning America
10/11/17
7:13:04 to 7:13:11
5 secondsLINSEY DAVIS: And Weinstein has been condemned by the Obamas, by Hillary Clinton, by his friends, it's got to be especially harsh coming from his brother.
Today
10/11/17
7:35:13 to 7:35:41
28 secondsSTEPHANIE GOSK: Former President Obama, who has received political donations from Weinstein and whose daughter once interned for the Weinstein Company, says, “Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion, needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status.” Hillary Clinton also spoke out after days of pressure. Like Obama, she received campaign donations and is friends with Weinstein, now saying she is shocked and appalled by the allegations.
