Just 12 days after CBS special correspondent Oprah Winfrey “stepped away” to campaign for Democrat Stacey Abrams in Georgia, Winfrey is back on the network and you’ll never guess what she’s doing: Praising a Democrat. Winfrey’s best friend, Gayle King, introduced Oprah on Monday's CBS This Morning to reveal the next book club selection: Michelle Obama’s new autobiography.
Just to reiterate, Gayle King, an Obama and Democratic donor, introduced Winfrey, an Obama and Democratic donor to talk about how great Michelle Obama’s new book is. Speaking of Becoming, Winfrey blurbed: “It's exquisitely written. It’s so vulnerable, so vivid....But I believe every woman you know is going to want a copy, so get one for her too. Read it together. You're all going to love it!”
To keep the tangled web of conflict of interests going, King stated on Monday that, this Wednesday, she will interview Mrs. Obama about the new book for CBS This Morning. This is the same woman who vacationed with the Obamas. So don’t expect a tough interview.
Winfrey also showed a clip of her interviewing Mrs. Obama. It wasn’t exactly a though question:
You write about Donald Trump stoking the false notion that your husband was not born in this country. On Page 353 you say, “Donald Trump with his loud and reckless innuendos was putting my family's safety at risk. And for this, I'd never forgive him.” Why was it important for you to say that at this time?
Winfrey is a possible 2020 Democratic challenger to Trump. CBS has repeatedly donated time to her. King has pushed the candidacy. Apparently, conflicts of interests just don’t matter on CBS.
King also mentioned Oprah's magainze, O. Just to give King another conflict of interest that she didn't disclose was the fact that she serves as an editor for O. Sure, everyone on set or big fans of Oprah might know that, but that's never an excuse for a lack of transparency.
A transcript of the segment is below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
11/12/18
8:30 a.m.GAYLE KING: Oprah's unveiling the latest selection for her book club. The new edition is the 80th book to receive that coveted Oprah seal of approval. First on CBS This Morning, here's Oprah with her highly anticipated selection.
OPRAH WINFREY: So, I've been keeping a secret for months now, and I got to tell you, it's hard for me to keep a secret especially when I really, really, really like something, I want everybody to know it immediately. But I have kept this a secret until now. I got an advanced copy of what everybody's calling the book of the season. Former First Lady Michelle Obama's new book Becoming. And I loved it so much, I've already read it twice. It's a tour de force. I laughed and I cried.
It's exquisitely written. It’s so vulnerable, so vivid. So, I want the whole world to read this book. If you're in a book club, I encourage you to choose this book for your club and lets all read it together. It's Michelle Obama's personal story, but I know it will spark you to think about your own becoming. The book is available starting tomorrow. You can get yourself a copy. But I believe every woman you know is going to want a copy, so get one for her too. Read it together. You're all going to love it! I also sent along a clip of my interview with Mrs. Obama. So thank you guys.
[Cut to Oprah interviewing Michell Obama.]
WINFREY: You write about Donald Trump stoking the false notion that your husband was not born in this country. On Page 353 you say, “Donald Trump with his loud and reckless innuendos was putting my family's safety at risk and for this, I'd never forgive him.” Why was it important for you to say that at this time?
MICHELLE OBAMA: Because I don't think he knew what he was doing. That for him, it was a game. And for the commander and chief, which he now is, the threats and security risks that you face as the commander in chief, not even within your home country, but around the world, are real. And your children are at risk. And the difference when you are now in that position you understand that while you live in a bubble, your children have to live outside of the bubble. And in order for my children to have a normal life, even though they had security, they were in the world in a way that we weren't.
KING: Oprah's conversation with Michelle Obama will air in a prime time special Thursday on the OWN network. You can also see it in O, the Oprah magazine. It's the first time we've done a big collaboration with all the Hearst titles are carrying this interview too. And I’m leaving for Chicago this afternoon. Why? Because tomorrow, I get to speak with Michelle Obama. You can see that interview, Wednesday.
