The journalists on CBS This Morning, Thursday, thrilled over the relatively mundane story of Barack Obama being called for jury duty. According to reporter Adriana Diaz, this prompted “glee” among other Chicago residents, hyping the “golden ticket” of being in the same room as the former President.
Diaz gushed, “Yesterday, the typical groan associated with jury duty turned to glee when word spread that Mr. Obama would be reporting for his civic duty.” The reporter fawned over those who actually caught a glimpse of the Democrat: “The last time you had jury duty, chances are a chopper didn't capture your commute and fellow jurors, like Walter Palmer, didn't show off their summons like golden tickets.”
Golden ticket? Glee? Is this CBS or Access Hollywood? Along those lines, Diaz offered Teen Beat-style questions to a woman who works in the courthouse: “Did you lay eyes on him?... What did that moment feel like?” The clerk raved, “Oh, God. He's gorgeous!”
In contrast, on August 18, 2015, CBS This Morning’s Major Garrett offered a much more matter of fact when Donald Trump had jury duty:
Donald Trump did not campaign Monday. Civic duty of a slightly different kind came first. But at the Iowa State Fair, and here in South Carolina, Trump`s Republican rivals had plenty to say about the billionaire businessman`s plan to deal with illegal immigration.
A transcript of the November 9, 2017 CBS This Morning segment is below:
CBS This Morning
11/9/17
8:08:20 to 8:11:06GAYLE KING: Not even the former, rather commander in chief is exempt from jury duty. A large crowd gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of former President Barack Obama as he walked through court in his hometown. Mr. Obama is the highest ranking former public official to be called to jury duty in Chicago. He was smiling. Seemed glad to be there. Adriana Diaz is outside the Richard J. Daily Center where the former President sat with other potential jurors yesterday. Imagine being in that jury pool. Adrianna?
ADRIANA DIAZ: We’ve known for a few weeks now the former President would be reporting to court sometime in November, but we didn't know of the date. Then, suddenly, yesterday, the typical groan associated with jury duty turned to glee when word spread that Mr. Obama would be reporting for his civic duty. The last time you had jury duty, chances are a chopper didn't capture your commute and fellow jurors, like Walter Palmer, didn't show off their summons like golden tickets.
WALER PALMER: It's an important duty for all of us. So if he's going to show up, I guess we all have to show up.
DIAZ: Upstairs even non-jurors showed up. Cell phones drawn.
SONAL JOSI [PH}: There he is!DIAZ: Sonal Josi is clerk in the building. Did you lay eyes on him?
JOSI: [Giggles.]
DIAZ: What did that moment feel like?
JOSI: Oh, God. He's gorgeous!
DIAZ: In minutes, images from inside hit social media.
BARACK OBAMA: Good to see you.
DIAZ: He shook hands and signed books.
ANN TITUS (potential juror): I think it's really amazing that here in this situation I'm his equal. I can't believe that I live in a place where that's true.
DIAZ: Perhaps the jury room is the ultimate equalizer. Just like everybody else, Oprah got wanded down when she was on a Chicago jury for a murder in 2004. In 2015, former President George W. Bush displayed his civic camaraderie but he wasn't picked for the jury. Though he wasn’t picked for the jury. That same year, then-candidate Donald Trump rolled into jury duty in style.
DONALD TRUMP: It's a great possess. You have to do it.
DIAZ: President Trump wasn't selected either and neither was President Obama. But Cook County’s chief judge, Tim Evans, hope his willingness to serve helps rebrand jury duty. Do you hope the buzz and excitement around jury duty lasts after he’s left?
TIM EVANS: I do hope it lasts and I hope it's multiplied.
DIAZ: Mr. Obama was able to take the private judges' elevator to get upstairs, but he was not spared the 20 minute instructional video on how to be a good juror. And he was paid $17.20 for showing up which he says he plans to donate back to the county. Gayle?
GAYLE KING: All right. I think that’s pretty cool. You go and the President of the United — I Like the point that woman made. On this day, we're all equal.
CHARLIE ROSE: Shows the system is fair.
