At the top of Friday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Russ Mitchell reported on location from Athens, Greece as part of the show’s ‘Destination Unknown’ series and managed to squeeze in this observation: "...coming here, also, meeting people on the street, Europeans, they're absolutely giddy about the election of Barack Obama. They're actually coming up to us and congratulating us, which is interesting. So Europe is reacting in that way."
Later in the 8:30AM half hour, Mitchell returned to that observation: "As I said earlier in the broadcast, you get the sense being over here in Europe that the attitudes of some Europeans towards Americans may be changing with this week's election of President-Elect Barack Obama." Mitchell then turned to correspondent Richard Roth, who reported: "America's got a new President-Elect and a lot of the buzz on this side of the ocean is that's cool."
Roth, reporting from London, visited a local pub to get British reaction to Obama’s election: "Here in the country that was briefly called 'Cool Britannia' not so long ago, we're hearing some new compliments for the former colony." One patron remarked: "It makes America a better place." Roth asked one woman: "You like our movies?...You like our music?...So now you like our politics?" She replied: "I think they're a lot healthier now. Everybody's talking about it. So America is the thing of the moment at the moment and definitely -- definitely cool."
Roth concluded the segment by holding up a t-shirt that read, ‘Kiss Me, I’m American,’ and said to Mitchell: "So this isn't going to surprise you, Russ. Someone here suggested it may be time for me to put on this..." So now that Obama has been elected, it is apparently okay for Americans to patriotic again.
Here is the full transcript of the segment:
7:00AM TEASE:
RUSS MITCHELL: Hey, kalimera, guys, from Athens, Greece. On an absolutely stunning Friday afternoon. Yes, those sneaky folks at the Early Show secretly whisked me away yesterday. Next thing I knew, I was here in the birth place of democracy, Athens, and it is absolutely beautiful. What a great day. I am standing on Philapu Hill, which is in the center of the city. Behind me there's the Acropolis, there's the Parthenon. The sprawling city of some 4 million, on the other side of me is the Mediterranean. Not a bad day. Coming up in the broadcast today, we're going to examine the rich history of this city. Also, we're going to have some food we're going to drink some Uzo and we're going to do some dancing. And I bet that dancing is going to be really interesting after that Uzo. We shall see. Guys I got to tell you, coming here, also, meeting people on the street, Europeans, They're absolutely giddy about the election of Barack Obama. They're actually coming up to us and congratulating us, which is interesting. So Europe is reacting in that way.
8:31AM SEGMENT:
RUSS MITCHELL: But as I said earlier in the broadcast, you get the sense being over here in Europe that the attitudes of some Europeans towards Americans may be changing with this week's election of President-Elect Barack Obama. My colleague Richard Roth is about 1,500 miles away in London with more on that. Richard, good afternoon to you.
RICHARD ROTH: Hi Russ. Well you know, Italy and France have food and fashion, the British have the royals and the Beatles. But America's got a new President-Elect and a lot of the buzz on this side of the ocean is that's cool. Here in the country that was briefly called 'Cool Britannia' not so long ago, we're hearing some new compliments for the former colony.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: It makes -- it makes America a better place.
ROTH: Though wherever the Brits lift a glass or a pint, there's someone with another point of view. Cautious about giving too much credit to American voters.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN B: Indeed, as they voted for the last guy, as they voted for the guy before, as I voted for the guy before.
ROTH: If America's image is changing, it's still a matter of degree. I'm talking hot.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN C: It's not hot in my mind. It isn't a hot change, there might be a change on the way, but certainly not there yet.
ROTH: America's now cool, isn't it? Call her unconvinced. But don't consider that the final word. You like our movies?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: We do.
ROTH: You like our music?
WOMAN: We do.
ROTH: So now you like our politics?
WOMAN: I think they're a lot healthier now. Everybody's talking about it. So America is the thing of the moment at the moment and definitely -- definitely cool.
ROTH: So this isn't going to surprise you, Russ. Someone here suggested it may be time for me to put on this, but, I don't know. I think it looks a little small.
[HOLDING UP A T-SHIRT SAYING: 'KISS ME, I'M AMERICAN']
MITCHELL: Just a little, Richard. Just a little. Maybe they can get a bigger size for you. Thanks a lot, sir. Really appreciate it.
