It begins. Good Morning America on Inauguration Day opened the show with what can only be described as a movie trailer-style montage. The excitement was palpable as George Stephanopoulos cheered Joe Biden’s goal of “uniting and healing the nation.” Viewers were told that we’re about to enter a new era of hope and action.”
Barely able to contain himself, Stephanopoulos rhapsodized, “On a mission to unite and heal the country as the pandemic claims more than 400,000 American lives and divisions rock the nation. Now Biden ready to take on this moment. This morning, the trials and the triumphs that brought him here.”
Stephanopoulos declared hope is scheduled to return at 12 noon: “How he plans to usher in a new era of hope and the action he's promising the minute he takes office.” So much for democracy dying in darkness. Expect journalist watchdogs to turn into administration lapdogs for the next four years.
It was reminiscent of GMA’s 2009 movie trailer-esque opening for Barack Obama. On that day, an ABC announcer thrilled:
ABC ANNOUNCER: This morning, a new dawn: Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. A new face from a new generation. Driven by an audacity to hope.
PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA: They said this day would never come.
ANNOUNCER: It has. It's here.
OBAMA: Change has come to America.
ANNOUNCER: The nation's capital, filled to capacity. A journey of millions, fueled by hope and the shared dreams of a renewed America.
ABC's coverage of the 2005 inauguration of George W. Bush was much more subdued and boring. Here it is in totality:
ABC ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of Good Morning America. The second inauguration of George W. Bush. Live from the Library of Congress, in Washington D.C., Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and Peter Jennings.
In fairness, the 2017 inauguration of Trump did offer some of the excited tone seen for the Democrats. Here’s the January 20, 2017 GMA:
Making history. Donald J. Trump just hours away from becoming the 45th president of the United States.... Political outsider, billionaire businessman, reality TV star, now about to take the highest office in the land after the most stunning political upset in American history.
But the journalists didn’t sound as excited and failed to marvel about a “new era of hope" or the "silent pilgrimage" as Diane Sawyer did in 2009.
The Democratic propaganda on inauguration Day was sponsored by Panera Bread. Click on the link to let them know what you think.
A transcript of the show open is below:
Good Morning America
1/20/2021
7 AM teaseGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Good morning, America. Historic new day. Joseph R. Biden just hours away from being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.
JOE BIDEN: I give you my word, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst. I'll be an ally of the light, not the darkness.
STEPHANOPOULOS: On a mission to unite and heal the country as the pandemic claims more than 400,000 American lives and divisions rock the nation. Now Biden ready to take on this moment. This morning, the trials and the triumphs that brought him here.
JOE BIDEN: We must restore the soul of America.
STEPHANOPOULOS: How he plans to usher in a new era of hope and the action he's promising the minute he takes office.
ROBIN ROBERTS: By his side, Kamala D. Harris, the first woman and person of color to become vice president.
KAMALA HARRIS: Every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.
ROBERTS: Shattering glass ceilings, paving the way for future generations.
HARRIS: I was raised by a mother who said that to me all the time, “Kamala, you may be the first to do many thing, make sure you're not the last.”
ROBERTS: Now some of the women who know her best, her Howard sorority sisters are joining us live as Kamala Harris prepares to make history.
MICHAEL STRAHAN: And as the nation's new leaders take their place, the unprecedented good-bye. President trump refusing to meet his successor, the first president in more than 150 years to boycott the inauguration. Throwing himself a military sendoff instead and the breaking news overnight, the President issuing 73 pardons and 70 commutations including his former chief strategist Steve Bannon, the fallout this morning.
STEPHANOPOULOS: We're live in the Capitol covering it all as the country now moves forward in an inauguration like we've never seen before.
