Not only did CNN relay Obama campaign video of the President crying after his re-election, but they hailed it as "amazing" and "remarkable." In contrast, when Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) choked up in front of cameras after GOP victories in 2010 enabled him to become the next Speaker of the House, CNN simply reported it as an "emotional speech."
"So, Soledad, a remarkable moment there. And we're just seeing this now, I should say, because this is video put out by the Obama campaign," reported CNN's Brianna Keilar. "Wow, 'No Drama Obama' gets a little dramatic and emotional," added anchor Soledad O'Brien. [Video below the break. Audio here.]
"President Obama there, Soledad, clearly moved. I mean this is a side of him that we haven't really seen before," Keilar noted.
Back in 2010, Keilar reported on Boehner's "emotional speech" where the soon-to-be Speaker of the House choked up in front of cameras at the NRCC. It wasn't an "amazing" moment, though.
"And Boehner is someone who gets emotional often. I would say that he probably has shed more tears on the House floor certainly in the time I've been here than any other member of Congress I've seen, but he was talking last night in one of the more dramatic moments of the evening," Keilar said.
She added later that he's "a Washington insider, known as much for his ubiquitous tan and his smoking habit as he is for getting emotional."
A transcript of the segments, which aired on November 9 on Starting Point, are as follows:
CNN
STARTING POINT
11/9/12
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: Brianna Keilar for us, let me ask you a question, Brianna, before I let you go. We were showing a minute ago a clip of the President who was wiping away tears as he was speaking to his campaign workers. It kind of – a little bit shaky video. Sounds like it was shot by somebody in the campaign and not by TV crews, right?
BRIANNA KEILAR: That's right. It was. So this was an event when he went on Wednesday, the day after the election, to his campaign headquarters to thank volunteer and staff. We, the press, did not get to go. It was what we call closed press. So this was captured, this amazing moment, really. You can take a listen to this really emotional moment of President Obama's.
(Video Clip)
BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States: What you guys have done, means that the work that I'm doing, is important. And I'm really proud of that. I'm really proud of all of you. And -- and what you --
(Cheers and Applause)
(End Video Clip)
KEILAR: President Obama there, Soledad, clearly moved. I mean this is a side of him that we haven't really seen before. There were questions about whether he shed a tear because it was cold or because he was emotional at his last rally in Iowa. But this leaves nothing to question. He was definitely emotional the day after the election.
O'BRIEN: Wow, "No Drama Obama" gets a little dramatic and emotional. Brianna Keilar for us, this morning, thanks Brianna. Appreciate it.
(...)
O'BRIEN: Let's talk about the President crying as he addressed some of his campaign workers. He is not usually a very emotional guy.
KEILAR: Yeah, he is not a crier. We did see him, I'll tell you – remember the last night before Election Day. He had his final rally in Iowa where it all started, and he shed a tear. And people wondered is that because he's cold or is he emotional? Well, on Wednesday morning when he was at his campaign headquarters, there was no doubt it was emotion. Here he is.
(Video Clip)
BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States. What you guys have done means that the work that I'm doing is important. And I'm really proud of that. I'm really proud of all of you. And -- and what you --
(Cheers and Applause)
(End Video Clip)
KEILAR: So, Soledad, a remarkable moment there. And we're just seeing this now, I should say, because this is video put out by the Obama campaign. His visit to his campaign headquarters in Chicago is not covered by the press. They were not allowed in. So, this is official video from the campaign.
