NBC Prime Time: Voting for Obama ‘One of the Most Meaningful Things I’ve Ever Done’

A prime time plug Thursday night for the joy of voting for Barack Obama. “I’m really into this. You know, elections and voting, it really means a lot to me. I mean, casting my ballot for Obama in ‘08 was one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done,” enthused “Jasmine Trussell,” played by Joy Bryant, on Parenthood, the NBC drama about the multi-generational “Braverman” family in suburban San Francisco. 

Audio, from the November 21 episode: MP3 clip

At the time of her pronouncement, “Trussell” was handing out literature on behalf of sister-in-law “Kristina Braverman,” a candidate for Mayor of Berkeley.

“Trussell,” who is black, continued: “You know, like thinking about how far we’ve come, and that I helped to elect the first black President. I mean, I never thought that would happen in my lifetime. I mean, I know you can’t really relate to that.”

Her white husband, “Crosby Braverman,” played by Dax Shepard, insisted: “I don't think that was a black-white thing. I mean, it was really a profound moment,” claiming that “when I voted, I got emotional. I cried.”

(Later in the show, viewers learn “Crosby” has never voted and “Kristina” loses.)

From an early October episode: “Wow, so you actually worked for Obama on his campaign in 2008!?” So gushed “Kristina Braverman,” played by Monica Potter, on NBC’s Parenthood.

— Brent Baker is the Steven P.J. Wood Senior Fellow and Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Follow Brent Baker on Twitter.