TV Journalists Enchanted by Obamas: 'America's Unofficial Royalty' --4/2/2009

1. TV Journalists Enchanted by Obamas: 'America's Unofficial Royalty'
"There is so much to cover on this day," ABC anchor Charles Gibson announced Tuesday night from London as the network anchors and reporters reflected their awe over how, as NBC anchor Brian Williams put it, "In a marathon, the President meets with the leaders of Britain, Russia, China, then the Queen, and the summit hasn't started yet." NBC's Chuck Todd then admired how "the President was able to do a diplomatic decathlon, packing in a week's worth of international diplomacy into 12 hours," before he hailed how "America's unofficial royalty, the President and First Lady, reconnected tonight for more ceremonial duties, including a private audience with actual royalty, the Queen herself." CBS and NBC devoted full stories to what the CBS Evening News dubbed on screen as "Michelle Mania." Katie Couric teased: "The British give America's First Lady a welcome fit for a Queen." On NBC, Williams echoed: "There is no denying the Obamas from America are receiving a rock star reception on this trip. One London paper today called them 'American royalty.'"

2. Matthews Chirps Groovy Cool Obamas Gave Him Another 'Thrill!'
Chris Matthews, on Wednesday's Hardball, admitted Barack Obama, along with his wife Michelle this time, gave him yet another "thrill." The MSNBC host gleefully described his feelings at seeing the Obamas arrive in England for the G20 summit: "Well there is something cool when they were both -- there's a nice '60s term. When they were both walking to the helicopter the other day, Marine One, there was something like, when he looked at her, you could just tell he said, 'Isn't this something?' You know you could tell like they were experiencing the, I'm getting old here. The grooviness, the excitement of being this First American Couple heading towards Marine One, which is cool in itself, heading from there to Air Force One, to a quick flight across the Atlantic, on your own plane. And to meet with the world leaders as like the centerpiece of the world. What? I get, I'm saying it again, I'm getting a thrill."

3. CNN's Alina Cho: Obamas are 'Royal Family of the United States'
CNN correspondent Alina Cho loaded the regal language into her report on Wednesday's American Morning about Europe's "apparent love affair" with Michelle Obama. Besides the obligatory Jackie Kennedy references, Cho gave a preview of the First :ady's tea with Queen Elizabeth II: "On today's schedule: tea with the queen, and insiders say the queen and America's queen bee will be fast friends." The correspondent even compared Mrs. Obama to Princess Diana. She also referred to the Obamas as the "royal family of the United States."

4. NBC's Today Cheers Obamas Bring 'Charisma' & 'Stardust' to UK
NBC's Keith Miller, on Wednesday's Today show, was caught up in a moment of simultaneous Obama-mania and Kennedy nostalgia as he reported about the Obamas' arrival in Britain for the G20 summit as he declared: "What the Obamas bring to Buckingham Palace is a charisma not seen since the Kennedys, when the First Lady, Jacqueline, dazzled the royal court." Miller, of course, wasn't alone in his cheeriness as he included two soundbites from other members of the press, including Victoria Mather of Vanity Fair, who wondered if the Queen herself will be able to contain herself: "This is gonna be the most exciting encounter of her long and successful reign. I think she'll be absolutely fascinated." And the New York Times' John Burns was so starry-eyed he was reduced to making astronomical comparisons: "There is a lot of stardust there, and my guess is that the Obamas will attract the sort of adulation in Europe that the Kennedys did."

5. MSNBC's Brzezinski: No One Cares About Tax Problems of Sebelius
On Wednesday's Morning Joe, MSNBC co-host Mika Brzezinski twice made it very clear that she has no interest in the revelation that Kathleen Sebelius, Barack Obama's nominee for Health and Human Services, is just the latest pick for the President's cabinet to have tax problems. During a news brief in the 6am hour, Brzezinski related the story and that Sebelius just paid over $7,000 in back taxes. She then editorialized to her co-hosts: "Around the table, does anyone care?" Morning Joe regulars Mike Barnicle and Willie Geist both replied no. Geist then added: "Get over it." Despite expressing how much she didn't care, Brzezinski repeated the story in the 7am EDT hour and also the same stunt. After briefly explaining the particulars, she complained: "Again, around the table, does anyone care?"

TV Journalists Enchanted by Obamas: 'America's
Unofficial Royalty'

"There is so much to cover on this day," ABC anchor Charles Gibson announced Tuesday night from London as the network anchors and reporters reflected their awe over how, as NBC anchor Brian Williams put it, "In a marathon, the President meets with the leaders of Britain, Russia, China, then the Queen, and the summit hasn't started yet." NBC's Chuck Todd then admired how "the President was able to do a diplomatic decathlon, packing in a week's worth of international diplomacy into 12 hours," before he hailed how "America's unofficial royalty, the President and First Lady, reconnected tonight for more ceremonial duties, including a private audience with actual royalty, the Queen herself."

CBS and NBC devoted full stories to what the CBS Evening News dubbed on screen as "Michelle Mania." Katie Couric teased: "The British give America's First Lady a welcome fit for a Queen." On NBC, Williams echoed: "There is no denying the Obamas from America are receiving a rock star reception on this trip. One London paper today called them 'American royalty.'"

From London, Williams opened the NBC Nightly News with a list of President Obama's "marathon day" of activities:

"In this city, for the visiting American President and his wife, this was a marathon day of pageantry, protests and politics stretching from early morning well into tonight. It started with the President meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Number 10 Downing Street. Then a news conference, then, a meeting with Medvedev of Russia, then a discussion with him of arms reductions. Then a meeting with the President of China, and President Obama's announcement that he'll be going to China later this year. What might have been the highlight of the day followed. The Obamas were invited to meet privately with the Queen, who has now met eleven U.S. Presidents. Then it was off to tonight's working dinner among the leaders."

Similarly, and also from London, Charles Gibson led ABC's World News: "Good evening. President Obama has said the world is hungry for American leadership. He spent the day here in London working to prove it, trying to find unity on how to tackle the world's economic problems. And, he is forging personal relationships with heads of state, some of whom have not recently had warm things to say about the U.S. But there was also an opportunity for the President and First Lady to enjoy the privileges of office. Not everyone gets invited for a visit with the Queen. There is so much to cover on this day."

[This item, by the MRC's Brent Baker, was posted Thursday morning on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

More from the Tuesday, April 1 NBC Nightly News:

The tease from Brian Williams tease: "On the broadcast tonight, from London: Down to business. In a marathon, the President meets with the leaders of Britain, Russia, China, then the Queen, and the summit hasn't started yet."

....

"And star power. First Lady Michelle Obama takes the stage here in London. Tonight, the first reviews are in."

Williams led the newscast: "And good evening from London. In this city, for the visiting American President and his wife, this was a marathon day of pageantry, protests and politics stretching from early morning well into tonight. It started with the President meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at number ten Downing Street. Then a news conference, then, a meeting with Medvedev of Russia, then a discussion with him of arms reductions. Then a meeting with the President of China, and President Obama's announcement that he'll be going to China later this year. What might have been the highlight of the day followed. The Obamas were invited to meet privately with the Queen, who has now met eleven U.S. Presidents. Then it was off to tonight's working dinner among the leaders."

From Chuck Todd's report: "In just a few short hours, the President was able to do a diplomatic decathlon, packing in a week's worth of international diplomacy into 12 hours....
America's unofficial royalty, the President and First Lady, reconnected tonight for more ceremonial duties, including a private audience with actual royalty, the Queen herself....
No gathering of world leaders is complete without the yearbook-like group photo, with the new star of the world stage right in the center. Now, Brian, there's already buzz about the President's gift to the Queen. It's an iPod with photos of her 2007 state visit, plus a signed copy of a Richard Rogers song book, the Broadway musical. The Queen's gift to the Obamas: a signed silver framed picture of herself and her husband."

The glowing look at Michelle Obama, in a transcript provided by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth who corrected the closed-captioning against the video:

BRIAN WILLIAMS: Finally here tonight, they are just one couple among all the leaders gathered here for this summit, and yet there is no denying the Obamas from America are receiving a rock star reception on this trip. One London paper today called them "American royalty." The President's one thing, but millions of people are just watching Michelle Obama, wondering what she will wear, wondering where she will show up next. Our report tonight from NBC's Dawna Friesen.

DAWNA FRIESEN: From the moment the Obamas landed in Britain, hand in hand, many here were already star-struck.
EVE POLLARD, WRITER AND JOURNALIST: She is a woman of our time, and I think the respect that women, particularly, have for her is enormous.
FRIESEN: Here, they're calling it "Michelle's magic." There's the media fascination with her clothes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE VOICE: In the sparkly cardigan and skirt-
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE VOICE: -cream cardigan by. J. Crew-
FRIESEN: But awareness, too, that with her Ivy League education and relaxed, easy charm, she's impressive. Whether meeting Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, or visiting a cancer care clinic, where she quickly made friends.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Very chatty, easy to talk to.
FRIESEN: Then it was off to the palace. There's always a crowd here at the palace to see the Queen. But today, it's America's First Family that's the big draw. Elegant and understated, there was a handshake but no curtsy. Never mind. Mrs. Obama seems to have made another new friend. Now that we've met, let's stay in touch, the Queen told her. A relief, no doubt, for the First Lady, because, the President admitted earlier, she was a bit nervous about it all.
BARACK OBAMA: As you might imagine, Michelle has been really thinking of that, too.
FRIESEN: Aware, surely, that she's been hailed by the fashion press as a modern-day Jacqueline Kennedy, who dazzled Brits when she met the Queen.
LESLEY WHITE, SUNDAY TIMES MAGAZINE: She just feels so much more of the moment, which is to do with how she looks and to do with combining family and career and juggling all the sorts of things that women do every day, which makes her just seem more like one of us.
FRIESEN: And she's not alone, breaking new ground as First Lady. Other wives of G-20 leaders in London include a lawyer from the Netherlands, an opera singer from Spain, and a politician and AIDS activist from Ethiopia. One star who's not here, Carla Bruni, the wife of the French president who captivated the British on a trip here last year. She'll meet the Obamas in France on Friday, leaving the limelight in London tonight to the woman who may well be the most famous First Lady in the world. Dawna Friesen, NBC News, London.

Matthews Chirps Groovy Cool Obamas Gave
Him Another 'Thrill!'

[This item, by the MRC's Geoffrey Dickens, was posted Wednesday evening, with video, on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

Matthews, who invited the Washington Post's Lois Romano and the Independent Women's Forum Michelle Bernard to join in on the Obama-watching fun, also giddily admitted: "We girls agree. I don't mind saying that. I'm excited. I'm thrilled. Any way I like it all! I like the picture, I like the substance. "

The following is the full exchange Matthews had with his panelists on the April 1 edition of Hardball:

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well there is something cool when they were both -- there's a nice '60s term. When they were both walking to the helicopter the other day, Marine One, there was something like, when he looked at her, you could just tell he said, "Isn't this something?" You know you could tell like they were experiencing the-, the, I'm getting old here. The grooviness, the excitement of being this First American Couple heading towards Marine One, which is cool in itself, heading from there to Air Force One, to a quick flight across the Atlantic, on your own plane. And to meet with the world leaders as like the centerpiece of the world. What? I get, I'm saying it again, I'm getting a thrill. Go ahead. I can't say these things.
MICHELLE BERNARD: You look at them, you look at them and watching them go to Marine One and he so clearly loves his wife and I think people like looking at that also. It's, it's nice.
MATTHEWS: That is great stuff. I think George Bush liked his wife, loves his wife.
BERNARD: Oh absolutely!
MATTHEWS: I think it's pretty common, it's just very glamorous with these two. Yeah.
LOIS ROMANO, WASHINGTON POST: One of the women I interviewed in this story said what she liked about them is that they looked like they had just won the lottery.
MATTHEWS: Yes! Yes!
BERNARD: Like pinch me!
ROMANO: They look at each other and think this is so exciting.
MATTHEWS: You're going to Disney Land!
ROMANO: Yeah. And people feel that, yeah.
MATTHEWS: Any way you're great. We girls agree. I don't mind saying that. I'm excited. I'm thrilled. Any way I like it all! I like the picture, I like the substance.

CNN's Alina Cho: Obamas are 'Royal Family
of the United States'

CNN correspondent Alina Cho loaded the regal language into her report on Wednesday's American Morning about Europe's "apparent love affair" with Michelle Obama. Besides the obligatory Jackie Kennedy references, Cho gave a preview of the First :ady's tea with Queen Elizabeth II: "On today's schedule: tea with the queen, and insiders say the queen and America's queen bee will be fast friends." The correspondent even compared Mrs. Obama to Princess Diana. She also referred to the Obamas as the "royal family of the United States."

Cho began her report by hyping the First Lady's popularity, how it apparently isn't exclusive to the States, and how it could overshadow her husband the president: "Tina Brown, as you know, joked about an hour ago that Sara Brown is a beautiful girl but, you know, everybody sort of knows that right now, at least, she pales in comparison to Michelle Obama. Of course, the big question is, could she overshadow the president?...So, you know, there's no denying that Michelle Obama is a rock star in America, but how is her style and personality playing abroad? Well, the early reviews are very good. The apparent love affair with the U.S. first lady is flourishing in Europe."

[This item, by the MRC's Matthew Balan, was posted Wednesday evening on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

After announcing that Mrs. Obama is a "brand new star" overseas, using glowing remarks from people on a British street to underscore her point, the correspondent made her "royal family" reference to the Obamas. Presidential historian Allan Lichtman (who was unidentified during the report) adopted this moniker in his first sound bite: "How the royal family, and not just a head of government, is received, is very important for perception back here at home."

The CNN correspondent then underlined the apparent attention the first lady is receiving in particular: "Most of all, the first lady -- what will she wear? How will she act? On today's schedule: tea with the queen, and insiders say the queen and America's queen bee will be fast friends." Cho followed this with a clip from The Daily Beast's Tina Brown, who made a gushing prediction: "What [the] queen really likes is authentic women. She likes women who are strong, who are unpretentious, and who are into their family....She'll love the fact that Michelle Obama was filmed, you know, digging her vegetable garden. That is very queen-like."

Towards the end of her report, Cho asked if Michelle Obama's popularity would lead her to eclipse her husband, as Jackie Kennedy once did to JFK. She also went so far to compare the first lady to a deceased Princess of Wales: "To be sure, everything Michelle Obama does while she's in Europe -- everything she wears -- will be front-page fodder. Princess Diana, if you'll recall, was scrutinized in a similar way. And if you think about it, guys, the First Lady is a star in Europe in much the same way that Princess Diana was a star when she was here in the United States. People went crazy over her when she was here."

The full transcript of Cho's report, which began 39 minutes into the 8 am Eastern hour of Wednesday's American Morning:

KIRAN CHETRY: We're tracking all of the events taking place at the G-20 summit, though, in London today. It's about three hours ago that President Obama spoke, along with British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. They held a joint press conference -- here we go -- answering questions that were posed to them by the -- by members of the media about how to best tackle the global financial crisis, who is to blame for the global financial crisis, and what they expect to come out of this meeting.
But it wasn't just President Obama who was a big hit overseas. It may pale in comparison to his wife, the first lady's popularity. As the Europeans are watching Michelle Obama's every move, CNN -- CNN's Alina Cho is part of that story for us. And there, we're looking at some pictures of Sara Brown and Michelle Obama together, taking some photos together, and sort of getting to know each other ahead of that press conference that their husbands were holding.
ALINA CHO: That's right. In fact, Tina Brown, as you know, joked about an hour ago that Sara Brown is a beautiful girl but, you know, everybody sort of knows that right now, at least, she pales in comparison to Michelle Obama. Of course, the big question is, could she overshadow the president? You know, when the Kennedys went to Europe in 1961, President Kennedy joked, I'm just the man accompanying Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, you know? So, you know, there's no denying that Michelle Obama is a rock star in America, but how is her style and personality playing abroad? Well, the early reviews are very good. The apparent love affair with the U.S. first lady is flourishing in Europe.
CHO (voice-over): America's fascination with the first lady has been well-documented. But across the pond, Michelle Obama is a brand new star. The headlines say it all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #1: She's very stylish, and she's a good right-hand woman to have for Barack Obama.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #2: We think she looks very good --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #3: Yes, for her age.
CHO: As America's first lady embarks upon her first trip to Europe, the world is watching the royal family of the United States.
ALLAN LICHTMAN, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: How the royal family, and not just a head of government, is received, is very important for perception back here at home.
CHO: Most of all, the first lady -- what will she wear? How will she act? On today's schedule: tea with the queen, and insiders say the queen and America's queen bee will be fast friends.
TINA BROWN, THEDAILYBEAST.COM: What [the] queen really likes is authentic women. She likes women who are strong, who are unpretentious, and who are into their family --
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA: All right.
BROWN: She'll love the fact that Michelle Obama was filmed, you know, digging her vegetable garden. That is very queen-like.
CHO: When France's first lady, Carla Bruni Sarkozy met the queen, she curtsied and London went mad for her. On this leg of the trip, Mrs. Sarkozy is a no-show.
BROWN: I think she recognizes that next to Michelle, she's going to be badly compared.
CHO: And don't forget, the French first lady is a former supermodel. In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy wowed French President Charles de Gaulle with her flawless French and impeccable style.
LICHTMAN: So much so that Kennedy said at one point, I am the man who is accompanying Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris.
CHO: So, can this glamorous first lady do the same thing to her husband? Our own Wolf Blitzer says no.
WOLF BLITZER: They're ga-ga over Michelle Obama, but they're also ga-ga over Barack Obama. So I don't think he has to worry at all about the first lady overshadowing him. In fact, knowing that their relationship is as strong as it is, he wouldn't be upset about that at all. He loves this woman very much.
CHO (on-camera): In fact, the president often jokes that Michelle's the boss. To be sure, everything Michelle Obama does while she's in Europe -- everything she wears -- will be front-page fodder. Princess Diana, if you'll recall, was scrutinized in a similar way. And if you think about it, guys, the First Lady is a star in Europe in much the same way that Princess Diana was a star when she was here in the United States. People went crazy over her when she was here.
CHETRY: Absolutely. All right. Alina Cho for us this morning. Thanks so much.
CHO: You bet.

NBC's Today Cheers Obamas Bring 'Charisma'
& 'Stardust' to UK

NBC's Keith Miller, on Wednesday's Today show, was caught up in a moment of simultaneous Obama-mania and Kennedy nostalgia as he reported about the Obamas' arrival in Britain for the G20 summit as he declared: "What the Obamas bring to Buckingham Palace is a charisma not seen since the Kennedys, when the First Lady, Jacqueline, dazzled the royal court." Miller, of course, wasn't alone in his cheeriness as he included two soundbites from other members of the press, including Victoria Mather of Vanity Fair, who wondered if the Queen herself will be able to contain herself: "This is gonna be the most exciting encounter of her long and successful reign. I think she'll be absolutely fascinated." And the New York Times' John Burns was so starry-eyed he was reduced to making astronomical comparisons: "There is a lot of stardust there, and my guess is that the Obamas will attract the sort of adulation in Europe that the Kennedys did."

[This item, by the MRC's Geoffrey Dickens, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

The following is the full Miller piece as it was aired on the April 1 Today show:

MATT LAUER: One of the highlights of President Obama's European trip, as we've talked about already this morning, today's private meeting with the Queen of England -- her 11th with a U.S. President. NBC's Keith Miller's is at Buckingham Palace. Keith, good morning to you.

[On screen headline: "Obama's Royal Welcome, All The Queen's Presidents"]

KEITH MILLER: Good morning, Matt. Well, in fact, the meeting between Queen Elizabeth and President Obama is scheduled to last perhaps even less than a half hour, but already people in Britain are calling it an historic moment. The White House has been meeting the House of Windsor for more than five decades. President Eisenhower was the first. Now President Obama becomes the 12th U.S. president to have an audience with Queen Elizabeth. With all the pomp and circumstance at Buckingham Palace, some dignitaries can get royally mixed up.
DICKIE ARBITER, FORMER PALACE SPOKESMAN: I've seen captains of industry who are very powerful absolutely, get totally flustered when they first meet the Queen. In fact I've seen some actually curtseying, instead of bowing.
MILLER: Today's audience will be much more relaxed. This is not a state visit, so it will be an informal chat over tea and cucumber sandwiches. The White House calls it, "a getting to know you" session. Still, there are do's and don'ts. There was outrage in Britain when a former Australian prime minister appeared to put his arm around the Queen. There is an unwritten rule at the palace, "You do not touch the royal person." And winking at the Queen is a no-no.
(Video of George W. Bush winking at Queen Elizabeth)
GEORGE W. BUSH: She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child.
MILLER: Of all the American presidents, it was Ronald Reagan who appeared to bond best with her majesty.
RONALD REAGAN: To the Queen.
MILLER: Their mutual love of horses made their relationship special. What the Obamas bring to Buckingham Palace is a charisma not seen since the Kennedys, when the First Lady, Jacqueline, dazzled the royal court.
VICTORIA MATHER, VANITY FAIR: This is gonna be the most exciting encounter of her long and successful reign. I think she'll be absolutely fascinated.
MILLER: The newest world leader meeting the world's oldest and most experienced monarch.
JOHN BURNS, NEW YORK TIMES: There is a lot of stardust there, and my guess is that the Obamas will attract the sort of adulation in Europe that the Kennedys did.
MILLER: But no peck on the cheek, no hugs. A handshake, according to the Palace, will be quite sufficient. What the Queen and President Obama will discuss is private, because they say that sort of discussion is off the record, but they may touch on the economy, perhaps, President Obama's Kenyan roots. But we'll never know Matt, because discussion with the Queen is kept private.
LAUER: But we'll speculate anyway, Keith. Thank you very much. We appreciate it. That's Keith Miller in London for us this morning.

MSNBC's Brzezinski: No One Cares About
Tax Problems of Sebelius

Morning Joe regulars Mike Barnicle and Willie Geist both replied no. Geist then added: "Get over it." Despite expressing how much she didn't care, Brzezinski repeated the story in the 7am EDT hour and also the same stunt. After briefly explaining the particulars, she complained: "Again, around the table, does anyone care?"

[This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]
Brzezinski may find the story tedious, but Sebelius is now the sixth Obama nominee to have tax problems (and after Tom Daschle, the second HHS candidate to have such a controversy). So, the question is, how high would the numbers have to go before she considers it relevant?

A transcript of the two news briefs, which aired on April 1, follow:

6:32 AM EDT:
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: And Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's second choice for Health and Human Services secretary, revealed that she, too, has run into a few tax problems.
WILLIE GEIST: Oh, no.
BRZEZINSKI: Sebelius explained that she recently corrected three years of tax returns and paid more than $7,000 in back taxes. Around the table, does anyone care?
MIKE BARNICLE: No.
GEIST: No. Get over it.
BRZEZINSKI: Care? Care? Okay.

7:07:
BRZEZINSKI: Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's second choice for health and human services secretary, revealed that she, too, has run into some tax trouble. Sebelius explained that she recently corrected three years of tax returns and paid more than $7,000 in back taxes. Again, around the table, does anyone care?
BARNICLE: No.
GEIST: Nope.

-- Brent Baker