Good Morning America's reporters on Saturday, Sunday and Monday swooned over the celebrity fans of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Yet, GMA's hosts found no time for the possible 2016 candidate's book tour gaffe [1]. On Monday, Lara Spencer enthused, "...It's clear that Clinton has a super fan in Katy [Perry]. The singer posted this snapshot and told her millions of followers, 'I told Hillary Clinton that I would write a theme song if she needed it.'" [MP3 audio here [2].]
Spencer praised that the singer could create a "great" campaign song for the Democrat. The day before [3], GMA contributor Sara Haines relayed the exact same story, calling this "a major case of girl power at Hillary Clinton's latest book signing." However, the ABC program ignored the politician's gaffe in which the multi-millionaire distinguished herself from "a lot of people who are truly well off" and claimed that she and Bill Clinton earned their fortune through "hard work."
In contrast, CBS This Morning on Monday covered the story:
GAYLE KING: Well, this morning Hillary Clinton says she and her husband work hard for their money and working people understand that. Britain's Guardian asked the former Secretary of State if her family's multi-million-dollar income hurts her image among average Americans. Clinton responded, quote, "They don't see me as part of the problem because we pay ordinary income, tax unlike a lot of people who are truly well off." Clinton, you may recall, was criticized after another interview in which she said she and the former President left the White House dead broke.
In a story for Saturday's GMA on who will be the best man at George Clooney's wedding, Haines excitedly suggested:
SARA HAINES: Option A: President Barack Obama. The upside, you're George Clooney. Go big. He's been along time supporter of the President. Now, the down side is he would risk being upstaged by his best man and his best man's Secret Service entourage.
On June 15, GMA news anchor Ron Claiborne promoted Clinton getting a "supreme surprise during her book signing at a Costco in Virginia." He explained that Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor "dropped by, saying she was just shopping at that Costco when she stumbled onto the signing event."
A 2012 study by the Media Research Center's Culture and Media Institute [4] found that the networks ignored the influence liberal Hollywood has on Washington D.C.
Transcripts of the June 21, 22 and 23 GMA segments are below:
6/23/14
8:12
LARA SPENCER: And we begin with Katy Perry. She is ready to roar again. This time, for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They met at Clinton's book signing in Los Angeles and it's clear that Clinton has a super fan in Katy. The singer posted this snapshot and told her millions of followers, "I told Hillary Clinton that I would write a theme song if she needed it." The former First Lady was quick to reply, "That's not a hard choice. You already did. Keep letting us hear you roar." I'm just saying, I think Roar would make for a great campaign song if someone were ever to announce. We shall see.
6/22/14
8:48
HAINES: And a major case of girl power at Hillary Clinton's latest book signing. Look who stopped by the reception before her event in Los Angeles. Yep, that's Katy Perry. She was excited enough to share this Instagram photo with fans and even wrote a message saying, “I told Hillary Clinton that I would write her a theme song if she needs it. But I think "Roar" will do.”
BIANNA GOLODRYGA: I agree.
HAINES: Don't you agree?
GOLODRYGA: That might be the tipping point. Once Hillary gets an offer like that, she may just throw her hat in the ring.
HAINES: At that point, I would run. I get a theme song? Come on.
6/21/14
7:50
SARA HAINES: From the pretty less-than pups to the gorgeous George Clooney, we are guessing who is going to be his best man. Okay? "So, the Daily Mail is reporting that they've spoken to the groom's aunt who thinks it will be Brad Pitt, his Ocean's 11 co-star and good friend off-screen. We haven't been able to confirm this with Clooney or his aunt. But I've got a few ideas about who else could be in the running. Option A: President Barack Obama. The upside, you're George Clooney. Go big. He's been along time supporter of the President. Now, the down side is he would risk being upstaged by his best man and his best man's Secret Service entourage. Small side note. Option B: Sandra Bullock. He's a new age guy and it's trendy to have a Best Woman and in an outside chance, Jerry Seinfeld just so he getst he opportunity to revenge photo bomb George's wedding album.
— Scott Whitlock is Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Scott Whitlock on Twitter. [5]