All three networks on Tuesday absolutely gushed over Barack Obama kissing his wife at a men's Olympic basketball game on Monday night. CBS This Morning guest anchor Norah O'Donnell thrilled, "Whoo-hoo-hoo! Hot in here!"
Good Morning America
news reader Josh Elliott cheered on the President's ability to kiss his
wife in public: "[Obama] is showing the world he's got a little game
off the court as well!" [MP3 audio here [1].]
Today's Natalie Morales
recounted how the President, after being spotted by the Kiss Cam, at
first refused to kiss Mrs. Obama.
Morales hyped, "...They got a second chance when the "Kiss Cam" found them again. So this time he delivered, planting a very presidential pucker on the First Lady and the crowd went wild." Weatherman Al Roker joked, "Mr. President, get a stadium."
CBS anchor Gayle King lauded the second chance, praising, "Yes! I love when they get clapping."
This isn't the first time the network morning shows have rhapsodized over high profile Democrat couples. In 2007 [2],
the hosts of GMA cooed over John Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards (the
former would later cheat on and divorce the latter) renewing their
wedding vows at Wendy's.
In 2004 [3], then-Today
anchor Katie Couric touted the idea of two millionares spending their
anniversary at a fast food restaurant. Couric enthused, "What do you
say, ‘One Frosty, two straws?"
For more on Monday's kiss, see a blog by the MRC's Kyle Drennen [4].
A transcript of the GMA and CBS This Morning segments can be found below:
GMA
07/17/12
7:11
JOSH ELLIOTT: And finally, we all know the President loves to play basketball. But he is showing the world he's got a little game off the court as well. Take a look. The first family taking in a Team USA basketball game last night when the kiss cam zooms in. President Obama fouls out, choosing to forgo a public display and thus drawing boos from the crowd. But, the kiss cam gave him a second chance. And wouldn't you know it? The President puckered up. Ahh, young nationally-televised love. Ain't it grand?
ROBIN ROBERTS: Look at Malia.
ELLIOT: Malia's like, "get me out of here. This is so embarrassing. Would you guys stop that? You're on camera." Yeah, it's great stuff.
CBS This Morning
7:50am
NORAH O'DONNELL (voice-over): Well, even the President can't say no to the 'kiss cam.' President Obama and the First Lady were watching the men's Olympic basketball team play an exhibition in Washington yesterday. Whoo-hoo-hoo! Hot in here! (Charlie Rose laughs) And the arena's 'kiss cam' spotted them, but the first couple wouldn't bite. Well, that generated some boos. And then, later in the game - you just saw it - a second chance, and this time, the President delivered. Look at his daughter, even laughing.
GAYLE KING: Yes! I love when they get clapping.
O'DONNELL: Yeah - roared with approval.
KING: It seems like even the President and the First Lady bowed to peer pressure there, because there is a lot of pressure when it comes on you.
O'DONNELL: Yeah. It wasn't quite the Al Gore and Tipper Gore kiss, though.
KING: No, no-
CHARLIE ROSE: Didn't last that long.
O'DONNELL: It didn't last that long.
KING: It was tasteful and appropriate, I thought-
O'DONNELL: Yes-
KING: Tasteful and appropriate.
O'DONNELL: Yeah.