Touting the newly-elected mayor of Ithaca, New York, 24-year old
Democrat Svante Myrick, on Wednesday's NBC Rock Center, host Brian
Williams drew parallels to Barack Obama: "He grew up a bi-racial
kid with an unusual name. He went into politics. If that story sounds
familiar, then you must meet the young man they must now call 'Mr.
Mayor.'" [Listen to the audio [1]]
Introducing the segment, Williams told viewers to "think about what of
this story sounds familiar." During her report, correspondent Kate Snow
promoted the comparison: "When he was in high school, Myrick's grandmother gave him a copy of Barack Obama's book, 'Dreams From My Father.' And for another bi-racial kid struggling with his identity, growing up without his father, raised by a white mother, he saw himself in that story."
Williams praised Myrick's story: "It may be years before we know if
he's destined for anything larger, but what he's done already is so
remarkable and such a testament to what's still possible in this
country..." Snow began by declaring: "At his swearing-in on January 1st,
he certainly sounded like a mayor." A sound bite followed of Myrick
using Obama-like rhetoric: "I'm so full of hope."
Snow emphasized Myrick's liberal ideology: "Growing up in a family that
was always just scraping by shaped Myrick's political views....He says
food stamps and the free lunch programs at school helped feed his
family." She later added: "At a time when government programs are being
slashed, Myrick sees value in a government that worked for him."
Snow encouraged Myrick to elaborate on his support for government
welfare: "You've said that you're not self-made." Myrick replied: "No.
That is not my story. I mean, this is not the story of a self-made man.
This is the story of a community that conspired together to raise, you
know, a child. And that is – that's the truth."
Following the report, Williams wondered: "Kate, do you have any doubt
we'll be covering this guy for a long time?" Kate gleefully remarked:
"I'm hopeful he'll remember me when he's at a higher level.... Here's
the funny thing, he could not run for president until 2024, Brian,
because he won't be 35 until 2024. Think of that."
Snow concluded: "The Mayor's a likeable guy. He's a likable guy. He's a
Democrat, he's got some very, you know, set views based on his
upbringing. But he's a very likeable guy. I think he's got some future."
Here is a portion of the February 29 story [2]:
9:43PM ET
WILLIAMS: Welcome back. We mentioned this earlier, and think about what
of this story sounds familiar. A bi-racial man with an exotic name,
raised by his single white mother and grandparents, overcomes lean times
in life, makes it to an ivy league school, runs for office and wins.
Well, this story, however, is the story of Svante Myrick, who has become
the mayor of Ithaca, New York at the tender age of 24. It may be years
before we know if he's destined for anything larger, but what he's done
already is so remarkable and such a testament to what's still possible
in this country, that Kate Snow went upstate in New York State to meet
the man they now call "Mr. Mayor."
KATE SNOW: If Svante Myrick was nervous, he didn't show it, even though everything had changed overnight.
SVANTE MYRICK: That's me.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Yes, it is.
SNOW: At just 24 years old, Myrick is the youngest mayor ever elected
in the city of Ithaca, New York, a Democrat in a liberal college town.
This is his first day on the job.
MYRICK: This is weird. This is my – my office now.
SNOW: At his swearing-in on January 1st, he certainly sounded like a mayor.
MYRICK: I'm so full of hope.
(...)
SNOW:
Growing up in a family that was always just scraping by shaped Myrick's
political views, supporting the local food kitchen is important to him.
He says food stamps and the free lunch programs at school helped feed
his family.
MYRICK: I know that personally I would not be here, were it not for these programs.
(...)
SNOW: When he was in high school, Myrick's grandmother gave him a copy
of Barack Obama's book, "Dreams From My Father." And for another
bi-racial kid struggling with his identity, growing up without his
father, raised by a white mother, he saw himself in that story.
MYRICK: I thought, well, if this, you know, guy with that name and
those ears can do it, then a guy with this name and these ears can do
it.
(...)
-- Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. Click here [3] to follow Kyle Drennen on Twitter.