NBC Nightly News Champions Obama's 'Power Duo' Women --3/12/2009

1. NBC Nightly News Champions Obama's 'Power Duo' Women
President George W. Bush had a female First Lady and a woman as Secretary of State, but NBC's Brian Williams on Wednesday night hailed, as the fulfillment of President Barack Obama's promise of "change," how he has a "power duo" in a woman First Lady and a female Secretary of State. Williams cooed, with "Women of Distinction" as the on-screen heading: "President Obama won the presidency promising change. There was more evidence of that in Washington today. His wife, now First Lady, Michelle Obama, and his former rival, now Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, a former First Lady herself, joining arms, joining forces. A study in style, substance and power, really." Pegging her story to Michelle Obama's visit to the State Department, reporter Andrea Mitchell touted "two strong women coming together of after a tough campaign" and how "two of the world's most powerful women" are now "both role models."

2. ABC Enthuses Over 'Muscular Arms' of 'Rock Star' Michelle Obama
On Tuesday's Nightline, ABC gushed over Michelle Obama with the enthusiasm and objectivity usually reserved for Access Hollywood reporters. Correspondent Yunji de Nies lauded the "rock star" First Lady for her fashion sense and for speaking openly about balancing work and family. Nightline co-anchor Cynthia McFadden asserted that "with her muscular arms and outfits, she's become, well, a model First Lady." De Nies talked with liberal Washington Post journalist Sally Quinn, who has written for years about D.C. style. Asked about a recent Michelle Obama spread in Vogue magazine, Quinn enthused: "Well, for one thing, I think she's a sexual person. The pictures are attractive. They're womanly. They're sexy, but not in an overt way." She then went on to assert that Washington has often tried to force women to downplay their sexuality. This prompted de Nies to breathlessly wonder: "Is Washington and the world ready for such a modern First Lady?"

3. CBS: Michelle Obama 'Found Her Place in a Glamorous World'
During the 8:30AM EST half hour of Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Russ Mitchell introduced a fawning look at Michelle Obama's first 50 days as First Lady: "In the seven weeks since the new President was inaugurated, the new glamorous First Lady has found her place in a glamorous world. Thalia Assuras has a look at Michelle Obama's successful new life." Assuras began her report: "Everyone wants an invitation to her parties. She's graced several magazine covers. Even Oprah is giving up a slice for the first time. She's the focus of fashionistas, those buff arms igniting commentary, and Web sites produce constant chatter." Assuras went on to describe how Michellle Obama had surpassed other First Ladies: "Michelle Obama has created a stir like no other First Lady...Style watchers caution that all new First Ladies cause excitement, but Mrs. Obama is a celebrity who embodies a new generation...That thing, that polls show, produces more positives than recent First Ladies at the outset of past administrations."

4. CBS's Mason: Rich Getting Richer is Good for the Economy
On Wednesday's CBS Evening News, correspondent Anthony Mason made an observation rarely expressed in the mainstream media -- that when the rich get richer, they do so by creating jobs that benefit everyone. Highlighting the new list of billionaires released by Forbes magazine, Mason noted: "Two-thirds of these billionaires are self-made. They're the pioneering businessmen like Bill Gates who created the companies that have created the jobs and the wealth in this country. So we want them to get richer because when they do, we do."

5. Today Last Day to Get Tickets to Next Week's 'DisHonors Awards'
Just one week until the Media Research Center's annual gala and later today we'll be slapping a "sold out" sign on our online ads -- but we can still squeeze you in if you buy a seat TODAY. Join us for this year's gala featuring the "DisHonors Awards for the Worst Reporting of the Year" and the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year to be presented to Brit Hume. It will take place on Thursday evening, March 19th, at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The MRC gala is one of the most fun events of the year. Rush Limbaugh called it "a terrific show...a great, great, great assemblage of people....Everybody just had a blast!" Sean Hannity exclaimed: "I love this event!"

NBC Nightly News Champions Obama's 'Power
Duo' Women

President George W. Bush had a female First Lady and a woman as Secretary of State, but NBC's Brian Williams on Wednesday night hailed, as the fulfillment of President Barack Obama's promise of "change," how he has a "power duo" in a woman First Lady and a female Secretary of State. Williams cooed, with "Women of Distinction" as the on-screen heading: "President Obama won the presidency promising change. There was more evidence of that in Washington today. His wife, now First Lady, Michelle Obama, and his former rival, now Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, a former First Lady herself, joining arms, joining forces. A study in style, substance and power, really."

Pegging her story to Michelle Obama's visit to the State Department, reporter Andrea Mitchell touted "two strong women coming together of after a tough campaign" and how "two of the world's most powerful women" are now "both role models."

After contending Mrs. Obama's "style" is "totally modern when it comes to fashion and being fit," while "in other ways she chooses to be more traditional," Mitchell showcased an assessment from Obama family friend Valerie Jarrett, hardly an independent observer: "Already people look up to her, they see her as somebody who grew up with humble means and yet worked hard, received a good education, and then devoted her life to giving back to the community."

[This item, by the MRC's Brent Baker, was posted Wednesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [1] ]

Neither the CBS Evening News nor ABC's World News considered the State Department visit newsworthy.

Williams teased at the top of the Wednesday, March 11 NBC Nightly News: "Leading ladies. A power duo in Washington today teaming up to honor women of courage around the world."

The subsequent story:

BRIAN WILLIAMS: President Obama won the presidency promising change. There was more evidence of that in Washington today. His wife, now First Lady, Michelle Obama, and his former rival, now Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, a former First Lady herself, joining arms, joining forces. A study in style, substance and power, really. More on the gathering from our own Andrea Mitchell.

ANDREA MITCHELL: Two of the world's most powerful women.
SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON: It is my great pleasure and honor to introduce the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.
MITCHELL: The new First Lady continuing her tour of government agencies.
MICHELLE OBAMA, AT STATE DEPT: And let me thank Secretary Clinton -- I love saying that -- for that kind introduction.
MITCHELL: And a former First Lady, who now visits the Oval Office as Secretary of State. Two strong women coming together of after a tough campaign.
SECRETARY CLINTON: I have to say that in a very short time, she has, through her grace and her wisdom, become an inspiration to women and girls not only in the United States, but around the world.
MITCHELL: Still, they approach their jobs in very different ways. When Bill Clinton was President, Hillary took on health care. When Barack Obama tackled the same issue last week, Michelle was serving up food at a soup kitchen across town.
MICHELLE OBAMA: I want to make sure that our guests here and across this country are eating nutritious items.
MITCHELL: Her style, totally modern when it comes to fashion and being fit. In other ways she chooses to be more traditional.
MICHELLE OBAMA: To get things that are really, really fresh.
VALERIE JARRETT, WHITE HOUSE SENIOR ADVISOR: Already people look up to her, they see her as somebody who grew up with humble means and yet worked hard, received a good education, and then devoted her life to giving back to the community.
MITCHELL: Now they are both role models. Today, jointly honoring women from around the world for their courage on human rights. Tomorrow, Michelle Obama takes on another of her top priorities -- traveling to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to learn more about the challenges facing military families. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, at the State Department.

ABC Enthuses Over 'Muscular Arms' of
'Rock Star' Michelle Obama

On Tuesday's Nightline, ABC gushed over Michelle Obama with the enthusiasm and objectivity usually reserved for Access Hollywood reporters. Correspondent Yunji de Nies lauded the "rock star" First Lady for her fashion sense and for speaking openly about balancing work and family. Nightline co-anchor Cynthia McFadden asserted that "with her muscular arms and outfits, she's become, well, a model First Lady."

De Nies talked with liberal Washington Post journalist Sally Quinn, who has written for years about D.C. style. Asked about a recent Michelle Obama spread in Vogue magazine, Quinn enthused: "Well, for one thing, I think she's a sexual person. The pictures are attractive. They're womanly. They're sexy, but not in an overt way." She then went on to assert that Washington has often tried to force women to downplay their sexuality. This prompted de Nies to breathlessly wonder: "Is Washington and the world ready for such a modern First Lady?"

[This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [2] ]

Before playing a clip of Mrs. Obama discussing her family, de Nies complimented the First Lady for "speaking openly about the struggle of balancing work and family." Of course, that is something that previous presidential spouses have done, including Hillary Clinton.

De Nies and TheRoot.com reporter Dayo Olopade both agreed that Obama is a "rock star." Commenting on de Nies' observation that it's odd to see magazines with the President's wife next to those with pop stars, Olopade bizarrely claimed: "Well, you certainly didn't see Laura Bush doing that. You know, I think it's a lot easier to be a celebrity these days."

On the Root's Web site, Olopade expounded on the new role the First Lady and her fitness play: "Her commanding presence, disciplined fitness regimen and rock-hard bod make her seem out of step with the traditional sidekick role of the first lady. And she is also ill-suited to the traditional cultural archetypes circumscribed for black women. She is neither Jezebel, the soft-witted, oversexed temptress, nor Mammy, the asexual nurturer."

See The Root: www.theroot.com [3]

A transcript of the March 10 segment:

CYNTHIA MCFADDEN: Michelle Obama, wife of the 44th president of the United States, has been described as her husband's rock. Ivy League educated, an accomplished lawyer and a mother of two young daughters. And now, with her muscular arms and outfits, she's become, well, a model first lady as Yunji de Nies reports.
YUNJI DE NIES: From the moment Michelle Obama took the stage at the Inaugural Neighborhood Ball, America just can't seem to get enough of the new first lady. She is photographed constantly, and is the cover girl of just about every major magazine, from People to Vogue to the latest New Yorker, a far cry from their last depiction of her. Survey any newsstand and you're bound to find her face. [Standing in a bookstore with Dayo Olopade.] It's sort of the weird juxtaposition there to see the first lady next to a pop star.
DAYO OLOPADE (Washington reporter, TheRoot.com): Right. Well, you certainly didn't see Laura Bush doing that. You know, I think it's a lot easier to be a celebrity these days. Media culture is really saturated and, of course, Michelle Obama is in her own right a rock star.
DE NIES: A rock star who even got Oprah to break the rules. In a first, the media maven will share the cover of her signature magazine. Mrs. Obama is on a mission to introduce herself, visiting federal agencies in Washington.
MICHELLE OBAMA: And for the people here in this agency, we are now your neighbors.
DE NIES: And speaking openly about the struggle of balancing work and family.
OBAMA: There isn't a day that goes by particularly after having kids that I don't wonder or worry about whether I'm doing the right thing for myself, for my family, for my girls.
DE NIES: The first lady wants to use her public profile to broaden the perception of African-American women. She told "People" magazine she thought posing for Vogue "was good for my daughters and little girls just like them who haven't seen themselves represented in these magazines, hopefully to talk more broadly about what beauty is, what intelligence is, what counts." Sally Quinn has covered Washington power players for the last three decades. What do you think these particular images say about who she is?
SALLY QUINN (Washington Post): Well, for one thing, I think she's a sexual person. The pictures are attractive. They're womanly. They're sexy, but not in an overt way. I mean, there's nothing tacky or unseemly about the way she dresses. But she's very much a woman and I think for so long in Washington any woman in a position of power has really tried to downplay her sexuality.
DE NIES: Is Washington and the world ready for such a modern first lady?
QUINN: Well, they better get ready. Because it's happening.
DE NIES: I'm Yunji de Nies in Washington for Nightline.

CBS: Michelle Obama 'Found Her Place
in a Glamorous World'

During the 8:30AM EST half hour of Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Russ Mitchell introduced a fawning look at Michelle Obama's first 50 days as First Lady: "In the seven weeks since the new President was inaugurated, the new glamorous First Lady has found her place in a glamorous world. Thalia Assuras has a look at Michelle Obama's successful new life." Assuras began her report: "Everyone wants an invitation to her parties. She's graced several magazine covers. Even Oprah is giving up a slice for the first time. She's the focus of fashionistas, those buff arms igniting commentary, and Web sites produce constant chatter."

Assuras went on to describe how Michellle Obama had surpassed other First Ladies: "Michelle Obama has created a stir like no other First Lady...Style watchers caution that all new First Ladies cause excitement, but Mrs. Obama is a celebrity who embodies a new generation...That thing, that polls show, produces more positives than recent First Ladies at the outset of past administrations."

Assuras spoke with Washington Post gossip columnist Amy Argetsinger, who exclaimed: "People are sort of reacting to her the way they would to a movie star...She's the youngest First Lady we've had in a while, but she's also got a charisma about her. She's got the height of a fashion model, she looks great in clothes. And, you know, there's kind of that Jackie O thing going on."

(Following Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal giving the Republican response to Barack Obama's address to Congress last week, Argetsinger remarked about Jindal: "I found his [pyschotic killer Charles] Manson eyes disturbing." See: www.mrc.org [4] )

Assuras also cited historian Myra Gutin, who observed: "Goodwill that Mrs. Obama is able to engender carries over to her husband and the administration in general." Assuras explained: "Some observers point out that Mrs. Obama delved quickly, but carefully, into public policy, with comments on some of the President's programs...Michelle Obama will need to keep treading cautiously, since Americans have signaled they'll continue tracking her every move."

[This item, by the MRC's Kyle Drennen, was posted Tuesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [5] ]

Here is the full transcript of the March 10 segment:

8:01AM TEASE:
JULIE CHEN: Also coming up this morning, those buff arms and all those magazine covers. We're going to take a look at First Lady Michelle Obama's first 50 days in the White House.

8:32AM SEGMENT:
RUSS MITCHELL: Today is the 50th day of the Obama administration. In the seven weeks since the new President was inaugurated, the new glamorous First Lady has found her place in a glamorous world. Thalia Assuras has a look at Michelle Obama's successful new life.

THALIA ASSURAS: Everyone wants an invitation to her parties. She's graced several magazine covers. Even Oprah is giving up a slice for the first time. She's the focus of fashionistas, those buff arms igniting commentary, and websites produce constant chatter.
STEVIE WONDER [SINGING]: Isn't she lovely.
ASSURAS: Michelle Obama has created a stir like no other First Lady.
AMY ARGETSINGER [STYLE COLUMNIST]: People are sort of reacting to her the way they would to a movie star.
ASSURAS: Style watchers caution that all new First Ladies cause excitement, but Mrs. Obama is a celebrity who embodies a new generation.
ARGETSINGER: She's the youngest First Lady we've had in a while, but she's also got a charisma about her. She's got the height of a fashion model, she looks great in clothes. And, you know, there's kind of that Jackie O thing going on.
ASSURAS: That thing, that polls show, produces more positives than recent First Ladies at the outset of past administrations.
[ON-SCREEN GRAPHIC: CBS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL, MICHELLE OBAMA 49%, LAURA BUSH 30%, HILLARY CLINTON 44%]
ASSURAS: Her pledge to be a mom first seems to have hit a chord.
MICHELLE OBAMA: Can I have some hugs?
ASSURAS: She's also winning fans by reaching out in unusual ways, to military families, often taken for granted federal employees, and the city of Washington. Now, fashion statements, parties, and community service are one thing. What can get dicey for a First Lady is getting involved in policy-making. Remember Hillary Clinton taking on health care reform?
MYRA GUTIN [HISTORIAN]: It's always dicey, because if a First Lady crosses the line, she might risk having her husband spend his political capital cleaning up after her.
ASSURAS: Some observers point out that Mrs. Obama delved quickly, but carefully, into public policy, with comments on some of the President's programs.
OBAMA: You will also help carry out the business of getting our economy moving again as well.
GUTIN: Goodwill that Mrs. Obama is able to engender carries over to her husband and the administration in general.
ASSURAS: Michelle Obama will need to keep treading cautiously, since Americans have signaled they'll continue tracking her every move. Thalia Assuras, CBS News, Washington.

CBS's Mason: Rich Getting Richer is Good
for the Economy

On Wednesday's CBS Evening News, correspondent Anthony Mason made an observation rarely expressed in the mainstream media -- that when the rich get richer, they do so by creating jobs that benefit everyone. Highlighting the new list of billionaires released by Forbes magazine, Mason noted: "Two-thirds of these billionaires are self-made. They're the pioneering businessmen like Bill Gates who created the companies that have created the jobs and the wealth in this country. So we want them to get richer because when they do, we do."

[This item, by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth was posted Wednesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [6] ]

Mason's comments came after he had filed a report in which he filled in viewers on the staggering amount of wealth that has been lost by the world's billionaires since last year. After he concluded by pointing out that "the pain of this recession is unrelenting and everywhere -- from the bottom all the way to the top," anchor Katie Couric brought up the sentiment of class envy that many feel toward the wealthy, inviting Mason to explain why it is "short-sighted" for people to rejoice in the bad fortunes of the wealthy. Couric: "Having said that, Anthony, a lot of people aren't going to feel real sorry for these folks, even though on average they lost about 25 percent of their wealth. But you say that's shortsighted?"

Mason explained: "Yeah, because remember, two-thirds of these billionaires are self-made. They're the pioneering businessmen like Bill Gates who created the companies that have created the jobs and the wealth in this country. So we want them to get richer because when they do, we do."

Below is a complete transcript of the report from the Wednesday, March 11, CBS Evening News:

KATIE COURIC: Finally tonight, when Forbes magazine first put out a list of the world's billionaires back in 1987, there were just 96. By last year there were well over 1,000. And then the recession hit. Anthony Mason reports on the new Forbes list just out tonight: Rich man, poorer man.

ANTHONY MASON: Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett were again the wealthiest men in the world. But in this economy, even billionaires were playing a losing hand. Forbes magazine in its annual ranking of the world's wealthiest calls it a "Billionaire Bust" -- 1,125 made the list of billionaires last year; this year less than 800. The average billionaire worth nearly $4 billion a year ago is now worth $3 billion.
LUISA KROLL, FORBES SENIOR EDITOR: The last time the billionaires around the world were that poor -- and obviously I'm a little tongue in cheek when I talk about $3 billion being poor -- but was back in 2003.
MASON: And at the top of the list, there was a reshuffling of the deck as Warren Buffett fell out of first place.
KROLL: He had his worst year in the 44 years that he's been running Berkshire Hathaway.
MASON: Buffett, who lost $25 billion, is now worth $37 billion.
KROLL: And Bill Gates reclaims the title of world's richest man, even though he lost $18 billion.
MASON: Among the 20 richest people in the world, only one actually saw his fortunes improve. That was New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg who reinvested in his Bloomberg Network. In all, the U.S. lost 125 billionaires, but still has more than 350. Russia, which had 87, lost nearly two-thirds of those. India, which had 53 last year, is down to 24. So what these numbers show is that the pain of this recession is unrelenting and everywhere -- from the bottom all the way to the top, Katie.
COURIC: Having said that, Anthony, a lot of people aren't going to feel real sorry for these folks, even though on average they lost about 25 percent of their wealth.
MASON: Right.
COURIC: But you say that's shortsighted?
MASON: Yeah, because remember, two-thirds of these billionaires are self-made. They're the pioneering businessmen like Bill Gates who created the companies that have created the jobs and the wealth in this country. So we want them to get richer because when they do, we do.
COURIC: All right, Anthony Mason. Thank you, Anthony. And that is the CBS Evening News for tonight. I'm Katie Couric. Thank you for watching. I'll see you back here tomorrow. Good night.

Today Last Day to Get Tickets to Next
Week's 'DisHonors Awards'

Just one week until the Media Research Center's annual gala and later today we'll be slapping a "sold out" sign on our online ads -- but we can still squeeze you in if you buy a seat TODAY. Join us for this year's gala featuring the "DisHonors Awards for the Worst Reporting of the Year" and the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year to be presented to Brit Hume.

It will take place on Thursday evening, March 19th, at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

The MRC gala is one of the most fun events of the year. Rush Limbaugh called it "a terrific show...a great, great, great assemblage of people....Everybody just had a blast!" Sean Hannity exclaimed: "I love this event!"

The DisHonors Awards winners will be announced "Oscar-style," with videos played of each nominated hilariously-biased quote followed by surprise guests on hand to accept each award in jest on behalf of a media figure.

Awards will presented by Mark Levin, Monica Crowley and Ken Cribb. And, as always, we'll have a fantastic cast of conservatives joining us to roast of the liberal media. Ed Meese, "Joe the Plumber" and Andrew Breitbart are amongst the many who have already confirmed.

DisHonors Awards categories: "The Media Messiah Award," "The Obamagasm Award" "Half-Baked Alaska Award for Pummeling Palin" and the "Dan Rather Memorial Award for the Stupidest Analysis."

Plus, there'll be lots of funny video clips as we mock the media's infatuation with Barack Obama. It's sure to be an entertaining evening.

Tickets for the Gala are $250 per person. If you are interested in joining us or for more information, e-mail Sara Bell at: sbell@mediaresearch.org [7]

Or call, by this afternoon: (800) 672-1423.

For a look at all the fun at last year's event, with videos: www.mediaresearch.org [8]

DisHonors/Galas from earlier years: www.mediaresearch.org [9]

-- Brent Baker