GMA: The Beatification of Barack Obama

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Is the man running to be president . . . or Saint Barack of Chicago? A bit hard to tell after GMA's hagiography this morning. The segment was a run-up to his planned announcement tomorrow of his presidential intentions.

Obama's own advertising consultants might have balked at the presentation as too over-the-top in its worshipful tone and substance. Here's what we got:

Robin Roberts introduced the segment by saying that while Barack is a presidential front-runner, "he may also be the least well known." Was that Robin's way of disputing HIllary's claim to being "the most famous person you don't know"?

Claire Shipman narrated the segment and began by describing Obama as "calm and charismatic." Explaining that despite all the media attention, "there are some things about Barack Obama you might not know," Shipman began the elucidation with a clip of Obama bagging groceries, as he explained "I used to work as a bagger in a grocery store." Hmm. George H.W. Bush: supposedly unfamiliar with checkout scannners. Barack: worked as a bagger. Check.

Next, Shipman assured us that "he's a listener." To drive home the point, a sash appeared in the corner of the screen flatly stating, yes, "Listener." After mentioning that "he's renowned for his compelling oratory" and treating us to a short sample thereof, Shipman added "insiders say his real talent is hearing people." Not only does he listen, he hears.

Could that be another shot at Hillary -- she of the 'listening tours'? You might suspect so, particularly after we heard from Harvard Law classmate Brad Berenson: "unlike some people who make a show of listening, and announce their own opinion, he always struck me as a person who really was trying to listen, and not just listen, but understand." Got that, Hillary?

As another corner sash, reading "Inspiration," appeared, Shipman informed us that "he found his political inspiration in Chicago. Just out of college, Obama spent three years as a community organizer." As Shipman strolled in front of a boarded-up building, she continued "it was here on the city's troubled South Side that friends say Obama first began to understand the bleak lives of the underprivileged -- and began to ruminate on how he might make a difference." As Shipman explained that he would preach "empowerment even to panhandlers," a community organizer was brought in to tell us of how Obama "would look at the person and say, 'now young man, is this really what you want to be about? I think you're better than that.'"

The next sash read "Family." Cut to Kennedyesque footage of the photogenic Obama family gamboling in a park. And how's this for a tidbit that might endear Barack to women voters?: "here's something you might not now about Obama: he married his boss!" Not afraid of strong women, that Barack! Shipman explained that Michelle, the woman he eventually married, had been his mentor at a Chicago law firm.

Shipman assured us: "she's got plenty of power in that relationship. She was the final sign-off in his decision to run." Cue the family friend: "if she said no, he wouldn't be doing it. There's no doubt in my mind about that."

I suppose every saint should have an endearing fault. Shipman closed by disclosing that Obama is "a stealth smoker." But not to worry: Claire let us know he's quitting cold turkey. Guess that will make him . . . perfect.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill

[EagleUSA]

McCain is a dolt.
-----
Understated. McCain-Feingold netted out to just remove First Amendment rights. And of course, a veto pen never got near it. For McCain, it was just MSM-fodder, something to put his name back in ink.

[PGalt]

:) Propaganda finance reform is in its early stages. Thanks for doing your part. Mark is reporting on the dinosaur's discovery of a new dinosaur.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Obama is a civil rights lawyer that was just elected to the Senate two years ago. He has no business becoming President, regardless of his leftwing philosophy. He doesn't have the gravitas or experience to be President.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

The media will do all that they can to glorify him and to destroy any Republican. Lying, fabricating, hiding truth. Whatever it takes to get an extreme leftist elected.

[YaYa123]

How many times can this guy announce he's running?

[Mr.Unique]

He says he is a Christian.

If someone says I am a Muslim, does that make me a Muslim?

[tiger-one]

I still want to see Obama's birth certificate.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I don't think birth certicates list religion, do they? What would you be looking for?

[tiger-one]

To be POTUS you must be a natural born citizen of the U.S.

I have posted this on FR when Obama is the topic and some seem to think my question has do with HI statehood, it is not. His background is so muddy I wonder if in fact he was born in the U.S. Time verify his constitutional requirement to be POTUS.

[Beckwith]

the linked item says he was claiming to be a Christian even as a child.

Barry Soetoro was registered at both the Roman Catholic, Franciscus Asisi Primary School and the Besuki Primary School as a member of the Islam faith.

He can claim anything he wants.

Evangelicals try to convert people to Christianity.

Not in Saudi Arabia, they don't.

Are you saying it's not possible to convert?

Are you trying to put words into my mouth. I never even inferred such a thing. I am just trying to find out what the facts of this man's life are.

Most of what I've found is bovine excrement.

Are you saying it's not possible to convert?

No.

Do you have evidence that Obama's conversion, if indeed he was ever Muslim, is not sincere? Since, as has been pointed out, conversion is very severely punished in Islam, doesn't that make his conversion that much more respectworthy?

Yada -- yada -- yada!

But I have a question for you -- when and why did Barry Soetoro become Barack Hussein Obama?

[MSSC6644]

But I have a question for you -- when and why did Barry Soetoro become Barack Hussein Obama?

And my question is if he's a Christian, why does he still have a Muslim name?

[Beckwith]

That's a good question too.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'm not putting words in your mouth. You are the person who asserted "the fact that he's a Muslim?"

[Beckwith]

I'm not putting words in your mouth. You are the person who asserted "the fact that he's a Muslim?"

Yes you are -- I never asserted or posted those words -- you are responding to the wrong poster.

To: KellyAdmirer

...the fact that he's a Muslim...
Fact?

posted on 02/09/2007 10:05:21 AM EST by Mr.Unique ("Are you gonna propose? Because if you're not, quit staring at me!")

Please get yourself organized.

[Huck]

McCain is a dolt.

Then whoever signed CFR into law must be too!

[Robert DeLong]

Where did yiu get all of this information? Everyone should read what you have listed here to learn about the "real" Obama.

[Malesherbes]

His background is murky indeed. The British press reports that his father Barack (Arabic for Blessed) Hussein Obama, Sr. was still married to a woman in Kenya when he married Junior's American mother.

[tiger-one]

This is simple, if anyone in the media has the balls, ask him for a copy of his BC. If he refuses or gets evasive he is toast. He must be the first to run, and not have a clear record as to his citizenship.

[Beckwith]

Where did you get all of this information?

Google -- it's all out there.

I am trying to avoid the way out and back up everything with good sources/links.

Corrections and updates wanted - links too

[Beckwith]

The British press reports that his father Barack (Arabic for Blessed) Hussein Obama, Sr. was still married to a woman in Kenya when he married Junior's American mother.

This has been widely reported. Obama Sr. sired two more children with this woman after he returned to Africa.

He also married another white woman but always made cordial visits to his first bride.

He died in a driving accident in 1982, leaving three wives, six sons and a daughter.

I would be curious to know if there are any marriage certificates in this family?