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TYNDALL HEADLINE: HIGHLIGHTS FROM NOVEMBER 5, 2008
The news cycle is now so quick that, for CBS and ABC, Tuesday night's news was already history by the time Wednesday's newscasts aired. Only NBC led with Barack Obama's oratory as he accepted victory over John McCain in the 2008 Presidential election. ABC and CBS both started off by looking forward to the next administration: the President-elect assembled his tradition team under the leadership of John Podesta, a former Chief of Staff in Bill Clinton's White House. Despite their leads, the General Election was Story of the Day, with Obama achieving a provisional 349-173 lead in the Electoral College, with 16 votes still to be allocated. With CBS and NBC continuing to use their Election HQ for their newscasts, all three networks expanded their format to a full hour to mark the occasion. Tyndall Report, for the sake of consistency in our database, monitors just the first half hour of each newscast here.
TYNDALL PICKS FOR NOVEMBER 5, 2008: CLICK ON GRID ELEMENTS TO SEARCH FOR MATCHING ITEMS
BARACK OBAMA, THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES The news cycle is now so quick that, for CBS and ABC, Tuesday night's news was already history by the time Wednesday's newscasts aired. Only NBC led with Barack Obama's oratory as he accepted victory over John McCain in the 2008 Presidential election. ABC and CBS both started off by looking forward to the next administration: the President-elect assembled his tradition team under the leadership of John Podesta, a former Chief of Staff in Bill Clinton's White House. Despite their leads, the General Election was Story of the Day, with Obama achieving a provisional 349-173 lead in the Electoral College, with 16 votes still to be allocated. With CBS and NBC continuing to use their Election HQ for their newscasts, all three networks expanded their format to a full hour to mark the occasion. Tyndall Report, for the sake of consistency in our database, monitors just the first half hour of each newscast here.
It was a day for old media. "Headlines are selling like hotcakes from coast to coast," declared NBC's Kevin Tibbles, pointing to thousands of Obama supporters snatching up newspaper front pages that declared his victory. "The first edition of the Chicago paper sold out immediately so they simply waited for more." ABC's David Muir (no link) called it "an extraordinary image" as souvenir hunters from Atlanta to Washington stood in line to buy their local paper. The New York Times printed an extra edition of 75,000 to satisfy the demand. NBC's Lee Cowan told us about the celebrations "from coast to coast" the moment the networks announced Obama's win, "but it was Grant Park, in Obama's home town of Chicago, where the cheers were the loudest--a quarter of a million people, many moved to tears."
Not only newspapers but posters too were mementoes of Obama's big night. CBS' Bill Whitaker introduced us to Shepard Fairey, a Los Angeles street artist, who designed that HOPE poster of Obama's face with blue shadows on one side and red shadows on the other. His original print run was 350 before "it went viral on the Internet." It is now 400,000 and counting.
IS GOP PALIN’S PARTY NOW? At dawn, the Secret Service ended its protection for John McCain and the Presidential candidate became a plain senator once more. CBS' Chip Reid surveyed a Republican Party "that is now demoralized and for the most part leaderless." He called George Bush "not only deeply unpopular" but also a "full-fledged lame duck" and suggested that "many in the party's conservative base hope the leadership void can be filled by Sarah Palin." NBC's Kelly O'Donnell repeated "negative whispers" published in Newsweek that Palin was "directly involved in the high-end shopping spree for campaign clothes." She quoted the governor's self-defense: "Come on up and travel with us to Alaska and see this diva lifestyle that I supposedly live."
PSEPHOLOGY All three networks offered political analysis into the keys to Barack Obama's victory: ABC brought us George Stephanopoulos; NBC had Chuck Todd; CBS used Jeff Greenfield.
Greenfield concentrated on key counties in the nine states that Obama converted from the Republican column in 2004. He showed us counties in Florida and Indiana and Nevada that supported George Bush overwhelmingly four years ago that Obama's "army of staff and volunteers" converted to parity. Todd divided the nine states into three regions. He argued that Obama's western wins--Colo, NM, Nev--were courtesy of Hispanic support; his southern wins--Fla, NC, Va--were courtesy of African-American and twentysomethings; his rustbelt wins--Ohio, Ind, Iowa--derived from pocketbook voters.
Todd added that "the suburban vote has now shifted from what was a lean-Republican vote 20 years ago--places like New Jersey--and is now becoming a locked-in part of the Democratic coalition." Stephanopoulos, too, traced long-term shifts, pointing to Obama's "new coalition" of blacks, Hispanics and youth. He contrasted an electorate in 1976 that was 10% non-white to 2008's 26%: "Obama last night was not only creating a sea change…but also confirming one." As for Tuesday's predictions of a record turnout, the expected 130m never materialized: "Republicans did not show up."
ABE, ULYSSES & MARTIN Barack Obama, the son of a black Kenyan and a white Kansan, made no explicit appeals for African-American support on the grounds of racial solidarity during the campaign. His victory speech, however, alluded to the unspoken. It was held in Grant Park, named for the only President to support Reconstruction wholeheartedly. The Democrat Obama freely quoted from the Republican Abraham Lincoln in his speech, the Great Emancipator. And when Obama warned that the nation that "we may not get there" in his administration's first term, his words were those of Martin Luther King on the day before he was assassinated.
So ABC's Steve Osunsami and CBS' Byron Pitts, who both happen to be black, were assigned to cover the tearful celebrations among Obama's blacks supporters. NBC had Tom Brokaw, who happens to be white, trace the arc of history from King's Dream to Obama's election. Osunsami talked over the results at his barbershop in Atlanta: "We can now hold our young black youth accountable," a fellow customer declared. "You cannot say: 'Oh! Because I did not have a father…' Our President did not have a father in the picture." Brokaw asserted that "slowly but steadily with the help of law and attitude, America was liberated from its racist legacy." As for Pitts on CBS, he, like Obama and Lincoln, was inspired by history: "Last night all across America for so many people that is how it felt--A More Perfect Union."
ALL ROADS LEAD TO RAHM "Now the hard part, delivering on promise," stated NBC's Andrea Mitchell. "Now the serious, serious work begins," stated ABC's Jake Tapper. Tapper told us that Barack Obama has had more than 400 officials working on his transition for more than a month. CBS' Dean Reynolds ticked off an agenda that includes middle class tax cuts, healthcare coverage, improved schools, energy independence and ending the Iraq War. Obama "will be facing pressure for a quick pick" for his Secretary of the Treasury, Reynolds added. From the White House, CBS' Jim Axelrod called Treasury the post that was "under the most scrutiny" and then ticked off names with the inside track there and at the Pentagon, the State Department and for Attorney General.
Reynolds and Mitchell and Tapper all tipped Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Congressman, as the likely choice for Chief of Staff at Obama's White House.
DAUGHTERS EARN THE PUPPY The popular human interest angle on Barack Obama's success is the prospect of a new First Family living in the White House. "Sasha and Malia, I love you more than you can imagine and you have earned the new puppy that is coming with you to the White House," was the line from the next First Father's speech that Kate Snow (no link) picked up on for ABC. "It is the first time since the Kennedys that the laughter of two young children will fill the White House," she smiled, assuming a lack of tantrums from the First Daughters. Friends of Obamas assured her that the family is "so very normal, so grounded." NBC had Ann Curry profile the future First Lady: "Her biggest job may be keeping life as normal as possible for daughters Malia and Sasha," she mused, "and helping her husband keep all his promises." Guess which promise Curry quoted? "You have earned the new puppy…"
As for Michelle Obama herself, Curry gushed that she is "her own Horatio Alger story," in this instance being raised in a "hardworking family" on Chicago's South Side, earning a college scholarship, and graduating with a law degree from Harvard University.
MCCONNELL LEFT STANDING ABC assigned Jonathan Karl to summarize the "dramatically changed" line-up in the House and Senate. He ticked off five Senate seats--NC, Va, NH, Colo, NM--changing from Republican to Democrat with a further three--Ore, Minn, Aka--too close to call. He should have mentioned a likely run-off vote in Georgia but overlooked it. Karl noted that Sen Mitch McConnell "fought back a tough challenge in Kentucky and is now the most powerful Republican in America"--which must be a surprise to John Roberts, Chief Justice, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, both of whom have more clout than Senate Minority Leader. NBC anchor Brian Williams asked political director Chuck Todd to assess "a very tough night for the Republicans." He summarized the GOP's mantra: "It could have been worse."
MICHAEL CRICHTON MD In the politics-filled first half hours of each network's expanded newscast there was just one unrelated story. CBS had Richard Schlesinger file an obituary for the physician turned novelist and screenwriter Michael Crichton, dead at 66. Schlesinger checked off Crichton's greatest hits, The Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, the primetime TV series ER: "Technology, biotech, tension and terror were the centerpieces of a lot of his work and the truth is just about everything he wrote became a hit."
HERE’S GAFFNEY Adrienne Gaffney has joined our happy band of news junkies who "watched last night night's newscasts...so you do not have to." Here are her observations on the same content Tyndall Report just monitored at Vanity Fair magazine's Culture & Celebrity blog.
It was a day for old media. "Headlines are selling like hotcakes from coast to coast," declared NBC's Kevin Tibbles, pointing to thousands of Obama supporters snatching up newspaper front pages that declared his victory. "The first edition of the Chicago paper sold out immediately so they simply waited for more." ABC's David Muir (no link) called it "an extraordinary image" as souvenir hunters from Atlanta to Washington stood in line to buy their local paper. The New York Times printed an extra edition of 75,000 to satisfy the demand. NBC's Lee Cowan told us about the celebrations "from coast to coast" the moment the networks announced Obama's win, "but it was Grant Park, in Obama's home town of Chicago, where the cheers were the loudest--a quarter of a million people, many moved to tears."
Not only newspapers but posters too were mementoes of Obama's big night. CBS' Bill Whitaker introduced us to Shepard Fairey, a Los Angeles street artist, who designed that HOPE poster of Obama's face with blue shadows on one side and red shadows on the other. His original print run was 350 before "it went viral on the Internet." It is now 400,000 and counting.
IS GOP PALIN’S PARTY NOW? At dawn, the Secret Service ended its protection for John McCain and the Presidential candidate became a plain senator once more. CBS' Chip Reid surveyed a Republican Party "that is now demoralized and for the most part leaderless." He called George Bush "not only deeply unpopular" but also a "full-fledged lame duck" and suggested that "many in the party's conservative base hope the leadership void can be filled by Sarah Palin." NBC's Kelly O'Donnell repeated "negative whispers" published in Newsweek that Palin was "directly involved in the high-end shopping spree for campaign clothes." She quoted the governor's self-defense: "Come on up and travel with us to Alaska and see this diva lifestyle that I supposedly live."
PSEPHOLOGY All three networks offered political analysis into the keys to Barack Obama's victory: ABC brought us George Stephanopoulos; NBC had Chuck Todd; CBS used Jeff Greenfield.
Greenfield concentrated on key counties in the nine states that Obama converted from the Republican column in 2004. He showed us counties in Florida and Indiana and Nevada that supported George Bush overwhelmingly four years ago that Obama's "army of staff and volunteers" converted to parity. Todd divided the nine states into three regions. He argued that Obama's western wins--Colo, NM, Nev--were courtesy of Hispanic support; his southern wins--Fla, NC, Va--were courtesy of African-American and twentysomethings; his rustbelt wins--Ohio, Ind, Iowa--derived from pocketbook voters.
Todd added that "the suburban vote has now shifted from what was a lean-Republican vote 20 years ago--places like New Jersey--and is now becoming a locked-in part of the Democratic coalition." Stephanopoulos, too, traced long-term shifts, pointing to Obama's "new coalition" of blacks, Hispanics and youth. He contrasted an electorate in 1976 that was 10% non-white to 2008's 26%: "Obama last night was not only creating a sea change…but also confirming one." As for Tuesday's predictions of a record turnout, the expected 130m never materialized: "Republicans did not show up."
ABE, ULYSSES & MARTIN Barack Obama, the son of a black Kenyan and a white Kansan, made no explicit appeals for African-American support on the grounds of racial solidarity during the campaign. His victory speech, however, alluded to the unspoken. It was held in Grant Park, named for the only President to support Reconstruction wholeheartedly. The Democrat Obama freely quoted from the Republican Abraham Lincoln in his speech, the Great Emancipator. And when Obama warned that the nation that "we may not get there" in his administration's first term, his words were those of Martin Luther King on the day before he was assassinated.
So ABC's Steve Osunsami and CBS' Byron Pitts, who both happen to be black, were assigned to cover the tearful celebrations among Obama's blacks supporters. NBC had Tom Brokaw, who happens to be white, trace the arc of history from King's Dream to Obama's election. Osunsami talked over the results at his barbershop in Atlanta: "We can now hold our young black youth accountable," a fellow customer declared. "You cannot say: 'Oh! Because I did not have a father…' Our President did not have a father in the picture." Brokaw asserted that "slowly but steadily with the help of law and attitude, America was liberated from its racist legacy." As for Pitts on CBS, he, like Obama and Lincoln, was inspired by history: "Last night all across America for so many people that is how it felt--A More Perfect Union."
ALL ROADS LEAD TO RAHM "Now the hard part, delivering on promise," stated NBC's Andrea Mitchell. "Now the serious, serious work begins," stated ABC's Jake Tapper. Tapper told us that Barack Obama has had more than 400 officials working on his transition for more than a month. CBS' Dean Reynolds ticked off an agenda that includes middle class tax cuts, healthcare coverage, improved schools, energy independence and ending the Iraq War. Obama "will be facing pressure for a quick pick" for his Secretary of the Treasury, Reynolds added. From the White House, CBS' Jim Axelrod called Treasury the post that was "under the most scrutiny" and then ticked off names with the inside track there and at the Pentagon, the State Department and for Attorney General.
Reynolds and Mitchell and Tapper all tipped Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Congressman, as the likely choice for Chief of Staff at Obama's White House.
DAUGHTERS EARN THE PUPPY The popular human interest angle on Barack Obama's success is the prospect of a new First Family living in the White House. "Sasha and Malia, I love you more than you can imagine and you have earned the new puppy that is coming with you to the White House," was the line from the next First Father's speech that Kate Snow (no link) picked up on for ABC. "It is the first time since the Kennedys that the laughter of two young children will fill the White House," she smiled, assuming a lack of tantrums from the First Daughters. Friends of Obamas assured her that the family is "so very normal, so grounded." NBC had Ann Curry profile the future First Lady: "Her biggest job may be keeping life as normal as possible for daughters Malia and Sasha," she mused, "and helping her husband keep all his promises." Guess which promise Curry quoted? "You have earned the new puppy…"
As for Michelle Obama herself, Curry gushed that she is "her own Horatio Alger story," in this instance being raised in a "hardworking family" on Chicago's South Side, earning a college scholarship, and graduating with a law degree from Harvard University.
MCCONNELL LEFT STANDING ABC assigned Jonathan Karl to summarize the "dramatically changed" line-up in the House and Senate. He ticked off five Senate seats--NC, Va, NH, Colo, NM--changing from Republican to Democrat with a further three--Ore, Minn, Aka--too close to call. He should have mentioned a likely run-off vote in Georgia but overlooked it. Karl noted that Sen Mitch McConnell "fought back a tough challenge in Kentucky and is now the most powerful Republican in America"--which must be a surprise to John Roberts, Chief Justice, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, both of whom have more clout than Senate Minority Leader. NBC anchor Brian Williams asked political director Chuck Todd to assess "a very tough night for the Republicans." He summarized the GOP's mantra: "It could have been worse."
MICHAEL CRICHTON MD In the politics-filled first half hours of each network's expanded newscast there was just one unrelated story. CBS had Richard Schlesinger file an obituary for the physician turned novelist and screenwriter Michael Crichton, dead at 66. Schlesinger checked off Crichton's greatest hits, The Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, the primetime TV series ER: "Technology, biotech, tension and terror were the centerpieces of a lot of his work and the truth is just about everything he wrote became a hit."
HERE’S GAFFNEY Adrienne Gaffney has joined our happy band of news junkies who "watched last night night's newscasts...so you do not have to." Here are her observations on the same content Tyndall Report just monitored at Vanity Fair magazine's Culture & Celebrity blog.
