On Tuesday, all three network morning shows happily touted President Obama attacking Republicans at a Democratic fundraiser Monday night over GOP presidential candidates objecting to CNBC’s biased debate. At the top of NBC’s Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie proclaimed: “The Republican candidates, briefly unified, splinter again over their debate demands as President Obama takes a swipe, mocking the Republican field's beef with debate moderators.”
In the report that followed, correspondent Peter Alexander delcared “The President mocking them all last night,” before playing a soundbite of Obama playing to his left-wing New York audience: “And then it turns out they can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators at a debate. If you can't handle those guys, you know, then I don't think the Chinese and the Russians are going to be too worried about you.”
Moments later, NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt appeared on the morning show to promote his exclusive interview with President Obama. He noted how Obama dismissed the 2016 race as “the ‘silly season’” and “pointed out that right now we're not hearing a lot in terms of specifics.”
Promoting part two of the exchange, set to air Tuesday night, Holt added that Obama “talked about, with Republicans, a sense that there's a kind of a ‘disgruntled element,’ as he put them, that seem to be driving the conversation through social media.”
At the top of the 9 a.m. ET hour, Today again highlighted Obama going after the GOP, with co-host Willie Geist gushing: “President Obama got some laughs at a speech in New York. He was in the theater where they – where they perform Hamilton, poking some fun at Republican candidates and their complaints about recent debates.”
On Good Morning America, co-host Robin Roberts led the show by announcing: “President Obama has something to say about the GOP candidates.” A clip ran of Obama proclaiming: “They can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators.” After reporting on Obama’s swipe, correspondent Tom Llamas observed: “President Obama not on the campaign trail but obviously having some fun.”
On CBS This Morning, correspondent Major Garrett heralded the President blasting the GOP: “President Obama mocked the great GOP debate debate....All this Republican debate angst compelled President Obama to tell a Democratic fundraiser in New York Republicans who can't handle CNBC are not ready for the big leagues.”
Further relishing the presidential slam at the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, co-host Gayle King cheered how Obama “seemed to really enjoy that” and applauded the President for his “well delivered” sniping.
None of the networks bothered to mention the President’s own hostile attitude toward the press, including his administration declaring war on Fox News.
Here are excerpts of the coverage from all three November 3 network morning shows:
Today
7:04 AM ET(...)
PETER ALEXANDER: Meanwhile, the Republicans united front pushing to change upcoming debate formats is already fraying, with Donald Trump insisting he'll negotiate with TV networks alone, and John Kasich, Carly Fiorina, and Chris Christie all saying they won't sign on to a letter demanding changes. The President mocking them all last night.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Obama Takes Shot at GOP Candidates; Mocks Them for Complaints About CNBC Moderators]
BARACK OBAMA: And then it turns out they can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators at a debate. If you can't handle those guys, you know, then I don't think the Chinese and the Russians are going to be too worried about you.
(...)
GMA
7:02 AM ET(...)
TOM LLAMAS: So many people now paying attention to this race, even President Obama.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Republican Debate Firestorm; President Obama Taunts Candidates]
BARACK OBAMA: Have you noticed that every one of these candidates say, you know, “Obama's weak. He's – you know, Putin’s kicking sand in his face. When I talk to Putin, he's going to straighten out. Just looking at him I’m gonna – he's going to be – ” And then it turns out they can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators at a debate. If you can't handle those guys, you know, then I don’t think the Chinese the Russians are gonna be too worried about you.
[APPLAUSE]LLAMAS: President Obama not on the campaign trail but obviously having some fun.
(...)
CBS This Morning
7:07 AM ET(...)
MAJOR GARRETT: All this Republican debate angst compelled President Obama to tell a Democratic fundraiser in New York Republicans who can't handle CNBC are not ready for the big leagues.
BARACK OBAMA: If you can't handle those guys, you know, then I don't think the Chinese and the Russians are gonna be too worried about you.
(...)
