Moos (whose name rhymes who "hose") introduced her report, which first aired at the end of the 8 am hour of Wednesday’s "American Morning" by juxtaposing the stereotypical politician kissing babies moment with the politically-enthusiastic seniors. "It's the babies who get the oos and aahs, but it's the grannies who can actually vote.... Whether singing for Obama in a rocker or dancing for Hillary at a rally, the battle of the grannies is on." As she gave her voice-over, clips of the "grannies" cheering on either Clinton or Obama played.
The report featured a total of ten different Democratic "grannies." All of them were energetic, gung-ho supporters of their respective candidates. Moos’s voice-overs reenforced this impression. "There are groovy grandmas for Clinton... grooving to see a woman president." Also, "And it was a woman of a certain age who gave Obama one of his best-known chants, a local councilwoman from South Carolina."
Moos devoted only two sentences to a "granny" supporter of John McCain. "One white head deserves another. That's John McCain, kissing his 96-year-old mother." Unlike the vocal supporters of Obama or Clinton, McCain’s mother is seen only being applauded while standing on a stage with her son.
The full transcript of the Jeanne Moos’s report, which first aired on Wednesday’s "American Morning:"
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the babies who get the oos and aahs, but it's the grannies who can actually vote.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #1: We want Hillary.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #2 (singing): Obama, Obama, you wonderful one, wonderful man.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #1: We want Hillary.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #2: Yay! Yay!
MOOS: Whether singing for Obama in a rocker or dancing for Hillary at a rally, the battle of the grannies is on.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #3: Hillary all the way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #4: White-haired women can speak for themselves for Obama.
CROWD: Yes, we can.
MOOS: White hair doesn't disqualify you from YouTube. Check out Grandmas for Obama' 08.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #5: This is a feeling like a mother feels for her son.
MOOS: There are groovy grandmas for Clinton...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #6: I'm Groovin Grannie.
MOOS: ...Grooving to see a woman president.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #7: I have lived for 80 years, waited for this to happen.
MOOS: Eighty-two-year-old Jean Weiss didn't just wait. She addressed Barack Obama in person.
JEAN WEISS, OBAMA SUPPORTER: I thank you, sir, but you better be president. You've got to be president.
OBAMA: I tell you what, thank you.
MOOS: And it was a woman of a certain age who gave Obama one of his best-known chants, a local councilwoman from South Carolina.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #8: Fired up!
OBAMA: Fired up!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE #8: Ready to go!
OBAMA: Ready to go!
MOOS (on-camera): You know, we have all these great video moments of Obama with oldsters, but it's actually Hillary who tends to win the older, female vote.
MOOS (voice-over): Ninety-one-year-old Jule Hodges ended up in a Hillary ad with her heartfelt endorsement.
JULE HODGES, CLINTON SUPPORTER: ...And is ready, willing, and able to bring America back up to be polished like gold.
MOOS: When it comes to white-haired supporters...
CROWD: Barack Obama for president!
MOOS: ...One white head deserves another. That's John McCain, kissing his 96-year-old mother. And how about this 104-year-old Hillary supporter? It's enough to inflate even your alter ego.
CLINTON: I think this is quite an amazing accomplishment.
MOOS: Older supporters offer wisdom.
WEISS: Don't hit on Hillary. Bring this all down. Let her do that stuff. Leave her alone. You don't need to do that. You're higher than that.
OBAMA: I just want to know, will you be my running mate?
MOOS: And with that offer, she ran down for a kiss.
OBAMA: Give me a kiss.
MOOS: But who cares about being a running mate? At this age, it's great to still be able to run -- or dance. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
