ABC correspondent David Muir offered an admiring “window into Camelot” on Monday’s Good Morning America as he reported on U.S. Senate aspirant Caroline Kennedy’s interviews with New York media over the past weekend: “Caroline Kennedy, opening up, calling herself an unconventional choice, offering personal reflections, knowing the political fight that lies ahead.” However, instead of focusing on any political details relevant to the federal office she seeks, Muir focused on her entertainment preferences: “Kennedy calls herself a Yankees fan, whose last movie was ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.... Kennedy, who grew up in the 70s, says the music of that era still fuels her. Her iPod is filled with Al Green, Grateful Dead, and Bob Marley.”
Muir’s report, which aired 15 minutes into the 7 am Eastern hour of the ABC morning program, began with anchor Robin Roberts introducing the “Camelot” theme of the report, which the media too often conjures up when covering the Kennedy family: “The daughter of JFK did a series of weekend interviews, giving us a rare glimpse inside of Camelot.” The correspondent then began with a saccharine introduction of the famous First Daughter: “For decades, Caroline Kennedy was seen far more than she was heard....‘Shy Caroline,’ as she was sometimes called, is shy no longer.” He also continued the “Camelot” theme throughout the report by including old family photos and home video of when Kennedy was a child.
After playing a clip from one of Kennedy’s recent interviews, Muir then reported on the more “personal side” of the potential heir to Hillary Clinton’s senate seat:
CAROLINE KENNEDY: I come as this as -- you know, a mother. I’ve raised three kids. I’m a lawyer. I’ve written books on the Constitution --
MUIR: Such is her argument to be the next senator from New York, as she now begins to open up to reporters -- so far, offering more about her personal side than her political one. Kennedy calls herself a Yankees fan, whose last movie was ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ Of her marriage to Edwin Schlossberg, Kennedy says, ‘Falling in love with my husband was by far the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’ Kennedy, who grew up in the 70s, says the music of that era still fuels her. Her iPod is filled with Al Green, Grateful Dead, and Bob Marley. And asked if she ever did illegal drugs, she answered, ‘I grew up in the 70s, so I’d say I was a typical member of that generation.’
Before concluding his report with his “opening up” line about Kennedy, Muir played another clip from one of her interviews, which focused on the loss of her brother, JFK Jr.
Roberts emphasized this apparent “opening up” after Muir’s report concluded, and substitute anchor Bill Weir couldn’t wait to agree:
ROBERTS (on-camera): Learning so much more about her -- normally, a very private person, but, of course, all that will change.
BILL WEIR: Right, absolutely, and good to see she’s taking questions. For a while, a little reticent.
ROBERTS: That’s true. That’s true. But she has to do that.
WEIR: Got to face the music.
