On Tuesday's NBC Nightly News, Andrea Mitchell trumpeted the "almost universal praise" for Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention — almost a full day after the first lady delivered it. Mitchell played up how Mrs. Obama's words brought "people to tears about her husband's place in American history," and spotlighted how "even an unlikely source, Donald Trump...'thought she did a very good job.'" She later claimed that the address was "speech so compelling, some wonder whether, despite denials, she could become the second first lady to run for office." [video below]
Anchor Lester Holt set the tone in his introduction for the segment: "The President may have a tough time tomorrow night giving a more passionate, memorable speech than his wife did here last night — a rousing rebuke of Donald Trump that electrified this room, and brought Clinton and Sanders supporters together after a day of high drama."
Mitchell first underlined that Mrs. Obama "usually shunning the political spotlight, but last night, stealing it — the wife of the nation's first African American president trying to pave the way for the first woman to hold that office." After playing her first clip from the first lady's speech, she continued with her "bringing people to tears about her husband's place in American history" line, and contended that "the speech [was] a circuit breaker — steadying the ship after the convention's rocky start."
The NBC journalist emphasized her "almost universal praise" claims by playing clips from Fox News Channel's Brit Hume and CNN's Van Jones complimenting Mrs. Obama. Mitchell also read Trump's positive reaction to the speech from a Hollywood Reporter interview: "I thought her delivery was excellent. I thought she did a very good job. I liked her speech." She ended her report with her "so compelling" label of the address and the anonymous speculation about the first lady's possible political future.
The full transcript of Andrea Mitchell's report from NBC Nightly News on July 26, 2016:
LESTER HOLT: The President may have a tough time tomorrow night giving a more passionate, memorable speech than his wife did here last night — a rousing rebuke of Donald Trump that electrified this room, and brought Clinton and Sanders supporters together after a day of high drama.
Here's NBC's Andrea Mitchell.
[NBC News Graphic: "From The Heart; Michelle Obama's Speech Electrifies DNC"]
ANDREA MITCHELL (voice-over): Michelle Obama, usually shunning the political spotlight, but last night, stealing it — the wife of the nation's first African American president trying to pave the way for the first woman to hold that office.
MICHELLE OBAMA (from speech at 2016 Democratic National Convention): Because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States. (audience cheers and applauds)
MITCHELL: Bringing people to tears about her husband's place in American history.
OBAMA: Generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, but who kept on striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done — so that today, I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. (audience cheers)
MITCHELL: The speech a circuit breaker — steadying the ship after the convention's rocky start. Her husband loving it — Tweeting, 'Incredible speech by an incredible woman. Couldn't be more proud' — sparking almost universal praise.
BRIT HUME (from Fox News Channel): The speech was well written; it was well delivered; and I thought it was very effective.
VAN JONES (from CNN): If you weren't moved by that, go see the doctor.
MITCHELL: Even an unlikely source, Donald Trump, telling The Hollywood Reporter, 'I thought her delivery was excellent. I thought she did a very good job. I liked her speech' — a speech notable because this time, Michelle Obama was speaking for Hillary Clinton. Their relationship is complicated. Sparks flew during that tense primary fight.
OBAMA (from August 2007 campaign event): Our view is that if you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House.
MITCHELL: But old resentments have faded; and Hillary Clinton's election is now intertwined with preserving Barack Obama's legacy.
OBAMA (from speech at 2016 Democratic National Convention): What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure.
MITCHELL: A speech so compelling, some wonder whether, despite denials, she could become the second first lady to run for office. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, Philadelphia.
