The journalists on ABC often sound like they are plagiarizing Barack Obama's talking points. On Tuesday night, this was literally true. During live coverage after the State of the Union, George Stephanopoulos informed, "...Vice President Biden just before the speech gave a call to Democrats. And he summed up the speech with this phrase, Bin Laden is dead, General Motors is alive." [See video of the two clips below. MP3 audio here.]
On the same day's Nightline, with no explanation that he was stealing Biden's line, co-anchor Terry Moran parroted, "Osama bin Laden is dead. General Motors is alive. Those points folded neatly into another of the President's goals, to wrap himself in the American flag." Good thing the Democrats, Stephanopoulos and Moran are all coordinating.
Spouting similar pro-Obama talking points, Moran recounted how running against Congress might be a good strategy for Obama. He helpfully spun, "Just 13 percent of Americans approve of the way Congress is handling its job. Things that are more popular than Congress - Paris Hilton, the IRS, even OJ Simpson."
Most of Moran's segment repeated lined or themes directly from the President. The reporter closed, "In the end, President Obama tried again, to sound that old theme of bringing the country together."
Earlier, he summarized, "But the great theme and thrust of this speech boiled down to one word, fairness. The President is seeking to tap into a deep sense in the American public that from Wall Street to Washington, the game is rigged."
For a version of this article with a transcript of the Nightline segment, go here.
A transcript of the January 24th quotes can be bound below:
Live State of the Union coverage
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: I want to go to Matthew Dowd, our political analyst. And Vice President Biden just before the speech gave a call to Democrats. And he summed up the speech with this phrase, Bin Laden is dead, General Motors is alive.
MATT DOWD: Great line. Great headline for a speech.Nightline
01/24/12
11:38
MORAN: Osama bin Laden is dead. General Motors is alive. Those points folded neatly into another of the President's goals, to wrap himself in the American flag.
