An ad airing during Thursday's Good Morning America hyperbolically promoted George Stephanopoulos' interview on Friday with Barack Obama. The commercial hyped the host, who will be in Russia with the President as he signs a treaty with Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev.
As dramatic music played, an announcer proclaimed, "Now, as they make history and reduce the nuclear threat, only GMA's George Stephanopoulos is right there." Touting the journalistic credentials of the former Democratic activist, the ad extolled, "George, asking the tough questions, getting to the bottom line of what matters most to you."
However, on Thursday's GMA, Stephanopoulos mostly promoted the "landmark" nature of the nuclear arms reduction treaty that the President signed. Reporting from Prague, he lauded, "But, [Obama and Russia's President] are here first and foremost to make history..."
This isn't the first time GMA has tried to turn Obama into some sort of action hero. On January 20, 2009, the morning show kicked off the President's inauguration with soaring, John Williams-esque music and this pronouncement: "This morning, a new dawn: Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. A new face from a new generation. Driven by an audacity to hope." The video at right showcases the difference between the 2009 opening and the relatively mild kick-off of George W. Bush's second inaugural.
A transcript of the ad, which aired at 7:50 am EDT on April 8, follows:
ANNOUNCER: [Dramatic music underneath announcer's voice over.] The President of the United States. The President of Russia. Two of the world's most powerful men. Both facing common enemies and enormous crises. Now, as they make history and reduce the nuclear threat, only GMA's George Stephanopoulos is right there. Exclusive access with both men. Tomorrow with President Obama, Monday with Russian President Medvedev. George, asking the tough questions, getting to the bottom line of what matters most to you. Tomorrow, turn to Good Morning America, live from inside the new Russia on ABC.
