Stephen Colbert started off last night's show ripping into Steve Doocy for making up a quote about Obama in order to set up a Mitt Romney attack.
Talking with Mitt Romney on Thursday, Doocy quoted the President's blatant attack on Mitt.
STEVE DOOCY (4/19/2012): He said, "Unlike some people, I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth."
(awkward Romney laughter)
"Unlike some people", oh gee, who could Obama possibly mean? We all know when you're talking about someone born into privilege, it can only mean Mitt Romney. So petty! And it is bound to backfire on the President, because being born rich is Mitt Romney's greatest accomplishment.
And I believe it is a cowardly statement by the President, made all the more cowardly by the fact that he never actually said it.
BARACK OBAMA (4/18/2012): That's why we got the best universities and colleges in the world. ... Because somebody did the groundwork. We created a foundation for those of us to prosper. Somebody gave me an education. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn't. But somebody gave us a chance.
So he didn't say "unlike some people", unlike some people. (nods at picture of Doocy)
But, folks, that does not mean it was poor journalism. Doocy was practicing journalism plus, by quoting the subtext. It works like this:
I don't give out handjobs at the bus station... (massive audience laughter and applause) ... unlike some people.
....
So excellent reporting, Steve Doocy. And I know good reporting. I am an independent newsman, not some smug, self-satisfied brownnoser toadying to the Republican establishment... unlike some people.
Video and full transcript below the fold.
Folks, I gotta tell ya, the general election campaign is barely underway, and President Obama is already resorting to ad hominem attacks, trying to divide the country just when the Republicans are trying to unite us against him.
Fortunately, Fox & Friends' chief friend Steve Doocy isn't letting him get away with it. Talking with Mitt Romney on Thursday, Doocy quoted the President's blatant attack on Mitt.
STEVE DOOCY (4/19/2012): He said, "Unlike some people, I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth."
(awkward Romney laughter)
"Unlike some people", oh gee, who could Obama possibly mean? We all know when you're talking about someone born into privilege, it can only mean Mitt Romney. So petty! And it is bound to backfire on the President, because being born rich is Mitt Romney's greatest accomplishment.
And I believe it is a cowardly statement by the President, made all the more cowardly by the fact that he never actually said it.
BARACK OBAMA (4/18/2012): That's why we got the best universities and colleges in the world. ... Because somebody did the groundwork. We created a foundation for those of us to prosper. Somebody gave me an education. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn't. But somebody gave us a chance.
So he didn't say "unlike some people", unlike some people. (nods at picture of Doocy)
But, folks, that does not mean it was poor journalism. Doocy was practicing journalism plus, by quoting the subtext. It works like this:
I don't give out handjobs at the bus station... (massive audience laughter and applause) ... unlike some people.
And Doocy's subtext must have seemed true, because his version was quoted verbatim by the New York Post and the Washington Post. I believe in journalism, that's called picking up a deuce with your bare hands.
Now, sure, the White House claims that the President has been using the "silver spoon" line since 2009, on the technicality that he has.
BARACK OBAMA (4/14/2011): Folks like you and me, George, who have been unbelievably blessed, neither of us were born with a silver spoon in our mouths.
BARACK OBAMA (10/30/2010): You guys know my background, we didn't come to the scene with a silver spoon in our mouths here.
BARACK OBAMA (10/22/2010): Neither Harry nor I were born with a silver spoon in our mouths.
BARACK OBAMA (3/17/2009): That's the reason the three of us are standing here today, none of us were born with a silver spoon in our mouths, but we got a great education.
But just because the President's been saying it since 2009 doesn't mean it's not about Mitt Romney. He's been running since 2005. In fact, Obama's been taking potshots at Mitt Romney all the way back to his 2008 campaign, with its passive-aggressive slogan, "Yes We Can, Unlike Some People".
So, sad, sad. So excellent reporting, Steve Doocy. And I know good reporting. I am an independent newsman, not some smug, self-satisfied brownnoser toadying to the Republican establishment... unlike some people.
Stephen and
Jon also offered their takes on the Romney campaign attacking Obama for having eaten dog meat when he was a child.
Stephen also covered the
new anti-abortion law in Arizona.
Meanwhile, Jon looked at how
nobody seems to want to be Mitt Romney's VP pick, except for...
Herman Cain.
Stephen talked with former Texas Board of Education chair and creationist extremist
Don McLeroy, making him look like the fool he is in the process, while Jon talked with change.org founder
Ben Rattray.