Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: Harold Tuttle on January 23, 2009, 08:02:58 AM
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President Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night, but got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question.
Asked how he could reconcile a strict ban on lobbyists in his administration with a Deputy Defense Secretary nominee who lobbied for Raytheon, Obama interrupted with a knowing smile on his face.
"Ahh, see," he said, "I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can't end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I'm going to get grilled every time I come down here."
Pressed further by the Politico reporter about his Pentagon nominee, William J. Lynn III, Obama turned more serious, putting his hand on the reporter's shoulder and staring him in the eye.
"Alright, come on" he said, with obvious irritation in his voice. "We will be having a press conference at which time you can feel free to [ask] questions. Right now, I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself to you guys - that's all I was trying to do."
The president was quickly saved by a cameraman in the room who called out: “I’d like to say it one more time: ‘Mr. President.’ ”
Obama spent about 10 minutes total, winding his way through a crush of reporters and photographers between the upper and lower floors of the journalists' workspace and asking questions about who worked where and how the booths and desks were assigned.
Reporters had little warning about the impromptu visit by the new president, and those who were in the downstairs portion of the press quarters only came to the briefing room after an unexpected and cryptic announcement on the internal intercom that they do so.
"This is worse than the Middle East," he joked, alluding to the territorial claims staked on the cramped corridor. "Who's sitting where and all that stuff."
He revealed that he had already gotten in two work outs since being sworn in Tuesday.
"Turns out I have a little gym up there," he said with a smile.
Obama said he had watched press secretary Robert Gibbs debut briefing "in anticipation of some flop sweat. ... I just want to thank you for not completely ripping up Gibbs," Obama said.
"I am very proud of him today. He got a fist bump from me."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17831.html
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That doesn't sound very irratable to me, sounds like he was brushing off work questions during a supposedly social time. Reporters didn't know that, though.
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He got a fist bump from me."
How classy and Presidential...... :rolleyes:
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That doesn't sound very irratable to me, sounds like he was brushing off work questions during a supposedly social time. Reporters didn't know that, though.
Ditto. Except that a meet-and-greet with the press *is* work time. Just different work. It's getting really, really old how our delightful new president can do no right. I'm not happy about it either, but for pity's sake people, telling a guy to back off the substance during hand-shaking time is hardly an issue that should be of concern.
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That doesn't sound very irratable to me, sounds like he was brushing off work questions during a supposedly social time. Reporters didn't know that, though.
Except that reporters that have asked substantive questions of both he and Biden, very late in the game unfortunately, have been taken to task and they and their employers (i.e. Sun-Times) are no longer permitted interviews, opportunities to question, etc.
One incident like this is nothing. This is, however, one incident in a pattern. Obama was never seriously questioned, has no experience with such questioning, and doesn't like it.
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He was probably ticked off because it was an impromptu meeting, and the reporters hadn't been told what questions to ask and Obama hadn't been spoon fed the answers.
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Its Bush's fault that the press acted like that. :)
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He's the President. The next 4 years of his life are work time. WTF did he think he was going to get to screw around and do nothing?
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Yes, he is always the president, and the press are not his "friends" in way, shape or form. I don't agree with Obama's press meet-and-greet (I think he should keep that relationship strictly professionaly), but I don't see the harm in brushing-off the question.
Let the guy get settled into his role/office/house. We have four years to pick nits.
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"I am very proud of him today. He got a fist bump from me."
Seems to like doing that huh?
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You want to see irritation, look at how he looked at Biden yesterday when Biden blurted something about Roberts messing up the oath. You could see the line of daggers from Obama's eye to Biden, and he just coldly said "We don't need to go there."
Ha! Enjoy four years of the master of gaffes, Obama!
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Ya know, it's kinda funny, all I could picture was Obama trying to to this:
*waves hand* these aren't the droids you're looking for.......
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He's the President. The next 4 years of his life are work time. WTF did he think he was going to get to screw around and do nothing?
Yeah, who does he think he is? Clinton?
Transperancy you can see through.
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Ya know, it's kinda funny, all I could picture was Obama trying to to this:
*waves hand* these aren't the droids you're looking for.......
Yes.
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There's going to be inevitable conflict as the more untenable aspects of the messianic worship Obama's enjoyed begins to break down, and friction between the administration and the rest of the MSM/liberal establishment begins.
I suspect this is going to be the only source of pleasure I'll find in the news for the next four years.
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"Ahh, see," he said, "I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can't end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I'm going to get grilled every time I come down here."
Can't I just sit here and eat my waffle. =D
Yes, Lord Obama, sorry to have questioned you, my lord. :rolleyes:
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I wouldn't attribute much to the first week or so. The press corps is used to a very private and secretive president, and they are trying to figure out the best way to deal with the new guy. Also, the new guy is going to have to learn how to deal with the press bugging him every second.
I do think the love affair will be over soon, though. Obama is going to have to do some unpopular things to keep this country alive, or he's going to do popular things and drag this country down worse. Either way, It'll end soon.
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I like that they were asking him tough questions... What the heck did he think the press was going to do? I know they have been his cheerleaders for the past 2 years, but there is bound to be someone who is going to have to ask questions. You know the question made a solid point too... he wouldn't have been irritated had the question been a softball.
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Obama does not seem to handle being asked questions well. I think if the press had done their job before now people would not be surprised by this. I predict a press conference meltdown once he gets stressed and a reporter has the gall to ask him a real question.
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This one, I think, does qualify as politics.
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This one, I think, does qualify as politics.
So, instead of stating what topics aren't politics, is it just faster to flag ones that are? =D
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Don't tease the bear, kids.
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How classy and Presidential...... :rolleyes:
At least as Presidential as having goofy nicknames for everyone you work with.
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This is a continuation ofa pattern it seems.
And, as has been pointed out, he is the Pres now. He has no true social life for hte next four years, any and ALL social engagements are work as well. Any time he steps out in public he needs to expect to be asked hard quistions, and he needs to be ready to answer, or know where to look for the answer on the spot.
Time to settle in and get used to his new job? He has had the last 2 and a half months for that. He is now the most powerful person in the world. He damned well better be ready for it right now. We have too mayn enemies in the world for him not to be ready for the job when he takes that oath.
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I think he honestly had no idea of some of the things he would (will) be hit with, from the wake up call of what's really going on in the world via classified security briefings, to having his motives directly questioned. This is a mindset I've seen with people with his background, i.e., the "Community Organizer" and NGO background.
I deal with a lot of the NGO types, and they are ALWAYS shocked when they or their motives are questioned. They truly believe they're doing the right thing, and have everyone's best interest at heart, and can't understand why people won't just do what they say -- after all, they're here to make things and people better.
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If he wanted to get friendly with the press, he should follow this three-step process:
1. Have Madelaine Albright as a "ring girl" holding up a large "1" sign.
2. Have Biden ring a big bell one time
3. Come out shadow boxing
=D
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1. Have Madelaine Albright as a "ring girl" holding up a large "1" sign.
=D
Thank you for that image.
I can't wait till we get the Total Recall machines to wipe these types of things out of my mind...
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Thank you for that image.
I can't wait till we get the Total Recall machines to wipe these types of things out of my mind...
Then you'd end up with a glowing red ball up your nose, and be telling yourself to get your a__ to Mars.
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Yeah, but think of all the nose hair a glowing red ball would remove. =D
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If one listened to the encounter one would know that YES! Obama WAS really annoyed and not a little bit frustrated by the event.
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So....when will Obama schedule the execution of these seditionists?.... :police:
The president was quickly saved by a cameraman in the room who called out: “I’d like to say it one more time: ‘Mr. President.’ ”
Finally....some honest bias from the MSM.... :mad:
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brace yourself here folks, i watched part of the inagural coverage on BET. and one of their reporters said "we can enjoy this event today before we hold him up to his performance" and there was far less fawning there than on other networks. some genuine understandable joy but much more realistic than the other networks i endured. i watch for the black press to put it to him if he fails to deliver.
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I don't think there should ever be any social time between him and the press. He is the most powerful man in the world. The next 1457 days are work days. No, he doesn't get any days off. President Bush didn't. And the press should ALWAYS be antagonistic towards the president. They are supposed to be our watchdogs over his exercise of power. Again, that's what they did with President Bush. There is clearly an attitude of "we're on the same team" between BHO and the media. That is a very dangerous thing for America.
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I don't think there should ever be any social time between him and the press. He is the most powerful man in the world. The next 1457 days are work days. No, he doesn't get any days off. President Bush didn't. And the press should ALWAYS be antagonistic towards the president. They are supposed to be our watchdogs over his exercise of power. Again, that's what they did with President Bush. There is clearly an attitude of "we're on the same team" between BHO and the media. That is a very dangerous thing for America.
Amen. Agree 100%.
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I don't think there should ever be any social time between him and the press.
I think you hit the nail on the head. He thinks that just because the media worked so hard to get him elected that they'll become a complete propaganda wing of his administration. Although I'm sure they'll work hard to spread his BS, they need something other than "omg he's so dreamy" to write.
His relationship with the media is like having a pet tiger. It may act like it loves you 95% of the time, but if you piss it off it'll mess you up. I just wonder how long it'll take for him to lose a hand. . .
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I think you hit the nail on the head. He thinks that just because the media worked so hard to get him elected that they'll become a complete propaganda wing of his administration. Although I'm sure they'll work hard to spread his BS, they need something other than "omg he's so dreamy" to write.
His relationship with the media is like having a pet tiger. It may act like it loves you 95% of the time, but if you piss it off it'll mess you up. I just wonder how long it'll take for him to lose a hand. . .
Unfortunately, I think you're assuming that that the media, mostly being fellow democrats, are only operating this way because of the "historical nature" of his election. It's not just image and him being "dreamy" to them. Deep down, they also agree with his policies. So in the end, I don't think they'll hold him to the fire, for any reason.
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Unfortunately, I think you're assuming that that the media, mostly being fellow democrats, are only operating this way because of the "historical nature" of his election. It's not just image and him being "dreamy" to them. Deep down, they also agree with his policies. So in the end, I don't think they'll hold him to the fire, for any reason.
no, I agree that they agree with his policies, and where no one knows what he actually thinks, they trust that whatever he does is good. That said, not many people can tolerate being treated like someone's bitch for too long, even if they otherwise love the person. I really think (hope?) obama's arrogance will bite him in the ass eventually.
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If he doesn't want to answer questions until a press conference the next day, or whatever, that's fine. But he didn't have to get snarky about it. Nor should he have been surprised by such questions. He IS the President, after all. He should start expecting serious questions, cause he has a real job, now.
And the event just illustrates how chummy the press is with him. Doesn't he know they're supposed to "speak truth to power"? :rolleyes:
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http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=134032
Fading Love Affair: How the Media Will Maul Obama
Journalists Can't Stay 'in the Tank' for New POTUS Without Eventually Coming Up for Air, Can They?
by Simon Dumenco
Published: January 26, 2009
In recent weeks I happened to read three different articles that all invoked the late Swiss psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross's famous five-stage "Grief Cycle" in regard to the economic crisis. You know the drill: Humans tend to react to loss with denial, followed by anger, followed by bargaining, followed by depression, followed by acceptance.
Hail to the Chief: Enjoy it while it lasts, Mr. President.
Photo Credit: Jim Watson
Given last week's media-fueled Obama mania, I've been thinking about the stages of, well, media euphoria. Generally there are only two such stages: on and off. It's been conventional wisdom for at least a year now that the media is "in the tank for Obama" (in fact, start typing "in the tank" into Google's home-page search box, and it will automatically complete the phrase with "for Obama" -- and point you to endless stories about the media's love affair with O). But all political infatuations must come to an end -- and already you can begin to see the media straining mightily to assert its "objectivity" regarding our new POTUS. For instance, the Los Angeles Times editorial board got big notice on Jim Romenesko's media blog last week when it rather hilariously declared, "We pledge to watch Obama, to hold him to his work, and to report back." (As one commenter wrote at latimes.com, "Why the sudden commitment to 'journalism'? During the campaign, the LAT was all but running advertorials for Obama.")
Of course, for journos struggling to shake off their schoolgirl crushes, it sort of sucks that No. 44 so far continues to appear deeply competent and eerily disciplined. He just won't cooperate with the media's need for a narrative shift! But no matter. The media always finds a way. For starters:
Just say Trouble -- with a capital T Even minor wrinkles can be construed as "trouble." And everybody knows that anybody experiencing "trouble" is "troubled." Consider, for instance, this pre-inaugural early-bird special from The New York Times: "Signs of Trouble Emerge in Transition's Last Days." That headline appeared over a piece by Peter Baker and Helene Cooper that began, "The smooth ride to the inauguration has turned bumpier in its final days for President-elect Barack Obama as he struggles to complete his cabinet, push problematic nominations through the Senate and balance competing demands in his economic package." Oh, dear! With all that problematic bumpiness troubling Obama's troubled transition team, it's a wonder he didn't dissolve into a quivering puddle of tears!
The rule of twos Two bits of trouble in a row -- preferably within the same news cycle? That automatically translates to "under siege," as in: "The Obama administration is under siege tonight, with new revelations of X coming on the heels of Y ..."
Eloquent, schmeloquent! "More novel than short story, more ballad than poem ... it did what literature does best." Who said that about what? The Los Angeles Times (ha ha!), about Obama's inaugural address. With that kind of over-the-top gushery still on tap, we can expect this neat reversal any minute now: Some clever blogger -- probably a Nick Denton employee -- will deconstruct a YouTube video of an uncharacteristically stuttery or at-a-loss-for-words Obama (perhaps at a news conference) and point out that he's not really that eloquent! (In December, Gawker actually took a yellow highlighter to the transcript of Caroline Kennedy's first in-depth New York Times interview, to show that "Yesterday, we learned Caroline Kennedy is able to say 'you know' 12 times in under a minute" -- and the Caroline-is-an-Upper-East-Side-Valley-girl meme was born.) Or better yet, said blogger will stitch together a montage of some heretofore un-obsessed-about Obama verbal tic, and thereby demonstrate decisively that the most celebrated political orator of our time is ... a fraud!
He's just too reasonable! Credit Maureen Dowd for advancing the notion that Obama's post-partisan approach and tendency to see nuance where George Bush saw black and white will spell ... trouble! "Some worry that a President Obama will overdo it," she wrote last week, "and turn the Situation Room into the Seminar Room." Yes, yes -- worried sick!
Oh, God! "I can't say anything that hasn't already been said," Oprah Winfrey told the Chicago Sun-Times during last week's inaugural festivities. "It's beyond. It's sacred." Oprah's not the only one who's unable to avoid quasi-messianic rhetoric in regard to Obama -- which, come to think of it, she helped kick off all the way back in December 2007, when she anointed Obama "the one." (Remember? "I am here to tell you, Iowa, he is the one. He is the one!") Conservative commentators sure had fun with all that "the one" stuff during the election. Now they can up the ante by roasting atheist-pagan journalists for so willfully overlooking this most obvious breach of the separation of church and state. Oh, my God, we elected ... a god!
Fox News, your serve.