Audacity of Truth
Rahmbo:
"Rahm Emanuel is son of the devil's spawn. He is an individual who would sell his mother to get a vote. He would strap his children to the front end of a steam locomotive."
-Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) on Obama's COS, 3/7/10
Velvet Lair- Legends March 18, 2010
- Some things are just not cute March 18, 2010
- The adventures of the lady spider killer continue March 11, 2010
- Intermission February 19, 2010
- People who allow their dogs to poop in other people’s yards February 16, 2010
President Obama irritated over substantive question
Just a few days into his administration, and it’s already started (h/t: ST reader Anthony):
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.’ ”
Here’s the video:
Dogged by one member of the press corps, and rescued by another. All in a day’s work for our new President.
Washington, DC? Meet The Chicago Way.
Related: Media frustration spills into briefing:
A growing media frustration with Barack Obama’s team spilled into the open at Thursday’s briefing, with reporters accusing the White House of stifling access to his oath re-do and giving Obama’s first interview as president to a multi-million dollar inauguration sponsor.
Veteran CBS newsman Bill Plante was one of the most vocal critics, questioning the White House’s handling of Wednesday night’s second swearing in – which was covered by just a four-reporter print pool that didn’t include a news photographer or TV correspondent.
He also asked new press secretary Robert Gibbs why ABC, which paid millions to host the DC Neighborhood Ball, was granted the only inauguration day interview with President Obama – a move he equated to “pay to play.”
“We have a tradition here of covering the president,” said Plante, who is covering his fourth administration.
Gibbs defended the White House’s moves, insisting aides acted in a “way that was upfront and transparent” in allowing the standard pool into the swearing-in. And Obama himself seemed mindful of making a good impression, paying a surprise visit to the White House pressroom a few hours after the briefing.
It’s been a bumpy 24 hours for Gibbs and company, as members of the White House press corps have publicly expressed frustration with an administration promising openness and transparency.
[...]
In recent weeks, New York Times editors complained that its White House team hadn’t gotten a sit-down with Obama during the transition, breaking an unofficial tradition whereby recent president-elects have free-wheeling exchanges with the Gray Lady before the inauguration.
In the case of the second swearing-in, however, it seemed to give reporters a chance to lay down an early marker on questioning whether Obama would live up to one of his key campaign pledges, at least when it comes to the media.
“It is ironic, the same day that the president is talking about transparency, we were not let in,” CNN’s Ed Henry said on the air Wednesday night after news of the second swearing-in broke.
Henry’s main gripe was that television reporters weren’t permitted to cover a historic moment, when Obama once again raised his right hand and took the oath before Justice John Roberts. The only images came from White House photographer Pete Souza.
Three wire services — The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse – refused to move those images, in protest of the White House’s handling of the event.
The wire services’ photographers were also denied access to photograph Obama sitting in the Oval Office on the first day, and similarly refused to move the White House approved photos.
Michael Oreskes, the AP’s managing editor for U.S. news, told his own news outlet that “we are not distributing what are, in effect, visual press releases.”
My my … sounds like a little trouble in paradise. The same mainstream media that gave Obama complete run of the place while a candidate is now suddenly upset that he wants things to stay that way as President. What a shame.
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And besides, I don’t have my teleprompter with me…can’t I just eat my waffle??
LOL!
No matter what happens, the press is going to let him get away with not answering questions. Those who voted for him will reap what they sow. I didn’t vote for him.
Bingo, Carol! No matter what, they will cover for their man. They got him elected and they will protect their investment at any cost.
Oh please, very modern models of the modern major mediot, cry me a river!
I wouldn’t put it past the president to have gone into the room knowing the jabberocracy would try to ask questions, just so he could so them he wasn’t having that.
And I don’t blame him. All presidents should do what Reagan did when the airers of dirty laundry bleat–smile, cup your ear, and pretend not to hear.
As for this nonsense about the jabbercrats not being invited into the room for the re-swearing. Boo, bleeping, hoo!
Actually, I think it’s kind of fun this way. The lame, the halt, and the stupid, can now obsess not only about birth certificates, but also oaths not taken.
Ah, if only H.L. Mencken and Murray Kempton could be with us again, if just for one day.
I don’t have a problem with restricting access to the second swearing-in ceremony. I didn’t even think it was necessary, but my guess is that his legal team told him to do it, lest some cranks tie up the courts for years with frivilous lawsuits.
But here’s the laugh line:
So….after spending years distributing what were, in effect, DNC press releases, the AP, Reuters, and AFP are considering CHANGE™???
There should be an official uniform that the MSM drones should be compelled to wear: large floppy shoes, big red nose, face paint, and a seltzer bottle for squirting each other. Then every time we look at them we’d remember not to take them seriously.
PBO has a lot of credit built up with his
adoring fansthe media, but he’s going to burn through it in less than a year if he keeps this up.No he won’t, Anthony, because support for Obama is tied in with Old Media’s self image and because the alternative is to admit that some right wing nut jobs were right about something.
I don’t think I am either lame or stupid, but Obama’s dual citizenship is bothersome. As far as the mess up on the oath of office, I thought it was funny, as a truly articulate person, should have been able to go with the mistake that Roberts made. – Lorica
Favoritism for particular reporters will only get worse, since no teleprompter is used in press conferences, all questions must be pre-submitted and approved. And anyone who deviates from the script will be shunned, do it a couple of times and you will find your credentials. Have the gall an ill-manners to complain and you will find yourself being given the Secret Service version of the Diesel Treatment. In spades.
Why does this story bring to mind …
“Now it’s our Party: we bought it, we own it, and we’re going to take it back.”
Those who voted for him will reap what they sow. I didn’t vote for him.
Unfortunately Carol, we all will reap what they have sown. However, I will NOT indulge assassination fantasies about whichever President is in the Oval Office, nor shall I produce images of him as a monkey or Nazi or moron, nor shall I deny his humanity, nor shall I trample or spit upon or burn or deface the flag, nor shall I lose faith in my country or threaten to move to another, and for damn sure I won’t go overseas and trash talk him or foolishly proclaim that I didn’t vote for him and he isn’t “my” President. I know human nature far better than most leftists, and I know that such behavior does not enhance my own image in the eyes of the world and only diminishes the respect others have for me and my nation. Nobody likes a toady, not even the ones receiving the suckup.
Incidentall,y the above is not a slam at your “didn’t vote for him.” I didn’t either, but there are some things we don’t discuss outside the family, and it will be a cold day in Hell when I give comfort to the America haters. And anyway, my patriotism isn’t condiitonal upon my party holding the keys.
Thanks, Steve, I think. I second everything you wrote in the first paragraph. At times I “almost” stoop to the level of what so many did to President Bush, but then I realize I truly love my country, I’m proud to be an American and I pray for the safety and safe return of every man and woman fighting for me to have the beautiful life I have. For the first time in two years I started smiling again (regarding politics because I try to smile most of the time) as I watch President Obama in action. I never dreamed it would be this fun; however, it won’t be very funny if we suffer anything close to another 9/11. His “change” frightens me.
Well his promise of bipartisanship sure changed:
Obama reminds GOP in stimulus meeting: “I won”
Continuing this theme, a few days after the election I wrote a post about how I wanted to comport myself during an Obama administration. It might be of interest to readers of this thread: Will and Won’t. :”>
Thanks, Anthony, that was beautiful!
The propaganda plan is making me ill because it’s like something from a banana republic. El Presidente allows only media who toe the line (that HE draws) to get interviews and photos. Eventually, the weaker sorts will cave and then (he hopes) the others will follow suit.
However, I sure hope it backfires. If enough reporters cool their heels, they’ll do what journalists are trained to do when you have a bit of free time: follow the paperwork trail. It doesn’t even have to be for gold; innocuous forms like aquisitions and meeting notes can lead to bigger things.
I really hope there are reporters right now looking for his thesis paper on the Soviet Union, especially since he’s made an effort to suppress it. I had to submit several copies of my thesis, including a copy that’s in the Bentley Historical Library. So there’s got to be other copies – if he wrote one.
GWR quips:
Images float in my head of Der Olbermench and O’Riledup squirting each other while Lou Dobbs pulls the nose of Chris Matthews.