Obama versus the press?
Jan 23, 2009 Medialites, Politics and Poker
Not really. That’s what I’m supposed to write, right? Based on this little gem of a story:
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.”
So because I’m a conservative I’m supposed to jump on this, right? “Ah the honeymoon’s over! Let’s see how the Chosen One handles the real spotlight, eh!”
I’m with Obama on this. If this had been my guy, I know I’d be saying, “Give ‘em hell! Screw those self-appointed wiseguys!” That’s what we’d say every time the Gipper pretended not to hear the loaded questions Sam Donaldson would shout out at him. Why is this different — because it’s more sincere?
Not every moment in life has to be political, contentious, adversarial. Not every reaction has to be spun.
He’ll have to answer the question. It’s a fair one.
But he hasn’t even been on the job two full days. Can’t he find his way to the water cooler before he has to start with the gotchas?
Can’t we have a little just plain humanity, just a little bit?
January 30th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Sorry, but there’s no room for humanity when the other side plays for keeps.
Republicans have to wise up, play the gotcha game for all it’s worth.
Not every Republican, mind you, only a few, so that (1) there is a steady drumbeat of negativity that undermines Obama and stifles the potential damage of his socialist agenda, and (2) the rest of the Republicans can position themselves as “moderates” who’d LOVE to accomodate the left, but of course have to satisfy their wing.
It’s exactly that game that got the Democrats power, and it’s only that game that will dislodge them.