by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director
Like many Americans, I suffered my way through watching President Barack Obama's first so-called press conference. I refer to it as so-called because, in actuality, it was a bit of scripted "malarkey" -- if I can borrow a term from my Irish wife.
Please let me digress for a moment before I get into the meat of this column. After the alleged press conference concluded, I watched some of the talking heads analyze what Americans had just witnessed and, once more, I was settled in perplexed amazement. Even the political commentators on the FOX News Channel (FNC) praised the newly elected president for his outstanding communication skills. Huh? Was I watching the same press conference they were discussing? In contrast, I heard a man whose vernacular included the word "uh" about four times in every sentence he uttered. It was as though the man had never given a speech before or never had to speak off the cuff. Come to think of it, he never has. What I learned from the press conference--and earlier subsequent interviews with Obama--is he is not a master communicator. It is a myth which was perpetuated on the campaign trail by the dominant media where Obama dazzled sycophants who would agree with him--even if they were told the sky was green and the grass was blue.
Sometimes myths manifest themselves around an individual which have little basis in fact. The opposite occurred during George W. Bush's presidency. The left-leaning mainstream media constantly criticized, made fun of and derided Bush at every opportunity. Bush spoke like an average American. At times, he stumbled, but his message was clear. The Harvard-educated president was never given credit for his academic achievements or his service to the nation as a jet fighter pilot in the U.S. National Guard because primarily the media disagreed with his policies.
However, when you think about it, looking back in history, the modern day mainstream media for at least the last 50 years has portrayed every Republican president as a bumbling idiot or, in the case of Richard Nixon, a "sinister mastermind". Dwight D. Eisenhower's job was easy because he was president at a time of great American prosperity, the media tells us. Gerald Ford was depicted as a comic-like fool. Ronald Reagan was saddled with the image of a doddering old man who, as the media told us, let others run his administration. George H.W. Bush was a wimp who didn't know the price of a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread, as though Barack Obama would. During perhaps the most contentious and partisan relationship between the American media and a Republican president, Bush 43 suffered most.
So excuse me if I don't buy into the all holy and all knowing image that is being painted of Barack Obama by the dominant media. It just doesn't fit.
But back to the press conference. Obama took a total of 12 questions during his bit of scripted theater. Many of his queries from near-fainting reporters were leading and simply set-ups for the answers to follow. But near the close of the press conference, Obama shocked many watching when he called on someone from the Huffington Post. If you're not familiar with the Huffington Post, it is one of the most liberal blogs in American cyberspace. Some of the postings on the Huffington Post include celebrations over the deaths of conservative political figures. The examples of the Huffington Post's irresponsibility are too numerous to list here. Quite frankly, this supposed member of the legitimate press had about as much right to be there as a group like MoveOn.org which many agree is simply an extension of the far left wing of the Democratic Party.
The Huffington Post should not have had a seat at the press conference, let alone be included on Obama's pre-selected list of journalists he would call on. By the way, the Huffington Post representative's question dealt with the possible prosecution of former members of the Bush administration regarding the treatment of Guantanamo Bay detainees and other terrorists interrogated by members of the U.S. intelligence community. It was surely an overture to Obama's political far left and had no place in this forum. Therefore, Obama had to know the question was coming. So, I have a question for the man who claims bi-partisanship is the primary goal of his presidency. That so-called bi-partisanship will surely be made evident in the upcoming vote on a spending bill that will include the support of three Republicans out of 535 legislators.
However, let's get back to my idea for the president's next press conference. Perhaps Obama's people can find a seat in the press corps for Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Dr. Laurie Roth, Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Obama doesn't have to include all of these conservative individuals, but it would be a nice gesture to even out the slate. Yet there is one caveat. Obama would have to call on some of these individuals and answer their questions, perhaps with a follow-up included. After all, he is touted to be the most bi-partisan president to come down the pike since Teddy Roosevelt, isn't he?
If there was any question how far this newly elected American leader leans to the left, it was answered on Monday, February 9th.
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Now Dan, You should really cut B.O. some slack, poor fellow is not used to holding an office, most of his experience is in campaigning for the next one. He will need time to adapt. As a campaigner, of limited speaking ability, he is paying back the people that contribute to his campaign. Thus the seat for Huffington Post and the Pork for Acorn. Just what we should expect from a Chicago trained fellow, isn't it. Sorry about using sarcasm, but one must retain a sense of humor in times like these. I do wonder what office he is campaigning for now?
Posted by: Charlie | February 12, 2009 at 01:59 PM