Wednesday, March 25, 2009

On The Press Conference

The reviews are in, and the press didn't fare so well. While there might be many instances of incompetence I could cite, I think Chuck Todd's question, thoroughly taken apart by Matt Yglesias stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Todd: Some have compared this financial crisis to a war and in times of war past Presidents have called for some form of sacrifice. Some of your programs whether main street or Wall Street have actually cushioned the blow for those that were irresponsible during this economic period of prosperity, supposed prosperity that you were talking about. Why, given this new era of responsibility that you're asking for why haven't you asked for something specific that the public should be sacrificing to participate in this economic recovery?

Let's start with that first sentence. "Some"? Who is this "some"? Why do you cite this anonymous group saying something that is erroneous, Chuck? Is it possible you don't know the difference between, say, a war and an economic downturn? If you do, then the question displays a remarkable amount of intellectual dishonesty. If you don't, you might want to go back and do some studying before you try to ask a question. Just framing the issue in this way - it's like we're at war, only we're not, so people who are suffering have to give up more so they can have more, or something - betrays a lack of any serious thought. Todd was being . . . OK, I'll just say it. Todd was being stupid.

One revealing confession was made by Andrew Malcolm, as reported by Media Matters for America.
Tuesday morning The Ticket examined the White House's current political strategy and asked the question who would show up at Barack Obama's second nationally-televised news conference that evening: the president or the senator?

The answer: Neither.

Professor Barack Obama showed up.

And if you remember one of those required college lecture courses in the large auditorium at 8:10 a.m. listening to a droning don, and how it felt, slumped in the cushy seats having skipped breakfast for an extra 13 minutes of ZZZZ.

...

this news conference seemed anticlimatic. (See video below.) At times the president appeared to be mailing in his delivery.

...

The result for anyone who stayed for the entire presentation was another lengthy, somber less-than-animated sales pitch for the need to spend trillions to jump-start the economy...

He can't even summon up the energy to follow along - it's all a boring early-morning college lecture, rather droll, don't you know.

We are a nation in a time of economic crisis, with a President who refuses to be stupid, do stupid, or treat the American people as if they are either stupid or need to be coddled. He speaks at length on substantive issues. He speaks knowledgeably about substantive issues. And one reporter, who was formerly a shill for Laura Bush, can't even sum up the energy to pay attention because it is so dull. Sounds like professional fail to me, but what do I know?

Virtual Tin Cup

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