Obama Dumps the Media
[Guest post by DRJ]
President Obama attended his daughter’s soccer game Saturday morning but he forgot something — the press:
“President Barack Obama quietly breached years of protocol on Saturday morning by leaving the White House without the press with him.
About two hours before reporters were supposed to be in position to leave with the president, Obama left the grounds of the White House. Members of the press were told he was attending one of his daughter’s soccer games in northwest Washington, D.C.
The White House press corps traditionally travels with the president anywhere he goes, inside and outside the country, to report on the president’s activities for the benefit of informing the public and for historical record.
After Obama left, a press aide hastily gathered members of the media who happened to be at the White House early or working on other matters. They rushed to a van and left the White House to catch up with the president.
Too late. By the time, the press van appeared to arrive at the president’s location, the press was told he was already departing. Time to go back to the White House.
Reporters and photographers didn’t have a chance to see him or his vehicle to verify his presence at any location.
Although nobody outside the White House or the press may have noticed, Obama broke years of tradition.”
Obama’s job approval polls don’t look that good. Can he really afford to antagonize his best supporters?
— DRJ
I suspect media reaction to this will be along the lines of:
“If we promise to be real good, will you take us to the zoo tomorrow?”
The only real purpose of the Washington press corps is access. If it’s denied during an administration they helped elect and that they adore, the only logical response is that they did something wrong.
I expect the usual response: Two or three more exclusive interviews with George Stephanopoulos about how everything would be great without those pesky nay-sayers spoiling the ending.
Along with the usual moaning about how hard the job is and everyone needs a break and by-gosh isn’t he smart and look, over there, Michelle doesn’t like kids being fat.
And profit is bad and pollution is worse and isn’t anyone thinking about the poor children of illegal aliens and on and on and on.
But, everything is OK, because we have a smart people for that. Stop being so negative about everything, anyway. Because its all OK. Really. We promise this time.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 4/10/2010 @ 8:42 pmC’mon, who’s buying the “daughter’s soccer game” ruse thingy. What was he really up to, do you suppose?
elissa (42e91d) — 4/10/2010 @ 8:47 pmCigarette break?
GaleH (710dbc) — 4/10/2010 @ 9:09 pmHeh.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 4/10/2010 @ 9:10 pmFull Disclosure: I didn’t vote for Teh One; I don’t agree with a single policy that he states; I think he will destroy our Republic if given the chance.
All that said: I think he has a reasonable privilage as a parent to see his daughter play soccer without the press making it an issue, and at the same time, without the possibility of the press reporting what happens.
Now, the question will remain, until we hear from others at the game, that he was really there, for the entire time.
reff (176333) — 4/10/2010 @ 9:15 pmGuess those reporters weren’t playing by the Obama Rules:
The White House is working hard to secure deals that yield fluffy, feel good commentary about the Obama White House. One American White House reporter used colorful terms to describe the arrangement. The reporter said, “They want ‘blow jobs’ first [in the press sense]. Then you have to be on good behavior for a bit or be willing to deal, and then you get access.”
“Axe” and “Gibbs” know who needs access to get their books pushed forward.
They know who will pay for play — and are taking notes on who has been naughty and nice in their reporting.
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 4/10/2010 @ 9:28 pmDear Press Morons,
How does the ass you’ve been kissing taste now?
MJN1957 (6e1275) — 4/10/2010 @ 9:32 pmreff:
I agree that any parent has the right to watch his or her kid do anything they do without the press making it an issue.
But, there is a big difference between you or me going to see our kids play and the President of the United States of America going to see his or her kids play.
Courts, over and over, have said that a public figure’s right to privacy is limited when they are indeed in the public. Whether you agree or not, the interpretation of the law is very clear on this.
And, actually, what anyone does in public is pretty much open to the press, but I won’t go into that.
Anyway, dumping the press may or may not be a good thing, but he did sign up for the job.
If he didn’t want the press to watch him watch his girls play soccer, then he really didn’t want to be President of the United States.
And that is a simple fact no matter how much anyone else wants to parse it.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 4/10/2010 @ 9:38 pmWell, other than the fact it is rude to stand anyone up, I guess I tend to agree with reff, even though I too think Obama isn’t fit to even be a serious candidate, let alone win the election.
There are many, many things the President does of importance that we do not know about. To not know about his visit to his daughter’s soccer game is not a hardship. It is probably more thoughtful of the others playing and safer and cheaper than maintaining security if the event was publicized.
And if the press isn’t willing to give him some space anymore than a telemarketer is willing to hangup, then I wouldn’t even call it rude.
The issue of allowing only tame journalists access is a different matter.
Good night from the Eastern Time Zone (daylight savings version).
MD in Philly (ddde18) — 4/10/2010 @ 9:49 pmGlenn Beck needs to get the chalk board out for this one. Who did he meet with? Where did he go? Where were George Soros and Andy Stern?
Pat (366dd8) — 4/10/2010 @ 9:54 pmI don’t really think this is a huge deal but I can’t help but think that if Pres. Bush had done this, the libs would be up in arms and asking what kind of conspiracy the President was up to.
Ag80….I agree that he is the President, and that there is responsibility that comes with the job, and as I stated, I won’t be satisfied until I know he was there, and for the entire game, without the Nation’s Business being done on the side….
But, once we know that, so what? I don’t have a problem with the President having a relationship with his children outside of the view of this nation….
reff (176333) — 4/10/2010 @ 10:16 pmMD in Philly:
With all due respect, and I mean that sincerely, an elected official has given up any right to privacy that a regular citizen may enjoy.
It is the same for any Bush or any Kennedy or any Obama or anyone who holds the mantle of public office. His public appearances are not a hardship, they are the part and parcel of his decision to represent the public.
I don’t begrudge the decision, but I don’t have sympathy for the result. In President Obama’s case, the result will be nothing.
If he had been a Republican, it would be a slight tantamount to treason.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 4/10/2010 @ 10:17 pmI loathe our president.
Yet this one time, I actually have sympathy for him and most definitely for his family.
However, it is just too damn important that someone credible be around in case anything should happen, God forbid. ESPECIALLY for the Immaculated One.
Can you even imagine the cries of conspiracy and LIESSSSSSSSSSS if something should happen absent “impartial” witnesses?
More and more this guy demonstrates he resents the mantle of the presidency. It’s too hard and it presents intractable problems. So, he escapes the Oval Office more than any president in history. Today is just another example.
Ed from SFV (7f3244) — 4/10/2010 @ 10:26 pmMaybe he thinks that the press is in the verge of turning on him…
Blacque Jacques Shellacque (5ef35b) — 4/10/2010 @ 11:14 pm> Can he really afford to antagonize his best supporters?
Yes, because they will continue to give him oral sex no matter how badly he treats them.
IgotBupkis (79d71d) — 4/10/2010 @ 11:14 pmAgreed. The press will do as they’re told.
Remember, they’re Democrats first, reporters second. He could literally kick them in the face, and the only result would be the assignment of someone with a ‘less kick-able’ look to cover him next time.
Apogee (49749b) — 4/10/2010 @ 11:52 pmCan’t you folks just let POTUS eat his waffle?
Eric Blair (0928cb) — 4/11/2010 @ 12:01 amhe just wanted to watch one of the women in his life kick someone else’s balls around for a change, instead of his tattered vestigial set.
as for sympathy, he can find it in the dictionary. right now he comes across as Presidential Barbie: “Being in office is hard.”
F him.
Nikita Kruschev (fb8750) — 4/11/2010 @ 12:56 amScarlett Johansson?
Icy Texan (d77cdb) — 4/11/2010 @ 1:27 amWhy can’t the press send one reporter from the pool to go with him on events like this? It’s not like we need 10 different versions of a grade school soccer game and the President’s reactions. I wasn’t even there and I could write a story that documents the event.
If a child’s soccer game has to be treated the same as when Obama meets Putin we really have gone too far.
MU789 (00e597) — 4/11/2010 @ 5:32 amThis is one of those rare times that I agree with the President. It’s bad enough having the Secret Service at his kids’ sporting events. The press doesn’t have to be there.
NCC (996c34) — 4/11/2010 @ 5:48 amI think when you take the job as President, you’ve given up a lot of your privacy. Some of it is to avoid the appearance of impropriety; certainly nobody would object to a President watching his child’s soccer game without the press.
But establishing “My child’s sporting event” as an acceptable reason to exclude the press could lead to undesirable eventualities. Having all that power means that people get to keep a close eye on you.
CliveStaples (224b63) — 4/11/2010 @ 8:03 amThe point is that this is a protocol that has developed over decades between the White House and the press. The press considers it a core part of their responsibility to fully cover the activities of the President and have screamed loudly over such transgressions in the past.
SPQR (26be8b) — 4/11/2010 @ 8:06 amI don’t know whether Obama went to watch his kid’s soccer game, or to do the Tiger with some bimbo. I don’t much care–when he’s out of the White House (but still in D.C.) he’s not doing any more harm to the nation.
But the idea that the White House press corps, knee pads and all, has to have 24/7 access to him is strange. For example, when he’s busy insulting Netanyahu in a private meeting, is the press corps invited in for that?
Mike Myers (3c9845) — 4/11/2010 @ 9:23 amThey should have just said he was at an undisclosed location.
imdw (e66d8d) — 4/11/2010 @ 9:33 am‘The White House is working hard to secure deals that yield fluffy, feel good commentary about the Obama White House. One American White House reporter used colorful terms to describe the arrangement. The reporter said, “They want ‘blow jobs’ first [in the press sense]. Then you have to be on good behavior for a bit or be willing to deal, and then you get access.” ‘
and if you’re “real good” (in the White House’s estimation) you might get a reach around.
GeneralMalaise (636f7a) — 4/11/2010 @ 9:51 amIf he didn’t want to deal with the press at his daughter’s soccer game, he should have held the event at Camp David//sarc
AD - RtR/OS! (1aff5d) — 4/11/2010 @ 12:02 pmI want to know if they kept score. Win or lose doesn’t matter, but keeping score does.
htom (412a17) — 4/11/2010 @ 12:19 pmI wonder if this is another clue that Obama is not enjoying being President as much as campaigning for President.
SPQR (26be8b) — 4/11/2010 @ 4:43 pmAt least he didn’t use the military as an accessory to a cheap political stunt a la ‘mission accomplished’. Oh yes, but soccor-gate is huge.
Intelliology (00d844) — 4/11/2010 @ 4:57 pmunable to defend the blatant failure of their personal god, the usual suspects, in the absence of current talking points, fall back on the trite and hackneyed “blame Bush” routine.
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 4/11/2010 @ 5:39 pmIt is always amusing when Intelliology fails to even find the energy to make up a fresh fabrication and has to pull out a worn-out lame take.
SPQR (26be8b) — 4/11/2010 @ 6:15 pm“At least he didn’t use the military as an accessory to a cheap political stunt a la ‘mission accomplished’.”
Intelliology – He’s already been there and done that. Remember saluting the casket at Dover AFB.
daleyrocks (1feed5) — 4/11/2010 @ 6:30 pmObama didn’t do anything wrong.
I know some think constant press following you around every second of the day is part of the job. In fact, that’s pretty accurate. It shouldn’t be. Going to see your kid play, is just good for mental health. I’m in favor of a more reasonable press coverage.
Instead of constant reality show style puff coverage, we let the president have a bit of a private life, a bit of dignity, and even press not reporting embarrassing things (like smoking or a reasonably unserious illness). And (this is the hard part) the press is uniformly critical of all presidents in their questioning. They insist on frequent press conferences, free of prompters of middle men, interviews with critical journalists, etc. Even issues that the president doesn’t want discussed are fully discussed.
I honestly am pleased our President has an American daughter and wants to enjoy her game without press. Let him do that. When he’s back, hold his feet to the fire, even if he isn’t a Republican.
dustin (b54cdc) — 4/11/2010 @ 8:11 pmGood for him. I hope this sets a precedent. Anything that puts reporters in their place, and reminds them that they are not a branch of government, and have no special role under the constitution, is to the good.
Milhouse (833b08) — 4/11/2010 @ 8:32 pmimdw:
Exactly, especially since he may not have gone to a soccer game after all.
DRJ (daa62a) — 4/11/2010 @ 9:06 pmI certainly understand why many have such ill thoughts of the press considering its disgraceful comport of the past three or four decades.
But it does have an important role to play. That’s why it is in the Constitution. When it does its job, it is often the only voice of the people against who hold power, whether political or economic.
As a father, I certainly understand the President’s inclination to want to watch his daughter without intrusion.
As an American, though, I’m sorry, but he signed up for the ride. In this case, it really doesn’t matter to me his political party.
By definition, every action the President makes outside of the private quarters of the White House or the offices of his administration or his discussions with Congress not covered by the FOIA, are indeed my business.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 4/11/2010 @ 9:07 pm“By definition, every action the President makes outside of the private quarters of the White House or the offices of his administration or his discussions with Congress not covered by the FOIA, are indeed my business.”
But Obama isn’t whining about this. He’s not demanding the press be barred from the game. It’s the press whining. Obama went to a game and went home. Yes, that’s still your business, but it’s also our business that our president be a sane man. No sane man would sign up for the ride Obama and W were on.
I don’t like that. I want a press that demands answers to tough questions, and makes more noise about the terrible press relation behavior of Obama’s admin. I do not want a press that has to follow him around 24/7, making the White House his prison, like the Italian Doje’s palace.
I think this is a good example of when a little common sense, that you are probably wise to ignore the possibility of, would make for a better situation for America. Sasha and Malia are Obama’s skin in the game of America’s success. I want him to have as close to normal a relationship with them as possible. It’s completely possible without compromising the important job the press has (and I think they aren’t even doing that job because they are so fixed on this kind of puff crap).
dustin (b54cdc) — 4/11/2010 @ 9:19 pmExactly, especially since he may not have gone to a soccer game after all.
Hmmm….Curious….
Sidwell Friends did not have a soccer game scheduled at the time, but if one were to give benefit of the doubt to the WH that he was indeed at his daughter’s game, could his daughter be playing on club soccer, or a league of some kind and Red State was unaware of that schedule?
But…if one weren’t inclined to give the WH the benefit of the doubt (and I’mnot) *coupled* with the description of the field and no photos of the President’s appearance, it really doesn’t pass the smell test.
Dana (1e5ad4) — 4/11/2010 @ 9:31 pmDustin:
I understand what you’re saying and I’m sympathetic to it.
It doesn’t matter to me, though, whether President Obama whines or President Bush whines or any future President whines.
And, I’m also sympathetic to the difficulties in raising a family in the glare of the media.
We all make choices. Some make the choice of being the President of the United States of America. If you don’t understand or reject the consequences of that choice and the effect on family, then that decision may have been flawed.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 4/11/2010 @ 9:37 pmag80, of course is matters that Obama isn’t whining about this. He isn’t rejecting the consequences of a free press (in this specific instance). In other aspects, perhaps he is, but that’s also part of the job.
All presidents fight the press, at least as far as I’m aware.
Dana has a point, of course, that Obama could be lying about where he was. Awfully big risk to take.
I think the press has no right to advance notice and invitations wherever the President goes. If they don’t make it, that’s not some breach of the Presidential duty. It’s not a necessary consequence of being president that he has to help them watch him.
I am very concerned that this kind of unrealistic expectation has led to a certain kind of weirdo thriving in our ‘ruling class’. Most normal folks will dismiss this kind of career when they realize what the consequences of the choice is. That’s horrible for our country, and there’s just no good reason for it to be this way.
Just because we can demand it doesn’t mean we should. We absolutely should let Obama have private time in as many areas as he wants. I know that’s going to be a minority view, but I don’t understand why. If he’s making backroom deals, he’s not inviting the press to them. This scrutiny only weeds out the best leaders; it doesn’t fight corruption.
dustin (b54cdc) — 4/11/2010 @ 9:56 pmDustin:
I don’t know that you’re view is a minority view. It certainly is a valid view. I agree with almost everything you say.
Except, if a President can’t accept the relatively minor intrusion of the press at a soccer game, did that person make the right decision in accepting the mantle of the leader of the free world?
I think this is the key part of your comment:
This scrutiny only weeds out the best leaders
That is certainly true. But it does leave open the question of who may be the best leader for the most important job in the world as elected by a free society.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 4/11/2010 @ 10:12 pmAg80,
Thank you for the respectful disagreement.
Let me rephrase my thought. I am not so much concerned about the one’s privacy as I am about a little common sense and respect from the press.
Yes, the president or any elected official becomes a subject of scrutiny unlike the average citizen. But I think it is reasonable for the President, or anyone else, to expect the press to show some basic concern for others. I do not expect the President’s behavior at a child’s soccer game to have great import on the affairs of the nation and the world. I do, however, expect a gaggle of reporters to cause a disturbance to the children’s (all of them) activities.
Second of all, I expect the security issues around a previously unannounced trip to a soccer game to be less complicated at costly than the same trip announced ahead of time.
So it is not that I expect the president to “catch a break”, I’m expecting some common sense and prioritization of what is important of the president’s activities.
Now, whether or not the one thinks he’s special and deserves different standards, or that he was rude to the press corps, I don’t know and see them in some ways as separate issues.
I think this is something that polite disagreement may need to continue to exist. The press could spend their time doing something more important than watching the President’s facial expressions when a daughter makes or misses a play.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 4/12/2010 @ 8:57 amI would almost sympathize with the Narcissit-in-Chief, except for the fact that he likes to insert himself into everything, and the idea that he just wanted to watch his child play soccer like a normal father just doesn’t seem probable, since he has tried to turn things like eating a cheeseburger into a feel-good story. This one would have been simple, given the compliant media.
Oh, good to see Idiotology still pushing dishonest memes.
JD (982401) — 4/12/2010 @ 9:08 amIt is unrealistic, and asking way too much of those partisan vermin, to actually perform acts of journalism. They are stenographers and embellishers for Teh Narrative.
JD (982401) — 4/12/2010 @ 9:09 amI admit, this press and Obama are not the optimal actors to make my case.
IF the press started demanding the kind of scrutiny of Obama bush received, Obama would probably have a breakdown. He likes this kind of intrigue. For all I know, this was planned simply to get the story out that hid kid had a soccer game.
Realistic or not (and yeah, that’s a valid objection), I think it’s a serious problem that only a nutty self obsessed lunatic with no normal values would be able to tolerate this kind of life. I think we should try to address that.
I think about Sarah Palin being slammed with lawsuit after lawsuit for wearing a jacket with a logo or flying with her kids. And Obama has to go everywhere with press or it’s a scandal. We can judge these people based on their results, and we can have better journalism if we give them a great deal of personal space.
We’re entitled to know what Obama’s ate for breakfast. I’m entitled to pour concrete into my tomato garden.
dustin (b54cdc) — 4/12/2010 @ 9:40 amNot if the EPA has their way, dustin.
JD (5e5cad) — 4/12/2010 @ 9:47 amReality is as he commands, he thinks. Slipping from NPD to PPD to megalomania?
htom (412a17) — 4/12/2010 @ 11:09 amWould Abraham Lincoln or George Washington or Harry Truman be able to live the life Obama is living right now?
Lincoln famously dealt with a very, very harsh press, but not harsh in this way. This is the Paris Hilton Presidency. Ever since JFK’s TV election, we’ve proceeded to this point where a man is presidential because he looks like a great president. If a producer were casting an actor, W would be hired over Kerry or Gore, Clinton over HW, Perot, or Dole, and Obama over almost anybody.
Obama gets to refuse to have press conferences, and he rarely gives interviews to a hostile press. He doesn’t talk about thinks he doesn’t want to. His spokesman is a complete joke.
But lord almighty, he had better not go see his daughter play some ball without letting Newsweek paparazzi overrun the field. ‘What if he wasn’t really there?’ I honestly don’t care if he was. I care about his policies and performance. He’s too insulated in the way that matters, and too exposed in the way that doesn’t.
And if the EPA tells me I can’t pour concrete on my tomatoes, I will secede my house from the union. Excelsior!
dustin (b54cdc) — 4/12/2010 @ 11:38 amdustin, you keep misframing the issue. I don’t think you understand it.
SPQR (26be8b) — 4/12/2010 @ 6:25 pmSPQR, how do I misunderstand it, exactly?
I think I’m just talking about an ancillary point.
I think, while we’re noting that Obama screwed his press corps over, and broke some big tradition, we should note that it’s an extremely counterproductive tradition.
dustin (b54cdc) — 4/12/2010 @ 7:10 pmIt’s not that he snuck away from the press corps; it’s that he appears to have told his staff to lie about where he went and what he did. It’s now about the coverup, not the soccer game.
htom (412a17) — 4/12/2010 @ 7:13 pm[…] more: Obama Dumps the Media […]
Obama Dumps the Media | Liberal Whoppers (d16888) — 4/12/2010 @ 7:34 pmhtom, that’s a fair point. I guess I just find that to be obvious. Of course this administration is lying and suspiciously secretive and just plain ugly about basic stuff.
Sure, if you want to focus on that again, by all means.
I don’t want Obama to have to lie to get a few minutes of personal time away from scrutiny. Of course, this invites all kinds of potential bad meetings (that obviously occur anyway, via proxies or in the White House or with press coverups). We still get our elections, and should base them off performance, policy, and press scrutiny that is more relevant to those things.
I feel like I’m repeating myself, but I think my point is more important than another example of their dishonesty. Just a matter of opinion. I’m out of step all the time with the normal flow, so I’m not surprised someone things I just don’t understand… I’m happy to hear if there’s some other way I misunderstand.
dustin (b54cdc) — 4/12/2010 @ 7:47 pmLast time we had a public official lying about where they were, and what they were doing, it involved some Argentinian love tryst.
JD (18e145) — 4/12/2010 @ 7:48 pmhtom, you got it. Still today, no photographs, no reports of the game, nothing.
That he ditches the press to purportedly see his daughter play soccer is one thing. But what if that were not where he went? Do the press and the public have a right to know where he went? Is it reasonable to have an expectation of inclusiveness in his daily schedule, if not in person, certainly knowledge of?
Supposedly he left the WH at 9:20AM. 15 minutes to get to the location of the soccer field and yet returns to the WH around 10:20 a.m. So he stays at the soccer game for about 20 minutes in total. Does that make sense?
I would like to know if his security detail was in on this. I would also like to understand parameters of the WH press because Robert Gibbs sneered at us last month while scolding that the press was not privy to everything the president was involved in…but it’s hard to know if that’s accurate or not because Gibb’s was on the defense regarding being questioned about the press exclusion from the Netanyahu fiasco.
Dana (1e5ad4) — 4/12/2010 @ 7:52 pmOn his Twitter page, CBS White House reporter Mark Knoller says another CBS employee saw Obama at the soccer game on Saturday:
Hopefully that person will come forward with details, but I have a feeling the press won’t follow up.
DRJ (daa62a) — 4/12/2010 @ 8:30 pmI wonder what the reaction would have been had Bush done this …
JD (18e145) — 4/12/2010 @ 9:15 pmActually a CBS colleague happened to be at the soccer game on his own & saw the Obamas there.
…and no one at the soccer game was inspired to pull out their cell phone and snap a photo of the surprise appearance of the First Couple?
Dana (1e5ad4) — 4/12/2010 @ 9:30 pmDana, it’s CBS. It’s more partisan than SEIU. Might as well just assume it’s a lie, if there’s no photo evidence.
dustin (b54cdc) — 4/12/2010 @ 9:44 pmApparently no soccer game. Did he go secretly to pick something up, meet someone, deal with a personal matter, deliver something, pay off a blackmailer, get private medical care… Who knows but I’m guessing that MSM curiosity will be muted.
Watney (6d0d9b) — 4/13/2010 @ 3:26 pm” Exactly, especially since he may not have gone to a soccer game after all.”
This is a good conspiracy to run with.
imdw (4fe3dc) — 4/14/2010 @ 6:54 am