Hardly shocking news, but it's always good to note for the record whenever a mainstream media journalist admits – or boasts – of voting for the more liberal presidential candidate. The Nobel Peace Prize going to President Barack Obama prompted such an admission from long-time Washington Post reporter Ruth Marcus, the paper's deputy national editor from 1999 through 2002 (bio) and now a columnist. In an opinion piece in the Saturday Post, Marcus called the selection “ridiculous -- embarrassing, even.” Then she offered up what gives her the credibility to make such a judgment:
I admire President Obama. I like President Obama. I voted for President Obama.
She concluded by fretting of Obama's Nobel: “I suspect it did not do the president any favors. Obama's cheerleaders don't need encouragement -- and his critics will only seize on the prize to further lampoon the Obama-as-messiah storyline. Now what does he do for an encore?”
That's not how Marcus originally concluded. The Saturday print Post version was drawn from what Marcus wrote on Friday for the paper's “PostPartisan” blog. There, she concluded: “Speaking of which, what does he do for an encore? Somebody, quick, call the pope.”
Marcus' ballot box disclosure corroborates then-Washington Post ombudsman Deborah Howell, who proposed in her November 16, 2008 column:
I'll bet that most Post journalists voted for Obama. I did. There are centrists at The Post as well. But the conservatives I know here feel so outnumbered that they don't even want to be quoted by name in a memo.
An excerpt from the start and end of Marcus' item in the Saturday, October 10 Washington Post:
"Mom!" my 12-year-old yelled from the kitchen. "President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize!"I told her she had to be mistaken.
This is ridiculous -- embarrassing, even. I admire President Obama. I like President Obama. I voted for President Obama. But the peace prize? This is supposed to be for doing, not being -- and it's no disrespect to the president to suggest he hasn't done much yet. Certainly not enough to justify this prize.
"Extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples?" "Captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future?" Please. This turns the award into something like pee-wee soccer: Everybody wins for trying....
I suspect it did not do the president any favors. Obama's cheerleaders don't need encouragement -- and his critics will only seize on the prize to further lampoon the Obama-as-messiah storyline.
Now what does he do for an encore?
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center




















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Gee, Ruthie. You kept us
October 10, 2009 - 17:10 ET by samhermanmdGee, Ruthie. You kept us all in suspense.
I would bet
October 10, 2009 - 17:14 ET by general companyShe didnt even bother reviewing the other nominies
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Now what does he do for an
October 10, 2009 - 17:21 ET by motherbeltNow what does he do for an encore?
That's easy...the UN will unanimously pass a resolution making him King of the World.
Wish they would hurry up
October 10, 2009 - 17:42 ET by general companySo he would ignor us for a while. Either way were going to be footing the bill
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Don't be so sure
October 10, 2009 - 17:45 ET by CaringwhiteguyThe rest of the world is having fun getting its money's worth from BHO. Weak, inexperienced and apologetic are not the qualities the rest of the world admires in its leaders. Naive Obama will serve their purposes for now though.
Personally,
October 11, 2009 - 10:24 ET by boomerconI'd really like to see him do that walking on water thing.
I heard just today
October 10, 2009 - 17:36 ET by 10ksnookerThat Obama was going to stop the autumn snows because it was interfering with his global warming hoax tax bill.
Ruth Marcus discussed President Obama's selection as the
October 10, 2009 - 17:50 ET by Rush Fanwinner of the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday's NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. She said this about President Obama:
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“Nobody believes what the mainstream media says now anyway. Except the uneducated, the illiterate, and the uninformed -- which, sadly, is a fairly large number” ~ Rush Limbaugh
"and his critics will only
October 10, 2009 - 17:58 ET by Chris Norman"and his critics will only seize on the prize to further lampoon the Obama-as-messiah storyline."
With this travesty, did Obama supporters finally jump the shark?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
It is certainly no surprise...
October 10, 2009 - 19:02 ET by PrairieSkythat Ms. Marcus voted for Obama...Most in the media did, let's face it. But, her candor at calling a spade a spade concerning Obama's ludicrously absurd Nobel win, is refreshing and rare. Let's hope we see more of this clear-eyed reporting from her. It would be nice to see, although I won't hold my breath.
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
The most incredible thing
October 10, 2009 - 19:29 ET by doug1950is even he said he did not deserve it....but he took it anyway. The classy and smart response to have done was to turn it down and cited the reasons he and everyone else has given. He has NOT DONE NARY a THING! To take the award anyway goes straight to the character of the man. It would be like taking a combat medal for heroism when you knew someone else is the one who is the hero. I am stunned at the audacity and political deafness this man demonstrates. For all his schooling and supposed savvy he is clueless when it comes to being socially adept or aware of his actions. Astonishingly stupid.Too stupid to be embarassed.
Obama has too high an
October 10, 2009 - 19:29 ET by FeynmanFanObama has too high an opinion of himself to decline the Nobel Prize.
"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson
One must actually perform...
October 10, 2009 - 19:31 ET by Army Bratbefore there can be an encore.
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.
What must Obama do for an encore?
October 10, 2009 - 19:38 ET by jefflebowskiI'll take "anything" for $10 Alex.
Angry White Dude
www.angrywhitedude.c...
He is going to perform
October 10, 2009 - 22:26 ET by jon_torlinHe's calling it a "call to action" for pete's sake! Look for him to start basing his decisions on that thing instead of pretending to hem-haw like he's been doing like the health care and not send troops to afghanistan.
Ugh. Whole thing makes me sick.
-Jon
doug1950...Fat chance...
October 10, 2009 - 20:09 ET by PrairieSkyYou're exactly right, but Obama is too much of a narcissist to pass this up, even if he knows he doesn't deserve it. Actually, I can't decide if he really believes that he doesn't deserve it, or that was just lip service intended to make him appear humble, when he himself does believe he deserves it.
Who knows for sure...He should have said thanks but no thanks, but Obama being Obama, that was never going to happen. His narcissism renders him deaf and blind to what is clear to the rest of us. More's the pity.
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan
Has everybody lost sight of
October 10, 2009 - 20:35 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnsonthe fact that Norway, Sweedun, and a strong majority of europe is still p!issed that German is not the national language because we bailed their sorry butts out TWICE in the last century.
How long is this grudge going to go on?
http://gjresult.com
Willis
October 10, 2009 - 20:41 ET by FeynmanFanYou might be on to something. Sometimes being indebted to someone can make people pretty contrary.
"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson
Thank You
October 11, 2009 - 02:04 ET by earth56I want to thank everyone for my Cy Young Award that I have received for a great 12 day season that I played this year. After 16 pitches I only allowed 4 hits and 2 walks .
You know what's funny about this...?
October 11, 2009 - 02:06 ET by caiobabeIf you've been listening to talk radio lately and I mean especially this last week... There has been this large amount of callers questioning "EVERYTHING OBAMA" and then admitting to voting for the man himself.
I heard callers this last week state so on Rush, Hannity, Levin, Ingram, and would you believe I heard someone questioning his vote on JRIB.... (that is, Jim Rome is Burning) incredible! Even on a die hard sports show. Gotta love it! btw: Go Dodgers!
Marcus is obviously another
October 11, 2009 - 08:46 ET by chessplayerMarcus is obviously another racist thats letting her inner whiteness show through. sarc/
It's
October 11, 2009 - 10:30 ET by jessieHIt's a joke on the world. It means absolutely nothing, anymore. The past winners should throw the award away. It's like having the only portrait of a famous painter, only to find out it was painted by a frog, dipped in paint. Let's give obama the Purple Heart. He thought about going into the military. He crossed the street by himself! Let's throw him a party! Look! He's chewing gum & walking! Put his image on Mount Rushmore! See, it's a big joke on the world.
I don't really care about
October 11, 2009 - 11:59 ET by RR GOPI don't really care about the Nobel Peace Prize. What I do care about is what is happening to our country. We're heading to Socialism and they'll drag us kicking and screaming.
But doing little else it would appear.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.