Ex-NBC News Chief Gartner: People Don’t Blame Obama ‘for Anything That’s Wrong in This Country’
Asked how Iowans view President Barack Obama, Michael Gartner, the President of NBC News from 1988 to 1993, insisted on this weekend’s Bloomberg TV’s Political Capital: “I think people have a fondness for him and I don’t think people blame him for anything that’s wrong in this country,” except, that is, “the far-right of the Republican Party.”
For the Bloomberg TV show which first runs on Friday nights, Al Hunt interviewed Gartner, an Iowa native, at a game of the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs which Gartner co-owns.
From the end of the August 12 Bloomberg interview:
AL HUNT: What kind of shape is Barack Obama in for the 2012 campaign in Iowa?
MICHAEL GARTNER: I think he’s in pretty good shape. First of all, people out here have an attachment to him because he was out here. I think people have a fondness for him and I don’t think people blame him for anything that’s wrong in this country, unless – I think the far-right of the Republican Party does, but I don’t think the moderates do and certainly the Democrats don’t. He generally shows up quite well in Seltzer’s Iowa poll.
That’s the Des Moines Register’s “Iowa Poll” and in the latest one Obama ticked up to a 48 to 47 percent approval over disapproval, so unless Gartner thinks 47 percent of Iowans are part of the “far-right,” a lot more than just them blame Obama for something.
Gartner’s had a long career in journalism, including top editor of the Des Moines Register and Louisville Courier-Journal and, after his stint running NBC News, a time in charge of Iowa’s Ames Daily Tribune where he won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.
Liberal editorials, that is, based on the kind of columns he composed for USA Today where he was a columnist in the mid-1990s. An April of 1997 MRC CyberAlert compiled some of his liberal pontificating, such as:
From the October 17, 1995 USA Today:
It's nice, of course, if we have a President we like. But there's more to governing than likability. We learned that from the likable Ronald Reagan, who charmed us with stories as he amassed huge deficits and spent billions on goofy defense plans. No, the record is more important. And Bill Clinton's record is just short of terrific.
From June 11, 1996:
How can anyone argue that Bill Clinton has not been a good President? Business should love him. The country has been in a controlled boom since he bludgeoned through by one vote his first economic package....Workers should love him. There are more jobs than ever....Minorities should love him. He has a terrific record of appointing women and minorities to judgeships and high federal posts. He has put civil rights back on the table after 12 years of Republican neglect....
No, it makes you wonder what the President and his wife could have accomplished these four years if they had not been consumed by these scandals, these lawsuits and these clippings. By almost any measure, the past four years have been spectacular for many Americans. Still, if Bill Clinton had been a full-time President, if Hillary Clinton had been a full-time First Lady...
Would the poor be a little richer? Would the old be a little healthier? Would the young be a little smarter? Would the nation be a little more prosperous? Would the world be a little less troubled? You wonder. And you wonder if he wonders.
- Brent Baker's blog
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Comments
Yeah, they all blame George Bush and the Tea Party, right?
Submitted by krendler on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:17am.
Yeah, they all blame George Bush and the Tea Party, right, Mr. former head of (it goes with out saying) the completely neutral, non-partisan News division of NBC?
This guy reminds me
Submitted by Brad90956 on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 1:45pm.
of the scene from "Animal House" where Kevin Bacon is in the middle of street yelling, "Remain calm, all is well" while the people were rioting in the streets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAmPIq29ro
Being Liberal has meant no bad consequences to this man.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:33am.
So he is a happy camper.
He did have to resign from NBC or be fired. Dateline had a report on exploding GM pickup trucks that was faked.
"Michael Gartner was defending "fake but accurate" news before "fake but accurate" was chic." From "Michael Gartner Rewriting History" http://state29.blogspot.com/2005/04/michael-gartner-rewriting-history.html
This segment brought to you
Submitted by motherbelt on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:38am.
This segment brought to you from WBZW, our Bizarro World affiliate.....
This is Michael Gartner
Submitted by Reaver on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:45am.
This is Michael Gartner reporting live from liberal-la-la land, where it’s always sunshine and rainbows and prancing unicorns. As long as there is a democrat in the White House.
:oD Yes, and 11/2/10 didnt happen........
Submitted by merly1 on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 11:19am.
These people ARE delusional.
What's that backdrop they're using?
Submitted by neutron on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 1:03pm.
It looks like the outfield and a little bit of infield of a baseball field. Judging from the size of the mower marks, the outfield is too small for MLB. It must be a Little League park.
H o w _ f i t t i n g !
Mr. Gartner must be smoking
Submitted by MikeB on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:41am.
Mr. Gartner must be smoking some primo sh*t! I am sure the rational folks at the democraticunderground, dailyKos, and huffingpost are all thrilled to find that they are now considered part of the far-right wing of the Republican Party. Even polls paid for and conducted by democrats show Obama with abyssmal ratings among all but liberal democrats. Admittedly, 67% of "conservative" democratics approve of Obama (Rasmussen poll), but over all, only 44% of likely voters at least somewhat approve of Obama, and 54% at least somewhat disapprove (42% strongly disapprove).
This guy is obviously one of the hard-core delusionals who believes what Obama says instead of his own lying eyes.
Ask a Democrat
Submitted by bmac32 on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:43am.
According to Democrats, Democrats can do no wrong while Republicans can do no right. No matter how many promises Obama breaks Democrats see only that smile and hear excuses that they hold as the whole truth. As the above story goes Clinton had a Republican controlled Congress to keep him in check. Obama with full control couldn't ever pass a budget over the two years Democrats controlled everything. Very sad when they control it all yet they don't bother.
Libera Media emergency message: 'Everything is FINE!'
Submitted by Slyrr on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:48am.
Looks like Obama has plenty of other people who will be playing the fiddle with him while Rome burns....
'Nothing's wrong! Everything's fine! There are plenty of jobs! Unemployment is at record lows! The stock market behavior is normal!'
The media's behavior is ever more and more like that scene from The Simpsons episode where Skinner, trying to prevent a teacher strike, stampeded to the microphone to scream over the intercom: 'Attention! This is a special emergency announcement! Everything is FINE! My authority as Principal is unquestioned!'
Well, in this dope’s circle
Submitted by JPTSO3 on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:49am.
Well, in this dope’s circle of friend, no one does. It reminds me of the delusion imbued in cultist coolaid drinkers, who follow their delusion literally over the cliff; much like the often misquoted Pauline Keal line after Nixon’s 72 landslide, when she wrote:
“I live in a rather special world. I only know one person who voted for Nixon. Where they are I don't know. They're outside my ken. But sometimes when I'm in a theater I can feel them”.
Her actual words are worse than the often misused “I don’t know anyone”, because she, like this bozo, find no one “real” outside of the worship group. In the case of Keal her only contact with “others” not like her were amorphous ethereal and bodiless “things” - she could “feel” them like an evil sprit. Certainly no one her would vote Nixon in her “ken” ( who the hell uses that word except elitist jackasses?). The like minded Obama worshipers ( like this dingbat) have their hope and change bumper stickers proudly displayed on their cute little Hybrids, and if they could on their foreheads. They cannot imagine anyone not worshiping their messiah, thus when asked he will fawn rather than think. This guy cannot imagine anyone other than "nuts" blaming his guy. Who wouldn't have a poster of a bumper sticker of the their messiah? Only "nuts".
A couple down the block from my home had that Obama messianic poster displayed in a window facing the street, for the better part of two years. This shameful, delusional adulatory fawning over a teleprompter reader would be comical, if it weren’t real.
that's right lackey, tow that line
Submitted by Jnoble on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:54am.
Dear Leader does no wrong. Dear Leader is perfect. Dear Leader knows the way in his infinite wisdom that can help lead us lowly peasants to his (socialist) paradise. If only those wacky FAR RIGHT WING EXTREME Republicans and TEA PARTY RUBES would stop getting in Dear Leaders way, America could be transformed into (a non-denominational multicultural of course) heaven on Earth.
WTF
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:58am.
No wonder the MSM is so lame. The head of news doesn't even read the news. Or does he believe that all of those polls are just plain wrong.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
If one ignores the polls and has limited contact with . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:59am.
. . . middle America, one might conclude the Obama is in good shape in Iowa.
But even self-described Democratic strategists concede that Obama has lost too much of the independent support he had in 2008, and the agitated conservatives and Republicans will have a big turn out.
Between now and November 2012, there loom some disasterous issues for Obama . . .
1. Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare, which was found to be un-Constitional by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. This was supposed to be
2. Operation Fast & Furious -- the deadly DEA/ATF operation that put thousands of US firearms into the hands of drug cartels, who have used them to kill our Border Patrol and DEA agents. As more details of Administration incompetence are made public, any pretense at management prowess dissolves.
3. War on Libya -- Obama promised that our involvement would be measured in days not weeks. JCS Chairman ADM Mullen acknowledges that the civil war is a stalemate. This is Obama's war; he engaged despite the warnings of his own SECDEF and generals to stay out.
and the biggest problem of all: JOBS! If the bitter economic projections are accurate, we'll still have upwards of 9% unemployment until at least 2013. Almost all of his original economics team has departed, and his second team hasn't got a clue.
But . . .
To no one's surprise on CBS's Face the Nation this morning, DNC Chair Wasserman-Schultz claimed that Obama is in good shape for 2012, ignoring the fact that she conceded weeks ago that the Democrats now own the economy while she reiterated the "Obama inherited this mess" mantra.
I think most Americans are tired of the whining and they will hold this President accountable.
The mind of senile dementia.
Submitted by drsamherman on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 11:07am.
Thank you NBC for showing us what happens when senile dementia patients are non-compliant with their Aricept and Exelon therapies.
Those who don't blame him for anything......
Submitted by GregE on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 11:22am.
.......are the same people who would vote for him even if he dropped his pants in broad daylight at the Lincoln Memorial and lifted his leg on Lincoln's. And that's mild, compared to what they would let happen to the nation, if they were of a large enough majority to allow it. There are people who would attend the Constitution-burning festival, cheering it and pushing Obama decrees to nationalize as much as possible.
Of this, I am convinced.
Wrong, dude!
Submitted by Nortonalec on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 11:34am.
I blame Obama AND NBC!
New Glasses needed!
Submitted by Jerry Mack on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 11:34am.
Gartner should get rid of his politically colored,myopic tunell vision causing glasses.
It is the horse blinders he wears that's his problem.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 11:48am.
They keep liberals from getting spooked.
President Downgrade, Let's Talk About Blame, OK??
Submitted by Motormouth KOS on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 11:47am.
I DO Blame You, But...
I blame your water-carrying MSM sycophants more. Look, I know this hope and change stuff is really hard, bruh. And let's face it, you are just not that smart or competent so you are in the deep end with no water wings. Maybe you should host another beer summit, you vacant-staring mouth-breather.
You were the man. You were going to make liberals relevant again, but your toothy smile, big ears, pin head and diddy bop walk have worn out their welcome, as have you. Nobody is fooled,nobody is buying it, not even your dopey, fawning libutards.
Since they can't hump your many accomplishments, they can't hump you, and they are reduced to demonizing your many opponents. You're a miserable failure, and you have failed your idiot followers. All they are left with is your used condoms and a very sore ass from where you have been violating them.
The Obamination... A crisis leading to a catastrophe..(please donate to MRC)
In Alzheimer's disease, the parts of the brain that control
Submitted by no tingly legs on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 11:46am.
thinking, memory, and language no longer work properly and symptoms start to appear. Obviously these are some of those symptoms.
That man is totally out of
Submitted by buddyc on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 11:46am.
That man is totally out of touch with the american public and reality. No wonder NBC is the way it is.
These are the people that should be arested and tried for crimes against the american public. They are people who promote campaign contribution limits and then contribute millions to democrats in favorable news and entertainment media all the time pretending to be "impartial".
At some point if things don't improve there will be a significant number of people who really will want this guy and others like him arrested, tried and punished.
And in a related story,
Submitted by daddysyk on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:19pm.
most Jews do not blame Hitler for the Holocaust. Only the far-far right wing Jews.
Gold Star For You
Submitted by stratman on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 4:09pm.
I was just thinking the Tea Party today are the new Jews of Europe circa 1930's. Then as now, the Left are in an economic toilet and selected a scapegoat to heap lies upon in order to deflect blame and bypass time-tested approaches to fixing the problems in order to institute liberty-killing, self-perpetuating totalitarian rule.
Forgetting what he's doing to the country
Submitted by katiejane on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:22pm.
can someone explain what is likable about Obama - on a personal level? I will give him credit for seeming to be a good father but that isn't something that should rack up the points since IMO he appears to trot his girls out to foster that opinion. Do people have a "fondness" for him like they do for a mentally challenged cousin? It's hard to believe that people see him as approachable or as someone who can understand their lives.
Well, Katie, it can't be that
Submitted by UpNorth on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:33pm.
he's fun to be around, Mooschelle ran off to Spain for his birthday.
It can't be that he's a good leader, he would have trouble leading an drunk to a bar.
So, for that 20-30% of the population, and that includes the journOlists, it has to be that he's a dem, that's it, so they have to like him
speaking of "the Moo"..
Submitted by Rackie on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:47pm.
try imagining Mister B and "the Moo"...you know....late at night...going at it...doing the "thang"...
(does not compute)
Brain bleach! Must find
Submitted by MikeB on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 9:29pm.
Brain bleach! Must find brain bleach!
I am sure, Rackie, that your comment would be found to be a crime against humanity by the World Court.
Someone tell Sycophant
Submitted by Maestroh on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:39pm.
Someone tell Sycophant Gartner that the Clinton boom he attributes to the 1993 budget deal began in 1991 and that a planned $16B stimulus was averted by the GOP & moderate Dems. The positive of that deal was all those midnight basketball games.
He's right.
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:39pm.
I checked my wigi board this morning and yup. He's done fine.
Wow, the left-leaning ivory tower this goober resides in...
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:45pm.
...must be a pretty secluded place, that with a force field of blissful ignorance surrounding it and all.
However, it appears to have a steady supply of mind-altering drugs.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
They left out the part about
Submitted by Barack Must Go on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:51pm.
They left out the part about he was talking to his McDonald's french fries when he made this statement.
Libs are losing it.....BIG time.
No End With These Jackanapes
Submitted by rammingspeed on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:55pm.
This is just stupid, effed up bs. These clowns have ripped themselves away from reality through their pathological need to get their way, no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT. They push poll their way around, and actually believe their own polling results. Get him out of here. Take him to Olbermann land and let him rot.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 12:57pm.
In case anyone still needs evidence that liberals live in a fantasy world....
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Glad to hear that 'Far Right Republicans'
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 1:33pm.
now make up 70% of the population.
probably a Jimmy Carter fan as well
Submitted by wizardjr on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 1:38pm.
.
Evidently, this guy was as
Submitted by killa37 on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 1:57pm.
Evidently, this guy was as clueless and biased when he was the head of a big left-wing news outlet as he is now that he's retired. Maybe he still only watches NBC...........
Just goes to show there's no fool like an old fool!
Submitted by Asok on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 2:59pm.
LOL! Just goes to show there's no fool like an old fool!
Last I checked Gallup showed Obama's disapproval rating was 54%. So according to Gartner, 54% of the electorate resides in the far-right corner of the GOP.
Really?
Submitted by voodoodoughnut on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 3:05pm.
Maybe this guy can explain why Obama just hit 39% approval on Gallup today.
39%
Submitted by ckc1227 on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 3:15pm.
Obama finally falls below 40%, so someone is blaming him for something apparently.
I think he really believes this..
Submitted by boscokraft on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 4:53pm.
these liberals sit around with like-minded people and really believe this self delusional poppycock. They actually believe their own propaganda. Joseph Goebbels would be so proud of them.
Of course "people". . .
Submitted by rickbren on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 6:25pm.
. . . don't blame Barry. That's why his approval rating is 39%
Of course "people". . .
Submitted by rickbren on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 6:25pm.
. . . don't blame Barry. That's why his approval rating is 39%
Mr. Gartner's Twilight Zone
Submitted by Hausmaus on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 8:32pm.
Our credit rating has been down graded to AA+, the nation is facing a $17 Trillion dollar plus debt after all the reshuffling is done, our housing market is still in the dull drums, price of gasoline at $3.90 and climbing price of food skyrocketing, unemployment at 9.2%, small businesses closing their doors due to high taxation, some going overseas in search of better bottom lines, the country is more divided today that at any time in history, most states cannot meet their budget requirements, and are forced to do serius cut backs or else, retirement systems are desinterating all over the place, leaving retirees out to dry, we cannot borrow anymore money from China, the spiggot has run completely dry, in spite of all these good news Mr. Michael Gartner is telling us not to worry just be happy. The liberal mentallity requires you to have your head totally submerged in your rectum, be completely devoid of common sense, and incapable of all reasoning. When the time comes, we'll give Mr. Gartner the honors to pull the unforgiving chain, and flush us all down to China.
Ok?
Submitted by ironhead4099 on Sun, 08/14/2011 - 10:48pm.
What kind of drugs is this housecat on, it's stronger than catnip for sure. What planet has this guy been on? In fact most polls show a different view of Obiwan than one in a small state, with few electorial votes. Suprisingly he didn't state which voters they polled, probably dems so they could skew the results toward Obiwan. I'm sure if they had done a completely random poll such as a man-on-the-street type, the results would be far more accurate, and not quite so friendly to Obiwan, and maybe even an eyeopener to this nutjob.
Does this idiot wonder why
Submitted by johnsonl on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 6:26am.
nobody bothers with liberal news outlets anymore? Who would want to know or give a sh!t about his opinion? He's clueless, like most liberals.
Maybe this guy can explain
Submitted by bagtree on Thu, 03/29/2012 - 4:14am.
Maybe this guy can explain why Obama just hit 39% approval on Gallup today.
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