While reporting on Obama meeting with anti-American Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Summit of the Americas on Sunday’s CBS Evening News, fill-in anchor Jeff Glor asked political correspondent Jeff Greenfield about a potential negative reaction to the encounter: "Jeff, let's start talking about Venezuela and Hugo Chavez. Is there fallout from it, real or imagined?"
Greenfield discounted any criticism as simply being from Obama’s right-wing opponents: "There is fallout among those people who already regard Obama as anything from a socialist, to a fascist, to a dangerously weak president. I'm talking about people on the right. If it doesn't spread beyond that, you're going to have the same situation where about 30% of the country really regards him negatively, but the rest says ‘so far so good.’"
Glor then asked: "Alright, let's talk also domestically now about Cuba. What has changed inside this country that makes these overtures more effective now?" Greenfield responded: "Among younger Cuban-Americans in Florida, there's much less rigidity about Cuba then there was at the time when to be in anyway sympathetic to Castro, or even open to relations, was political death...We also see among conservative groups, the American Farm Bureau, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a desire to open markets in Cuba...have made it politically palatable, domestically, for Obama to say ‘let's try something new.’"
Later, Greenfield argued: "You have left or center-left governments in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia. And the United States has been isolated. And for those countries an end to this Cuban isolation on the part of the U.S. is almost an essential." As almost an afterthought, Glor remarked: "But let's be careful to point out that things also have to change inside Cuba, as well." Greenfield agreed: " Absolutely, it is not only a repressive Marxist, Leninist state, it is also a retrostate economically...And if they don't open up both politically and economically, it's going to be very hard for Obama to say, ‘see, I got a quid pro quo here. They're moving and therefore let's start something new.’"
Prior to Glor’s discussion with Greenfield, correspondent Bill Plante issued a report that amounted to an Obama press release: "President Obama ended his meeting with Latin American leaders as he began it, reaching out to the harshest critics of the U.S...At a closing news conference, the President said he'll respect those countries who disagree with the U.S...The President criticized what he called the inflammatory rhetoric of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, but said talking to him wouldn't harm U.S. interests and that he was not concerned about how it looked back home...White House officials point proudly to the fact that there were no fights at this summit over Cuba, despite the continuing U.S. embargo."
Plante only briefly alluded to criticism of Obama’s performance at the summit: "But the criticism of the President's outreach to Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has already begun back home." No critics were named or allowed to offer their objections.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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24/7 leftist propaganda for
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 16:59 ET by bigtimer24/7 leftist propaganda for their Dear Leader.
The constant blathering never stops with these O Lemming Lovers.
If any criticism comes....they aren't going to report it...after-all they put him in office.
Wonder what Greenfield thinks about Iran's dear leader and his cute racists words a the UN about Israel today and O still has said zilch about this as far as I know.
Whatever it would be...he would spin.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
How does one "imagine"
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 17:11 ET by motherbeltHow does one "imagine" fallout?
And if there is "imagined" fallout, how would they know?
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
mb... ROFLMAO! Good catch
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 17:31 ET by bigtimermb...
ROFLMAO!
Good catch gal!!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
War is peace. It doesn't
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 17:16 ET by snaggletoothieWar is peace. It doesn't matter if it's said by a right winger. Love is hate. Big Barack loves you.
Well, then, as long as
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 17:26 ET by Chris NormanWell, then, as long as "only" 30% of the people disapprove of what he's doing, he must obviously be doing the right thing. After all, aren't right and wrong determined by popularity polls these days? By the way, where does that 30% statistic come from - a poll or Greenfield's head?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Yeah, conservative groups
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 17:29 ET by SickofLibsYeah, conservative groups are just dying to open those vast markets in Cuba.
"And how would be paying for that shipment, Señor?"
"Meester, I can offer to you cherry '55 Buick bumper and a three-legged donkey complete with cart."
Yeah, it's just the fringe 30%. Yeah that's the ticket.
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 17:53 ET by c5thenI already know a few liberals who are having "buyers remorse".
The only two possibilities of his actions in his foreign trips are:
1) He is completely clueless and has no one that is willing to tell him
2) He is purposely undermining the US at every chance.
I actually am hoping that he keeps it up. The best way to insure he is a one term President is for all his actions to be widely publicized. That fringe 30% might then grow to 35% and then 40% and then 50% and then, the MSM might actually have to acknowledge that there is a small segment that is unhappy with the Obamessiah.
Remember the only protest that will impact them is a wake up call on election day.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
I agree with your possibilities. Either way, he endangers us.
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 18:13 ET by CKA in Red State USAI pray for him and his safety.
I don't think he understands the fire with which he messes, either domestically or internationally.
I knew he was dangerous, but I never suspected to this degree.
BTW: Unless he and the Demockacrats/Dementocrats truly rig the next elections in 2010 and 2012, it seems inevitable that he will be a single-term president.
I've wondered if he and his puppeteers knew that when he was elected.
Hence, his and their rush to do the many anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-almost-everything measures they have already.
To wit, remember that "we're in a crisis" $1,300,000,000 economic stimulus plan? Yes, only about $780 billion was the actual amount, but the rest is interest.
Anyhow, only 2 percent has been allocated. Yep, 2 stinking percent.
And that "we've got to pass it now!" sky-is-falling bunkum was two months ago.
Thought there were all sorts of shovel-ready projects?
Guess shovel-ready meant shoveling the bull puckies.
So that's it: We're just an imagination in their small minds.
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 18:07 ET by CKA in Red State USAExplains everything.
If you don't agree with something, it must be imagined.
Honestly, how did any of these people even get out of high school?
It would appear that thinking comes not to them at all.
Too painful, I'd imagine.
There is fallout among
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 18:17 ET by ThisnThatInteresting, isn't it, how they defend him? President Bush would never be considered a socialist, a fascist, or a dangerously weak president -- yet it's common, even amongst his MSM friends, to hear Obama described this way all the time.
Yes, indeed. Obama reaches out to his harshest critics -- except Americans who disagree with his policies. Those he and his minions call "racist" (as in Tea Party protesters", "misguided" (Conservatives in general), or "dangerous" (as in vets). No way Obama wants to reach out to those Americans -- better to reach out to our arch-enemies, instead. </sarc>
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The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
There is fallout among
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 21:49 ET by motherbeltThere is fallout among those people who already regard Obama as
anything from a socialist, to a fascist, to a dangerously weak president. -Jeff Greenfield
Fallout implies consequences. As in a loss of influence to implement his agenda, for example. So the "fallout" on the right would be....what? They no longer agree with him? They won't vote for his agenda?
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Chauncey Gardner Diplomacy
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 18:19 ET by BlondeI just heard Charles Krauthammer coin a new phrase for Obama's apology/diplomacy initiatives.
Dr. Krauthammer, as usual, is spot-on.
I hope he fails, too.
→ Leave it to Krauthammer
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 18:22 ET by Cool ArrowI could just see Obama telling Chavez, "I like to watch"
Except I'm thinking it would be Obama (As Shirley MacLaine) expressing his self-love during the bedroom scene.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Plante only briefly alluded
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 19:07 ET by MidAmericaPlante only briefly alluded to criticism of Obama’s performance at the summit: "But the criticism of the President's outreach to Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has already begun back home."
Right there is the elitists confusion. Obama and his promoters in the media think that making nice with despots and dictators is a move to make the world a little less rancorous. But until now most Presidents of the US thought promoting freedom and supporting people who sought freedom as their primary objective. Ronald Reagan didn't give a crap what Daniel Ortega 'felt' about him. Reagan knew that the way to real world peace was to promote and protect the kind of people that Ortega oppressed.
Wuss-in-chief
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 21:59 ET by nkviking75Glor then asked: "Alright, let's talk also domestically now about Cuba. What has changed inside this country that makes these overtures more effective now?"
That's simple. The US now has a very naive and very weak president who can easily be rolled.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Cuba doesn't pay its bills
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 22:11 ET by TN MomJeff, let's start talking about Venezuela and Hugo Chavez. Is there fallout from it, real or imagined?"
How about the good people of Venezuela and Cuba who oppose their cruel dictators, did President TelePrompter throw them under the bus? CBS taking cheap shots at Americans 'people from the right', I expect, but to show a total disregard for the people in Venezuela/Cuba is a disgrace.
the American Farm Bureau, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a desire to open markets in Cuba...have made it politically palatable, domestically, for Obama to say ‘let's try something new
Does CBS not know that Cuba NEVER pays their bills? They come in last place of all countries! Oh, and, does anyone remember before TOTUS signed the spending bill, he wrote a letter to three senators/reps promising he wouldn't open trade with Cuba (I think it was Mendendez/Martinez?? the two Senators from Miami and one from New Jersey??), the letter was included in the omni-bus bill as LAW!?
And it hasn't been 100 days
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 22:37 ET by RR GOPAnd it hasn't been 100 days yet.
When will the American people begin to crack?
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).