While many in the media rather enjoyed Obama’s speech in Berlin, particularly CBS which declared that it “confirmed his rock star status,” many conservatives felt that this speech, like others, lacked substance. But, Obama need not worry because NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell, reporting from London, came to Obama’s defense during the 3 p.m. hour of the July 25 MSNBC “News Live”:
Well, [the Obama campaign] have rebutted that and I think when you look at this speech, this was a broad, overarching, thematic speech. It was never intended to be a checklist of legislative programs. So I think that they can fairly defend themselves and say this was the big picture of let’s have the United States and Europe re-engage.
Of course, it could be argued that with the rise of center-right leaders in Germany’s Angela Merkel, France’s Nicolas Sarkozy, and Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi, that Europe has largely re-engaged President Bush’s administration in the past few years, but why bother with such minor details?
Earlier in the segment, Mitchell reported on Obama’s meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, describing the meeting as a “love fest” and gushing about their “full scale presidential news conference”:
[I]t was such a love-fest between Sarkozy and Barack Obama today in Paris.
[…] What [Obama] got in Paris at the Elysee Palace was a full scale presidential news conference with President Sarkozy. So there was no reluctance at all on the French to embrace this nominee.
Mitchell then turned her attention to Obama opponent Sen. John McCain’s and his speech in Denver. The Republican candidate, she argued, had “found his voice” although he had failed to keep on message throughout the week:
John McCain seemed to find his voice today and really, in Denver in that speech, really went after Barack Obama on all things Iraq and Afghanistan and the troop surge. He really seemed much more spirited and if he’s had difficulty keeping on message on the economic themes this week and taking shots along the way at Barack Obama when he couldn’t resist or when he was in all fairness asked a question by the group of reporters following him, today he brought it all together I thought in that speech and very effectively to present his point of view against Obama.
The transcript of the segment, which aired at 3:32 p.m. on the July 25 MSNBC “News Live,” follows:
DAVID SHUSTER, host: NBC’s Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell has been traveling with Barack Obama during parts of his overseas trip. She joins us now from London where Obama is flying to as we speak. Andrea, your reaction to Obama’s news conference today with the French president. I was particularly struck by a line where he said, “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t spend -- who doesn’t want to spend more time in Paris.” Is that gonna hurt Obama in middle America?
ANDREA MITCHELL: Does it remind of you of John Kerry when he was accused of being too French to be the Democratic nominee by the Republican critics? I mean, that is something that Republicans may seize on but it was such a love-fest between Sarkozy and Barack Obama today in Paris. We preceded them here to London so that we could be on these programs but they have now lifted off from Paris. They’re on their way here. He will then meet with Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister. But, of course, with Angela Merkel and Gordon Brown, they demurred from any kind of public show of a joint news conference but what he got in Paris at the Elysee Palace was a full scale presidential news conference with President Sarkozy. So there was no reluctance at all on the French to embrace this nominee.
SHUSTER: Andrea, you were there yesterday in Berlin. Um, today in some of the American newspaper as you probably know by now there’s some criticism, especially from conservatives, that Obama’s speech, while it had a lot of lofty rhetoric it was kind of short on substance. Um, give us your perspective on that very point.
MITCHELL: Well, they have rebutted that and I think when you look at this speech, this was a broad, overarching, thematic speech. It was never intended to be a checklist of legislative programs. So I think that they can fairly defend themselves and say this was the big picture of let’s have the United States and Europe re-engage. Um, more to the point though, John McCain seemed to find his voice today and really, in Denver in that speech, really went after Barack Obama on all things Iraq and Afghanistan and the troop surge. He really seemed much more spirited and if he’s had difficulty keeping on message on the economic themes this week and taking shots along the way at Barack Obama when he couldn’t resist or when he was in all fairness asked a question by the group of reporters following him, today he brought it all together I thought in that speech and very effectively to present his point of view against Obama. They’ve been having this long distance debate all week and it’s interesting to see whether that becomes, you know, the bottom line for the week, is McCain versus Obama on Iraq rather than all the European points along this way.
SHUSTER: Andrea, I gotta ask you about something completely different. I keep hearing this knocking noise behind you. Is threesome sort of construction worker or somebody working on a roof where you are? [laughter]
MITCHELL: I am in the absolutely wonderful and hospitable London bureau of NBC News and I have to tell you after, you know, thirteen days on the road it is wonderful to be home, my home away from home here in London where they’ve brought me in but we are in an office building and someone is hammering and I can’t tell you exactly what it’s about. Maybe someone on the next floor, so quiet down up there.
SHUSTER: We are always glad to see you whether there’s a hammering noise or not. Andrea Mitchell is covering the Obama campaign in Europe. Andrea, thanks for joining us.
MITCHELL: Thank you.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
"Well, [the Obama campaign]
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 16:54 ET by SickofLibs"Well, [the Obama campaign] have rebutted that and I think when you look at this speech, this was a broad, overarching, thematic speech."
ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS: Bullshit is now acceptable as a theme.
Well, with Obammy having
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 17:07 ET by Captain RepusWell, with Obammy having the entire MSM, 92+% of blacks, 100% of Muslims, probably 80% of the brainwashed (and braincooked) college crowd, 100% of the gays, 60+% of the females still horny from Slick Willie, and 85% of the Europeans on his side, he ramains almost tied with our tired, inarticulate, semi-senile, unattractive wrong candidate McCain.
If you total up all of these folks, that amounts to about 2 billion people walking around an a romantic daze for an orator and mesmorizer(sp) bested only by Adolph Hitler.
Fortunately, only about 100 million of these people's votes will count in this election, including Republicans, Democrats, Independents, illegal immigrants and dead Chicago residents. If you add in those democrats who vote in more than one state, that adds another several thousand.
At least in the 2000 election, all of the Supreme Court voters were legal and alive. Unfortunately we probably won't be so lucky this time.
MsSwin
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 17:34 ET by MsSwinMcCain just blew off speaking with thousands of reporters at the upcoming Unity national convention for journalists all the while complaining he's not getting nearly enough news coverage. At last count, it looks to be over 10,000 reporters who were snubbed by Mr. McCain. With all those news reporters losing out on a great opportunity to meet with and write about the man, could it be that mainstream media might be looking for something to report, a story to investigate?
Feel free to forward the following "news tip" to them. We can kill three birds with one stone - take the media to task for not giving us coverage on the full McCain, bring attention to an issue affecting many veterans, and give Senator McCain the level of news coverage he craves.
The media fills us full with stories of McCain's war 'hero' history, writes numerous articles on his status as a POW, informs us each and every time one vet speaks out for him, reminds us endlessly about the torture, even going into great detail about the types of torture and the number of years the man was tortured, yet it never enters the minds of mainstream media to ever ask the obvious question "Could the man running for the highest office in the
United States of America, a job with incredible stress, possibly suffer from PTSD"?
Google the general web with the words 'mccain ptsd' and approximately one half million hits will appear. Many of
these are articles by veteran groups, most having to do with McCain's lack of support for veterans and others having
to do with the very real possibility he suffers from PTSD.
Now go to Google news section and enter 'mccain ptsd'. You might pull up one or two related articles, if you are lucky.
As you can see, there is no real mainstream media resonsibility on this issue. The press is more than willing to talk about the details of McCain's torture but not the probable result of the torture.
“Among U.S. servicemen taken captive during the Korean War, as many as nine out of 10 survivors may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental disorders more than 35 years after their release, psychologist Patricia B. Sutker of the New Orleans Veterans Administration Medical Center and her colleagues report in the January AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY.”
McCain has a nine out of ten chance of having PTSD, displays many of the symptoms, yet no one in the mainstream press will question him, a candidate for Commander in Chief who has a history of an out of control temper and refuses to release his military medical records to the general press.
Nine out of ten - Anyone willing to take book on the possibility he does not suffer from ptsd? Call me, I need gas money.
'Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can result from wartime trauma such as suffering wounds or witnessing others being hurt. Symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleep difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilance and an exaggerated startle response.'
http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSN17282413
http://ptsd.about.com/od/symptomsanddiagnosis/a/PTSDsymptoms.htm
Before the Iraq war many of us begged the media to fully report on the wmd in Iraq, how it got there, who helped to supply Saddam with it and to report on previous administrations' dealings with Iraq. We were told it was ancient history. The media 'apologized' years later for their failure to fully report the war.
Today, we ask the media to help us answer the question 'Is John McCain emotionally fit for the most stressful job in our country, the President of the United States, our Commander in Chief."
Media has a choice. They can continue to tip toe around the elephant in the room, put a poltician before country, violate the spirit of journalism and ignore ethics that bind them, or they can do their job.
Oh no.......
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 17:45 ET by MrShyOh no.......
They're getting worse and worse, my NB friends.
Matthew/Noel, we need to do a better job of vetting these nutjobs.
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
→ Typical Liberal
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 17:52 ET by Cool ArrowPost Traumatic Stress is fair game to the nutso blowhards.
Don't fall for their taunting. They're trying to goad us into saying something they can construe as racist against their lord and savior.
Is he refering to the
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 18:15 ET by MidAmericaIs he refering to the possibilities of obama having 'flashbacks' from his admitted drug use?
One of the effects of drug use can be paranoia which can then lead to the idea that people think about you all the time and that you must be someone very special, perhaps even a messiah.
See Cool
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 20:09 ET by shawn228Me, Jer, Bal and JasonC don't seem as bad now right? :-)
Some folks can dish it out but cannot take it
Is MsSwin really Obama
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 01:46 ET by gordonIs MsSwin really Obama spelled sideways?
Couldn't you just put up a link to MoveOn and cut out all the extraneous text?
I pity the fool!
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 05:32 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsPity the poor left when they realize their Lord and Master Obama plans to bog us down in a unilateral quagmire in Afghanistan with no exit strategy with thousands dead, all the while employing Blackwater and Halliburton as civilian contractors.
No blood for rocks!
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
"So I think that they can
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 18:02 ET by Chris Norman"So I think that they can fairly defend themselves..."
Why do they have to, when you're there to do just that?
By the way, Ms. Mitchell, you can skip using that third person "they" when defending Obama. It sounds so disingenuous.
McNotObama '08
McCain - PTSD and the Presidency
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 18:24 ET by MsSwinMcCain just blew off speaking with thousands of reporters at the upcoming Unity national convention for journalists all the while complaining he's not getting nearly enough news coverage. At last count, it looks to be over 10,000 reporters who were snubbed by Mr. McCain. With all those news reporters losing out on a great opportunity to meet with and write about the man, could it be that mainstream media might be looking for something to report, a story to investigate?
Feel free to forward the following "news tip" to them. We can kill three birds with one stone - take the media to task for not giving us coverage on the full McCain, bring attention to an issue affecting many veterans, and give Senator McCain the level of news coverage he craves.
The media fills us full with stories of McCain's war 'hero' history, writes numerous articles on his status as a POW, informs us each and every time one vet speaks out for him, reminds us endlessly about the torture, even going into great detail about the types of torture and the number of years the man was tortured, yet it never enters the minds of mainstream media to ever ask the obvious question "Could the man running for the highest office in the
United States of America, a job with incredible stress, possibly suffer from PTSD"?
Google the general web with the words 'mccain ptsd' and approximately one half million hits will appear. Many of
these are articles by veteran groups, most having to do with McCain's lack of support for veterans and others having
to do with the very real possibility he suffers from PTSD.
Now go to Google news section and enter 'mccain ptsd'. You might pull up one or two related articles, if you are lucky.
As you can see, there is no real mainstream media resonsibility on this issue. The press is more than willing to talk about the details of McCain's torture but not the probable result of the torture.
“Among U.S. servicemen taken captive during the Korean War, as many as nine out of 10 survivors may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental disorders more than 35 years after their release, psychologist Patricia B. Sutker of the New Orleans Veterans Administration Medical Center and her colleagues report in the January AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY.”
McCain has a nine out of ten chance of having PTSD, displays many of the symptoms, yet no one in the mainstream press will question him, a candidate for Commander in Chief who has a history of an out of control temper and refuses to release his military medical records to the general press.
Nine out of ten - Anyone willing to take book on the possibility he does not suffer from ptsd? Call me, I need gas money.
'Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can result from wartime trauma such as suffering wounds or witnessing others being hurt. Symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleep difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilance and an exaggerated startle response.'
http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSN17282413
http://ptsd.about.com/od/symptomsanddiagnosis/a/PTSDsymptoms.htm
Before the Iraq war many of us begged the media to fully report on the wmd in Iraq, how it got there, who helped to supply Saddam with it and to report on previous administrations' dealings with Iraq. We were told it was ancient history. The media 'apologized' years later for their failure to fully report the war.
Today, we ask the media to help us answer the question 'Is John McCain emotionally fit for the most stressful job in our country, the President of the United States, our Commander in Chief."
Media has a choice. They can continue to tip toe around the elephant in the room, put a poltician before country, violate the spirit of journalism and ignore ethics that bind them, or they can do their job.
Dadgum spam on NewsBusters
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 18:39 ET by ConservativeRexDadgum spam on NewsBusters now. Isn't that just great. Mitchell is a typical MSM hypocrite. Not one word mentioned when Sarkozy spoke his rousing speech in front of our congress a few years ago! Was Obami even in his seat to hear what was a truthful, wonderful, talk on how much America has meant to France in particular and the world in general, by Sarkozy? Too bad we can't get an American politician speak on how wonderful America really is. A damn liberal might say one good thing about America but temper that with 3 things that are bad! They want to pass their guilt on to everyone else. Well, I don't feel a damn bit guilty about what America has meant to the world.
I wish Barry O loved this
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 19:25 ET by ReaverI wish Barry O loved this country half as much as Nicolas Sarkozy.
For MsSwin:
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief: your noble son is mad
Mr. Manifesto
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 03:18 ET by MrShyMcCain just blew off speaking with thousands of reporters at the upcoming Unity national convention for journalists all the while complaining he's not getting nearly enough news coverage. At last count, it looks to be over 10,000 reporters who were snubbed by Mr. McCain. With all those news reporters losing out on a great opportunity to meet with and write about the man, could it be that mainstream media might be looking for something to report, a story to investigate?
BLAAAAAAAAHHHH BLLAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH
Feel free to forward the following "news tip" to them. We can kill three birds with one stone - take the media to task for not giving us coverage on the full McCain, bring attention to an issue affecting many veterans, and give Senator McCain the level of news coverage he craves.
TIN FOIL HAT.... TIN FOIL HAT...... BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEP....
The media fills us full with stories of McCain's war 'hero' history, writes numerous articles on his status as a POW, informs us each and every time one vet speaks out for him, reminds us endlessly about the torture, even going into great detail about the types of torture and the number of years the man was tortured, yet it never enters the minds of mainstream media to ever ask the obvious question "Could the man running for the highest office in the
United States of America, a job with incredible stress, possibly suffer from PTSD"?
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONBAAAAAATTTT
Google the general web with the words 'mccain ptsd' and approximately one half million hits will appear. Many of
these are articles by veteran groups, most having to do with McCain's lack of support for veterans and others having
to do with the very real possibility he suffers from PTSD.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...............
Now go to Google news section and enter 'mccain ptsd'. You might pull up one or two related articles, if you are lucky.
As you can see, there is no real mainstream media resonsibility on this issue. The press is more than willing to talk about the details of McCain's torture but not the probable result of the torture.
“Among U.S. servicemen taken captive during the Korean War, as many as nine out of 10 survivors may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental disorders more than 35 years after their release, psychologist Patricia B. Sutker of the New Orleans Veterans Administration Medical Center and her colleagues report in the January AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY.”
BEEP BEEP .... BEEEEEEP BEEP BEEEEEEP B-B-BEEEP..... BEEP BEEP......
McCain has a nine out of ten chance of having PTSD, displays many of the symptoms, yet no one in the mainstream press will question him, a candidate for Commander in Chief who has a history of an out of control temper and refuses to release his military medical records to the general press.
Nine out of ten - Anyone willing to take book on the possibility he does not suffer from ptsd? Call me, I need gas money.
WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY KENNETH?.............
'Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can result from wartime trauma such as suffering wounds or witnessing others being hurt. Symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleep difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilance and an exaggerated startle response.'
http://www.reuters.c...
http://ptsd.about.co...
LINK LINK LINK..... PROOF PROOF PROOF........ KOSKIDS........ HUFFPO..... CNN AP REUTERS MSNBC NYTIMES........
Before the Iraq war many of us begged the media to fully report on the wmd in Iraq, how it got there, who helped to supply Saddam with it and to report on previous administrations' dealings with Iraq. We were told it was ancient history. The media 'apologized' years later for their failure to fully report the war.
Today, we ask the media to help us answer the question 'Is John McCain emotionally fit for the most stressful job in our country, the President of the United States, our Commander in Chief."
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWNNNNNNNNN
Media has a choice. They can continue to tip toe around the elephant in the room, put a poltician before country, violate the spirit of journalism and ignore ethics that bind them, or they can do their job.
BUSHMCCHIMPHITLERDARTHHALLIBURTONMCSAMERIGHTWING !!!!!!!
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
Typical Liberal??? These
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 19:56 ET by blingbling65Typical Liberal???
These are men who fought and dead to protect our way of life, for you to mock their sacrifice is sickening. You sir are the lowest of the low and no matter what you say, you are not an American Patriot.
a broad, overarching, thematic speech ??HUH ??
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 20:37 ET by JayTeeMitchell, Obama, and the MSM are starting to Sound alike.
SO ...gimme a Quote that supports your vague ...uh....stupid description.
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
WHO WANTS THE WHITE HOUSE?
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 23:02 ET by PacificGatePostARE REPUBLICANS REALLY DETERMINED TO WIN THIS ELECTION?
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/07/john-mccains-peculiar-path-along.html
… perhaps not.
→ Tempting sceario.
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 23:12 ET by Cool ArrowFirst, I see nothing good from Washington for the next four years regardless of the President's pary.
Second, proof positive that anyone, regardless of race, can succeed. An end to racism in America. Obama is proof.
Third, I'm convinced we can't have another Reagan until we have another Jimmy Carter.
We're almost there.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
PGP, I am rather hoping Half-Black Jack wins in November...
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 23:21 ET by R D Helm...as his presidency will be every bit as bad as Jihad Jimmy's, and quite possibly (probably) far worse.
If history does, in fact, repeat itself, that should pretty much knock the dems out of power for the balance of my lifetime.
:-)
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
Typical...
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 12:57 ET by winston smithNot at all surprised to see usual liberal suspect Andrea Mitchell spin the facts (or leave facts out) to suit the delectations of her partisan fellow Dems. We saw it in the Reagan/Bush years. We saw it this year where she tried to downplay Weasley Clark's vicious attacks on McCain. We saw it earlier in the campaign where Hillary gave her fictitious account of "coming under sniper fire" while in Bosnia. Like many a good Democrat foot soldier in the MSM, knowing it was pure falsehood, Andrea deliberately left it out of her report. Andrea provides the Democrats with all the necessary cover and propaganda they have come to expect from the MSM for many years now. The DNC should make donations to HER!