What a difference an administration makes. During the Bush years, if a spokesman or the president himself attempted to dodge a tough question, the media would go into their Sam Donaldson impressions and pundits would see a conspiracy of silence.
But now that it's Obama, the dodging that was once denounced is suddenly celebrated. Thus, appearing on today's Morning Joe, Larry O'Donnell declared "impressive" Pres.-elect Obama's stiff-arming yesterday of a reporter who dared asked Blago-related questions.
The video clip also includes a gratuitous bit of nastiness from Obama adviser David Axelrod aimed at Mika Brzezinski.
Willie Geist introduced the clip of Pres.-elect Obama cuttting John-the-reporter off, telling him not to "waste your question" as he ventured into the Blagosphere.
When O'Donnell appeared later in the show, he declared himself impressed by Obama's artful dodging.
LARRY O'DONNELL: You know, the way Obama quashed it yesterday in the news conference was pretty impressive. And look, it's a pretty difficult situation for a reporter. You're sitting there, you're going to get one shot at the President-elect. You can, as he put it, waste it on a question he's not going to answer, or you can ask him something about education. I think [Obama] did a pretty effective job of giving him that option.Later still, Obama adviser David Axelrod appeared. After Mika Brzezinski gave him a gracious welcome, Axelrod for some reason chose to snipe at his host.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Here with us now, incoming senior White House adviser. David Axelrod joins us. David, thank you so much. How are you?
DAVID AXELROD: Thanks for the uplifting set-up. [A wry reference to the glum economic news reported just before his appearance, but not in a way that cast aspersions on Obama or Axelrod or that could explain his ensuing ill-humor.]
BRZEZINSKI: Thanks for coming on. First a question from me: why don't we know more at this point about Rahm Emanuel's political relationship with, as well as his conversations with, the governor of Illinois?
DAVID AXELROD: First of all, I recognize that that's a question from you: you don't have to identify your question as coming from you, even though we're on the phone.
You have to listen to the clip to hear the nastiness in Axelrod's voice. Mika's facial expression made clear she was shocked by Axelrod's inexplicable rudeness, but she chose the high road and declined to respond. Axelrod went on to declare that O'Donnell "was right" in his positive assessment of Obama's performance. Surprise!
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.





















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Comments Policy
Obama
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:02 ET by 10ksnookerIs a crook and a liar -- Just not very good at either.
looks like
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:27 ET by AJBhe's starting to look like a puppet... with Clintons and Soros pulling the strings...
Hey, Ryan Lizza once looked into him, why complain?
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:52 ET by StarAZI loved how that John Harwood guy defended the press's aggressiveness on Morning Joe whining something to the effect that Ryan Lizza once wrote about Junior in Chicago, so hey, the press had done their job.
And who was it...Barnicle?
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 11:33 ET by motherbeltAnd who was it...Barnicle? That predicted, by his crystal ball, that of course, Obama would be completely forthcoming about all this....
Once again it's the example
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:04 ET by taterOnce again it's the example of the media saying it's okay for a person to do that if they agree with my politics or ideology and not okay if they don't.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
Third-world
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:07 ET by iveseenitallHugo Cavez has nothing on Barry Obama. As the press backs off, we join the third world in cowering to fascism and dictatorship. Barry and his pals in Congress will nationalize whatever they can get away with, will tax to the extent that most citizens will be working for the government, and squash all dissent in every venue. All this with the praise and encouragement of idiots like Larry O'Donnell. The media in America has given itself over to the State. Russian warships are in Cuba. Sound familiar? America is in deep soup.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Impressive?
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:08 ET by islero47Of course its impressive. Have you ever seen someone duck questions so... so eloquently? He ducks questions like Bush does shoes. As for Axelrod, I'm reminded of certain press members booted off Obama's campaign plane.
W. didn't have enough control over communication going out of the White House; Obama's going to have too much.
Sarah Palin/Jason Lewis 2012
Obama, pathological nacissist: http://www.faithfreedom.org/obama.html
He ducks questions like Bush does shoes.
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:28 ET by Prester JohnHeh.
Think Letterman and Leno will use that line?
Probably not...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:51 ET by islero47Lame as it is, it's still too funny for them.
Sarah Palin/Jason Lewis 2012
Obama, pathological nacissist: http://www.faithfreedom.org/obama.html
Good one!
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 11:03 ET by motherbeltHe ducks questions like Bush does shoes.
Now that's pithy!!
But Bush was cooler.
wow
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:09 ET by candanceAxelrod's rudeness there is evident. Anchors take the time to say "this is my question" because producers often give them a list of things to ask and they like to differentiate their personal ones from the generic ones. Axelrod's been in enough interviews to know that.
That was nothing but a flat out effort to be nasty. And it prolly happened since Mika took Joe's side yesterday about reporters needing to find out what happened in Chicago.
Sounds like snapping, snarking, and insulting the press is Obama's plan. Two incidents in 24 hours is not coincidence.
I'm a typical white person.
Sounds like the pressure is already getting to him...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:30 ET by Prester John....and BHO hasn't even been sworn in yet.
So what role is Axelrod going to play in the Annointed One's administration?
not so much prester
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 14:32 ET by candanceThis wasn't some naive politician, this was David Axelrod. You can't convince me Axelrod was nervous.
I'm a typical white person.
Not saying he was nervous....
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 14:43 ET by Prester John....I'm saying he must not be particularly happy since the MSM, or least a couple of them, are asking some inconvenient questions due to this even more inconvenient Blago situation.
you missed my point prester
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 15:47 ET by candanceI don't think this is just about people asking inconvenient questions. I see this as Axelrod showing the press how it's going to be from now on.
I'm a typical white person.
Ah
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 17:21 ET by Prester JohnNow I gotcha.
Intimidation of the MSM versus venting at it.
Makes sense.
Here's what we have to look
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:11 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsHere's what we have to look forward to:
MSM - Obama, we love you!
Obama - No, umm, errr, I love me.
MSM - No! We really love you!
Obama - No, ummm, uhhh, I love, uhhh, me more.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
The MSM has gone way beyond mere bias.
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:24 ET by R D HelmThey are now corrupt to the core.
This nation is about to be raped most severely by the socialists, and the MSM is nothing more than a willing participant.
-Dave
Will work for beer.
Questioning the Obamessiah!
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:31 ET by GeneralAlWhats the surprise? We are entering the era of the United States of Soviet Socialist Republics! You don't ask Chairman Obama anything but positive questions. You have to follow the lead of all MSM, hereafter called TASS and ISVESTIA reporters, and just ask nice questions. Examples are, "What did you buy your wife for Christmas?, Is Santa Claus going to visit the Obama house?, and When does the Obama family open their presents?" Furthermore, Democrats are not guilty of any corruption because they are liberal and liberals are all good!
Are they STILL
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:29 ET by Spinningplates2Fooling some of the people ALL of the time. Because I really think this is going to get old pretty fast to people in the middle. We aon the Right will have to roll our eyes for a while longer.
We've forgotten
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:49 ET by iveseenitallLet's see:
Barry not only refuses to answer a question , but tells the state-run press to not even ask it.
Russian warships in Cuba
The American government nationalizing industries
The "Fairness" Doctrine
Movies praising Che...
How does that old Santayana saying go?-- "Those who ignore history..."
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
New format for press conferences after Jan 20...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:42 ET by c5thenThe Obama administration will develop a list of questions that they are comfortable with, and various reporters will be assigned those questions via a lottery process 15 minutes before air time. Now, please each of you step up here and receive your assigned seat in the press gallery one at a time. Thank you.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
Alan Keyes / Sarah Palin - 2012
Just like a Hillary Clinton
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:54 ET by islero47Just like a Hillary Clinton town hall meeting!
Sarah Palin/Jason Lewis 2012
Obama, pathological nacissist: http://www.faithfreedom.org/obama.html
Control the media, isn't ...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:47 ET by SentryDanControl the media, isn't this one of the first steps to control of the masses? Doesn't this go along with the Fairness Doctrine?
Keep watch folks, your freedoms are about to get trampled.
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
Interesting
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 11:02 ET by iveseenitallWill the Anerican people fight back when Barry starts his crap? Right now, I think there's a 50-50 chance of a successful backlash. But who knows. The press has already rolled over. Are we truly a strong people anymore? Are our freedoms truly important to us? Or is the America we once knew gone forever? It will be interesting... and frightening.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
How much more um, er, uh,
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:51 ET by HockeyKidHow much more um, er, uh, look...uh, well, er, um eloquence can we uh, er, uh, uh, uh, stand?!
Cheney needs a heart pacemaker--Obama seems to need one to jump-start his brain!
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
IF...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:56 ET by AJBIf you have to worry about telling a consistent lie, then you stutter, stumble, and stall to have the three non-cocaine-affected brain cells try to remember what you lie was. Remember the lesson from Clinton -- stick to you lie!
Simply Amazing
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 11:00 ET by CBrauRemember, it's not the fact he's dodging questions. It's that he's doing it so very well!
Welcome to Stuttering Stanley's Transparent Treehouse! Where you'll be sure to see the complete Team Obama/Blago conversations investigation released at 11:45 pm on December 24th.
It's good that he's not living up to his campaign promises. It's real, real good!!
Better than Jim Brown.
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 11:32 ET by oilcanObama steamrolls the press better than the great running back Jim Brown stiff arms a poor safety in the open field.
Whats morbidly fascinating is how Obama is deftly deflecting discussion about this whole scandal and lays it right on to the shoulders of the MSM.
He's created a division amongst the press where one side [although few] is questioning the lack of aggressive pursuit for the truth by the larger sympathetic camp.
This sympathetic camp is stanchly supportive of Obama's honesty and clarity in the face of such a weight trials, asserting it's all a distraction not worthy of tedious study.
In turn, this sympathetic group attains varying degrees of success in promoting an aura of Obama's grandeur through all levels of the media. You can see this happening by the frontpage of the NYT, numerous cable and network anchors fawning over his greatness, pundits brushing of flaws and extolling Obama's virtues and field reporters who report in awe struck tones of Obama's persona.
The few full time truth seekers and the bandwagon riders like Joe Scarborough are a small voice that will be largely ignored by their brethern.
Change that will come
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 15:06 ET by StarAZExpect Morning Joe to be Morning Dave with Dave Schuster by this time next year. If we get a next year.
If I was Jindal/Palin/etc
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:18 ET by Defector01I'd make a list of everything that became acceptable for a president to do under the 'Obama adminstration' and as soon as a Republican wins, I'd pull out the list and do everything Obama just did while pointing to precedent. Without the whole massive corruption, ya know?
I have only ever made one prayer to God, a very short one: O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God granted it - Voltaire
David Axlefraud
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:24 ET by OxyCon...doesn't seem to like women all that much, judging by his public treatment of Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Mika Brzezinski.
Personally, I'd still like to hear someone...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:38 ET by Prester John...ask BHO some serious questions about his proposed Civilian National Security force would be. What is its mission? How will it be funded? Who will be in charge of it? Who will be in it? How will it be equipped? Will it be a purely Federal force or do will the states have a say? Etc., etc.
Let's see him dodge those questions
Prester... I've been
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:56 ET by bigtimerPrester...
I've been waiting patiently for some questions in this area too..it is of the utmost importance you would think...
If someone ever does ask, he will spin...just like he did this morning about drilling here on leased Fed. Land, he went on and on, never really specifying anything that pertained to the question by the gal.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
This is IT
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:57 ET by AJBComrade Glorious Supreme Leader Obama has finally found a name for his TRUTH SQUAD -- Civilian National Security Force. THIS IS IT FOLKS! I've been predicting that the Truth Squads would start 1/21/2009 and HERE IT IS!!! Be afraid! Be VERY afraid!
PJ, details, details, details. I ...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:10 ET by SentryDanPJ, details, details, details. I told you the other day, you are too interested in the details.
You are asking too many questions looking for details on the CNSF. That's a no-no.
You can only ask questions about unimportant things. Your press credentials have been revoked. Now go sit down and don't ask any more questions. The great one's thought police have spoken.
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
→ I'd like to ask
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:14 ET by Cool ArrowI would have asked Obama how his two appointments today will help his basketball team.
This is the information we really need.
Rats
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:16 ET by Prester JohnFoiled again.
Sorry, John, but you ...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:21 ET by SentryDanSorry, John, but you did try. Better luck next time.
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
More questions...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:25 ET by 911isbusy....Will they carry M-16s or AK-47s? Will their uniforms be green or brown? Will they police bad neighborhoods or good?....
Those who have not swords can still die upon them.
Obama's already said that
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 17:35 ET by celatorObama's already said that will be as well funded and as powerful as our US military. So it seems they will carry the weapons you cite, as well as tanks, grenade launchers, tanks, and aircraft. Probably helicopters will be the aircraft of choice. You will see that they also will have the "right" to force their way into your house.
Most dictators develop these "volunteer" armed forces once they get elected--a quick look at 20th century history confirms that. These groups have one primary purpose: to suppress political opposition among citizens. And that's what's coming.
We have entered another era with Obama's election.
No, no, no
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 17:19 ET by littlemissmuffinNo, no, no, no. Let me be perfectly clear on this. You CANNOT ask these types of questions." So saith "That One."
"If we conservatives moved to those seven non-existent States, the government couldn’t find us and tax us to death!"
please suhhh
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:46 ET by katainkentmay I have some more...? *thwap*
poor little reporter-orphans. Forced to wait for Obama to throw scraps at them so they can take part in History.
"part of what I'm hoping to introduce as the next president is a new ethic of [government enforced] responsibility" - B. Obama
Total arrogance from
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 12:52 ET by bigtimerTotal arrogance from Axlerod...total arrogance from O...nothing new, it will get worse not better as time goes on..as far as O'Donnell goes, he has always been nothing but arrogant.
These are creatures on the left that are out to destroy this country with the agenda...by using total control...everywhere.
Legends in their own minds...we shall see what happens in two, four years...if we don't have any outspoken conservative leaders with guts...this will fester until it is far too late, not so sure it isn't now, it is going to take years, decades to undo all the damage they are going to inflict on us.
The msm can spin, protect and defend this man and his administration all they want...people will see what is going on with time, especially on down the road when they feel it in their pocketbooks.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Same O, same O - when a
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:01 ET by mattmSame O, same O - when a Dem's in office....
Sounding guilty in your own unique way
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:15 ET by third eyeBRZEZINSKI: Thanks for coming on. First a question from me: why
don't we know more at this point about Rahm Emanuel's political
relationship with, as well as his conversations with, the governor of
Illinois?
DAVID AXELROD: First of all, I recognize that that's a question from you: you don't have to identify your question as coming from you, even though we're on the phone.
Translation
Where did Larry ODonnel go?
Obama was over heard to say to a ...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:18 ET by SentryDanObama was over heard to say to a reporter, "That's for me to know and for you to find out. And I'm not telling, so there. Nah-nah, nah, nah-nah."
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
Truth versus Fabrication
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:42 ET by Lakewood BobSome of you people are so naive. You should know that any simpleton can tell the TRUTH, but it takes time and tremendous brain-power to fabricate a LIE. Next week, sometime, will be fine!
Also be aware of two of Saul Alinsky's Rules: #13- "Pick the target (in this case Blago), freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it".
Then follow up with #4- "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon".
Welcome to Socialist America comrade!
obama ran on transparency,
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 17:14 ET by pitter43obama ran on transparency, he wants total transparentcy unless it's a question he wants to dodge or no one has given him an answer to parrot.
Obama does have
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 17:37 ET by celatorObama does have transparency. I can see right through him.
Nasty Liberals
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 18:53 ET by exLibYou see, if a Reporter is questioning a Republican, the Reporter is nasty and the Republican is polite and takes the high road, and either answers the question or politely side-steps it. The reporter then gets nasty and starts taking swipes at the Republican and repeatedly asks the question and then reports how evasive and deceptive the Republican was.
If the Reporter is questioning a Democrat, the reporter is polite and unassuming, the Dcmocrat then gets snippy and either accuses the Reporter of being a Conservative plant or tells the person it's a stupid question, the reporter submissively backs down, then proceeds to make excuses in their report for said democrat. Later, it's reported all over the MSM that the reporter was baised.
Axelrod was being a jerk
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 20:49 ET by moovovaI watched that particular part of Morning Joe this A.M., and when Joe Scarborough was up at bat, he actually drilled David Axlerod pretteee darn good, even though Axelrod was being a jerk the entire time. I was rather proud of Joe. Of course, Axelrod still didn't say anything substantive.