We've seen this before, self-proclaimed "objective" journalists getting so swept up in infatuation with Barack Obama that they literally applaud his public speeches:
The line to get in stretched about 500 feet down a long hallway at the convention center hosting the conference and the 800 seats were all full inside, prompting scores of reporters to line the walls.
When Obama arrived, dozens of the print reporters in the audience stood to take their own keepsake photographs on camera phones and BlackBerrys behind the news photographers thronging the entire width of the vast stage.
When the president departed after nearly an hour, dozens more reporters offered him applause — something one veteran reporter who has covered the globe for decades said he could not recall seeing except for in authoritarian nations.
In between, a veritable auction broke out when Obama said he would intersperse questions from international journalists.
Reporters shouted out the name of their country or continent to plead that he call on them.
“You know, we’re not doing bidding here,” Obama joked, winning titters from the fawning correspondents.
After the press conference, a beaming Swiss reporter turned to an American colleague.
“Your president is just so impressive,” she said. “Is he always so relaxed and open?”
Earlier a Moscow TV crew had come around to the American section of the press file center asking if reporters would go on camera to discuss Obama.
Hat tip: Allahpundit via Twitter.
Update 15:41. Thanks to Seton Motley for telling me about the duplicate link. I've fixed it so you can now visit the original report from Politico.
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator of NewsBusters and its Executive Editor.
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Well, someone was less than
April 3, 2009 - 08:55 ET by motherbeltWell, someone was less than enamoured of our "dashing" US President!! LOL! (h/t Drudge)
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
freaky
April 3, 2009 - 08:56 ET by Eurikaand this doesn't scare them?
Don't they recall the adoration of Hitler 'fans' and all that stuff?
The explanation
April 3, 2009 - 09:08 ET by DingbatRe: "When the president departed after nearly an hour, dozens more reporters
offered him applause — something one veteran reporter who has covered
the globe for decades said he could not recall seeing except for in
authoritarian nations."
There's the explanation.
This just creeps me
April 3, 2009 - 09:24 ET by bobthemanThis just creeps me out. Is history doomed to repeat itself? I hope not, but I'm afraid we're going down that well worn path of political adoration.
http://politicsofdes...
"Creepy" really covers it adequately
April 3, 2009 - 10:11 ET by BlondeI had F&F on this a.m., when I noticed Gretchen Carlson grilling Geraldo about this (way to go Gretchen!)....who defended (naturally) the press cheering Obama.
Think about that. The press cheering for Obama. Openly, and without any shame at all.
And now The One is doing a "town hall meeting" in Europe. WTH? What is he campaigning for now?
We are so screwed.
I hope he fails, too.
I agree, B....we are so
April 3, 2009 - 10:18 ET by motherbeltI agree, B....we are so screwed.
I should incorporate a new tag-line, because I've said it so often the past few days:
The US Media are no longer journalists; they are courtiers to their King and Queen. (Not implying that folks don't know what "courtier" means, just underlying the significance.)
PS...he is campaigning for King of the World!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
King of the World
April 3, 2009 - 10:35 ET by BlondeSickening. I actually watched an episode of West Wing this morning, I was so fed up with Obama! Who ever thought a conservative would prefer Jed Bartlett?
It's beyond duct tape. Seriously.
Speaking of which, while researching Costa Rica this a.m. (yes, am going in May, woo hoo) I ran across this little tidbit at a great website on CR, and naturally thought of my friend motherbelt, the duct tape queen:
You will see a LOT of folks carrying machetes... those really long, sharp knives. You see this especially in the country and areas away from San José. The machete is the Costa Rican equivalent of Duct Tape. It is used for everything, but almost never as a weapon... so relax!!
:)
I know it's not much, but perhaps will relieve a touch of Obama fatigue. I don't know what else to try.
I hope he fails, too.
LOL...that's
April 3, 2009 - 11:14 ET by motherbeltLOL...that's hilarious!
And this:
We call them Speed bumps! To Costa Ricans, son muertos... or in English... "(they are) dead persons".
Reminds me of the scene in the old movie "FX" where they throw the mannequin out of the back of the van and the pursuers screech to a halt in positive panic, thinking it's a dead person in the street!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
What are they cheering?
April 3, 2009 - 11:43 ET by KC MulvilleI still don't understand the fuss over this guy. What has he done? When you ask supporters why they're so in love with him, the nonsense that dribbles out is laughable.
They also liked the Fascist
April 3, 2009 - 10:53 ET by 10ksnookerThey also liked the Fascist Mussolini ... I understand it didn't end well for Mussolini when the people who were promised all that free stuff finally figured out it was a big ruse.
Keepsake Knee Pads
April 3, 2009 - 11:02 ET by allanfI regret not particpating in this near ephiphany of journalistic insight. I think I would have made a fortune providing "Presidential Knee Pads" to journalists who wished to worship Obama. Perhaps I would have brought Monica Lewinsky along as my assistant.
What media bias?
April 3, 2009 - 11:04 ET by mattmWhat media bias?
Free "working" vacation
April 3, 2009 - 11:10 ET by CobraManOf course they were cheering, they just got a free "working" vacation courtesy of the American taxpayer. I just read that Obama had a 500 person "entourage' for his European tour, including reporters, and whos travel was provided by the US Air Force, at the tax payer's expense. of course. I'd applaud Obama too if he let me travel with him for free.
"The Air Mobility Command, part of the U.S. Transportation Command, was ordered to provide airlift for the president's entourage of nearly 500 people, including senior officials, staff, support personnel, news reporters and some 200 Secret Service agents for the European visit, which began Tuesday in London. "
Source
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Disillusionment
April 3, 2009 - 11:23 ET by jakevI had hoped somewhere deep in my feverish brain that the Europeans would be able to see through Obama. Due to the lack of kool-aid stands overseas, I thought their vision might be clearer...once again, serious disappointment in man as a species.
You forget
April 3, 2009 - 11:51 ET by CobraManYou forget, theses are the same kinds of people who didn't "see through" such "great" leaders as Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and the like until it was WAY too late!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Nothing To See Here
April 3, 2009 - 11:46 ET by rammingspeedThis should not be a surprise. The European press is exactly the same as the American press -- lunatic fringe leftists who will never tell the truth. They will also never report the thoughts or actions of citizens who disagree with them, unless it is to demonize those citizens.
The only way this will be corrected is for the socialist/Marxist policies to fail and for people to get hurt. That will happen quickly and dramatically here in America, but not across the pond, as the Euros are too steeped in their stupidity to catch on.