AP Headline: 'Obama Breaks from Bush, Avoids Divisive Stands'

AP Headline: 'Obama Breaks from Bush, Avoids Divisive Stands'

By Noel Sheppard (Bio | Archive)
Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:10 ET

In his first few days as President, Barack Obama issued decrees concerning a terrorist detention center in Guantanamo Bay, abortion, and apparently told Congressional Republicans who they should and shouldn't listen to.

Yet, according to the Associated Press, "he mostly avoided divisive partisan and ideological stands."

Makes you wonder what these folks were watching this week, doesn't it, for in a piece astoundingly titled "Obama Breaks from Bush, Avoids Divisive Stands," Liz Sidoti seemed to be reporting from another planet:

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Barack Obama opened his presidency by breaking sharply from George W. Bush's unpopular administration, but he mostly avoided divisive partisan and ideological stands. He focused instead on fixing the economy, repairing a battered world image and cleaning up government. [...]
Even as Obama made broad pronouncements and signed a stream of executive orders to usher in a new governing era, his actions leave unanswered or unresolved questions, including how he will close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp for suspected terrorists.

I guess Sidoti doesn't consider this detention facility to be a divisive issue despite the most recent Gallup poll finding 45 percent of the nation feeling it shouldn't be closed with only 35 percent saying it should.

Of course, even this is misleading, for well into the piece, Sidoti admitted such:

Most of what he tackled came in areas where there is agreement across the political spectrum for a new direction, although the country is divided over shuttering Guantanamo.

Hmmm. So in the headline and the opening paragraph, Sidoti led readers to believe that Obama strayed from divisive partisan issues last week. BUT, in paragraph ten, we find out this really isn't the case at all. I guess this is what qualifies as journalism today.

But there's more:

So far, Obama's only real brush with issues that stoke partisan passions came when he revoked a ban on federal funding for international groups that provide or promote abortions. He did that quietly by issuing a memorandum late Friday afternoon. The move was expected; the issue has vacillated between Republican and Democratic presidents.

Well, as previously noted, this clearly wasn't the first issue Obama addressed that stoked partisan passions. I guess by the time Sidoti got to writing paragraph twelve she forgot what she had written two paragraphs prior. Isn't that convenient?

Yet, Sidoti also misrepresented Obama's economic plans as not being divisive. An Ipsos/McClatchy poll released on Inauguration Day found roughly half of the respondents saying the stimulus package currently on the table was either probably or definitely necessary. Sound divisive to you?

Now, add in Obama's supposed suggestion to Congressional Republicans that they stop listening to Rush Limbaugh, and virtually everything done by the new President since Inauguration Day was highly partisan and divisive.

Add it all up, and there's really only one logical conclusion: divisive to the AP means things its writers don't agree with regardless of how the public feels.

Must be nice to have such power, dontcha think?

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.

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All I have to say is...

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:15 ET by mizflame98

...the AP apparently missed this example of The One avoiding divisive stands.

Perfect Demotivator for the Obama Administration

http://www.despair.com/government.html

Exactly. "An armed

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:18 ET by Mean Gene Dr. Love

Exactly.

"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." --Robert A. Heinlein, "Beyond This Horizon," 1942

And another

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:00 ET by motherbelt

And another "divisive stand" that he avoided.....

Just as all his policies are labelled "centrist" no matter what, all his stands will be said to represent a "concensus."

He has also promised to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, another non-divisive position...

"Obama Breaks from Bush.

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:24 ET by Chris Norman

"Obama Breaks from Bush. Avoids Divisive Stands"

Oh, why don't they just cut to the chase and write: "Unlike Bush, Obama is a Democrat - Unlike Bush, Obama isn't Evil Incarnate".

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

Well Said

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:44 ET by jarrett.edwards

You are right!

Can we officially start

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:57 ET by Blazer

delete double

You know these kind of

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:15 ET by Chris Norman

You know these kind of stories might as well have been pre-written - leaving only the details to be dropped in at the last minute.

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

My personal favorite thing

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:32 ET by Blazer

My personal favorite thing Obama did this week was have his squadron of winged Unicorn's/Pegasus fire those hope and change (hellfire) missiles filled with confetti and skittles at those freedom fighters (terrorist's) in Pakistan.

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "

- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.

" The Cake is a lie."

Blazer, No worries, that is the last time we see this..

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:50 ET by upcountrywater

The evil military was coasting on the evil left over orders from Chimpy Mc Hitler....

OAF is in office! And man-child IS <gulp> CIC... fawk squared.

FREEDOM

(D)

How long will it be

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:46 ET by MidAmerica

How long will it be before an AP story can run without a slam against FORMER President Bush. I guess old habits are tough to break. But of course without the Bush reference obama's week would have been harder to spin into gold.

I don't know which is

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:47 ET by RR GOP

I don't know which is scarier...that these jerks actually believe stuff like this or that they are Marxists and are willfully spreading propaganda...

One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.

...the latter. When is the

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:52 ET by d1carter

...the latter. When is the economic crunch going to hit the AP?

Can we officially start

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:53 ET by Blazer

Can we officially start referring to this admin. as Obamco? How about Barry as Chimpy-McRaytheon-Obam-Hitler?

Christ what am I saying,.....that would be racist.

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "

- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.

" The Cake is a lie."

The Asinine Press IS on another planet...

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 21:52 ET by wnaegele

...although some would just say it's in a world of [excrement].

Divisiveness

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:00 ET by KC Mulville

Divisiveness is a word that should be used carefully, because it says as much about you as it does your opponents.

GLTGMFers

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:08 ET by jaywl

Huck referenced Big O's web page tonight. He pointed to the section concerning all the wunerful, wunerful things he wants for the GLTGQMFers out here in America, along with ending the "not in my foxhole" deal in the Armed Forces. Not a divisive idea in the bunch. Except that in the future it may be a criminal conspiracy to say to your drinking buddy "Hey, why is that girl going in the men's room, that ain't right!"

No wonderment here. They live in an altered reality . . .

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:11 ET by CKA in Red State USA

. . .a parallel universe that not even Lewis Carroll could conceive.

Liz Sidoti seemed to be reporting from another planet:

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 04:32 ET by Army Brat

And occasionally I feel as though I've slipped through some weird dimension...created by the dryer and I've arrived on that other planet she writes for. Well... her and the rest of the MSM that still enjoys the taste of Obamas footwear.

Who woulda thought that this was possible. I know it's been said, but...Wow. Goes to a so called "church", where hate for America is the main message and all the rest of the crap that trails behind this guy and next thing ya know he's the President.

I've not looked to see if this guy is a fan of the USA or not, but he hits the nail on the head regarding the One, with his little article at the UKs Telegraph online.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/gerald_warner/blog/2009/01/20/barack_obama_...

Happy Trails...

This is the "little gem" I

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:11 ET by BKeyser

This is the "little gem" I linked to in my earlier post regarding Rush.

"Liz Sidoti seemed to be reporting from another planet" are the words I was searching for after reading that garbage on my Comcast home page. Nice description Noel.

I've heard of "puff pieces" before, but I was not sure if I could be so kind as to describe this as such. If I'm not mistaken, this AP reporter seems to have a history writing this stuff (for lack of a better word.) What I want to know is, how does it make it to my computer screen?

And PrezBo's hand-picked advisor Reich thinks that white...

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:14 ET by R D Helm

...construction professionals should be excluded from any and all employment opportunities in Dear Leader's new America.

But hey, that's not divisive, that's just "racial justice."

Right.

-Dave

“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.

Yeah, I was confused about

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:16 ET by BKeyser

Yeah, I was confused about that too- I seem to be confused alot in the last week- what's he advocating? The return of the Chinese labor force? I guess railroads are on the list of rebuild projects...

BKeyser,

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 23:13 ET by R D Helm

LOL-Either that, or we are destined to be a nation of laundry's. :-^)

-Dave

“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.

Dave, A local ABQ

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:32 ET by Chris Norman

Dave,

A local ABQ commentator suggested Obama replace Robert "Dr. Miguelito Loveless" Reich with a disadvantaged minority unskilled in economics. This local guy also played a tape of Charles Rangel speaking to Reich where he actually says - publicly - that the "middle class" won't object too much to all of this as they are "too busy working and getting their kids to school" - nice, huh? The guy says Rangel's comment is on You Tube.

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

Here you go

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:42 ET by GregE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opxuUj6vFa4

Chris,

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 23:09 ET by R D Helm

I also noticed that Rangel said that some type of "formula" was going to have to be devised in order to ensure that (our) money was distributed fairly.

Based on the comments of the vertically-challenged Marxist professor from Berzerkely (Reich), and combining them with the known racism of Rangel, I took that to mean:

non-whites (10,000) = whites (-100,000,000)

They are proposing nothing less than government-enforced racism here.

Some post-racial country Dear Leader is working towards, wouldn't you say?

-Dave

“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.

Oh, I guess blue-collar

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 08:28 ET by motherbelt

Oh, I guess blue-collar minorities are

a) not middle-class,

b) don't work, and

c) don't worry about their kids getting to school.

Nice, Charlie; real nice.

And one of the comments inserted into the video says

Rangel just admitted that the middle class is too busy working hard to notice that they are getting cheated. (emphasis mine).

Even nicer, Charlie!

And I'm sure if he's ever called on it ( I know, but work with me, here!) he'll say he was quoted "out of context."

PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:30 ET by GregE

PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS!!!!!!! Obama himself has said "words matter."

2nd paragraph, the messiah says....

".....What an opportunity we have to change this country," the Democrat told his senior staff after his inauguration. "The American people are really counting on us now. Let's make sure we take advantage of it......"

1) An opportunity to change this country....Sounds like they understand that Americans are getting to a point where they'll accept anything thrown at them regardless of what the consequences are. It's their "opportunity" to pounce.

2) American people are really counting on us now....This says, government is the answer to everyone's problems and Americans are looking to us to create the answers.

3) Lets make sure we take advantage of it?....Same as #1, they want to take advantage of people being scared of an economic collapse. This of no significant difference in what they always claimed was being done, FEAR MONGERING. It comes in all forms, and they claimed to hate Bush for it, yet they're doing it.

Be VERY afraid. America as we know it is most assuredly on the brink, not only because of the economy, but because of what the Obama administration sees that they may be able to do to America.....Not FOR America........TO America!

Well, as Rahm Emanuel says,

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 08:29 ET by motherbelt

Well, as Rahm Emanuel says, you never let a crisis go to waste!

It ain't devisive

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:39 ET by botg

until we say it's devisive

---------------------------- Sincerely, AP

Liberal Speak

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:42 ET by Poovey

divisive partisan and ideological stands - means, we (The AP) Don't agree with you

Yea this aint

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:44 ET by GregE

Yea this aint divisive.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/23/obama-says-view-taxes-prevail...

Noel, don't you know......

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 22:53 ET by sshuffield70

liberal men are from Mars, and liberal women are from Venus?

Also, has it occured to anyone at AP that Obama has made more executive orders in the first three days of his admin than previous administrations in the first three days combined? This guy has a Congress to his liking, yet he has to rule by judicial fiat.

We're screwed by King Obama.

The AP should lay off the

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 23:09 ET by rbosque

The AP should lay off the crack.

Which crack would that be?

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 04:35 ET by Army Brat

Ya couldn't call it "Plumbers Crack"....

Happy Trails...

To most of the media it is

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 23:21 ET by Smartypants

To most of the media it is impossible for Democrats to be "divisive".

Obama breaks from Bush

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 23:27 ET by Blazer

Obama breaks from Bush avoids divisive stand's

Translation:

Obama Breaks From Bush, Becomes A Democrat

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "

- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.

" The Cake is a lie."

I will say it...

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 23:39 ET by AgentAmerican

What a load of sh*t...

that is all...

2010: A GOP Hill

hard to argue with that, AA

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 06:19 ET by i was just thinking

"What a load of sh*t..."

Yes, I'd say that pretty well sums it up. Take a look at the new WH website... whitehouse.gov ... the load gets even bigger.

Now's the time to buy stock in a hunting gear company... we're all gonna need waders!

Good analysis, Noel

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 23:46 ET by trak65

I loved the post-Inauguration night headline that the Obamas "revealed" "grace and humor" during their ball appearances. The non-divisive, graceful, and humorous characterizations are all evidence of the flagrant cheerleading that must be continually exposed and ridiculed. Keep up the good work!

Yet, according to the

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 00:24 ET by TN Mom

Yet, according to the Associated Press, "he mostly avoided divisive partisan and ideological stands."

I, for one, think it's high time the Associated Press burn their copies of Rules For Radicals; it is clouding their judgement.

The clouding of judgement is

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 09:35 ET by GregE

The clouding of judgement is no different than the clouding of reality. Someone who is a centrist now days is more to the Left. Anyone right of center is "extreme right." The actual center has shifted to the Left and isn't actually center, but its the starting point, deemed as center.

And on the 2nd Day, Obama Rested.

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 05:49 ET by i was just thinking

"He focused instead on fixing the economy, repairing a battered world image and cleaning up government."

Wow... all that on the first day! So what's left?

In the Amerika of today, we march arm-in-arm, rank-and-file, under the banner of Obama. We, as a nation, are united in spirit, in thought, and in word and deed. Partisan and ideological stands crumble before us as we link arms and join with The One! Die fahne hoch! Amerika erwacht! Ein volk, ein Amerika, ein Führer!

(Did I get a bit carried away? Sorry 'bout that...)

Not a leader

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 06:04 ET by Unsane

The Shahinshah "avoids divisive stands"?

Beyond the absurdity of that statement (as outlined above by His policy decisions), the AP may want to be careful about using phrases like that. For it sounds to me like they are saying that He is not a leader.

"THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING!!! THE HOLOCAUST OF THOUGHT IS DAWNING!!!" - Nevermore, "Bittersweet Feast", from This Godless Endeavor (2005)

I'm Glad

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 10:31 ET by mbs6

I'm glad you posted this one Noel. I saw this headline yesterday and almost choked. In a LONG line of ridiculous AP headlines, this one really achieves a new low in the realm of journalistic integrity. AP = Absolutely Pathetic.