Are the press starting to lose their loving feeling for Barack Obama?
According to CNN contributor Bill Bennett, given how the President was treated during his press conference, the news media weren't showing him much love Tuesday evening:
There is a conservative strain of thinking that says the press is in love with Barack Obama. Not tonight.
That was just the beginning. Bennett's complete comment can be seen at minute six of the following embedded video (partial transcript included):
BILL BENNETT: There's a terrible budget problem. The deficit. We may be going into a depression and you're going to spend all this money. And the problem has been we haven't spent enough money on education. It just doesn't follow.
But let me tell you what I think happened tonight. There is a conservative strain of thinking that says the press is in love with Barack Obama. Not tonight. He went through a murderer's row, from Jake Tapper to Chip Reid and CNN's own Ed Henry. And you saw a flash of anger by the president at Ed Henry.
Ed repeated the question. He was right to. The president said something that wasn't true in response. He said well, I wanted -- I wanted to wait a couple of days until I knew what I was talking about.
When he responded on that, he didn't know what he was talking about. He said we've got to find some way to stop these bonuses. He and Geithner of this administration had set up those bonuses.
He had a rough night. And Anderson said he was tired. I think tonight he learned that no matter how many times he beats up Republicans, some of the press -- a lot of the press is not going to buy it. They're going to hone in on his arguments.
Most of what he did tonight, in response to very sharp, pointed questions, was to give that same speech. And I don't think it cut. I do not think he had a good night.
Here was one of the challenging questions Bennett referred to (from CNN's Ed Henry):
Henry even discussed this exchange with Anderson Cooper later in the evening:
So, are they losing that loving feeling, or is this just a momentary loss of affection?
(H/T Huffington Post).
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.




















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~The truth eventually seeps through
March 25, 2009 - 09:39 ET by choselife3xPoor Barrky.
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...aaackkk
*ahem,...'scuse me, hairball*
That high-pitched scream you hear is the troll under my heel.
A Little Off Topic
March 25, 2009 - 09:39 ET by HoosierEmIn watching Roland Martin for the past several months, if it were biologically possible, can you imagine the offspring that he and Keith Olbermann would produce?
I better watch out - I might be the worst person in the world tonight.
I think that dear leader has
March 25, 2009 - 09:49 ET by MANstreammediaI think that dear leader has reached a whole new level of ridiculousness that the mainstream media is afraid to cover up (i.e. accelerate their own downfall with impossible undefendable lies).
~Is anyone else suspicious
March 25, 2009 - 09:53 ET by choselife3xOf this constant "he's the calmest, coolest" crap? Whatcha wanna bet he's throwing fits? Anyone who would make repeated displays of pettiness like he has isn't 'calm and cool'.
That high-pitched scream you hear is the troll under my heel.
Yeah. It's always "his
March 25, 2009 - 10:12 ET by SeashellYeah. It's always "his aids say he's the calmest......blah, blah, blah." What else are they going to say? That he blows his top? The truth will come out eventually and I bet you are right.
Just an observation
March 25, 2009 - 09:57 ET by sherylsimsI thought it looked like just about everyone in that press conference was fighting the urge to nod off. They all looked bored and distracted.
Poor ole Helen Thomas was
March 25, 2009 - 10:04 ET by SeashellPoor ole Helen Thomas was asleep every time I saw her. I am still not sure why she is given such a prominent place at these press conferences when she is only embarrassing herself. Seems like her family would intervene.
Family?
March 25, 2009 - 10:14 ET by ricklailWho would marry here what's less have children with her?
One loss is good for the soul. Too many losses is not good for the coach. Knute Rockne
Well???? Good point, but
March 25, 2009 - 10:28 ET by SeashellWell???? Good point, but surely she has a sister or a brother or somebody??
~They're all too embarrassed
March 25, 2009 - 10:37 ET by choselife3xNo one wants to claim her. I wonder who wakes her up when it's over?
That high-pitched scream you hear is the troll under my heel.
Probably the janitor after
March 25, 2009 - 10:57 ET by SeashellProbably the janitor after everyone else has left.
How I will judge
March 25, 2009 - 11:46 ET by StarAZThese comments make me think less of your opinion on other things.
?
March 25, 2009 - 15:31 ET by choselife3xThat high-pitched scream you hear is the troll under my heel.
Dead
March 25, 2009 - 11:22 ET by cvgbuckeyeseashell:
The old bag died about 2 years ago. They just fill the body with air and prop it up at every news conference.....hence the term "The Old Wind Bag".
Hey, kid
March 25, 2009 - 11:45 ET by StarAZWatch the old bag stuff! I am an old broad, or a bag, depending on whom you ask.
~I don't blame them
March 25, 2009 - 10:11 ET by choselife3xHow tedious would it be to sit there listening to him drone on for an hour? I'd be irresistably tempted to hurl my shoes at him. I'll bet he'd flip his lid. Then we'd see how 'calm and cool' he really is.
That high-pitched scream you hear is the troll under my heel.
My aim is pretty good
March 25, 2009 - 10:14 ET by sherylsimsI would make sure my sneaker hit him square between those big old ears!
~sheryl
March 25, 2009 - 10:20 ET by choselife3xI'll bring my boots. Bring some of those cupcakes for after, we'll need our strength.
That high-pitched scream you hear is the troll under my heel.
boots and cupcakes
March 25, 2009 - 10:25 ET by sherylsimsI'm almost ready to go. Did I forget anything? Oh yeah, my ticket to the press conference. And my pre-written question. Ok, I'm ready now.
~Girrrrrl
March 25, 2009 - 10:30 ET by choselife3xI forgot to tell ya, you're driving. Pick me up at 8. ;-)
That high-pitched scream you hear is the troll under my heel.
Aim for the teleprompters!
March 25, 2009 - 14:20 ET by INRadioGuyAim for the teleprompters!
Re teleprompters
March 25, 2009 - 14:33 ET by slickwillie2001Hmm, do you think the teleprompter has its own Secret Service contingent? What is teleprompter's Secret Service codename? Have any plots against teleprompter been uncovered? Perhaps an unauthorized probe from an 802.11 cabal? Any right-wing extremists out there plotting a worm attack?
Even Europe saying Obama economic plan "pathway to hell"...
March 25, 2009 - 10:15 ET by krendlerhttp://washingtontim...
Is it possible?
March 25, 2009 - 10:17 ET by KC MulvilleIt's clear that the press still wants to shield Obama from the worst, but ... asking Obama tough questions ... could it be possible that some reporters are actually doing their jobs properly?
We can wonder why they didn't ask such tough questions during the campaign. Why did they wait until after he had acquired the legal authority to impose extreme liberalism before they decided to scrutinize him? We'd have all been better off.
But it actually makes me feel better to imagine a country where the press (some of them anyway) actually do the jobs they claim to do. They may all fall right back into the tank tomorrow, but last night, I thought they did a decent job of challenging Obama. And notice how irritated he was! That was a good thing.
Let's give credit where credit is due.
I did think the questions were better than last time
March 25, 2009 - 11:43 ET by StarAZEven with his "pets" asking--the questions were better than the last conference. Was Helen asleep in the front row--looked like it in one shot. Not that I was eagerly awaiting her mots. The problem is, he is the Answerer and doesn't answer really. Blah, blah...he says two or three responsive sentences, then you can almost see his brain lurch sidways as he riffs off, repeating... Boring boring boring.
Agreed - and it's surprising
March 25, 2009 - 13:33 ET by KC MulvilleI studied philosophy for a number of years, and I still read it voraciously. If you ask me a question about some philosophical topic, I can pretty much rattle it off without having to check any notes. Epistemology? Bam! Ethics? Bam!
Here's a president of the United States, being asked about political issues, and he can't rattle off anything. I mean, I appreciate that he can't be expected to rattle off everything, but this guy can't rattle off anything. In trying to answer every question, it looks as if he's considering it for the first time.
Some people have personality traits that are natural to them, but which can be mistaken for something else. I have a friend who smiles all the time, and people mistake him for being gentle and fun-loving. But when you talk to him, you discover the opposite. The smile is simply a function of how his teeth fit in his mouth. Anyone who's taken the Myers-Briggs-type tests knows how easily we judge people's personalities - and get it all wrong. That's because we're misinterpreting the clues.
I've heard many of Obama's supporters describe him as "thoughtful." But I'm beginning to think that's a personality misconception. They interpret it as deep intelligence. But, if you're a professional at something, you shouldn't be thoughtful when asked a question in your specialty.
Maybe he's not stupid, but his "thoughtful" pauses don't prove intelligence.
I would suggest a different
March 25, 2009 - 10:35 ET by dscottI would suggest a different interpretation of events. When Obama was going too far talking down the economy, the MSM let it slip publicly Bill Clinton's remarks he needed to talk it up, and what was Obama's response? A change in tactics. Now the MSM is giving a not so suble hint that Obama needs to find another new refreshing story line because his current line one is worn out.
Regardless of Rahm Emanuel's daily "coordination" calls to the MSM, I submit Obama is held in a very tight ultra liberal cocoon which is so insular and focused on the agenda that they are not keeping up with the MSM suggestions of the story line. Hence, the more stern approach by these so called "journalists" with another hint.
This approach isn't so different than our "guidance" of the GOP via the internet blogs when they stray from their principles. When we beat the drum, the GOP changes it cadence after realizing no one is following. The difference being the MSM libs have an agenda to mask and we have priniciples to enforce.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
I don't much care if the MSM is losing its loving feeling...
March 25, 2009 - 10:48 ET by R D Helm...for President FUBAR or not.
Its too little, too late.
If, during the two-year long campaign, had the MSM spent even 1/10th of its time practicing actual journalism instead of being willing participants in the propaganda spewing that put this farcical Manchurian Venezuelan in the White House to begin with, there is a very good chance this nation would not now be facing imminent bankruptcy.
In fact, I think a viable economic recovery would be well underway right now even if not one single penny of taxpayer money had been spent by the federal government.
All this fraud of an administration has managed to do is make a bad situation exponentially worse-so much so that we may never recover from it.
As I see it, Barrack Hussein Obama is nothing more than an empty-headed, brainwashed, pre-programmed rubber-stamp robot for the global socialist movement, which is frantically making up for lost time, and succeeding right handily, too.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Bill Bennett is full of
March 25, 2009 - 12:19 ET by jdhawkBill Bennett is full of it. The press was still in the tank for bambi, the first stupid liberal.
For example, on the executive pay issue, it was the administration that asked Dodd to put the bonus pay into the stimulus legislation. It was Dodd who at first lied about it stated that this was so. And the amendment went in during the conference on the bill which means that both Reid and Pelosi were aware of it and gave it the OK. This was followed by legislation to tax the bonus pay recipients out of the money when they were "suprised" that they were getting the bonuses.
The president, a huge recipient, of AIG and others campaign contributions and Dodd the senator with the most AIG campaign contributions were duplicit in this whole afair.
It was a travisty manufactured by the first stupid liberal and the dimocrats in the Congress and they should have both been called out on it. They weren't.
More important is the upcoming outrageous budget. It spends and taxes like there is no tomorrow. The first stupid liberal's spending increases are twice as much in a single year as the increases of the entire Bush presidency. No one in the drooling cooing press bothered to point that out. No one offered that cap and trade is bogus BS that results in nothing more than taxing us all into oblivion. No one offered that socialist medicine will result in crappy medicine like the Brits or the Canucks have now. No one offered that the return to pre 1994 welfare will reduce the incentive of low income people to go out and find a job. No one offered that the line that 95% of Americans will get a tax cut from this budget legislation is BS.
Bill Bennett needs a hearing aide. He got this dead wrong.
bonuses?
March 25, 2009 - 12:34 ET by larry on LIwith all the pissing and moaning about bonuses ,no one is bringing up the fact that congress approved a bonus for the postmaster general to the tune of $135,000.00.
Now hold on to your chair,it was for "performance." In the post office? OMG, what's next?
People aren't getting their
March 25, 2009 - 17:19 ET by RR GOPPeople aren't getting their Free Government Money fast enough, and besides, Dear Leader's faux press conference preempted American Idol.
Even Caesar knew it was folly to shut down the games.
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!?).