ABC's Jake Tapper: Obama Thinks He's President; Denies Media Access

ABC's Jake Tapper: Obama Thinks He's President; Denies Media Access

By Scott Whitlock (Bio | Archive)
July 24, 2008 - 14:38 ET

Not every reporter covering Barack Obama's world tour is entranced by the words and imagery of the Democratic candidate. On Thursday's "Good Morning America," political correspondent Jake Tapper jabbed at Obama's overconfidence, describing the senator's July 24 speech in Berlin as "one the Obama campaign is billing at almost presidential. Even though he is not the president."

Reporting from inside the Obama plane, Tapper complained in a snarky tone, "Inside, the plane has been redesigned to separate the senator and his staff from us lowly reporters." He added that Obama officials told journalists that they could brief reporters as anonymous officials. Tapper grumbled, "One of them said that's what we did at the White House during the Clinton years. We pointed out they don't work at the White House." Regarding the Obama plane, the ABC journalist also pointed out: "The American flag on the tail wing has been replaced by an enormous Obama O."

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

Tapper's complaints about lack of access and campaign hubris sound like the type of typical gripes you would expect and hope to hear from journalists about all candidates. The fact that Tapper's statements are so rare shows just how deep the media love is for Obama.

A transcript of the July 24 segment, which aired at 7:08am, follow:

DIANE SAWYER: We want to turn now to the race for '08. The new poll out showing Barack Obama leading 47 to 41 percent over John McCain and it comes as the candidates engage in two very different campaign schedules. Our correspondents are opening their notebooks this morning to take you behind the scenes and we'll get to ABC's David Wright for a look at John McCain in just a minute. But, beginning with senior political correspondent Jake Tapper in Berlin with Barack Obama this morning. Jake?

JAKE TAPPER: Guten Tag, Diane. Well, we just arrived in Berlin a few hours ago. Everything about this trip has been choreographed to make Senator Obama appear like President Obama and that's certainly the case with the speech he's going to deliver later today here at the Victory Column in central Berlin. Senator Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met this morning, just a few hours after Obama's pre-dawn visit to Jerusalem's western wall, his last stop in Israel. For the first stop of his European swing, Obama's campaign has been pulling out all the stops, distributing these flyers in German to round up a huge crowd for his speech tonight, one the Obama campaign is billing at almost presidential. Even though he is not the president. From the scenic vistas in Jordan where local reporters clambered for his attention --

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: Reporters are the same everywhere, aren't they?

TAPPER: --to his hobnobbing with world leaders, to his military exercises in Israel and Iraq, everything about this trip is meticulously designed to make you comfortable with Obama as commander in chief. That started with his newly retrofitted plane. The American flag on the tail wing has been replaced by an enormous Obama "O." And the slogan "change we can believe in" is on the sides. [Tapper is now inside the plane.] Inside, the plane has been redesigned to separate the senator and his staff from us lowly reporters. And this was the site of a big media mutiny the other day as Obama officials insisted they'd be able to brief us on background as anonymous officials. One of them said that's what we did at the White House during the Clinton years. We pointed out they don't work at the White House. Other flourishes, an Obama napkin holder after we refueled in Ireland.

OBAMA: The world is keenly interested in this election. And I think they're hungry for a sense of where America is going. So, you know, certainly there's a curiosity factor involved.

TAPPER: Some authorities are anticipating a crowd as big as one million, but Senator Obama said we should not set our expectations too high for the crowd. He expects it to be more like in the tens of thousands. Diane?

SAWYER: All right, Jake. I want to say, Jake, I don't want to be around if there's a media mutiny and you're one of the mutineers. I would be running for the hills. Okay. Thanks so much.

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.

Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Ahh, pride comes before the

July 24, 2008 - 14:40 ET by dvdaughtry

Ahh, pride comes before the fall. Let's hope God does not make an exception here.

You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?

Nein!

July 24, 2008 - 16:04 ET by Glubber

Der Fuhrer has spoken!

Arbeit Macht Frei! (The new Obama Slogan)

Now Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann can fight on who will be the Reich Marshal in the Obama Reich!

Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein

July 24, 2008 - 16:16 ET by NL207

Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer.

Und eine hybrid Volkswagen

July 24, 2008 - 18:06 ET by celator

Und eine hybrid Volkswagen fur alles!

The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?

The American flag on the

July 24, 2008 - 14:45 ET by Free Thinker

The American flag on the tail wing has been replaced by an enormous Obama "O."

That pretty much sums it up. What an, eh, orifice of the backside.

You said it Free.....a big fat..

July 24, 2008 - 15:27 ET by BEGRUNT

ZERO!! Thats all the man is.

"If a man does his best, what else is there"?

General George S. Patton Jr.

Oh, for the love of O

July 24, 2008 - 15:49 ET by ChuckM from PA

Clearly, for Mr. O, love of self has replaced love of county. Will the MSM tell us all how his name is more important that the US flag?

Would that be alpha or numeric?

July 24, 2008 - 16:25 ET by Pete Wilson

It would make a difference. I prefer to think it is likely numeric (zero).

They're overusing the logo

July 25, 2008 - 02:29 ET by rubylens

Anyone else getting heartily sick of the Obama logo getting plastered everywhere? His people put it on everything -- the plane, the Wailing Wall, every piece of paper, everything they can find. They even have a variation of the logo for every victim group they could think of on Obama's official site http://www.barackobama.com/people/ (if you're not on the list of victim groups with your own special logo, you must be part of the oppressive privileged class and scheduled to be relieved of your power soon). I'm sure Barack and Michelle have matching tattoos of the Obama "O" logo on their behinds.

We pointed out they don't work at the White House.

July 24, 2008 - 14:49 ET by Prester John

A mere formality. In fact, if President Bush had any decency at all he would would step aside now and encourage all the state presidential electors to name Obama President by acclamation, thereby saving 10s of millions of dollars in campaign dollars that can be better used to implement all of his programs. Plus, by doing so he would give Obama an extra 5-1/2 months to accomplish his Messianic mission.

Thats 5 1/2 months closer

July 24, 2008 - 14:55 ET by Rbastid

Thats 5 1/2 months closer to his plan of a 10 year service.

A BHO quote from Drudge

July 24, 2008 - 14:53 ET by Prester John

'People of Berlin -- people of the world -- this is our moment. This is our time.'

This guy really does think he is the Messiah.

Wow.

Is he running for President

July 24, 2008 - 15:06 ET by r22weiss

Is he running for President of the United States or President of the European Union?

God help us all.

Neither. He's apparently

July 24, 2008 - 15:36 ET by motherbelt

Neither. He's running for King of the World.

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson

Motherbelt, he is WAY beyond that!

July 24, 2008 - 23:27 ET by goldenthroat

Now he is running for creator of the universe! One German has already been quoted as refering to him as "Messiah"!

I rest my case.

"How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?" - Firesign Theatre

He does think he is

July 25, 2008 - 09:01 ET by kg

He does think he is President also. We don't even need to bother with a "token" election.

"Forget change, I want improvement!"

I want to say, Jake, I

July 24, 2008 - 14:54 ET by Rbastid

I want to say, Jake, I don't want to be around if there's a media mutiny and you're one of the mutineers. I would be running for the hills.

I'm guessing this is her way of saying, "Our bosses want to talk to you about your Anti-Obama Hit Piece" The way Obama treated reporters with the Hillary bait and switch you'd think more people would do reports like this.

WOW, the arrogance, pride

July 24, 2008 - 15:03 ET by futbolisgreat1

WOW, the arrogance, pride and elitism of Obama and his advisors. WOW!

But that is how many Democrats think, they breath therefore they deserve it. They also believe that they know better than everyone else. The messiah is too high and mighty to hang out with the lowly, common people.

How any intelligent person can even consider voting for this naive, corrupt, elites, arrogant man is beyond comprehension.

God help our children and this great nation if this buffoon is elected President.

futbolisgreat,

July 24, 2008 - 15:19 ET by BadassBuckeye

Intelligent people won't vote for him, but the flock of sheeple in our country will. The majority of black voters will because they will feel they need to back a brother up(coming from a co-worker who is black and conservative), the young voters(the ones who go and vote) will because the media makes him out to be a cool guy, and the rest of the sheeple will because the media told them so....

Unfortunately I think the idiotic sheeple vastly outnumber the intelligent in this country.....so you can expect our new initials to be the U.S.S.A once he gets in power.

I, unfortunately, agree with you Badass

July 24, 2008 - 16:02 ET by DEVILDOCMOM

Although I talk to people I work with regarding the two candidates, I find many have fallen for the bho trap. I am sure, by now, you have heard apologist speech...he is a total loser.

Jake Tapper, the Voice In

July 24, 2008 - 15:08 ET by SickofLibs

Jake Tapper, the Voice In The Wilderness.

Actually, I'm astonished this got on the air. I guess there's no more 5-second delay?

Obamatrons overconfidence will...

July 24, 2008 - 15:23 ET by BEGRUNT

become his undoing. That and his arrogance. I think we are beyond saturation point, and were sick of it.

"If a man does his best, what else is there"?

General George S. Patton Jr.

He's killinghimself.

July 24, 2008 - 15:49 ET by matthewleonmartin

While he's off showboating to Europe he is steadily losing ground in states he once had a solid lead in, despite being on TV more than McCain bya 10-to-1 ratio.

He once was way up (around 8-12 points) in Penn, Ohio, Mich, and Colorado.

Now he's either tied or only up by 1 in those states.

Can you imagine, what the media will do if McCain wins by 50-60 electoral votes. He very well could.

Osama Bama's growing arrogance!

July 24, 2008 - 20:04 ET by goldenthroat

If this type of reporting continues on the liberal networks, then his Highness and Most Excellency, the Lord Obamessiah, along with his MSM disciples are sending what may be left of this farce of a campaign right into the dumper.

How much more of a pompous, arrogant persona can this left-wing, self-centered moron portray without it blowing up in his face?

"How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?" - Firesign Theatre

Just wait and see what Michelle does with the White House

July 24, 2008 - 15:25 ET by IgnatzJFahrquar

if they get in.

I'll leave the numerous possibilities to everyone's imagination.

Imagine what SNL could do with this if they had the guts. Maybe Kimmel will run with it.

"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain

The annointed one in Berlin

July 24, 2008 - 15:28 ET by Prester John

"Addressing more than 200,000 elated Europeans massed in Berlin at twilight, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama promised Thursday that he would work to unite Christians, Muslims and Jews in a safer, more united world."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/12028.html

Hell, all they needed to have the perfect rally was a bunch of people marching in formation and carrying torches.

Yes..

July 24, 2008 - 15:46 ET by BadassBuckeye

and once he gets them united all in one place a third of the muslims will blow thems selves up to take out the jews and christians...

And Stop Calling Me Shirley

July 24, 2008 - 15:34 ET by Squonkamatic

Awww!! Poor Jake, always sad to see someone realize that they are just another sucker on someone else's vine, even when they deserve it ... One jaundicedly wishes for a real-life replay on this flight of that plot device from Airplane! where everyone who has the steak or the fish ends up with food poisoning, McCroskey starts sniffing glue again, and their only hope is an inflateable Ottopilot manually blown up by Lara Logan.

Ottopilot Don't you

July 24, 2008 - 15:44 ET by RickTaLife

Ottopilot

Don't you mean Obamapilot? :-P

Oh man, Barry can't be THIS stupid, can he?

July 24, 2008 - 15:37 ET by Blonde

Even dumb dogs know not to bite the hand that feeds them.

And B Hussein Obama & his posse are dissing the media by limiting their access....and putting them in the back of the plane as lesser mortals?

Too funny....it's the kiss of death. Once the media gets mad at him, look out.

This guy really is dumber than a box of rocks.

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

How true Blonde!!!

July 24, 2008 - 17:19 ET by BEGRUNT

"stupid is stupid does"

"If a man does his best, what else is there"?

General George S. Patton Jr.

What's the chance now

July 24, 2008 - 15:47 ET by Calypso Jones

That the media will take out the guy that they have propped up?

NO CHANCE IN HELL...

July 24, 2008 - 22:45 ET by danybhoy

The MSM & the left will try to take out those media operations that are not down with "Obama-mania", like talk radio & FoxNews. The "Fainess Doctrine" will be used on radio, while the DNC has tried to shut out FoxNews by pulling out of debates that were to be on Fox, if you remember.

BTW, on the subject of FoxNews & Obama, on John Gibson's radio gig, I heard audio of Obama on his plane complaning about the fact that most of the TVs the troops were watching were tuned into FoxNews. He half joked that he thought that was because of a White House directive. I bet that FoxNews, & El-Rushbo have a harder time getting to the troops if Obama is elected. MSNBC & AirAmerica will be the order of the day. He could not stand the fact that the troops would'nt watch the anti-war, anti-American crap that CNN-I or MSNBC put out every day, how dare they get the real story from FNC.

"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth

American Journalists are Trampling the Sacrifice of Our Fathers,

July 24, 2008 - 16:39 ET by ZachJonesIsHome

American Journalists
are Trampling the Sacrifice of Our Fathers, Mothers, Sisters and Brothers

(Unfortunately, the
Journalists taking part in this travesty far outnumber the headstones at Normandy) from
zachjonesishome.wordpress.com
Specifically:

http://zachjonesisho...

zachjonesishome.wordpress.com

EARTH to JAKE

July 24, 2008 - 17:27 ET by Delsa

SOBama IS President!

We peons just don't know it yet.

The "O" on the tail of his jet is really a "0" ZERO.

SOBama says he "does not look like the others who came before him"(refrence to speaking in Germany)

What did he mean?

Is he the first Tall guy?

The first guy with Big ears?

The first 3 point shooter in a suit?

Surely he was not talking about his Color?

His Race?

Or the fact he is Black?

He could not have meant he was not the first Marxist!

Because others like him have spoken there!

This guy has some big brass balls and

I'm with Jesse Jackson!

Let's cut em off!!

Well, Jake, me boy, this is

July 24, 2008 - 17:51 ET by celator

Well, Jake, me boy, this is just a hint of what he will do to the free press if he becomes president. Don't you get it, yet? WAKE UP.

The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?

Mr. Zero thinks he can rid the world of nukes

July 24, 2008 - 18:10 ET by nkviking75

I note Obama proposes to rid the world of nuclear weapons. How naive, how stupid can one man be? A rudimentary study of human nature would tell him that someone somewhere would refuse to participate in the disarmament. If the civilized nations disarmed, they'd immediately be completely vulnerable.

What a colossal idiot. I'm just shocked that someone this foolish can get nominated, or that there are that many Americans who can be taken in by him.

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

I was thrilled !!!

July 24, 2008 - 19:45 ET by wdhorning

I was thrilled it was a lack luster.

It was only a type of hype from his pipe.

Er, about Obama's new plane...

July 24, 2008 - 19:52 ET by seanrobins

Please go here for a closer look on the New Obama Plane Scandal!

sean robins
blog.seanrobins.com

sean, yea and it's an ..Airbus 320...

July 24, 2008 - 20:16 ET by upcountrywater

So when's his speech planned to keep all those American jobs , in the USA?

Sure hope he speaks at Boeing, and right soon.

He's really running for world leader, his icon will be plastered everywhere.

Liberals62%

IranianUranium

As far as I'm concerned,

July 24, 2008 - 23:06 ET by motherbelt

As far as I'm concerned, that just proves it: he doesn't even pretend any more. The most important thing in his world is HIM. It's not about America anymore; it's all about HIM.

When a guy says in his speeches that it's not about him...he's just riding the wave....you know, the people are lifting him up, you'd better believe, it's about HIM.

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson

Damn MSM's Liberal Bias !

July 24, 2008 - 20:41 ET by

So how is this story an example of MSM's liberal bias? Silly me, I thought Jake Tapper was taking swipes at Obama - specifically his new plane and his staff. Is this NB's way of telling us Obama is a conservative? Or is it more evidence that NB staff believes its users are such kool aid drinking pinheads (they like the way O'Reilly thinks) that they can baffle 'em w/ their BS and the users will buy anything in any way NB wants them to?

On a slightly more serious note, I do appreciate NB's confidence in the rightness (excuse the pun) of their mission that they are comfortable posting stories that reflect a balance on the part of the MSM. Such as in this case, taking swipes at those on the left.

scratches head

July 24, 2008 - 20:46 ET by candance

How much needless energy did Obama waste having that plane refurbished to suit his own whims?

I'm telling you guys, Louis XVI had nothing on Barack Obama.

Mercy BO-coo

July 24, 2008 - 21:13 ET by cest moi

Barry Hubris Obama, the Eva Peron of politics, plays president for the masses. Puke.

Baraaaaak, Baraaaaaak......dont cry for........

July 24, 2008 - 21:52 ET by BEGRUNT

me Chicaaaagoooo.........................LOL!!

"If a man does his best, what else is there"?

General George S. Patton Jr.

I can only sit and hope...

July 24, 2008 - 22:12 ET by Interested and concerned CDN

that more in the media wake up to what BHO represents...

...he is what Iran's Aquavelvajad talks about in the forth coming distruction of Israel.

...he is the guy who will make Americans WISH they implimented Kyoto.

...Would you consider it a national ID if anyone in America could have one whether they were citizens, legal immigrants, visitors, or illegal aliens?

I am officially losing sleep over what this guy will do. I knew Kerry woulkd be a disaster in '04 but this guy, who has spent half his political life running for the next higher office, is becoming more and more frightening everyday.

It'll take just one journalist to take this guy down but is there one msm'er who can get in under his handlers radar?

replacing the flag with the O logo is "treasonous" behavior

July 25, 2008 - 00:15 ET by wdhorning

Obama has a "messiah" complex or his staff are promoting him as one. And of course the "masses are asses". Even John Kennedy did not do this. He was only promoted as someone with vigor and motivation and patriotic vision. (Obama has zero patriotism in my book.)

How can Obama be presidential material, and how could the Democrats nominate a person who replaces the American flag with his "O" logo? John Kennedy would not have dreamed of doing that. I mean replacing the American flag in this way would be like John Kennedy putting a hammer and sickle on his campaign airplane.

Even the late Doctor Martin Luther King would have been appalled. Doctor King loved this country and supported "the dream" with a unity under the American flag, where the American flag was the symbol of freedom and equality for all Americans.

Obama and company have "left the country," so to speak.

Also, Obama and company are behaving like pathetic, unpatriotic, disloyal, "rock stars", not presidential material and staff.

That's because he considers

July 25, 2008 - 00:20 ET by motherbelt

That's because he considers himself more than an American....he is for the whole world. His greatness is above country, above everything. He is an entity unto himself.

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson