The Ventura County Star reports that Newsweek editor Jon Meacham spoke at the Reagan Library, and expressed the viewpoint that President Obama should be given a chance to see if his policies will work.
"I’m trying to give Obama some time," Meacham said, speaking Tuesday night before more than 500 people at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
"I don’t think Obama is a closet socialist I think he’s a very careful man," he added. "As a journalist, I did not drink the Obama Kool-Aid last year. I think if he walks across the Potomac, his feet will get wet."
That might come as a surprise to someone who saw the gooey Obama covers of Newsweek, like the one that caused NBC's Brian Williams to ask Obama about the "honors" that have come his way? Or Meacham’s gauzy statements in appearances on the Charlie Rose show on PBS. On one, he oozed, "He can’t write an ineloquent check, this man."
On another Rose show with colleague Evan Thomas right after the election, he disagreed with Thomas claiming there was a "slightly creepy cult of personality" around Obama, and compared Obama’s charisma to Reagan’s:
He understands the character of Obama in this drama he's constructed. It's fascinating. He says, ‘I am a screen on which people project their visions, their hopes,’ and he could be a redemptive figure as long as race was implicit and not explicit. As long as he was as, you know, smart as he could be, work as hard as he could -- as Evan says, create a FDR-like circle around him with everyone trying to help him, he could be the center of attention, the star of this, and that's, I think -- and this is -- I slightly disagree. I don't think it's creepy. I think it's -- I think it's like Reagan. I think it's like great charismatic leaders who project brilliantly, but who are, in fact, in control -- very much in control behind the scenes.
He and Rose then discussed how Obama looked down at the adoring masses at the end of a triumphant speech, like the convention speech in Denver:
MEACHAM: He watches us watching him.
ROSE: Exactly. He does --
MEACHAM: It's amazing.
ROSE: It is amazing.
The Ventura County paper noted Meacham said nice things about Reagan's presidency, with Nancy Reagan in the audience:
"I would not be doing what I’m doing, either at Newsweek or with history, were it not for Ronald Reagan. For me, President Reagan made politics appealing and seductive," he said.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan attended the forum. This week she received an honorary doctorate for her contributions to public service from Eureka College in Illinois, President Reagan’s alma mater. Meacham addressed her directly at one point in his talk.
"The United States of America and the world at large owe your husband a debt that cannot be repaid," he said.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Wow
April 2, 2009 - 20:14 ET by well99Next thing you know Chris Matthews will say he didnt get a tingle down his leg.Mr Meacham was that cherry or blackberry koolaid you didnt drink?
I did not drink the Obama
April 3, 2009 - 04:20 ET by SwornenemyI did not drink the Obama Kool-Aid last year.
But what I failed to mention that I found it much easier and more convienient to main line the kool aid.
SE
April 3, 2009 - 08:00 ET by well99That would not surprise me one bit.I think they need to send the whole msm to Detox.
And right after that he
April 3, 2009 - 08:24 ET by motherbeltAnd right after that he said "I did not have sexual relations with that woman...."
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
What an absolute ball of crock!
April 2, 2009 - 20:24 ET by goldenthroatMeacham? NOT drinking the Obama kool-aid?
"He watches us watching him!" PUL - EEEEEZE!
This dunderhead, along with his left-coast, bleeding-heart, 'do as I say, not as I do" liberal quasi-jounalists did nothing BUT drink the Obama kool-aid right from the get-go! Isn't it interesting how they are now trying to wiggle their way out of the political swamp they had a major hand in creating!
I haven't subscribe to Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, Time or any other "news magazine" in years and have absolutely no intentions of ever doing so again. It is this kind of irresponsible press that fed the looney left the lies and deceit of what we're going to have to put up with for the next four years.
And what an insult to the memory of Ronald Reagan that these comments were made at the library named after him - makes me want to lose my lunch.
Who am us, anyway?" - Firesign Theatre
Meacham was making the
April 2, 2009 - 21:07 ET by kgMeacham was making the Obama Kool Aid and passes it around to his staff. Problem is he keeps sampling the stuff throughout.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
Heh...
April 2, 2009 - 23:35 ET by Cortillaen"I did not drink the Obama Kool-Aid last year." Bwaahahaahahahaa!!! ... oh, wait, you're serious? *sputter* Bahahaaahahaha*gasp*hahaahahahaaa!
Obama isn't just a joke, he turns everyone around him into jokes!
www.daybydaycartoon.... Proving that conservative comedy is very real.
"With your mind as high as Mt. Fuji you can see all things clearly. And you can see all the forces that shape events; not just the things near to you." - Miyamoto Musashi
Meacham paid due respect to President Reagan
April 2, 2009 - 20:32 ET by Worried"The United States of America and the world at large owe your husband a debt that cannot be repaid," he said.
But that does not excuse him for making a fool of himself and the writers that work at Newsweek. The Old Media is to blame for the propping up of King of the World Barack Obama and I will never forget it. Obama threw another trillion at the world today and he is loving the power he holds.
Someday some reporter who went ga ga over Obama and finally realizes what damage he is doing to us will utter this words to a group of young people:
"The Old Media owes Americans that knew better than to be swayed by Obama a debt that canot ever be repaid."
it's no wonder
April 2, 2009 - 20:42 ET by puredmashiethat old media's revenues are tanking, when you get such a prime example as to why that is.
swing hard in case you hit it.
If Meacham cannot see that
April 2, 2009 - 20:59 ET by snaggletoothieIf Meacham cannot see that the rhetoric accompanying the stimulus bill was the exact opposite of the reality he should take up a different line of work. That assault on America's political and economic systems was enough to cause me to get over my desire to give Obama six or twelve months to find his way. He knows where he wants to go and I don't want him to take me there.
Does Meacham think 'we' are idiots?
April 2, 2009 - 21:19 ET by The Smokin FrogDid Meacham read his books? Does Meacham think 'we' are idiots? He has never said or meant what he said or meant in the past? Of course Obama's a socialist and Meacham, as well as the rest of the left, approves. I really love the way they praise Reagan now. Whenever they need to prove Obama's legitimacy they drag out Reagan. He's nothing like Reagan. Reagan loved the American Republic and he came out of the Democrats. Obama hates the American Republic. He says Capitalism will look different now. Right It will look like socialism or Marxism, but we will still call it Capitalism. Meacham most certainly drank deeply of the Obama Kool-Aid.
TSF Protests!
Feh.
April 2, 2009 - 21:46 ET by dervish"I would not be doing what I’m doing, either at Newsweek or with history..."
He can do what he wants with Newsweek, but he should leave history alone. His book about Andrew Jackson stinks.
But he SAYS he didn't drink Kool-Aid
April 2, 2009 - 22:33 ET by KC MulvilleThat makes it all better.
I have given Obama some time.
April 2, 2009 - 23:26 ET by JWFMy proclamation: BIG FAT FAIL.
IMHO
April 2, 2009 - 23:28 ET by CTMeacham is full of crap.
if he walked
April 2, 2009 - 23:38 ET by Wesen" if he walks across the Potomac, his feet will get wet."
As if Jesus' feet stayed dry...
Change of format
April 3, 2009 - 02:23 ET by chaosmongerNewsweek is mulling the idea of totally changing their format to better fit the demographics of their readership. They have done extensive research for which model will best work to keep existing customers, while trying to take on a younger group of readers in the information age. They are going to following the format of another magazine that is somewhat of an icon in American media...Tiger Beat. It's a win-win, says a Newsweek insider, who would like to remain anonymous.
MEACHAM AND NEWSWEEK ARE DOUCHEBAG
April 3, 2009 - 02:57 ET by Rod PatrickWhy would Reagan Library invite this scumbug and his Dirty Newsweek to enter, or even get near the facade of a place in honor of the Great Conservative Leader of our generation?
Liberals and Social Engineers like Meacham should be declared PERSONA NON-GRATA in Conservative shrines like Reagan Library.
This is shameful indeed.
I second your motion. Let
April 3, 2009 - 08:36 ET by oorampI second your motion. Let them stay with the other rats in New York City.
Remember the republican prosperity 94-06,
As the democrat depression deepings 06-??
You NewsBusters folks have got to have more faith in people.
April 3, 2009 - 03:44 ET by Rush FanI believe Jon Meacham when he says that "I did not drink the Obama Kool-Aid last year." I believe him because I have faith in mankind, and my belief that most people are truthful. What reason would he have to lie?
Unlike you NewsBusters folks, I also believe President Barack Hussein Obama when he says that after 20 years attending Rev. Wrights church with his family that he did not know the extent of Rev. Wright's controversial comments until recently.
I also believe President Obama unequivocally when he said: "The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation."
Finally, as somone who believes that people are basically truthful, I truly believe that President Obama was telling the whole truth when he described his relationship with terrorist Bill Ayers this way: "This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis."
Newsweeks Jon Meacham and President Obama are men of truth. You just have to have faith in mankind, and rid yourself of skepticism.
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p.s. Sorry, but I didn't have an opportunity to participate in an April Fools joke until today. My bad!
was Meacham ever on Fox?
April 3, 2009 - 06:05 ET by TWOTIMETUNAI had to turn it to another channel when I saw him on, he was so biased towards ovomit.
The Government is the Enemy
No, he snorted it.
April 3, 2009 - 06:35 ET by Red JeepNo, Meacham snorted the kool-aid to get it in his system faster.
IV
April 3, 2009 - 11:58 ET by StarAZHe hung in IV.
Walking on water
April 3, 2009 - 08:13 ET by BuzzyI think if he walks across the Potomac, his feet will get wet."
What Meacham wanted to say was only the bottom of his feet will get wet.