Obama 'Major Address' Panned by Fans in the Press; AP Barely Musters Eight Paragraphs, But Debuts New Halo

If you're starting to lose Jonathan Alter, reporters at Politico, and other left-leaning outlets, you're starting to get into trouble. Double that if you can't even get Julie Pace at the Associated Press, aka the Administration's Press, to muster more than eight paragraphs relating to a 53-minute speech pre-positioned as a "major address."

Hunter Walker has compiled several less than complimentary tweets at Politicker, including the following:

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Before the speech was over, Politico’s Mike O’Brien begged the president to stop.

Mike O'Brien@mpoindc
In terms of politics, this speech could have ended about 20 minutes ago. Drive your message, take your ball, go home.
14 Jun 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite

On the air, MSNBC’s Jonathan Alter said it was “one of the worst speeches I’ve ever heard Barack Obama make.” He refused to back down.

Jonathan Alter@jonathanalter
Just cheerleading BO doesn't help him. He needs a sharper, more cogent message with some memorable lines. I ain't walking my criticism back
14 Jun 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite

ABC News reporter Devin Dwyer felt like we were all being lectured.

devindwyer@devindwyer
Obama speech in Ohio felt more lecture or courtroom arg than rally. He streamlined pitch, imbued urgency, said voters will break stalemate.
14 Jun 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite

... Yahoo! News White House correspondent Olivier Knox took note of the massive word count of the speech (for the record, the official White House transcript clocked in at just under 6,500 words).

Olivier Knox@OKnox
I ask colleague for CQ transcript of Obama speech. Response: "Sure, but it looks like they only have the first 45,000 words."
14 Jun 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite

The long running time of President Obama’s speech made Politico’s Jennfier Epstein think of a new inspirational maxim for the country.

Jennifer Epstein@jeneps
In America we don't quit til we've spoken for 54 minutes
14 Jun 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite

Buzzfeed’s Zeke Miller was clearly unimpressed.

Zeke Miller@ZekeJMiller
There is nothing new in this speech.

That's because there's nothing new at the White House -- just the same failed policites which have led to 3-1/2 miserable years.

Pace's coverage at AP was forced from beginning to end, up to and including the "halo" photo partially seen at the beginning of this post (AP original is here). Her report is so boring I can't muster up the energy to excerpt anything.

If we see passing out and fainting at Obama rallies this around, it will probably occur as a result of people pretending to seem interested while it's impossible to truly remain so. Some members of the press are clearly tired of faking it.

Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.