Obama recognizes legitimacy of new media, grants HuffPost a question in his first press conference.
Obama recognizes legitimacy of new media, grants HuffPost a question in his first press conference.
In an important gesture that recognized the growing legitimacy of blogs and online media, President Obama last night called on Huffington Post reporter Sam Stein to ask a question at the White House press conference. (We consider it the first time a legitimate new media reporter has been formally called on by the President.) Stein asked whether Obama would endorse Sen. Patrick Leahy’s proposal to establish “a truth and reconciliation committee” to investigate the misdeeds of the Bush administration. Obama declined to specifically endorse Leahy’s idea, but offered this perspective:
My view is also that nobody’s above the law and, if there are clear instances of wrongdoing, that people should be prosecuted just like any ordinary citizen. […]
So I will take a look at Senator Leahy’s proposal, but my general orientation is to say let’s get it right moving forward.
Watch it:
Liberal blogger Joe Sudbay of AmericaBlog was credentialed to attend the press conference last night. And prominent liberal radio host Ed Schultz was rewarded with a front-row seat. Politico’s Michael Calderone reports which outlets got to ask a question (Politico was not one of them). Correspondents for The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, Time, and Newsweek also were not on the White House’s pre-selected list of reporters to be called on.
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It was awesome to see Ed sitting next to Helen last night.
Thank you, President Obama, for calling on Helen. The Bush machine totally ignored her for years, yet she kept on attending, raising her hand and just being ignored.
Stay classy, Mr. President. It’s the right thing to do and it drives the Wingnuts absolutely nuts.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:42 amStill, I hope he takes a cue from his recent townhalls and calls upon more media from the right as well. It allows us to get into the heads of the talking points that are coming. But its only fair.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:46 amThe press asked real questions last night and received real answers. After listening to last night’s press conference and comparing it with Bush’s press conferences and comparing the differences it became clear to me why the press never asked Bush real questions about anything. It’s because Bush wouldn’t answer the question and he would laugh and makes jokes, sometimes at the expensive of the reporter.
It’s going to take some time adjusting to having an adult in the WH vs the man-child Bush.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:48 amDo the Republicans in Congress realize that as President, Obama can call as many press conferences and as many town halls that he wants and the press will always be there. The lying bloviacs in the Senate will eventually become meaningless along with the “porkulus” Limbaugh.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:51 amThank you, President Obama..
February 10th, 2009 at 9:56 am43: Huffinton Post? Heh, is that compatible with Winduhs 1998?
February 10th, 2009 at 9:57 amI was very pleased to see HuffPo, Americablog, Ed Schultz represent a change that may be coming to the press conferences. That Politico, Tribune, WSJ and the weekly news mags were not represented tells me that the winds have changed. The conservative dominated media is going to have to move over for the new guys on the block — the ones who represent the arena where news is disseminated today.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:57 amI have no doubt that the conservative media will have their day, but last night was a breath of fresh air.
Cats r Flyfishn Says:
“It’s going to take some time adjusting to having an adult in the WH vs the man-child Bush.”
I know what you mean Cats. I watched the presser last night and not once did I hear Obama call on a reporter by using a snarky nickname. It is refreshing to watch a grownup show them how it’s done!
February 10th, 2009 at 9:58 amWell it’s about time. Yes the internet will overtake print and MSM because individual internet news orginizations report NEWS WITHOUT THE SPIN…BASED ON FACTS.
The public knows who is spinning the news or not doing there jobs investigating or asking questions of importance.
I myself do not trust MSM period. The corporate slant in more then evident. PURELY SAD.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:58 amGreat posts, CatsR. Obama not only restored the vitality of the press conference, I think he took it to a whole new level.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:58 amThe least Stein could have done was to change out of his pajamas and wash the Cheeto’s resin of his hands… jeez, thee liberal bloggers!
February 10th, 2009 at 10:02 amoff his hands…
February 10th, 2009 at 10:02 amGreat press conference. So glad he called on Helen Thomas. I am a huge fan. I think the Bushies were afraid of her!
February 10th, 2009 at 10:03 amAs for blogs, they should be represented. Good place for news, and for gauging public sentiment.
Yes, how optimistically the liberals can see things. I heard more loudly Obama’s part of his response that said “…I will be looking forward not backward.” Not much horsepower for inquiry into Bush in that answer.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:07 amduring ed’s show yesterday, broadcasting from the studio of the Center for American Progress, btw, he was talking about being a “coal guy”… clean coal, of course… he was talking about the reclamation efforts, how the land is made purty again…
and then a lady called in to agree that her area looks good but the water supply has been ruined…
i wanted to remind him that his host, CAP, was against coal…
now, i see an advertisement for “clean air” nuclear energy on this site…
so confused!
February 10th, 2009 at 10:08 amSo with the recognition of the new media at the Presidents table, are we witnessing a nail in the coffin of the Print Media who are truly threatened by our now not so new net news sources?
February 10th, 2009 at 10:11 amI wasn’t watching FuxNews… did they do a split screen with BillO and if so, did his head explode on screen when our new President called on librul blogger, Sam Stein?
Because that? Would have been priceless!
PEACE
February 10th, 2009 at 10:12 amgus smith Says: “Not much horsepower for inquiry into Bush in that answer.”
Perhaps. It’s not his job to prosecute the malfeasance of the previous administration anyways. He has plenty to keep him occupied.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:13 amI believe we will see the DOJ begin to chop away at former Bushivistas, one by one they will go down until George and Dick are standing there naked for the world to see.
Wasn’t Jimmy/Jeff Gannon/Guckert a blogger?
Just sayin’.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:13 amMysteriousTraveller Says:
Wasn’t Jimmy/Jeff Gannon/Guckert a blogger?
I believe the word you’re looking for is “bugger”.
PEACE
February 10th, 2009 at 10:18 amLets not fall all over ourselves about how wonderful Obama was last night. He gave a highly equivocal answer to this very fundamental question about rule of law, on the same day his DOJ continued the Bush admins abuse of state secrets in opposing any court hearings on illegal renditions, torture etc.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:24 am“Oh, wrack; oh, hope-wreck, oh day of despond” [from a novel by Julian May]–they’re letting LIBRULS and BLOGGERS and NONREPUGS ask questions at a news conference? What’s this country coming to?
[Its senses, please, God.]
February 10th, 2009 at 10:27 amyeahhh… about that “new media”… looks doubtful it will remain FREE fro long… besides the advertisers, that is…
did anyone see the DAILY SHOW last night?
Walter Isaacson
(06:26)
Walter Isaacson thinks newspapers made a mistake by putting everything on the Internet for free.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
February 10th, 2009 at 10:30 am#23 spencer’s mom
February 10th, 2009 at 10:31 amLOL
Dr. Hussein Matt Says:
The few remaining reich-wingers are imploding with HODS (Hussein Obama Derangement Syndrome) over this. Priceless. What hypocrites though, none of the radical reich-wing dolts seemed to object when herr dubyah invited far right radical reich-wing talk radio hosts into the oval office. Hypocrites.
Love your syndrome! But for the repugs to have invited anyone other than mouthpieces [pun intended] to speak would have hinted that they viewed justice as a blindfolded woman with a scale to measure FAIRLY, rather than the proverbial “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” monkeys. Cannot decide which of them represents Chimpy. . . . they don’t have a headless one for “think–no.”
February 10th, 2009 at 10:31 amI thought Obama was particularly adept at turning the premises of some of the questioner. He didn’t let Mara Liasson get away with that bullshit suggestion that he needed to bring the R’s into the process earlier, and he blew up Chuck Todd’s ASS-ertion that the financial crisis was caused by the “fact” that the economy has been “driven” by consumer spending (overspending), and that if the Gov’t gets money into peoples hands they will just cause the same crisis over again.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:34 amGuido the Loving OBGYN Says:
Also, the Republicans right now are trying very hard to attribute Obama’s success to his use of new media. They are doing this to deflect attention away from their epic failures.
Are repugs crediting President Obama with ANYTHING? All I’ve heard is scorn, whining, “we’ve been robbed,” “woe is us,” “gotta get repugs back in power to save the nation,” etc.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:36 amI bet Spencer has one hell of a sense of humor, what with a mom like that.
Classic!
February 10th, 2009 at 10:37 amgus smith Says:
Yes, how optimistically the liberals can see things. I heard more loudly Obama’s part of his response that said “…I will be looking forward not backward.” Not much horsepower for inquiry into Bush in that answer.
Your pessimism is, in a way, understandable: the preceding 8 years of imperial “communication” have been characterized by [as Twain said?] “lies, damned lied, and statistics.” And with double-speak. And with red herrings. And with unprovable accusations. And with excuses. And with attacks instead of answers.
But why not give President Obama more than 3 weeks to turn those 8 years around? He’s ALREADY told more truth, reversed more destructive policies, instigated constructive changes, and admitted errors more than BushCo did in ITS ENTIRE 8 YEARS.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:40 amDidn’t We hear this from Bush Before?
On Afghanistan, Obama said twice that the challenges ahead would be “difficult” and often mentioned Pakistan in the same sentence. He drew a straight line from the region to the attacks of 9/11, calling it “the base to launch an attack that killed 3,000 Americans.”
In one of the most forceful passages of his inaugural speech, President Barack Obama delivered a tough message to Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda terror network.
“We say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you,” the President said.
Here we go AGAIN……………….
February 10th, 2009 at 10:46 amso that’s just dandy. can we stop dumping 55 gallon buckets of kool-aid on each other in our celebratory orgy and address the merits of what he’s saying?
for one, he seems to only acknowledge torture as the sole act of “wrongdoing”. what about the controlled demolition of our economy? what about the illegal wiretapping? what about the politicization of the DoJ? what about…
February 10th, 2009 at 11:03 amQ: Pres. O, do you know of any states in the Middle East region that possesses nuclear weapons?
A: Hrmmm, hummm, ummmm, we need to look forward…erm…
Why does Helen Thomas hate Murka?
February 10th, 2009 at 11:05 amfor one, he seems to only acknowledge torture as the sole act of “wrongdoing”. what about the controlled demolition of our economy? what about the illegal wiretapping? what about the politicization of the DoJ? what about…
Hey, you must hate Murka, too…Just like that horrible Helen Thomas…
February 10th, 2009 at 11:06 amWow, a lot of Obama haters here this morning. Me, I’m happy because we now have a man in office who is an open and honest leader….a real change.
He might be wrong about some things but he has shown the ability to reverse course if he finds himself in error….a real change.
as for the bush cabel…..he said no one is above the law…..a real change….just because he doesn’t lock them up now doesn’t mean that nothing will happen…..
All you naysayers really want bush back, really?
February 10th, 2009 at 11:13 amNow, Fred, they aren’t “Obama haters” , they are “Freedom Fry Lovers.”
Really. You know that they ALL put Bush under the SAME microscopic evaluation in his first three weeks. He was doing so well by then (….what?…. because Clinton left the country in good shape?…. oh… hush…..)… where was I/ Oh, yes, Bush was doing so well three weeks in that he was ready for a vacation.
C’mon, if a president of the united states, with its three branches of government and laws and all, can’t create a Utopian Americ in 3 weeks, DESPITE staunch partizan opposition from the minority party and certain waverings within his own party, well, then what CAN he do?
Presidential rule: utopia in 3 weeks or impeachment.
(Great Schlong of Priapus…. you people are insane…..)
February 10th, 2009 at 11:24 amHey… did I see someone analyze on here? Has there been a filter change that allows analysis?
February 10th, 2009 at 11:26 amLove your sarcasm cagey. Yes the analogy filter has been fixed…..
February 10th, 2009 at 11:33 amDo you Obama bashers really want him personally leading the prosecution of these past crimes. If he doesn’t distance himself from this the whole process will be deemed strictly political to keep himself in office. Too many people treat him like he is as ignorant and shallow as the Republicans. He is not.
February 10th, 2009 at 11:43 amJust like people were bashing him for picking Geithner on ThinkFast. If you heard Geithner’s speech he knows he is working for the people now and not the bankers. And the reason he picked is because the experts believe he understood the problem like nobody else did. Three weeks Obama has been in office and a crisis has been looming the entire time. Maybe the trolls are right and too many of us believe he is the Messiah.
February 10th, 2009 at 11:46 amShayne Says:
February 10th, 2009 at 11:49 amWell said……everyone seems to be looking for any reason to tear Obama down and they don’t seem to mind bending logic to do it.
Shayne Says:
——————————————————————————–
Do you Obama bashers really want him personally leading the prosecution of these past crimes.
Ummm. YES. YES THEY DO. You see, if he were personally going after the criminals, then the Obama hater… I mean Freedom Fry Lovers could REALLY let go on Obama, and actually have something of substance to support their insane demands on the president. We’d have the: “partizan witch hunt” crew, and we’d have the “unitarian executive” crew, and we’d have the “He’s not being aggressive enough” crew.
February 10th, 2009 at 11:53 amFred Says:
Well said……everyone seems to be looking for any reason to tear Obama down and they don’t seem to mind bending logic to do it.
asking for accountability is hardly “bending logic”.
let’s just send a few more unmanned drones into pakistan… and maybe deploy another 20-30K more troops to afghanistan… or keep turning a blind eye to the crimes in gaza…
February 10th, 2009 at 12:21 pmwearechange, you forgot to point out that he bumped his head yesterday.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:26 pmed’s cracking me up this morning… he’s thoroughly enjoying the hubbub created with his seating… he said the politico guy came up and asked him if his seat was assigned and he had to hold back from answering the way he would’ve liked, but yes, he picked a number like everyone else… something new they’re not used to…
just imagine the incredulous reactions to this new guy getting that front row seat! ha! with a day pass yet! ha ha!
and now he’s buddies with helen thomas! w00t!
February 10th, 2009 at 12:33 pmwearechange, your link makes it clear that you hate Obama……So?
The era of intstant gratification is over. Are you a child?
February 10th, 2009 at 12:34 pmWhile some of you heard Obama say he wasn’t going to prosecute Bush, Cheney, and all the other lawbreakers from the previous administration, I heard him say he wasn’t ruling it out. Look, he can’t stand up there and say (as much as we would love it), “Hell, yeah, I intend to throw Bush and Cheney’s war criminal asses in jail.” Technically, that would be pre-judging their guilt or innocence.
Now, we know they’re guilty because they’ve admitted authorizing waterboarding, and no matter what their lame-assed defense is about its legality, Bush and Cheney are wrong. But a prosecutor has to build a case and that means there have to be investigations, so we can find out who’s willing to testify (in exchange for remaining free) so a case can be brought.
In the meantime, there is something the rest of us can do. Any state that lost soldiers in the Iraq War (an illegal war) can prosecute Bush for murder. It will take us citizens writing to the state prosecutors and putting pressure on them. The People’s E-Mail Network (The PEN) has a site we can visit to learn more about it. Part of this effort may require extending the statute of limitations, so that Bush and Cheney can be prosecuted.
More info here: http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum933.php
February 10th, 2009 at 12:35 pmgood point:
ed’s amazed that his seat is such a story to the righties,
February 10th, 2009 at 12:50 pmwhen the righties were actually in the white house with boosh…
…
this is the part i was waiting for:
So I will take a look at Sen. Leahy’s proposal, but my general orientation is to say let’s get it right moving forward.
thank you, sir, said i…
we now have an actual United States Justice Department.
there’s SO so much to do… let’s go.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:59 pmFred Says:
wearechange, your link makes it clear that you hate Obama……So?
The era of intstant gratification is over. Are you a child?
fred, are you supposed to be an adult?
and are you so entrenched in the false dichotomy of republican/democrat and “new president”/”old policies” that you are somehow OK with the US killing civilians in a country that congress has not declared war on?
i mean seriously, fred…
what’s with this either/or fallacy? obama is somehow beyond reproach because he’s not bush?
don’t sell yourself so short, fred.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:13 pmwe’re not through the woods yet, buddy.
katy Says:
katy, transparency without accountability is nothing more than a public relations campaign slogan. why are you giving the bush cabal a free pass?
if the collective bush administration were a serial sex offender who lived down the block and preyed on the neighborhood kids would you be as supportive of this “moving forward” policy?
there can be no “moving forward” without truth and reconciliation.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:20 pmwearechange Says:
katy Says:
katy, transparency without accountability is nothing more than a public relations campaign slogan. why are you giving the bush cabal a free pass?
huh. didn’t know i was.
and i don’t know what you are referring to.
and i don’t much care.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:59 pm