Perpetual Post Reactions to Obama News Conference
JESSICA BADER:
- One thing I noticed in Obama’s opening remarks was the emphasis on the need for many ideas and plans to get the country back on track. Given that Mitch McConnell’s latest strategy seems to be arguing that the President has “too many ideas,” this was an effective early pushback.
- One thing I noticed from this press conference as opposed to the first one was that there was more of an effort to call on reporters outside of the front row, as well as specifically going to reporters from outlets less-than-friendly to him (although the Fox News and Washington Times guys were less adversarial in their questioning than some of the more “mainstream” types).
- This may say more about me than anything else, but the high point of the hour was easily the response to the tax deductions question. If only a small fraction of our elected officials were as capable of making sense and explaining their reasoning, taking a scare-quote sounding question and revealing what’s really behind that curtain…
AKIE BERMISS:
- Its a pleasure to hear President Obama speak somewhat candidly with the press. Though I always have to worry just how many of these questions are pre-approved, he carried the day well. He spoke eloquently on every subject launched at him. I know this is something like his second prime-time news conference, but it still such a vast difference from the tenor of the last eight years that its almost: a novelty.
- The real problem for Obama is going to be converting the news outlets to long-game players. I think its clear that some of them have started to catch on. But its clear from the questions about taxes and the deficit that people aren’t sure what “long-term effects” really are. The President seems to labor under the strain of trying to explain simply how all his infrastructure, healthcare, energy spending is going to be good for the country in the long term.
- I particularly enjoyed his dealing with the follow up question about why it took him so long to respond with anger about AIG: “It took days because I like to know what I’m talking about.”
- Agreed with Jessica, he appears to be deliberately calling on reports not in the front row but peppered throughout the crowd. Sometimes to the obvious confusion and consternation of the called-upon reporters. Some of them stood up and asked their questions as if they we’ren’t sure he’d meant to call on them.
- The over-all picture is this: Energy, Schools, Healthcare. Let’s invest in those things now and in the future they will pay back exponentially. They will also ensure that when our economy is healthy again — its not a passing thing. He’s got a damned good plan — but can he get it through? I suspect the American people know that he’s probably working on it. And he’s just saying: “Trust me: I’m the President.”
- I honestly do keep waiting for some perfect enemy of Obama to rise up from the throng and never be heard from again. He’s so good the even when he’s flustered he can recover before the press corps pounces. (i think the press is a little scared of him)
- All in all, however: nothing really new. Eloquemt amd clear as always but, nothing he has been saying since forever. Its great to watch him work the crowd, but it might be time for us to kick back for a while and wait for things to kick in. He’s just repeating himself. Which CAN’T be good. I’m tired of it now, even though i still agree with his positions. still it would be nice if someone managed to ask him a truly meaty question and he really had to dig and find the answer. Thankfully, Michelle likely makes sure to maintain his chops. And as new things develop, there’ll be more press conferances. And more opportuties for President Obama to show his A-game.