"Let Me Just Cut You Off, Because I Don't Want You To Waste Your Question" (Obama to reporter)

National Review ^ | 12/16 06:03 PM | Byron York

[Behind Liberal Lines]

"Let Me Just Cut You Off, Because I Don't Want You To Waste Your Question"

That's what Barack Obama said today when John McCormick of the Chicago Tribune tried to ask about Rahm Emanuel's contacts with the Blagojevich team.

Obama said, "It would be inappropriate for me to comment…and I don't want to get into the details at this point." So a short time later, McCormick came up with a more acceptable question: "Do you or [Secretary of Education-designate Arne Duncan] have a better jump shot?" The whole thing had a "Saturday Night Live" feel to it.

The interaction with McCormick stood out from previous meetings with the press. And speaking about the exchange on MSNBC shortly after, NBC Washington bureau chief Mark Whitaker said that reporters have not been aggressive enough during Obama's post-election pressers.

"Our job is to hold him to account," Whitaker said, adding that he thinks "we're going to have to get tougher."

[HD1200]

June of 2002, State Senator Barack Obama (D-Chicago): …right now, my main focus is to make sure that we elect Rod Blagojevich as Governor, we—

Jeff Berkowitz: You working hard for Rod?

Barack Obama: You betcha.

Jeff Berkowitz: Hot Rod?

http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/11/obama-blagojevich-rezko-fitzgerald.html

[apocalypto]

Arrogant.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I see it as getting the obligatory tough question out of the way, just like when Sam Donaldson asked Clinton did he rape Juanita Broaddrick.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks! Harwood’s a partisan media shill from way back:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1197998/posts?page=21#21

current:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2149573/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066679/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2046240/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1956222/posts

http://freerepublic.com/tag/johnharwood/index

[Tallguy]

I hope Obama keeps this up. Arrogance toward the News media will get him nowhere fast. It’s totally counter-productive to what he is attempting & will negate his main strength (schmoozing).

[Doug TX]

joe didn’t expose squat. joe is the pet monkey on his own show.

[Sparky760]

His short temper is understandable. Obama is very distracted these days trying to decide who to throw under the bus next.

[HighlyOpinionated]

You know, I listened to the video of that and I thought “What in the world is he thinking that he says ‘I don’t want you to waste your question?’?” HUH?

Waste your question? As if the reporter is allotted A question and not Numerous questions?

Waste your question?

52 Million people WASTED their votes, but that was okay according to Barry O’.

[glorgau]

The “openness” begins. This will be the most transparent administration in history!

[Lancey Howard]

NBC Washington bureau chief Mark Whitaker said that reporters have not been aggressive enough during Obama's post-election pressers. "Our job is to hold him to account," Whitaker said, adding that he thinks "we're going to have to get tougher."

Huh???
AFTER 0bama is elected Whitaker wants to get tough?

Wow. What an assclown this Mark Whitaker is.

[Kenny]

I have to think that at least some of them miss real journalism. To actually dig and find the big story, to have your explosive headline hit the front page. The rush of investigative journalism that exposes the guilty. Maybe even asking a legitimate question at a press conference.

It has to be boring to keep recycling this political pablum.

[Palladin]

What a supercilious bastard that Obama is! He should remember (if he were really a Christian he’d know) that pride goeth before a fall. Pride was Satan’s sin. Obama follows a dark master.

[Palladin]

21 calls! I hadn’t heard that. Was this 21 calls between Rahm Emanuel and Blagojevitch? WOW!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Yup.

[PGalt]

They are not going to get tougher. They are like whipped puppies.

This is pathetic and painful to watch. Do they have any grownups left among them?

Exactly. Are there any men left in Washington?

[anniegetyourgun]

“The one” is snide and cheeky.

[Jeff Chandler]

They know they aren't dealing with those BOZOS from the GOP anymore.

No offense to Bozo the Clown.

[martin_fierro]

NBC Washington bureau chief Mark Whitaker said that reporters have not been aggressive enough during Obama's post-election pressers.

Ya THINK?!

[Tzimisce]

Well that question is above his pay grade. :)

Seriously though:

“Open Up Government to its Citizens: The Bush Administration has been one of the most secretive, closed administrations in American history. Our nation’s progress has been stifled by a system corrupted by millions of lobbying dollars contributed to political campaigns, the revolving door between government and industry, and privileged access to inside information-all of which have led to policies that favor the few against the public interest. An Obama presidency will use cutting-edge technologies to reverse this dynamic, creating a new level of transparency, accountability and participation for America’s citizens.”

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/

[missnry]

They are not going to get tougher. They are like whipped puppies.