Posted on 07/25/2009 8:16:17 AM PDT by lex33
July 24, 2009
BY LYNN SWEET Sun-Times Columnist WASHINGTON -- I asked President Obama what turned out to be a provocative question at his press conference on Wednesday night -- well, it was his answer that was really provocative -- about the arrest of noted Harvard African-American studies Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his home in Cambridge, Mass.
I asked,"What does that incident say to you? And what does it say about race relations in America?"
Obama's answer included a sound bite picked up by scores of outlets, whether print, TV, radio or on the Web. Said Obama, "the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home."
Obama's answer also triggered a storm of questions to me -- by other reporters, readers e-mailing me and commenting on my blog about how and why I came to ask about Gates.
No conspiracy, folks.
When President Obama called on me, he had no idea what I would be asking. I had not written or blogged about the Gates incident, so no one in the White House had any clue that I was particularly interested in Obama's reaction.
I got a call from the White House press office about 6:30 p.m. confirming I was indeed going to show up at the 8 p.m. press conference. I was told I "may" get a question from the president. No one asked me -- directly or indirectly -- about what I may be asking. No one from the White House tried to plant any question.
By calling a prime time news conference, Obama got a chance to read a statement at the beginning pushing Congress to pass his health-care reform proposals.
But the White House did not set this up as a health-care-only press conference. There was no mandate on reporters who attended to ask questions about health care.
Ten journalists asked questions, including me; seven had health-care questions, three asked about other topics. The Sun-Times and Tribune Co. reporters both got questions -- the pairing of the rivals was by White House design.
Obama gave me the last question. I had no control over the timing. There was no chance for a follow-up. If I was called on earlier in the press conference, I may have asked about health care. I thought it was appropriate at the end to bring up another matter in the news--the Gates arrest. I would have posed the same question to President Bush.
Some saw a plot because I read my question. I do write them down for a White House press conference. No plot. I want to be concise.
Why ask a question like that of a racist? A Radical racist with known associations? What should be expected from a anti president?
What a load of pure horse chit. We already know they submit their questions in advance. And then are called from his list, who gets a question.....
The TRUTH will punish them....and Oprah, too. Their PLANTATION is at risk of being destroyed....
“I got a call from the White House press office about 6:30 p.m. confirming I was indeed going to show up at the 8 p.m. press conference. I was told I “may” get a question from the president. No one asked me — directly or indirectly — about what I may be asking. No one from the White House tried to plant any question.”
Me thinks she protests too much!
Ms Sweet is a racist! /gates
LOL--she's apologizing for tossing a hand grenade instead of a softball.
uh-huh
White devils made her ask it.
So, if the President knows in advance which reporters he is going to pick for the questions - even to the point that they call them in advance to make sure they are at the press conference - AND - if it was so planned out that the President had to hurry to make sure that reporter gets to ask his/her question - THEN - what is the point of having the other reporters there? Is that how it was done when Bush was President?
It is utterly ridiculous to believe that the Whitehouse did not know in advance what she was going to ask. They choreographed everything else for her. The question was supposed to deflect attention off of his horrible health care bill - but “the most brilliant orator we’ve ever had for a President” blew the answer & took more heat for it. Still going down in the polls, they’re going to have to pull something else out of their hats to get people’s attention focused somewhere else.
Sorry, you've humiliated "the one", you are obviously a radical right wing, possibly a "birther" plant and a racist who has temporarily halted the glorious march to Marxism. You must be professionally destroyed... /barf
Yep she asked a Joe the Plumber question and she should be afraid she’ll get the Joe the Plumber treatment.
Funny how they are always screaming that racism comes from the right but they are the ones obsessed with it, and turning every incident like this into a racial one.
“Gates, Wright, Sotomayer, Obama....ALL racists of the worst kind!! “
Isn’t that the truth? Day after day that is confirmed. The standard excuse seems to be “I could have phrased it better” after their inner-most true selves blurts out the naked, unvarnished truth.
Sure. That's why Obama said this when he called on her:
“Okay? All right. I tried to make that short so that Lynn Sweet would get her — the last question in.”
Poor Lynn. Trying so hard to help her fellow leftist in the White House, only to have it all explode in her face.
LOL!
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