The story behind my Obama question

The Chicago Sun-Times ^ | July 24, 2009 | Lynn Sweet

[theDentist]

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. ... Uh huh...

Does the WH Press office call every reporter and "suggest" they may be called on by the President?

[Poincare]

I would have loved to see the groaning and cursing when Obama and his staff found out just who was the Police Officer that Obama picked a fight with.

The question may have been looked at in advance, but the arrogant Obama’s answer most probably was not.

[TheOldLady]

"When Pres[__]ent [zer0] called on me, he had no idea what I would be asking."

She lost me right here.

[justkate]

Excellent!

I missed that entirely. My critical reading skills need some work

[ex-snook]

The question is should a noted Harvard African-American studies Professor be entitled to verbally abuse a policeman doing his job.

Are people who are not 'noted' or African American also shout in this manner.

A teaching moment is required as to who can receive this immunity.

[FreeReign]

I had assumed the question was planted and the response rehearsed, which made his miscalculation all the more inexcusable.

People with a wrong point-of-view tend to miscalculate about things related to that point-of-view.

For example if one has a prejudiced opinion about white people and cops it is part and parcel to that point-of-view that they will miscalculate in their opinions and their actions about that subject.

So while Obama's error appears to be inexcusable it is also, for Obama, routine.

[Mrs.Z]

***What? Now the reporter is supposed to apologize because she asked a question???***

I bet she has had DEATH THREATS.

Think about it.

A Chicago reporter daring to ask zero a question HE screwed up on?

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>Bull crap. Lynn Sweet is a Hussein sycophant.

She probably is... the 0’s answer, and the reactions it is causing is quite illustrative.

[theymakemesick]

I call bull... she asked the question as if she knew zero was aware of the incident - as if there were no question he was familiar with it.

[mort56]

Ms Sweet’s article show the true state of mainstream journalism today. Since when is it incumbent on a “journalist” to apologize or explain when one of their questions makes a sitting President uncomfortable? Not one of them had any concerns when Georg W Bush was being beaten up daily, but making Comrade Zero uncomfortable requires an 800 word explanation?

[Bahbah]

No conspiracy, folks.

Baloney, Lynn.

[Carley]

The teachable moment began when the won chose Sotomayor as his USSC nominee.

A women with a clear reputation for affirmative action, merit be damned.

[Verginius Rufus]

Last year when Jeremiah Wright became a household name and Obama was forced to make his throw-grandma-under-the-bus speech on race relations, the media wanted it to be a "teachable moment" when the wise black man enlightened the dumb racist whites about the topic of race.

I wouldn't doubt that the mainstream media is still hoping to turn this into another session of white guilt-tripping (which is what Obama was apparently trying to do with the question--make whites feel guilty over "racial profiling").

I wonder which will come first--man will walk on Mars, or Professor Gates will apologize to Crowley for calling him a "rogue cop" and a racist?

[Carley]

Don’t you mean WHINE and cheese parties.

[Carley]

The teachable moment began when the won chose Sotomayor as his USSC nominee.

A women with a clear reputation for affirmative action, merit be damned.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

When President Obama called on me, he had no idea what I would be asking.

I can almost believe that because he answered stupidly. Certainly if he had know the question was coming he would have prepared a more intelligent response.

Wouldn't he?

Then again, maybe not!

[IncPen]

Lynn Sweet is a serial Obama Fellater.

She’s been flogging his promotion since before anyone but hard core Illinois political watchers knew who he was.

If Obama’s press secretary falls down the stairs, he’ll have Sweet’s handprints on his back, because she richly deserves and desires a position in the administration.

[rawhide]

She looks like she’s had a rough life?

[Spok]

“So while Obama’s error appears to be inexcusable it is also, for Obama, routine.”

There’s no doubt that the circles the ‘Bama is accustomed to routinely spew hate and bigotry, and he’s bound to forget from time to time exactly who is listening. That’s what happened with his ‘clinging to guns and religion’ comment made to what he thought was a receptive crowd in San Francisco.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Professor Gates will apologize to Crowley for calling him a "rogue cop" and a racist

Forget the "racist" bit that charge has been thrown around so often that it is meaningless but the "rogue cop" slander should be responded to with a lawsuit for defamation. He accused Officer Crowley of corruption. Unless he can produce evidence he needs to pay through the nose.