Posted on 07/21/2011 7:23:08 AM PDT by RummyChick
In dealing with the press, Mayor Rahm Emanuel often tries to emulate his former boss, President Barack Obama. But Emanuel can’t match Obama’s calm demeanor.
In fact Emanuel’s temper can get the best of him. I found out yesterday when I asked him a question about where his children would go to school, and he let his famous temper emerge.
For some background, I had the chance to ask Barack Obama a similar question in 2008, just after he had won election and was transitioning to the White House.
Since the president had sent his own children – Malia and Sasha -- to private schools in Chicago we wondered how he might relate to the nation’s public education struggles.
Obama Family Vacations in Photos: Hawaii for the Holidays Obama Family Vacations in Photos: Hawaii for the Holidays LOOK
Obama Family Vacations in Photos: Hawaii for the Holidays
Obama the Family Man Obama the Family Man LOOK
Obama the Family Man
He replied in his typical calm and collected manner that his choice of school was a family decision. Fair enough.
Fast forward to July 2011 when I asked a similar question of Chicago's new Mayor Rahm Emanuel. During a sit down, one-on-one interview, I asked where Emanuel's three children will attend school upon their return to Chicago.
The interview was supposed to focus on a new Emanuel initiative – the creation of an Office for New Americans – but I crammed in questions on labor, Mayor Daley’s union negotiations, and more. But when his press secretary Tarrah Cooper said time was up just 10 minutes into what was scheduled as a 20 minute interview, I tossed him the school question.
Similar to his former boss, Emanuel said it's a private decision.
While I appreciate the desire for privacy, I tried to explain that the Mayor’s family is now in the public eye as Chicago's First Family, and that the public would want to know whether Emanuel is confident enough in the public school system to send his own children there. But Emanuel broke in.
“Mary Ann, let me break the news to you. My children are not in a public position,” he said, curtly. “I am. You’re asking me a value statement and not a policy. … No, no, you have to appreciate this. My children are not an instrument of me being mayor. My children are my children, and that may be news to you, and that may be new to you, Mary Ann, but you have to understand that I’m making this decision as a father.”
The mayor stood up to leave.
“I look forward to our future interview,” he said before unclipping his lanyard microphone and dropping it to the floor, and walking out of his office. I asked my camera man to stop rolling.
As I tried to explain further, Emanuel doubled back. He looked directly at my two college interns, and said, "You are my witnesses."
Then, the Mayor of Chicago positioned himself inches from my face and pointed his finger directly at my head. He raised his voice and admonished me. How dare I ask where his children would go to school!
"You've done this before," he said.
This was the Emanuel we had heard about, and it was one of the oddest moments in my 29 years of reporting.
My two interns followed out of City Hall and back to the station.
Several hours later I called the mayor directly since I happened on his cell number and saved it. I thought it might be best to clear the air. But no air was cleared.
“My children are private and you will not do this," he said into the receiver.
He said other children of public figures - Chelsea Clinton and the Obama girls - have been kept out of the public eye, despite media attention on the admission to the Sidwell Friends Academy in Washington D.C.
I tried to explain he had a point, but their parents too had to answer the question of what school they would attend. No one is trying to have lunch with the first children.
I also let him know that I felt wronged and bullied during his earlier tirade.
“You are wrong and a bully," Emanuel fired back. "I care deeply for my family. I don't care about you."
With that, he hung up the phone.
Not quite the same as his former boss, Barack Obama. But then again, this isn’t the White House.
Even pointing his finger at her can be construed as an assault.
he thinks like a criminal?
I bet Dead Fish Rahm knew about Gunwalker.
Was his pointing “normal” or in the shape of a gun?
Typical snoot....
If you look at the video someone shoved a hand in front of the camera. I don’t this it was Mary Ann.
You gotta watch the video. He is smarmy, snooty, and scary.
This guy, like his ex-boss are totally disgusting...to say nothing of the cloud of fraud and hypocrisy that enshrouds them. How low on the ladder of human existence does one have to live to vote for these reprobates.
The Chicago Democrap machine in action. Business as usual.
It's ok to brutalize Sarah Palin’s children though. Afterall they have been instructed correctly and taught the truth; therefore they are a future threat.
Looked like a female’s hand........doesn’t change the fact that rahmmy lost it, lost it big time.
Little man complex.
I thought it might have been the female aide who was shutting down the interview but after looking at it again it was Mary Ann who shut the camera down.
I don’t know anything about that reporter but I do give her Kudos for going outside of the approved agenda and asking some tough questions.
I liked the poster on the NBC Chicago site who quoted Glenn Reynolds: “I’ll start believing public schools are good enough for my kid, when people who tell me they are start sending their own kids there.”
“Game on!
I’ve learned the new-and-improved Rahm (Emanuel) has a way to punish the press when they report on stories he doesn’t like. He cuts off access.....NBC 5 political reporter Mary Ann Ahern, writing in her station’s blog The Ward Room
Ahern exlains:
When we asked why we were left out of the mix [of stations offered one-on-one interviews with Emanuel], the Emanuel communications team implied they weren’t happy with the coverage of the VIP inauguration. They didn’t challenge facts, but were upset with tone. So they left us out.
The inauguration cum coronation seems to be provoking more despair and resignation among Chicagoans than enthusiasm.”
Let’s get this straight
raising and schooling YOUR children is his business
raising and schooling HIS children is his business
got that?
(compare this arrogant twit’s tantrum to Chris Christie’s answer to the same question)
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