David Brooks: Obama Displays 'a Kind of ESPN Masculinity'

NewsBusters ^ | May 15, 2012 | P.J. Gladnick

[PJ-Comix]

It might have sounded quite reasonable to David Brooks and his tight  circle of media friends but to most of the rest of us, using the term "ESPN Masculinity" to describe President Obama is just flat out hilarious. Brooks performs a comedy encore at the end of The ESPN Man story in the New York Times with his psychobabble description of Obama's "manliness." These supposed traits listed by Brooks are the reasons why he claims Obama remains somewhat popular despite a lousy economy.

First, let us go right to the ESPN Man money quote:

Normally, presidents look weak during periods of economic stagnation, overwhelmed by events. But Obama has displayed a kind of ESPN masculinity: postfeminist in his values, but also thoroughly traditional in style — hypercompetitive, restrained, not given to self-doubt, rarely self-indulgent. Administrations are undone by scandal and moments when they look pathetic, but this administration, guarded in all things, has rarely had those moments.

[PJ-Comix]

I think Brooks wrote this to counter the impression left by the Newsweek cover this week.

[PGR88]

All the talk about gay marriage and Obama being the first gay President has David Brooks in a state of excitement

[freeangel]

“....rarely self-indulgent”?????

Did he really write this with a straight face or is he really that stupid?

[baddog 219]

“ESPN Masculinity” to describe President Obama....
WHAT!.... If this president was anymore a be-itch..
he'd have a menstrual cycle

[ILS21R]

Obama has displayed a kind of ESPN masculinity

[Wizdum]

[Paladin2]

[Corporate Law]

After seeing him speak, I would say the latter, definitely the latter.

[skeeter]

[Lazamataz]

Brooks is part of the New York Times.

He is SUPPOSED to be utterly surreal.

[skeeter]

[Gay State Conservative]

Geeze...not *another* one with a thrill up his leg!

[Doc Savage]

If the Onion wasn’t such a biased liberal POS, I’d say they wrote this!

[LucianOfSamasota]

Does Brooks have a man crush on Obama?

[ilgipper]

rarely self-indulgent

That is the one that jumped out to me, too. Brooks lives in his own little bubble. Well, he and most of the media reside there.

[Hardraade]

God help us. Homo Islamicus.

[txrefugee]

The pathetic Brooks has a crush on The First Gay President.

[relictele]

You mean he sexually harasses his female co-workers?

[ConservativeStatement]

[ConservativeStatement]

And swears at Jesus.