quote:

Stay Tuned for More of 'The Obama Show'


In his first daytime news conference yesterday, President Obama preempted "All My Children," "Days of Our Lives" and "The Young and the Restless." But the soap viewers shouldn't have been disappointed: The president had arranged some prepackaged entertainment for them.

After the obligatory first question from the Associated Press, Obama treated the overflowing White House briefing room to a surprise. "I know Nico Pitney is here from the Huffington Post," he announced.

Obama knew this because White House aides had called Pitney the day before to invite him, and they had escorted him into the room. They told him the president was likely to call on him, with the understanding that he would ask a question about Iran that had been submitted online by an Iranian. "I know that there may actually be questions from people in Iran who are communicating through the Internet," Obama went on. "Do you have a question?"

Pitney recognized his prompt. "That's right," he said, standing in the aisle and wearing a temporary White House press pass. "I wanted to use this opportunity to ask you a question directly from an Iranian."

Pitney asked his arranged question. Reporters looked at one another in amazement at the stagecraft they were witnessing. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel grinned at the surprised TV correspondents in the first row.

The use of planted questioners is a no-no at presidential news conferences, because it sends a message to the world -- Iran included -- that the American press isn't as free as advertised. But yesterday wasn't so much a news conference as it was a taping of a new daytime drama, "The Obama Show." Missed yesterday's show? Don't worry: On Wednesday, ABC News will be broadcasting "Good Morning America" from the South Lawn (guest stars: the president and first lady), "World News Tonight" from the Blue Room, and a prime-time feature with Obama from the East Room.

***
A couple of more questions and Obama called it a day. "Mr. President!" yelled Mike Allen of Politico. "May I ask about Afghanistan? No questions about Iraq or Afghanistan?"

Sorry: Those weren't prearranged.

(Full column here).

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ORIGINAL: rulemylife

You know, somewhere along the line I missed you criticizing Bush for doing the exact same thing, but to a far greater degree.

During the eight years of the Bush administration, liberal outlets such as the Huffington Post often accused the White House of planting questioners in news conferences to ask preplanned questions. But here was Obama fielding a preplanned question asked by a planted questioner -- from the Huffington Post.

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MAN, aint this some happy shit?

Dude claps his hands! Dude claps his hands!!!

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ORIGINAL: TreasureK
So I'm guessing the Huffington Post has decided that it's an okay practice afterall. 

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic


        Treasure, I don't know what thinking person would expect consistency from Huffpost.  That isn't what they are about.  Values, principles, and rules of ethical behavior are merely sticks they use to attack the baa-aaad. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife



The revelation that Armstrong Williams, a black conservative journalist, received $240,000 in US government money to promote the “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) program before black audiences further demonstrates the extent to which the American media has become a vehicle for official propaganda.

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ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

      And how often do you get information from either of those, RML?  Or any serious outlet of analysis and opinion that doesn't mesh right into your worldview?

     Are your thoughts on the WSJ and FOX news based on what you've seen and read, or, just regurgitations from what outlets you DO agree with have told you?

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ABC ObamaCare Special Turns Into Presidential Filibuster

President Obama uses network primetime special and overtime 'Nightline' coverage to talk for more than 45 minutes of combined 75-minute programs, revealing nothing new.


Call this a teachable moment, but even with ABC’s best-laid plans to kickstart the debate about health care reform and not allow the “Prescription for America” special to become an “infomercial,” as many have complained – the president spent more than twice as much time as his questioners vaguely answering or not answering the questions asked of him. But the network consistently presented the event as part of the need to fix a "broken system." When asked, every one of the 164 hand-picked audience members said they felt that health care needed to be changed.

http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2009/20090625043708.aspx

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URGENT: TIME COVER IS... OBAMA! [MICHELLE]... THE 17TH COVER FROM TIME MAG IN PAST YEAR

http://www.drudgereport.com/

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ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire

I suppose it's just a total coincidence that you bring this up because it was the subject of Glenn Beck's show this morning?

Bush never had to plant questions... as you recall, he switched to speechifyin' in front of military audiances, which had to respond to his deliveries appropriately because they were under orders to do so.

I remember reading an article written by someone who was selected for being a part of one of Bush's early "town halls." They were grilled for hours, told what their question would be, and told that there would be "consequences" if they deviated from the script in any way....

By contrast, Obama goes out of his way to make sure the Iranian people know that their voices are being heard, and that they have the United States' tacit support for thier protests against an opressive theocratic government.
Sorry, but anyone thinking THIS is some kind of scandal on the part of our leadership is obviously a fool of the highest order. (and that comment is being directed at the GOP talking heads... NOT the OP of this thread. I'm sure Sanity is far smarter than that.)

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ORIGINAL: Sanity


How is this funny?

Video - reporters grill a giggling Gibbs over prepackaged questions