Fox analysts: Obama is manipulating the librul press in a 'historic' way
Liz Trotta is shocked, shocked we tell you, at how the Obama White House is managing its press conferences:
Trotta: You know, Eric, we're really witnessing something historic going on with the presidential news conference. President Obama has taken control of it like no other president I've ever seen. By eliminating, for example, the top newspapers, he's really -- which by the way, as you know, which are viewed as the intellectual muscle of the media -- he's managed to show something different. That is, he's going to tailor the questions and the answers to the way he wants them.
Now, there are competing agendas here. The press is supposed to be there to represent the people. The president is there to protect his policies and he wants to be re-elected. But here we are in the middle of a social and and economic revolution, probably the biggest we've had in the country's history, and nobody seems to be able to get a straight answer.
Instead, what we're presented with is preselected questions in a tightly controlled news conference where, at the beginning, the president reads a very self-serving statement from a large movie screen, and then he calls on people, for example, from Univision, and from Stars and Stripes, and from Ebony.
Now, this isn't to say that these people have a right to get a slice of the pie, but let's face it -- the tough questions are going to come from the big guys in media, and I'm talking about mainly newspaper people here, because the television networks certainly haven't covered themselves in glory.
Trotta was promptly corrected about claiming that the questions were preselected, and she admitted this, saying the questioners were preselected instead, and "that is brand new in the history of press conferences."
Bollocks.
The Wall Street Journal tried trotting out a similar claim this week, and Media Matters promptly destroyed it:
It later stated, "We doubt that President Bush, who was notorious for being parsimonious with follow-ups, would have gotten away with prescreening his interlocutors." In fact, Bush also used such a list, as then-White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters in a March 7, 2003, press briefing.
Moreover, as to the notion that this press corps is much more subservient and less likely to ask tough questions, Todd Gitlin observes that rather the opposite is true: Bush's press corps, in his first few years especially, was unusually docile. American Journalism Review observed back in 2003:
If a sure loser emerged from that evening assembly, it was the White House press corps. Scathing commentary followed. New York Press contributing writer Matt Taibbi likened the press conference to "a mini-Alamo for American journalism, a final announcement that the press no longer performs anything akin to a real function." Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales panned Bush's performance, then said that the "lethargy was contagious; correspondents were almost as logy as Bush was. Nobody even bothered to ask a question about Osama bin Laden."
ABC News White House correspondent Terry Moran, who participated in the questioning, told the New York Observer that Bush wasn't "sufficiently challenged" by reporters and that the president's performance left the press corps "looking like zombies." Letters posted on Poynter's Romenesko Weblog branded the news conference a "sorry spectacle"; one observed, "the pack appears to have been totally domesticated."
Bush himself acknowledged the event was "scripted" when he called on CNN's John King from a predetermined list of reporters. Critics argued the press should not have succumbed so meekly to such an indignity, and some even accused the White House press corps of submitting questions for advance approval--an allegation that beat reporters vehemently denied.
Even more risible is Trotta's claim that "the big boys" are more likely to ask the tougher questions. In Obama's first press conference, you had the Washington Post asking him about A-Rod and steroids, while the toughest question came from HuffPo's Sam Stein. Obama is clearly signaling that the traditional Beltway Village is no longer going to be dominating the conversation with its obsession for trivia, and that his press conferences are going to be open to some fresh voices.
Which really makes the Villagers like Trotta -- the former hoity-toities now forced to join the rest of the journalist schlubs -- unhappy.
Besides, if it had been Trotta who was invited to ask one of the questions, you have to wonder if she'd have confused the president with Osama bin Laden and wished for him to get knocked off.
Accuse your opponent of your own crimes, hope nobody notices.
Yeah, like the ones they asked the Bush Administration in the run up to the IRAQ FUCKING FIASCO???!!!
why do these people still have any airtime. The only followers that still listen to them must be Rightard!
but only to see what lies they're telling,I don't believe a word they say untill I can verify it myself
Please tell me these buffoons at FOX are laughing when they come up with this kind hypocritical shit.
Goodnight, Frau Blücher
Last press conference he ignored the usual "liberal" press to have questions from reporters from places like Univision and Ebony.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
these people give me a headache.
I'd like to buy them all a steaming hot cup of Shut The Fuck Up.
me-oww!
Here, let me get the tip.
Said the rabbi during the briss.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
You have such a cutting wit, ysbaddaden!
I'm always cutting one.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
OMG I'm channeling Morey Amsterdam!!!
And it's past dinner, and not a Tuesday yet.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
what happens on Tuesdays?
Breakfast with Morrie.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
At least it isnt' like Dumbya's press conferences which were totally staged and only certain rehearsed questions could be asked.
shut up, Liz.
"Trust no one, Mr. Mulder." - Well-Manicured Man
Liz who?
is intended to be a factual statement
Congratulations on being marginalized and put in your place, Liz. Arrogant, overrated Beltway blowhards like you deserve a good ass kicking downstairs. You must think that you are really smart and competent--you aren't, but Obama most certainly is. Get used to it.
"We will find fulfillment not in the goods that we have, but in the good we can do for each other."
Robert F. Kennedy
Trotta, she's the crazy woman who wanted Obama to get "knocked off" and was forced to apologize. Why should we care what she has to say? I congratulate President Obama for leveling the playing field for the media. I don't always agree with him but I like how he is humbling the corporate media.
Politics is for the present, but an equation is for eternity. Albert Einstein
Oh, the level of hypocrisy is toxic. I'm surprised she can talk sitting down as she talks out of her ass.
It's a Whoopie Cushion.
woodguy
Its true that President Obama didn't call on the news paper folks during his presser but whats also true is that he had a roundtable with several regional newspapers on March 12th and a day before the presser.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/200903...
And lets not forget about the interview he gave to the NYTimes where they asked him if he was a socialist.
This is the epitome of making something out of nothing.
...was the mindless squawking that took place when he mispronounced "Orion." THAT was much ado about less than zero.
"Trust no one, Mr. Mulder." - Well-Manicured Man
This woman is so full of crap. If Obama would have called on newspapers, he probably would have called on the likes of that evil liberal New York Times, and Trotta would have had something to say about that as well.
And what's with that Fux News "analyst" comparing the Obama press conference to some sort of "strange kabuki dance." As Bernie Goldberg recently said, "Screw you," Mr. Faux News "analyst."
Just like Gump says, "Liz who?" Just who the hell is this Obama hater that she gets airtime on Faux News? Who the heck cares what this ding bat thinks?
Screw them all.
I represent FoxSpews and mean ol' Barak won't call on me, no matter how hard I wave my hand. Boo-Hoo. How come were not relevant anymore? Sob!
I'm absolutely convinced that FOX NEWS and the rightwingers crib their talking points from an Ouija board that's got the Unibomber's soul by the short and curlies.
a little deeper truth besides the ever-wrong easily mocked FOX
Instead the article in Newsweek, our fav Nobel Prize winning Nemesis and sin of ommission from whom O can't hide.
Let them all take their lumps. God knows we're taking ours to worry about what anyone at fox thinks or says. It's really really old.
Stars and Stripes, just another left wing rag.
I guess we're supposed to forget about Bush's press conferences.
Whatever Talon Press is. Or was. Or remember Cheney repeatedly going on with Timmeh, who despite all the posthumous praise was not terribly tough with followup questions? Cheney loved that he could control the message. Sorry, Liz whoeveryouare, presidents throughout the electronic age have learned how to manipulate the press, with varying degrees of success. During the years 2000-08, Bush-Cheney managed to learn how to completely fool and/or anesthetize it.
I was going to go potty mouth after actually finishing that clip, however, 'Evil Snakes' is what came to mind of what these people are.
Ya know, here's my 2 cent's worth: Until Obama is discovored to be taking questions from a known male prostitute who represnts a fake news organization, all of these little stupid people should just STFU!!!
BTW - where's the investigation into who, what, when, where, why and how, Jeff Gannon got into the presser's?
And, Trota, what makes you any different from him, asshole?
He's a top and she's the bottom.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
of the barrel.
woodguy
If this is the rights biggest concern of Obama, like Letterman said, "he should consider stepping down".
is intended to be a factual statement
Get back to me when he preselects the questions, questioners and the audience.
You just keep thinking the right wing has shown us just how very disturbed and mentally ill they really are ... it just can't get any worse ... and then the next day it they show you over and over that there is just no end to the mental depravity that makes up their minions. It's a bottomless pitt of sub-context and distraction - and lies. Complete mental ward bonkers ...
Wasn't it one of the reporters from the "big guy" media that asked Obama what he thought about steroids in baseball?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Had I not "continue(d) reading", I would have sworn this was written just for laughs!! Geez, I was laughing so hard over the "criticism" I almost started to cry . . .
Are these assholes really this insane? Really? Did this woman ever go to or listen to a Bush press conference. There were only about 3 of them. Doesn't that mean that Bush was controlling the message? And WTF about that. Of course the President is going to control the message. Does this idiot expect the President of the United States of America not to control the message when he is giving a press conference.? Next thing you know she will be complaining about Obama using a teleprompter.
You didn't hear them complaining when:
a) Bush screened every single question
b) Bush answered only the questions he wanted to
c) Bush pre-scripted the answers
d) Bush planted Gannon's entirely madeup newspaper to throw softballs
Boy, do they have a short memory.
They have a great deal of selective memory as well.
Which I could find a news media , where I could obtain real facts about what is going on in our country and overseas.
But what is all this BS about Liberal policies...
Obama seems to be following the conservatives path since he was elected,,, Looks as if Obama has been placing conservatives or persons with conservative policies in charge of his cabinets and creating policies which they would approve of..
I was under the impression that the American voters voted for a change in direction , policies and we are receiving neither.. The end of the war in Iraq is no longer in sight..
Bush and his criminal mob is freely walking the streets with the wealth they have stolen from American,
Obama is satisfied with Bush illegal spying using a foreign country like Israel to spy on the American citizens ,, military and the intelligent agencies.
We are still feeding Global corporations and foreign countries our jobs , economy while s...... all over our constitution and democracy.
If there is a real change a coming I will not be around to see it..
These policies are nothing but a complete transfer of wealth and power to the elite and Global corporations.
None
Afganistan and Pakistan for us every day by bombing the Pashtuns etc.
http://www.uruknet.de/?p=m52977&hd=&size=1&l=e
And he will ignore Helen Thomas too
they can turn on the TeeVee about any old time they want and watch Dana P and Tony F still doing things the "old" way.
Morans.
have you no shame?
How is it a president who supposedly is lost without a telepromter be able to pull off something so calculating?
Is the man an idiot who can't speak without a TelePrompTer or a calculating genius capable manipulating the Washington press corps? The reich wing medial shills need to stick with a consistent meme.
They are getting everything they want
How can these people pretend not to be bigoted fucks when they make sneering references to Univision and Ebony?
when she said, "The press is supposed to be there to represent the people."
Soon as that happens, let me know!!
And, did Lizzie miss the whole 8 years of the Bush reign?? He had freakin' seating charts from which he selected "journalists" who were reading questions prepared by the administration >> which Bush still couldn't answer coherently...
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
Bet he could get recognized for a question.
.... Oh sorry, wrong administration.
Fox is funny when they whine about Obama.
Fuck Fox, who needs them.
"...intellectual muscle of the media..."
ahahahahahahaha...*wheeze*
i think i've just hurt myself laughing too hard..
Hypocrisy aside, they have a point.
Just because there isnt a republican in office doesnt mean that we should stop all criticism of the press corps. They never have & they continue to NOT ask the right/tough questions. Obama will continue to ignore helen thomas. We need new words to replace "change" and "hope" cause if u ask me theyve lost significant meaning through this whole process.
or does Linda Chavez look like a hagged-out Liz Trotta?!? oh, its so confusing. maybe theyre the same person. eh, same difference.
Wonder if she took drama classes.It's going to be interesting watching foxnews play the loyal opposition
http://mediaputz.com/08/05/putz0529.html
Who exactly is this Trotta gasbag?
It's not all or nothing.
….we will watch replays of the Deciders press conferences and ask ourselves, WTF was that? (Actually I already do that.)
Also, where was Liz during St. Ronnie’s press conferences where the code was the color red? She’s just another wingnut living in bizzarro land.
They have a new meme every single day. They are terrified because nothing is working with the 75% of America they need to win elections.
.
... Jeff Gannon!
.
Starve the WAR Beast...
... Save the World.
seems likely
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Je...
when i am out in the pasture tending
the cattle, i look where i walk and
don't step in the cow shit. likewise,
i know what to expect on fnc, so i don't
put shit in my ears.....would you?
Honestly, are we supposed to think the horse's ass that just left the WH in shame didn't play the press corp for idiots?? God, please!!
Who cares what this stupid old bitch has to say about anything...that is, anyone but the brain dead morons that tune in to this propaganda network?
NOBODY!!
It seems as if Ms. Trotta is flexing her own 'intellectual muscle'; her sphincter.
in Bizarro World this year.
You know, if Fox had made these allegations in 2003, President Kerry would be entering into his second term, this one Iraq war free.
.
"Up next: Remembering Tony Snow and the success of the Bush Administration with our special guests Bill Kristol and Karl Rove."
.
Starve the WAR Beast...
... Save the World.
Wouldn't that require a seance?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
who is she, and why do we care?
How do these people keep their various realities separate and distinct ?!
It must be exhausting to remember when and how to use the different standards and rationals for any given situation.
Ace Reporter Jeff Gannon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuuoXg8za4E
Scripting press gaggles goes back in time further than the chimp, they just elevated the art of the kabuki.
Rove/Fleischer set new standards in intimidation of press. One Sam Donaldson moment and you lose your seat, or maybe access to Pebble Beach. And of course the press was much more interested in their credentials than any silly story...
Isn't she the same lady that joked about an Obama assassination?
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Liz+Tro...
I guess she is... So why does she still get to be on TV again???
"Are reporters tough enough"..... what gall! That question was NEVER asked during the bush years; these phonies now play the role of diligent moral arbiters. Bullshit.
Anyone who thinks journalism is just asking questions to politicians and then writing what they said is naive at best. Broadcast "journalism" basically operates like this, and is more akin to a public relations operation.
Faux noise certainly knows manipulation when they constantly lie to their listeners and make up their fairytale talking points daily.
She would have been scared shitless had she been around for the last 8 years.. Where the heck were you Liz?
Let me take a stab in the dark: Fox is complaining because Obama did not call on their hacks at a recent news conference? Give me a break.
As for supposedly manipulating news conferences, I have two things to say: Helen Thomas and Jeff Gannon. Hmmm, I don't remember Fox complaining when Bush tried to ostracize Helen and instead called on sycophants like Gannon at his increasingly rare news conferences.
Me thinkest Fox doth protest too much.
Is there out there who watches Fox and actually expects fair and balanced journalism?
They don't need to keep their stories straight. They are playing to people who get their "News" from Fox. Who needs consistency when your audience isn't especially known for their memory or thinking abilities?
Does this bitch smoke her drugs or shoot them into her arm????
When, in the previous administration, did the 'tough questions" get asked, except by those outside the media circus?
Such a pity to be cut out of the party....awwww poor widdle baby weporter not feeling da luv.....
Shouldn't it read?:
Fox analysts: Obama is manipulating the librul press in "AN" 'historic' way
~albabe (The Writer/Artist Formally Known As Al Gordon)
http://www.comicon.com/gordon/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Gordon
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