Obama Lectures Media For The Rise of Donald Trump by Charlie Spiering29 Mar 2016
President Obama says he is watching the media’s reporting on the rise of Donald Trump and he is not pleased with its performance.
During a speech at the 2016 Toner Prize Ceremony in Washington D.C., Obama spoke at length about the controversial election season and alluded to the New York billionaire’s ability to capitalize on using the mainstream media to his advantage.
“I know I’m not the only one who may be more than a little dismayed about what’s happening on the campaign trail right now,” Obama said, pointing to what he called “divisive and often vulgar rhetoric” aimed at refugees, women, and minorities.
He cited the “violent reaction” from the public as a result of the rhetoric on the campaign trail, alluding to the protests at Trump rallies and complained about the “deafening silence” from Republican leaders who failed to speak out against that rhetoric. In the Trump era, he complained, there was a growing sense that “facts don’t matter” but rather rewarded controversy.
“It’s worth asking ourselves what each of us — as politicians or journalists, but most of all, as citizens — may have done to contribute to this atmosphere in our politics,” Obama said, adding soberly. “I was going to call it ‘carnival atmosphere,’ but that implies fun.”
Defensively, Obama asserted that he wasn’t just being naive or politically correct about politics, reminding the audience that he was from Chicago and was used to “rough and tumble” politics. But his tone was one of urgency, calling for a swift change to the over-simplification of the political conversation.
Obama directly alluded to the nearly $2 billion of free media reportedly received from the Trump campaign to promote his message, lecturing journalists for failing to hold the billionaire accountable
I love how the Dems, like this radica Obamal, think they can school the "Republican leaders" on how they should behave. And the fight we're engaged in today is about just that, the Republican establishment getting the shite kicked out of them.
For years they've actually been listening to these radical Dems and heeding their criticism/advice
Be strong with Trump! Every other path is a path to a brokered convention with the GOPe in control of the rules! The Cruzbots don't get Cruz. The Trumpites don't get Donald. The GOPe gets Paul Ryan folks.
DUH!!!!
Let me tell you, he is one broken campaign promise Hall of Famer!!!
******* “We cannot continue to allow ourselves to be influenced and molded by the political class and by the media. That is going to destroy us," he said, remarking that it's "kind of sad" that the press is the only business protected by the Constitution "because they were supposed to be the allies of the people." Dr. Ben Carson
Quote: ThirstyMan wrote in post #4I love how the Dems, like this radica Obamal, think they can school the "Republican leaders" on how they should behave. And the fight we're engaged in today is about just that, the Republican establishment getting the shite kicked out of them.
For years they've actually been listening to these radical Dems and heeding their criticism/advice
Be strong with Trump! Every other path is a path to a brokered convention with the GOPe in control of the rules! The Cruzbots don't get Cruz. The Trumpites don't get Donald. The GOPe gets Paul Ryan folks.
DUH!!!!
Let me tell you, he is one broken campaign promise Hall of Famer!!!
ZitatSome journalists are taking exception to what they characterized as Obama’s “lecture.” "There's a man lecturing the media on how to do their business," said MSNBC's "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough this morning. "The man who has not sat down for an extended interview with the Washington Post in seven and a half years, and yet gladly submits himself to being interviewed by YouTube stars who sit in bathtubs with milk and Fruitloops."
Obama has been known for his adroit use of social media and non-traditional outlets during his election campaigns and as president. However, the Obama administration has been criticized for its lack of transparency and tardy responses to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. "Any reporter who's dealt with this White house will say it's as frustrating, if not more frustrating, than dealing with past presidents," said Politico CEO Jim VandeHei.
On Twitter, several journalist opined that Obama's remarks seemed to be mostly aimed at political coverage that goes against him or Democrats. Liberal Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson, who said today on Morning Joe, "It just drives me nuts, lectures us about how to cover Donald Trump, basically." The syndicated columnist Robinson said that “in fact, we write the stories, we write the stories about how [Trump's] numbers don't add up and it doesn't make any sense. The frustration is that the voters keep voting of him and we're are supposed to do something about that?"
Marc Caputo of Politico tweeted, "Obama admin. slow-walks Freedom of Information requests, limits press access/plays favorites, prosecutes reporters, then he lectures journalists."
Twinkle Toes has been uncooperative with the press beginning with his first run for President and yet he feels qualified to criticize the media for its coverage of Trump. OTOH, this same media seemed disinterested when it came to Obama's background and failed to do its job.
Cruz2016! But right friendly to Trump supporters, anyway.
Marc Caputo of Politico tweeted, "Obama admin. slow-walks Freedom of Information requests, limits press access/plays favorites, prosecutes reporters, then he lectures journalists."
Well put! Mr Caputo
******* “We cannot continue to allow ourselves to be influenced and molded by the political class and by the media. That is going to destroy us," he said, remarking that it's "kind of sad" that the press is the only business protected by the Constitution "because they were supposed to be the allies of the people." Dr. Ben Carson