British press under strange impression that Obama doesn’t like to be questioned
posted at 6:32 pm on March 4, 2009 by Allahpundit
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From Tim Shipman at the Telegraph, a companion piece to Dana Milbank’s story on the glaring dearth of diplomatic niceties extended to Gordon Brown on his trip to D.C. Remember that press conference that supposedly got snowed out? Word on the street is that no presser had ever been scheduled despite Brown’s desire for camera time with The One. The Oval Office photo op? Four questions taken in all, and no obligatory warm words of introduction for Brown from Obama. What gives? Shipman thinks he knows:
It will doubtless be seen as self-indulgent bleating by the media but there is much about this incident that is revealing about the way President Obama does business.
A Washington Post colleague just called me and said that the White House press corps cannot think of a single previous occasion when a British Prime Minister was treated in this way…
Major British hack involvement in a full blown press conference has always been regarded as useful by the White House press corps. We ask different questions from them, usually more aggressively and get answers they could not. There were several spiky and revealing moments between President Bush and the BBC political editor Nick Robinson. It is bizarre that Mr Obama is less willing to answer questions than Mr Bush. It reflects very poorly on his tendency towards control freakery, which has been in evidence since his campaign…
Obama has been running scared of the international media and the British press in particular since the start of his campaign. He didn’t give a single interview to a British outlet even when he was in the UK. This is very unusual, particularly from a man who so desperately wants to be loved on the world stage. We know we’re not special, given Obama’s general contempt for beat reporters (as opposed to his schmoozing with editors), but it is still peculiar.
At Britain’s Spectator, Alex Massie shares Shipman’s suspicion but puts it, er, a bit more bluntly. Good work, Hopenchange. Exit question: Why can’t the man just eat his waffle?
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Its not just the Press. Obama has always tried to stiffle dissent. He is the closest we have ever come to a totalitarian in office.
But then Lincoln also did the same but had a Civil war to fight.
William Amos on March 4, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Hmmmm…wasn’t Brit public opinion pre-election about 99.9% pro-Obama or something like that? Choke on it.
ddrintn on March 4, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Does anyone else think Obama cries himself to sleep every night?
TheTrollhammer on March 4, 2009 at 6:37 PM
Obama doesn’t mind questions as long as those are asked by shills like Wolf Blitzer or Helen Thomas and pre-approved by Rahm and Stephanopoulos.
viking01 on March 4, 2009 at 6:39 PM
So I guess when the President of the World election is held, the UK vote should not be counted on.
anniekc on March 4, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Yeah cry me a river.
Grayson on March 4, 2009 at 6:39 PM
In waaaaaaaaaay over his head.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM
You don’t question Dear Leader.
Someone needs to remind Hussein that he was elected PRESIDENT, not EMPEROR.
wildcat84 on March 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Are people finally waking up? I never heard of a president taking on pundits by name as Obama has done to Hannity and Limbaugh.
SC.Charlie on March 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM
They don’t get it.
MarcusBrody on March 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM
AS backup anyone think that Joe the Plumber didnt get audited on Obama campaign orders ? Anyone else remember those Radio stations threatened when anti Obama stories came out ?
Now Obama is after Limbaugh. Its clear Obama doesnt like anyone saying bad things about him.
William Amos on March 4, 2009 at 6:41 PM
*facepalm*
We’re in Precedential territory, now. Get used to it. There is no past. Nothing that ever happened before matters. The world starts today.
Wait until all you fools realize that Bush gave better speeches, too.
The British are part of the West and, aside from white Americans and rich Americans, the idiot messiah HATES the West. You’ll catch on, eventually, even though it might be too late.
progressoverpeace on March 4, 2009 at 6:41 PM
there have been numerous hints of the Gestapo Messiah – remember during the campaign in Missouri – officials there were warning citizens NOT to criticize The Messiah……and then the poor smuck in Oklahoma who had the Secret Service search his home because he had an anti-Messiah bumper sticker……..and now Rahm “The F-Word” Emanuel doing dirty tricks to stick it to Rush…………..that’s what we KNOW….what don’t we know……….that’s the scary part.
Cinday Blackburn on March 4, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Not peculiar at all. The filthy liar is utterly unprepared for the office he holds. It’s one thing to face the domestic MSM which refuses to ask the hard questions and allows time for the teleprompter to catch up to the question. The international media is far more inquisitive and they would nail the filthy liar to the wall.
highhopes on March 4, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Can’t wait for a trolling gnat to explain the difference between socialism and Marxism to me.
Entelechy on March 4, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Gradually, they will.
ddrintn on March 4, 2009 at 6:42 PM
It’s almost as if he had no significant executive experience………..
Techie on March 4, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Let the crumbling begin!! Not to worry..Germany still likes him.
jeanie on March 4, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Like I already said elsewhere here I had an epiphany. It’s all about control. Viewed through that prism, every decision and action makes perfect sense.
TheBigOldDog on March 4, 2009 at 6:43 PM
No longer loved the world over? Oh dear, what is the annointed one to do? What a pathetic pu**y – I truly utterly loathe and detest this horrible pipsqueak.
Ris4victory on March 4, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Ya think?
Wade on March 4, 2009 at 6:44 PM
You thought that he was cool when in realit he was an arrogant, pompous jerk. How’s it feeling right about now Nigel?
thomasaur on March 4, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Yup. The Germans do like their charismatic control-freak leaders don’t they…Hey, they make the trains run on time. Just don’t ask what’s in them.
TheBigOldDog on March 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Britain: first in the Enlightenment, last in noticing the obvious.
foucaultsvac on March 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
The British aren’t aware it is unseemly to dare question the son of the dreams of the father sans a teleprompter and submitted for research and review questions ahead of time…
sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Yes, he is a lightweight.
Wade on March 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Shall we start apologizing to the world for our poor excuse for a leader?
msmveritas on March 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
I would not take questions either if I knew as little about the job as he does…I think he is seriously frightened of being found out
winston on March 4, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Go back and look at the election poll rates vs the stock market numbers. The mere mention of the man making it this far tore the market to hell. Now we are realizing it.
So we sit…. we wait…. 2010 hurry up!
johnnyU on March 4, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Hussein plays the roll to perfection-Someone with something very big to hide.
Hussein goes all out to avoid ever being put on the spot.
Something is very wrong with this picture..from DAY ONE!
christene on March 4, 2009 at 6:47 PM
A right (Limbaugh), a left (Telegraph of London) The Precedent is staggered !!!!
thomasaur on March 4, 2009 at 6:47 PM
But he was, is, and will be, a nakid child emperor, fearful to be exposed, run like a marionette by Soros and Alynski, now dwelling in the sewer with Rush, hoping the stench will divert our attention from what Cramer so aptly summarized
“Greatest Wealth Destruction By a President”
…pathological, narcissistic cipher, no more, no less…
Entelechy on March 4, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Levin is annihilating the Dhimmi-trolls calling in to him tonight. Laughing my ass off.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Michelle rubs his head at night “It’s OK barry” as he cries himself to sleep
winston on March 4, 2009 at 6:50 PM
One hopes someone will ask AG Holder if this falls in the category of “cowardly” behavior. No doubt he’d say it wasn’t, but it would be fun to see his reaction, anyway.
Wethal on March 4, 2009 at 6:50 PM
How can he want what he so obviously already possesses?
Kafir on March 4, 2009 at 6:51 PM
No, he laughs his ars off at how stupid an entire world can be, to enable such a spell. The fools are all of us.
Entelechy on March 4, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Anyone surprised?
Didn’t think so.
ex-Democrat on March 4, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Gnats everywhere – just squish them – more blood than brains…
Entelechy on March 4, 2009 at 6:52 PM
So, extending the traditional US-Brit “Hands Across the Sea” comity has been reduced to this White House extending only a single portion of the hand?
coldwarrior on March 4, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Obama has never had to answer tough questions. As long as he and his cronies can orchestrate the terms of the debate, he will come out smelling clean. But time will eventually wear away at his fraudulent persona. His ego is relatively fragile for a man in his position. Obama’s ideology is flawed, and once his destructive policies are implemented and start to take their toll in this country, his stature will diminish and most Americans will see him for what he is (and always has been)….a scrawny, pompous, college professor.
dugan on March 4, 2009 at 6:54 PM
I don’t know, but I find myself wondering if he has the physical and mental stamina for it. He had to take a weekend off just a couple of weekends into the presidency.
neuquenguy on March 4, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Well as long as he has his teleprompter buddy along, no problem.
tarpon on March 4, 2009 at 6:56 PM
I’m visiting my uber-lib dad.
I’m listening to Levin via headphones on a laptop while he watches the Commie News Network.
It’s hilarious. Gordon Brown pops up on the TV and my dad says, “I like him.” Whilst I’m looking at the TV, listening to Levin, and thinking, “there’s that arse-hole socialist Gordon Brown.”
rofl.
If you people are ready to PATRIOT UP, head to hardcore http://www.PatDollard.com
We’re goin’ to kick lib arse.
Let’s roll.
ex-Democrat on March 4, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Obviously the British press is racist!!!!
rbj on March 4, 2009 at 6:58 PM
A more courageous debater than McCain would have made him lose his cool and left him looking pretty bad in the presidential debates.
neuquenguy on March 4, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Jeesh. Maybe Obama is practicing a S. Asian accented English accent and isn’t ready yet. You don’t always have to jump to negative conclusions.
JiangxiDad on March 4, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Ya’ know, I have never felt compelled to listen to Air America, post at Daily Kos/HuffPo or watch Olberpu$$/TinglyChrissy to know what the left is up to. Why do the trolls all flock to the hard right to sh!t all over the place like seagulls?
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Hey folks, Gordon Brown is such a putz that even Obama shuns him. That is really bad.
hip shot on March 4, 2009 at 7:01 PM
They’re coordinated, maybe paid, and there’s no intelligent life elsewhere in any case.
JiangxiDad on March 4, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Oh, the delicious ironies after what the left always said about President Bush.
evergreen on March 4, 2009 at 7:03 PM
We’ve come full circle to 1977 where the public is gradually awakening to having elected an arrogant dolt to the White House. The Walter Cronkitesque media pimps of our era will try to keep the shine on their pseudo-messiah yet the halo continues to dim the more the black lights and strobe lights are pointed at their increasingly dated Disco King.
viking01 on March 4, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Being an Anglophile [e.g. watching PMQs, etc.], I’m not fan of either Gordon Brown or the British Press Corps–but the way President Teleprompter has dealt with our greatest ally since WWII is insulting.
As for the British Press Corps, you would think that “the greatest orator of our time” would be able to handle their questions. Seriously, though, Obama would be wise to listen to Harry Truman’s advice regarding “if you can’t take the heat…”.
youngTXcon on March 4, 2009 at 7:05 PM
So, the uncrowned King of Kumbaya bungles diplomacy with our allies. Great job Barack! I betcha if Brown were a Palestinian refugee he would have gotten a 21 gun salute.
Buy Danish on March 4, 2009 at 7:07 PM
mmmmm, I’m starting to get the feeling that Mr Obama is no anglophile.
Does anyone know if Yasser Arafat’s bust has replaced Churchill’s …..yet?
moxie_neanderthal on March 4, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Obama can’t take the heat, but the kitchen is his and he will make it “cooler”. He’s like those NFL players who went out fishing, he is in water and waves over his head.
hip shot on March 4, 2009 at 7:08 PM
In the fetal position, while sucking his thumb, with Michelle standing over him yelling “Butch up mutha f*ka”
silenced majority on March 4, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Anyone else read the comments on this? What a hoot! Several commenters seem to be under the impression the “everyone” on this side of the pond voted for Obama.
jix on March 4, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Maybe the dear leader is still upset about that whole Magna Carta thing …not to worry…he’s working on a new and improved version.
moxie_neanderthal on March 4, 2009 at 7:11 PM
It’s all about control:
Control the markets
Control the press
Control the private sector
29Victor on March 4, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Time to involve the Queen, Prince and other royalty to settle the dispute. London vs. Chicago, great fight!
hip shot on March 4, 2009 at 7:14 PM
So-called “smart diplomacy” seems to mean that if you’re a dictator who hates the US you get praise without earning it; if you’re a democracy and an ally (Canada in the NAFTA scraps during the election, Poland and the Czech Republic, President Karzai, UK prime minister, etc.) you get punked without deserving it.
evergreen on March 4, 2009 at 7:16 PM
i’ll bet he sucks his thumb, too. teeth are all screwed up from years of thumb sucking. that’s why he has that annoying ass SSSSSSSSsssssssssibilant SSSSSSSS.
sandlin71 on March 4, 2009 at 7:18 PM
The bad treatment of the UK and its icons is Obama’s revenge for British East Africa, later known as Kenya.
baldilocks on March 4, 2009 at 7:19 PM
In the fetal position, while sucking his thumb, with Michelle standing over him yelling “Butch up mutha f*ka”
silenced majority on March 4, 2009 at 7:09 PM
LOL!
winston on March 4, 2009 at 7:20 PM
It’s not bizarre…………..
…….. Mr. Teleprompter is a coward, a novice, is in over his head, and George Soros will not allow him to look foolish on an International stage.
When possible……..
…………. all is orchestrated, rehearsed, controlled, along with the ever present teleprompter.
If not……
…….. the event does not take place.
Where the hell have you been for the past two years……?
Seven Percent Solution on March 4, 2009 at 7:21 PM
I think Rush is right…he is a pissed off dude…look at who is mentors were/are!!!!
winston on March 4, 2009 at 7:21 PM
He hates rich, white Americans too–especially white women, which, if you think about it, makes sense.
baldilocks on March 4, 2009 at 7:22 PM
That analogy, while accurate, was in very poor taste.
backwoods conservative on March 4, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Sorry for the poor taste, but our Presidency is a very poor taste in our collective mouths.
hip shot on March 4, 2009 at 7:29 PM
We wouldn’t want the British press to waste their questions now would we?
aic4ever on March 4, 2009 at 7:30 PM
We have a winner!!!!
VikingGoneWild on March 4, 2009 at 7:31 PM
In some ways I can’t blame President Obama (or any public figure) for wanting to be more guarded with the press. Let’s face it with 24 hrs news, blogs, YouTube anything misstep is blown out of proportion.
terryannonline on March 4, 2009 at 7:32 PM
only “typical white women”….
on the one hand were he not a success in conning his way to power I’d feel genuine sorrow for the man child who was serially abandoned as a child…
as it is given his rage and bullying I say go for his political throat.
sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 7:33 PM
In some ways I can’t blame President Obama (or any public figure) for wanting to be more guarded with the press. Let’s face it with 24 hrs news, blogs, YouTube anything misstep is blown out of proportion.
terryannonline on March 4, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Are you kidding me? The press has been giving Ol Slima a pass for almost two years, he can’t make a mistake in the press.
hip shot on March 4, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Obama ain’t answering no more questions. Ever since that uppity plumber guy.
GarandFan on March 4, 2009 at 7:35 PM
The big “O”, now what america? Now what…
foxone on March 4, 2009 at 7:36 PM
I wonder what DeathToMediaHacks makes of all of this? (as well as all the other Obama worshipers who grace hotair).
gwelf on March 4, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Mark Levin is reducing David Frum to a maniacal hyena right now. Frum is fcuking clueless.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Hey press, missing George W.? Great…you have no one to blame but yourselves…
ujorge on March 4, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Frum likely thinks he is a respected conservative voice….were there a way to put Levin’s mind with a Limbaugh or even Art Bell voice he’d be gold….
sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Soetoro has a Hitlerian childhood …. all effed up.
The Great Prevaricator will definitely BLOW if we can just get someone to tweak his thin skin.
ex-Democrat on March 4, 2009 at 7:54 PM
This is easily explained. There was no teleprompter available.
‘Nuff said.
fbcmusicman on March 4, 2009 at 7:57 PM
MSNBC and The NY Times might be giving him a free pass. Don’t pretend Fox News or blogs don’t replay over and over Obama gaffes. How do you think Joe the Plumber got be so recognizable?
terryannonline on March 4, 2009 at 7:58 PM
I’m listening to Levin with Frum now, and Frum is simply preaching to his MSM friends….what a freak.
ex-Democrat on March 4, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Frum is burying his own clueless & stupid ass.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 8:00 PM
This just reinforces the point that everything Obama does is about increasing his ability to control things, whether it be the press, political opponents, political allies, Government, policy, people or ultimately the nation in general.
His so called desire to repair the US’s image abroad is little more than a shallow and cynical ploy to make him self appealing to left wing intellectuals who actually care about that sort of thing. The reality is that he couldnt give a damn what the rest of the world thinks of the US and Americans in general and really only pretends to do so because there is a domestic political advantage to be had in doing so.
Its time to stop seeing Obama some sort of post partisan political saviour that will somehow magically make the world a better place and see him for what he really is. Just another corrupt Democrat Chicago machine politician who is only in it for what he can get out of it for himself.
JFK once said “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”. Obama’s motto should be “Ask not what I can do for your country, but rather how your country can benefit me”.
Dreadnought223 on March 4, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Has Duh 1 put it on eBay yet? I’d love to bid on it.
Rae on March 4, 2009 at 8:12 PM
I think that’s his intention. Obama is his own trojan horse. He’s a suitcase bomb. He always intended to go off. He will get his revenge.
JiangxiDad on March 4, 2009 at 8:14 PM
I can’t shake the feeling Obama will be like Lincoln in this respect.
boomer on March 4, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Won’t it be sadly ironic when the British come to their senses and then come to the aid of the true American patriots in the new American Revolution…
It is already becoming apparent to some of the Messiah’s (former) supporters that Precedent Hussein hates the West and its liberties. Too bad, it didn’t come soon enough…
ornery_independent on March 4, 2009 at 8:19 PM
Uh oh… Are you saying the US isn’t his country???
hummmm… Seacher484 is about to show up with his list in 5, 4, 3…
katy on March 4, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Uh oh! You’d better watch it. Saying a black man is scrred (yes, scrred) could be considered RACIST!
madmonkphotog on March 4, 2009 at 8:27 PM
I’ve been sending post cards since 5 November….
Hog Wild on March 4, 2009 at 8:34 PM
This was as much about Obambi’s failed diplomatic skills as it was about press avoidance, but if schmoozing the press is above his pay grade, what exactly is he qualified to do?
But hey, since you are such a sucker for MSM talking points (as evidenced by prior comments you’ve made about Rush and Ann Coulter) I can see why you are wary of the media suckering in people, since they do such a good job of it with you.
Buy Danish on March 4, 2009 at 8:42 PM
BHO might just get one.
Pelayo on March 4, 2009 at 8:49 PM
later known as Kenya……
baldilocks on Mar 4,2009 at 7:19PM.
baldilocks:
I was on the Rush thread,somebody mentioned baldilocks was
connecting the dots on the Churchill bust!
So,now the Liberals have admitted that their is an ongoing
WAR with Rush!
I linked an article last night on ‘Quote of the Day’,by a Liberal,who said,that they were salivating at the prospect
of Obama becoming President!
It was about Obama and Reperations for Slavery!
THIS IS WHAT THE STIMULUS BILL is,and btw,there’s over
500 Billion Dollars missing!
This is what Obama’s CHURCH has programmed,Michelles comment,”For the First Time in My Adult Life!
This is a PLAN ALL ALONG!
THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL,THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,DIDN’T GIVE OBAMA
a MANDATE TO HI-JACK THE US TREASURY TO PAY BACK THE WRONGS
OF HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And,AYERS AND DORYN have brain washed Obama with the past
History,make NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT!
Ayers and DORYNS have successfully convinced OBAMA that
the United States of America is tthe MOST EVIL COUNTRY ON THE PLANET!
BALILOCKS: Sound the alarm,before its TOO LATE!!!!!!!:):):):)
canopfor on March 4, 2009 at 8:52 PM
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