Barack Obama: Editor-in-Chief
posted at 2:33 pm on October 30, 2009 by Howard Portnoy
[ Media ]
I’m not here to glorify or defend The New York Times, but doesn’t it have an editor-in-chief (more or less)? An incident that occurred this morning makes you wonder. As reported by Nice Deb, a story that ran in the Times this morning seemed critical of Barack Obama’s visit to Dover Air Force Base in the wee hours of this morning presumably to pay his respects to the fallen servicemen being brought back to the States. The story, by Jeff Zeleny, originally contained the following paragraph:
The images and the sentiment of the president’s five-hour trip to Delaware were intended by the White House to convey to the nation that Mr. Obama was not making his Afghanistan decision lightly or in haste. [Emphasis added]
Curiously and inexplicably, the same paragraph was edited later on to read as follows:
The image of the commander in chief standing on a darkened tarmac, offering a salute to one of the soldiers, highlighted the poignancy of a decision he is facing.
The mention of Obama’s intention to convey was suddenly gone.
What gives? That’s what I want to know. Is the White House now editing copy by its friendly publications when it is deemed unfavorable? The Times is certainly mum about the change.
Speculation today has been running high that the visit to Dover was yet another staged Obama event, complete with news cameras to record his solemn salute. Some rightwing commentators have attempted to give Obama the benefit of the doubt, claiming no one could be that base and callous. How charitable of them. Others have ascribed motives, ranging from his wanting to look concerned, so the public will understand his waffling over his general’s request for more troops, down to Obama’s setting the stage for a pullout.
I am not going to add my own speculation, but I will tell you that I would put nothing past this guy. For someone so hell-bent on changing the tenor of politics in this country, he has acted consistently in a fashion that encourages cynicism. If he wants the respect and trust of the American electorate — and not just the part that voted for him — he’s going to have to earn it big time, and not through another crummy speech.
Cross-posted at Zombie Contentions
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Good points, Howard.
It’s important to calve this story with rememberances of “campaign mode”, the quintesential Obama. It’s not too early for his team to put together a montage of photos for the 2012 race.
Alas, your cynicism comment is all too commonplace for this ppolitician’s display.
Robert17 on October 30, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Everything Obama does is a staged event. His shallowness becomes more obvious with each passing hour. This man simply does not care a fig about this country or its people. He worries about his ‘legacy’ his need to transform and re-build as he thinks it should be,not because he cares about this country or us–he has a need to promulgate some kind of image he apparently developed while sitting in Wright’s pews and writing papers at Harvard..it’s all about him, him, him. He is proving to be the worst thing that has happened to this country in decades.
jeanie on October 30, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Dennis Miller, in a piece in the D.C. Examiner, claims Obama is a “patriot.” I disagree and stories like this just prove me right.
Yes, the president should show respect for those who gave their all for this country. But it shows a distinct lack of respect for their sacrifice when the president can’t show them the honor they deserve unless the cameras are on and reporters are noting his every move.
Whatever you say about Bush, it was clear he had great respect for the men and women he sent to war. Instead of having to be praised for caring about the troops, Bush simply did it.
Meanwhile, Obama finally managed to take some time off from his golf and basketball to honor some of our war dead. It’s about time.
As for those who say “Bush never went to Andrews to meet the coffins” I say: Oh yeah? You sure about that? Just because there are no photos and video of him doing such a thing doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. And I’d like to know the last time Obama went to visit those who are currently rebuilding their lives at Walter Reed and other hospitals around the world.
Wasn’t it Obama that refused to visit the wounded in Germany during his campaign because it couldn’t be a photo op? Yep. Sure ’nuff was.
I think that says volumes about this president’s love and compassion for our troops. That and his obvious lack of concern about getting the troops the back up they need.
Mad Mad Monica on October 31, 2009 at 3:00 AM
I’m sure this line hasn’t been used enough yet, HP. So here goes:
“I come to bury the New York Times, not to praise it.”
A key reason for that is that from what I can tell, NYT edits itself as proactively as the administration could wish — all by its own little self.
J.E. Dyer on October 31, 2009 at 2:45 PM
J.E., very nice! Thank you.
Howard Portnoy on October 31, 2009 at 5:36 PM
“I care about our troops, after they’re dead”
Mr. President, you might want to try and help the ones that are still alive in Afghanistan by sending them some reinforcements. This of course assumes you want to win there. I know, it’s an assumption the size of the Hindenburg and just as dangerous.
gordo on November 1, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Even that simple feint is beyond his ability.
ericdijon on November 1, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Yes, during the European apology tour Obama cancelled a scheduled visit to our war-wounded hospitalized there in Germany – because he wouldn’t be allowed to have his own photographers with him.
Another grievous slam he made to our military was on inauguration night, when he couldn’t be bothered to make an appearance at the Medal of Honor Ball.
Tell me he cares about our military – and give me even one example of why I should believe it.
There’s a reason all families but one refused to Obama and a camera near their son’s casket at Dover; we know in our hearts what that reason is, and we owe them the honor of a deep bow.
GGMac on November 1, 2009 at 4:06 PM