So God made a fawner
Which gets us to another story involving a media figure and a media institution. I refer to Steve Kroft’s interview, on “60 Minutes,” with Barack Obama and departing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. That made a big impression too. It didn’t remind us of a style or approach for which we feel nostalgia, but one about which we are feeling increased apprehension, and that is the mainstream media fawn-a-thon toward the current president.
The Kroft interview was a truly scandalous example of the genre. It was so soft, so dazzled, so supportive, so embarrassing. And it was that way from the beginning, when Mr. Kroft breathlessly noted, “The White House granted us 30 minutes.” Granted. Like kings.
What followed was a steady, targeted barrage of softballs. “Why did you want to do this together, a joint interview?” Because, said the president, she’s been one of the best secretaries of state ever, and theirs has been one of the greatest collaborations in history. Also, “I’m gonna miss her.” No reading of the tea leaves here, pressed Mr. Kroft. We don’t have tea here, Hillary laughed.
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Actually the interview was 45 minutes but the last 15 minutes of Kroft servicing the both of them wouldn’t make it past the censors.
Bishop on February 8, 2013 at 10:34 AM
Hilarious…Peggy still trying to be relevant.
trs on February 8, 2013 at 10:35 AM
Oh, the banworthy comments that come to mind about Peggy’s own fawning of 0bama.
CurtZHP on February 8, 2013 at 10:35 AM
Rich, coming from Peggy…
ellifint on February 8, 2013 at 10:36 AM
And yet Peggy, you once fawned too.
Marcus on February 8, 2013 at 10:37 AM
Worse than that, Peggy fawned over Jon Huntsman. On MSNBC. In front of people.
Marcus on February 8, 2013 at 10:39 AM
KROFT: “Why do you think that, Mr. President? What are Secretary Clinton’s three most important achievements at State?”
[Awkward pause . . . . . ]
OBAMA: “Er, uh, well . . . as I’ve always said, it’s important to have women in positions of responsibility, because that reflects the diversity that makes America great and my daughters think it’s important too, which is why my friendship with Beyonce’ is so valuable, and uh . . . Secretary Beyonce’, er uh, Secretary Clinton has worked very hard and flown a lot of miles to show the world that we can have a woman in a top position in government, and my daughters and my close friend Beyonce’ and I think that’s very important . . . . ”
KROFT: “So Secretary Clinton’s three most important achievements at state ar (1) being female, and (2) racking up many frequent flyer miles, and . . . what was the third one again?”
OBAMA: “Er, uh, I forget . . . I was distracted thinking about my good friend Beyonce’. Didn’t she do a great job in the Super Bowl show?”
KROFT: “Yes, but let’s get back to Mrs. Clinton. Substantively, in terms of policy, what has Mrs. Clinton done that causes you to say she’s been one of our best secretaries of state, ever?”
OBAMA: “Er, uh, . . . you know, it’s getting late, and I need to get home to read bedtime stories to my daughters. I think I’ll read one about my good friend Beyonce’. She’s a wonderful role models for girls, just like Secretary Clinton . . . don’t you think?”
KROFT: “Oh yes, I really do.”
AZCoyote on February 8, 2013 at 10:48 AM
She burned her bridges a long time ago.
Del Dolemonte on February 8, 2013 at 10:49 AM
Pretty much Pegster’s autobiography for 2008.
viking01 on February 8, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Takes on to know one.
steebo77 on February 8, 2013 at 11:05 AM
I have seen the fawner and she is me….
/Peggsie
ted c on February 8, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Does Peggy not get how embarrassing she’s been?
Shouldn’t someone in her best insterest let her know?
Sir Napsalot on February 8, 2013 at 11:18 AM
She’s trying to pretend the past 5 years never happened, but we have this wonderful technology AlGore invented……
Sir Napsalot on February 8, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Yup. For reminders like this:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122539802263585317.html
Excerpt:
“He climbed steep stairs, born off the continent with no father to guide, a dreamy, abandoning mother, mixed race, no connections. He rose with guts and gifts. He is steady, calm, and, in terms of the execution of his political ascent, still the primary and almost only area in which his executive abilities can be discerned, he shows good judgment in terms of whom to hire and consult, what steps to take and moves to make.”
Gag me.
theotherone on February 8, 2013 at 11:31 AM
Almost as nauseating as Peggy’s own fawning over Obama was back in 2008.
Kensington on February 8, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Vapid is thy name.
Bmore on February 8, 2013 at 12:19 PM
There’s no redemption with you TruCons, is there? You know, they say there is no one more passionate than a convert. You might try welcoming those who have changed their minds about Obama, instead of repeatedly beating them up for their past political opinions.
It’s especially ludicrous when the TC’s go after Krauthammer because he once wrote speeches for Mondale. If it’s true that people become more conservative as they grow older/marry/start families, aren’t you being stupid to marginalize converts?
TruCon slogan: Purity from Birth.
Meredith on February 8, 2013 at 12:49 PM
As always, Noonan is wrong.
The devil made Obama Fawners.
blink on February 8, 2013 at 12:57 PM
What makes you think she sees the error of her ways? There’s certainly nothing in the excerpt. It appears she is simply blind to her own failings. I don’t see where that is the same as conversion, nor that it should be celebrated in any way.
Of course, there’s also the fact that she continues to opine. Someone who had converted might take some time off out of embarrassment over their past writings. Peggy is still chugging away.
GWB on February 8, 2013 at 1:17 PM
Your claim doesn’t pass msuter.
If “TruCons” demanded purity from birth, they wouldn’t constantly be referring back to Reagan as an icon of true conservatism.
I’m not sure what a TruCon is and I certainly don’t presume to speak for them, but, for me, the reason Peggy Noonan is still suspect is that there’s been no indication of an actual conversion.
When it was hip to write about how awesome Obama was – she did. As people cooled and it became more ok to write about his many failings – she did. Is it because she goes where the wind blows or because she now sees something that she didn’t before? Has she gone back to look at the things she wrote and the claims she made to see where she went wrong? Are there any assurances she won’t make the same mistakes when a new, popular wind blows into town?
JadeNYU on February 8, 2013 at 1:22 PM
What makes you think she remembers?
*drinking gesture*
Kensington on February 8, 2013 at 2:27 PM