Gay Obama-haters

[JB3]

Never happened. There was no discussion about what question would be asked, and in fact the actual question was one of the tougher one's of the night. At the time of the press conference the situation in Iran was the most pressing issue. Nico Pitney had a blog going that was updated vitually around the clock with information garnered from emails, tweets etc. from inside Iran. For a while there it was the go-to source for information out of Iran. Yes he was told ahead of time that he would be allowed to ask a question and that it should be from an Iranian citizen but the question itself was unknown until it was asked. I think that's fairly obvious from Obama's response.

For the record, this is what he asked:

Not exactly a softball if you ask me.

Telling a reporter ahead of time that he will be allowed to ask a question isn't the most ethical thing in the world, but answering a question in a high profile forum like that from an actual on the ground Iranian who's living the crisis is a pretty powerful tool.


There is absolutely no evidence that questions at the news conference were pre-screened. If you recall the actual press conference, aside from Pitney's question, it was a series of redundant questions about whether Obama should have been more outspoken sooner about our support for the Iranian people and whether or not he was still smoking. A guy from Fox basically called him a pussy. It was not a friendly news conference and the reporters wasted time asking trivial questions.

The press shouldn't be relying on press conferences and briefings for their news anyway. No matter what they ask, they're still going to get the answer an administration chooses to feed them. The press has grown lazy and is more interested in trivial "gotcha" questions and pissing contests over turf than actually reporting news.

That said, your overall point about the danger of planted questions is a valid one. I just don't agree that it is happening now.

You're absolutely incorrect:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0609/Obama_calls_on_HuffPost_for_Iran_question.html

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2009/06/nico_pitney_and_blind_norms.cfm

The question and answer were staged. The president knew it was coming and knew what the subject of the question would be. Its disgusting and all of you should be outraged about it.

 

[noah617]

You're absolutely incorrect:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0609/Obama_calls_on_HuffPost_for_Iran_question.html

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2009/06/nico_pitney_and_blind_norms.cfm

The question and answer were staged. The president knew it was coming and knew what the subject of the question would be. Its disgusting and all of you should be outraged about it.

If you're going to make a claim like that you may want to use links that actually say what you claim.

You said the following:

What Obama's staff did involves telling members of the press which questions to ask

Neither of those links say any such thing. They say exactly what I said. Thanks for the support though.

UPDATE: Deputy press secretary Bill Burton responds: "We did reach out to him prior to press conference to tell him that we had been paying attention to what he had been doing on Iran and there was a chance that he’d be called on. And, he ended up asking the toughest question that the President took on Iran. In the absence of an Iranian press corps in Washington, it was an innovative way to get a question directly from an Iranian."

 

[JB3]

If you're going to make a claim like that you may want to use links that actually say what you claim.

You said the following:

Neither of those links say any such thing. They say exactly what I said. Thanks for the support though.

The links do back up what I claim. Pitney and the Obama admin were caught in a lie, and were attempting to cover it up. Since when have press secretaries ever been known for being truthful?

 

[noah617]

The links do back up what I claim. Pitney and the Obama admin were caught in a lie, and were attempting to cover it up. Since when have press secretaries ever been known for being truthful?

I must have a reading comprehension problem. Could you please point out the specific paragraph where they say this: "What Obama's staff did involves telling members of the press which questions to ask"? Thanks.

 

[ABoyNamedSue]

I am personally tired of hearing wait, wait, wait... The easiest way to ignore an issue is to say there are more pressing issues to deal with. Politicians (it goes way beyond Obama) make promises to one said community, takes there money, then says wait the time isn't right, and two months later more of the same, and so on and so fourth. It doesn't end... Just look at Reagan and his handling of the AIDS crisis he waited and waited and waited and when he acted it was too late. Some reports say he didn't want to create chaos because there was not enough scientific evidence to know the x, y, and z's of it, but the fact of the matter is the more he waited the worse the situation becaome. Had we handle the situation of AIDS in the early 80s like we have swine flu today it would be a slightly different situation.

I know I just went of course a bit, but the longer we wait on any one said issue the worse that said issue gets. Hell, look at the mess Cali is and it is issuing bloody IOUs and it is the 8th largest economy in the world, look at the mess in the New York State Senate, and so on and so fourth. This wait until the time is right b.s. is exactly that b.s.

I support your rights, but at this moment it is not the right time. Hell, just look at the DOMA brief that was filled by his justice department. The way that it was worded was beyond insulting.

Stop waiting people, what is waiting going to accomplish, when is a good time 2012, 2020, 8,999 really when is the time right. There is no time like the present...

 

[JB3]

I must have a reading comprehension problem. Could you please point out the specific paragraph where they say this: "What Obama's staff did involves telling members of the press which questions to ask"? Thanks.

Pitney himself acknowledged that the Obama white house contacted him and told him they would like him to ask a question from in Iranian citizen. They TOLD him what question to ask, and the president KNEW in advance what the content of the question would be.

Read this:

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/06/28/paint-that-pig-the-nico-pitney-dana-milbank-smackdown/

What Pitney and the Obama press office did was disgusting.

 

[01solara]

First off, nice topic change. You said Palin was so articulate she scared liberals shitless. You can't defend that statement so you have to switch to Obama.

It's much the same as what was done to Reagan. He was called just an actor and not intellectually curious enough to be president. Now that his writings have been released a very different picture emerges. He inspired the nation, restored the economy and led us to victory in the cold war. He left a country more prosperous and more peaceful than it had been in decades. Don't tell me it didn't happen either I was alive and very politically aware at the time. He restored faith in freedom around the world.

To answer the question though I've listened to Obama speak numerous times without a teleprompter and he's quite good. He may not spit every word out as fast as you may like, but I like a speaker who actually thinks before he talks.

Ah, ah, ah whatever. I have heard what he has done without the teleprompter and seen him read the wrong speech because that's what his teleprompter told him to say. If the teleprompter would start telling him to speak well of his nation and the people that keep it free, he might even say that. He wouldn't mean it but he would say it.

Tons of times, from the debates, to legitimate media interviews, even to Fox. He does quite well. That's why you don't see his interviews being played over and over again for people to laugh at, unlike some other scarily articulate candidate.

Debates such as the one where the moderator was going to make a lot of money writing a book about him to be released concurrently with him assuming office. I have seen many of his terrible speeches replayed such as the great I am ashamed to be an American tour in Europe. Sarah Palin cleaned Joe Biden's clock in the V.P. debate to the point that he had to tell countless lies and make up stories of talking to people in a resturaunt that had been closed for twenty years. I still have that debate on tivo and Sarah Palin was almost prophetic in her predictions of what would happen if Obama was elected.

No I don't recall that. I remember one where some of the questions from the internet were selected by staff and half the audience was made up of people who got their tickets from the Democratic party but the other half were handed out by the school. Not ideal no, but there were some Republicans there and he got some tough questions.

Tough questions aren't that tough when you know what they will be ahead of time and prepare carefully worded predetermined answers for them. Especially when the media that voted for you is in your back pocket. Brian Williams actually bowed to him. George Washington must have been spinning in his grave.

Oh please. The press should be out doing their job and not just be sitting around waiting for some White House spokesman to hand feed them stories. Specifically, in what way is freedom of the press being lost? I seem to remember Bush press conferences where Ms Thomas was booted from her seat and the President called on pre-chosen people and refused to allow any follow up questions.

When press conferences are manipulated and the president pretends to be asking a question that he in fact asked to be asked by a particular "journalist" that is over the line. Sorry you don't see a problem there. I would think that would be beyond the pale regardless or political philosophy or party. I wouldn't be ok with anyone doing that regardless of party. It creates legitimate reasons for people to become cynical. That is the last thing needed right now other than forcing multi-thousand page bills being signed into law that haven't even been read by the people voting for them.

They were asked whether they wanted the funds or not because their Senator was saying they didn't. I guess they should just sit back and take all the shit from people and not call them on their hypocricy.

You can't seriously be that naive.

Waaaaah the President is being mean to us.

The president is creating debt that cannot be paid off for the next three generations. I think that is worse than being mean. I wish there really was a hell so that he could rot in it for eternity.

Paranoid much? The majority of his speeches are so middle of the road they piss Dems off. He's constantly saying things like "some say this and some say that and both sides have legitimate issues blah blah blah"

Maybe to a hardline borderline communist left winger but not to normal people. That's why his approval numbers are sinking like the Titanic.

That said though I must say your defense of Palin's ability to articulate to the point of scaring liberals shitless is impressive.

Sarah Palin has a solid base of support that will continue to grow. Accept it there is a large segment of the population that has had enough and will not let the media determine what they think. It is entirely possible that she will unite with libertarians and give that movement a famous face that will help get it on the road map. It may take a new party to fix this mess and I for one would be glad to see one. It's time for freedom to be championed again. Freedom to succeed and freedom to fail and freedom to determine your own destiny as an individual. The time for group think and class warfare has passed. It needs to be thrown on the ash heap of history forever.

 

[JB3]

^ Sarah Palin? She's a simian dolt who I pray -- truly, I pray -- is the spokesmodel for the utterly corrupt GOP. I mean, she'll lead you into oblivion. Go Sarah!

And such morals! Her first kid was born out of wedlock and her daughter does the same! Nothing like inter-generational out-of-marriage parenting! Go Sarah! Go, you fucking immoral, hypocritical, uneducated stupid nutcase!

Yeah, and she's acknowledged her mistakes, which is a lot further than any leftwing politician on the face of this earth has done.

 

[01solara]

01solara, GET A GRIP!!! lol. You need to turn Rush Limbaugh off and get a life. You spew these crazy, fact-challenged diatribes that are nonsense. "It is a tale, told by an idiort, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Shakespeare, Macbeth.

Don't have time to listen to Limbaugh I am working my ass off 10 to 12 plus hours a day trying to ensure that the company that I work for survives the Obama economy. That's why I have a problem with the government giving lazy and irresponsible people money from the fruits of my labor. If they can't work fine help them that is only right. Able bodied people should either work or starve. If they had to pick up trash and clean the streets to earn their keep maybe they wouldn't have so much time to create more illegitimate babies that grow up to be thugs and criminals and a further burden to the people in the society that work hard, pay their taxes and try to earn an honest living.

If you are incapable of recognizing how intellectually inferior Palin is to Obama (indeed she is inferior intellectually to must high school graduates), then you are [Inappropriate text: Removed by Moderator]

I don't care how superior you think his intellect is it isn't creating a single job, freeing a single person from tyranny or inspiring hard work. The lazy welfare queens are probably salivating about what other free shit they can get in the next 3.5 years. Much like the woman in FL during the campaign that said Obama was going to pay for her house, get her a new car and keep it full of gas. Sarah Palin has done more to help the country as governor of Alaska than Obama has done as president. At least her state helps provide energy that doesn't come from the middle east. I have been to the middle east and the Arabs only want two things our money and to destroy our culture. They are not freedom and equality kind of people,

P.S. Have you asked yourself how Palin would be able to run the country if she doesn't have the ability to run the state of Alaska?

Actually she has done a great job running Alaska and prior to a six month enema by the media she enjoyed an 85% approval rating.

 

[01solara]

^ Really? Where did she admit that she was a slut -- a woman who just couldn't keep her skirt down? A woman who got pumped full of man-cum and got knocked-up prior to being married? And a really, really shitty example for her kids -- when did she admit that?

Where are the facts to back up this craziness you spout. Left wingers are offended greatly by moral people that try to do what's right. They don't live perfect lives but they try, which is more than I can say about most liberals I have known. This from the same man that thinks Ted Kennedy leaving a woman to drown and getting away scott free because of family connections is qualified to be a U.S. senator sitting in judgment of decent honest people he doesn't agree with. If there were a hell there would be a special place in it for the likes of him

 

[JB3]

^ Did she ever return that $150k in "donated "clothing? You know, the slutty GOP threads? HAHAHA! What a fucking bimbo -- she's truly white trash.

And as a so-called "gay" man, I take it you approve of her beliefs about gays, am I correct?

Yeah she did.

Why does someone have to agree with her beliefs if they defend her? I don't agree with her beliefs on gays, but I'm sure as hell not going to stand for you treating her like shit just because you don't agree with her.

 

[01solara]

^ Did she ever return that $150k in "donated "clothing? You know, the slutty GOP threads? HAHAHA! What a fucking bimbo -- she's truly white trash.

And as a so-called "gay" man, I take it you approve of her beliefs about gays, am I correct?

What is with you and the name calling? In one short sentence you use slutty, bimbo and white trash. Is this because that is the only way you can think of to tear people down? I grew up poor, southern and white. I guess that definitely would make me trash too. I had to work my way through college and pay for it myself. I have worked my way up to senior management through integrity and hard work. In your world I am trash and not entitled to my opinions but that is not the real world. So hit me with your best shot. And for the record I am not a "so called" anything and am not defined by only one aspect of my total person.

 

[01solara]

^ Sarah Palin? She's a simian dolt who I pray -- truly, I pray -- is the spokesmodel for the utterly corrupt GOP. I mean, she'll lead you into oblivion. Go Sarah!

And such morals! Her first kid was born out of wedlock and her daughter does the same! Nothing like inter-generational out-of-marriage parenting! Go Sarah! Go, you fucking immoral, hypocritical, uneducated stupid nutcase!

And my mother was pregnant with me before she got married as well. Pregnant with the first person she was ever with. So fucking what!! My mom was no slut and I don't think Sarah Palin is either. Moral people make mistakes all the time and then get up dust themselves off and try to do better. I would suggest you try to do the same it might clear up an obvious problem with bitterness and hatred of anyone or anything you don't agree with. And before you start leave my mother alone you are not worthy to clean her toilet. She is a better more loving and moral person than you will ever hope to be.

 

[noah617]

Wow amazing. It's like reading Drudge, Red State and Hannity all tied up in a little package.

It's much the same as what was done to Reagan....

And this has what to do with your statement that Liberals are scared shitless of Palin's articulation abilities? All the liberals I know are hoping beyond hope that she gets the nomination.

Ah, ah, ah whatever. I have heard what he has done without the teleprompter and seen him read the wrong speech because that's what his teleprompter told him to say. If the teleprompter would start telling him to speak well of his nation and the people that keep it free, he might even say that. He wouldn't mean it but he would say it.

Ah, ah, ah whatever. See I can belittle your point too. Know what would be fun though if you set out specific examples and we discussed them like rational people.

Debates such as the one where the moderator was going to make a lot of money writing a book about him to be released concurrently with him assuming office.

Yes that one along with thirty or so other ones and press interviews too numerous to count. What's your point, that Obama was given all the questions ahead of time? Shame on Chris Wallace, Bill O'Reilly, etal! That's very unprofessional of them.

I have seen many of his terrible speeches replayed such as the great I am ashamed to be an American tour in Europe.

I've lost count what number Republican talking point are we on now? You must have been watching Fox because in the real world there was no such tour.

Sarah Palin cleaned Joe Biden's clock in the V.P. debate to the point that he had to tell countless lies and make up stories of talking to people in a resturaunt that had been closed for twenty years. I still have that debate on tivo and Sarah Palin was almost prophetic in her predictions of what would happen if Obama was elected.

Yet all the polls showed Biden won. Go figure.

Tough questions aren't that tough when you know what they will be ahead of time and prepare carefully worded predetermined answers for them. Especially when the media that voted for you is in your back pocket. Brian Williams actually bowed to him. George Washington must have been spinning in his grave.

And your evidence that Obama knows the questions ahead of time is?

When press conferences are manipulated and the president pretends to be asking a question that he in fact asked to be asked by a particular "journalist" that is over the line.

Completely agree. I'll be outraged when it actually happens.

Sorry you don't see a problem there. I would think that would be beyond the pale regardless or political philosophy or party. I wouldn't be ok with anyone doing that regardless of party. It creates legitimate reasons for people to become cynical.

No I completely agree with you. The only thing I don't agree with is that it actually happened.

That is the last thing needed right now other than forcing multi-thousand page bills being signed into law that haven't even been read by the people voting for them.

What weapon was used for this forcing? Last time I checked Congress was a separate branch and had the power to act when it wanted to.

You can't seriously be that naive.

Hmmm where'd he go? There was a kettle around here somewhere I wanted to introduce you to.

The president is creating debt that cannot be paid off for the next three generations. I think that is worse than being mean. I wish there really was a hell so that he could rot in it for eternity.

He's creating debt in an attempt to correct one of the largest financial crisises this country has ever faced. If his strategy is wrong he'll pay the price, and if he ends up in hell his predecessor who caused the problem will be there to keep him company.

Maybe to a hardline borderline communist left winger but not to normal people. That's why his approval numbers are sinking like the Titanic.

3% since March. That is indeed Titanic! http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx That's not to say his approval isn't down, but it's not down anywhere near to the degree you suggest. Honeymoons end when you get down to work.

Sarah Palin has a solid base of support that will continue to grow. Accept it there is a large segment of the population that has had enough and will not let the media determine what they think.

She has a large base of support among Republicans but even they aren't backing her as the 2012 candidate. Romney Edges Palin, Huckabee in Early 2012 GOP Test

It is entirely possible that she will unite with libertarians and give that movement a famous face that will help get it on the road map.

Possible but not likely. Her conservative religious views would be a problem.

It may take a new party to fix this mess and I for one would be glad to see one.

On this I agree but I suspect we'd disagree about the party platform.

 

[palemale]

What is with you and the name calling? In one short sentence you use slutty, bimbo and white trash. Is this because that is the only way you can think of to tear people down? I grew up poor, southern and white. I guess that definitely would make me trash too. I had to work my way through college and pay for it myself. I have worked my way up to senior management through integrity and hard work. In your world I am trash and not entitled to my opinions but that is not the real world. So hit me with your best shot. And for the record I am not a "so called" anything and am not defined by only one aspect of my total person.

I grew up working class, northern and white. My family is full of white trash. We've had more than our share of alcoholics, heroin addicts, etc. I worked and put myself through college and law school. I am successful through lots of hard work and smarts. And I'm smart enough to recognize that Palin is an intellectual midget. And if you would allow your intellect to override your extreme partisanship, you'd recognize that, in the long run, Palin is the worst thing that happened to the Republican Party. Don't take my word for it, take the word of all the conservative intellectuals who agree with me, like Peggy Noonan, David Frum, David Brooks, etc. The Republicans succeeded under Reagan because they had ideas.

I hate the Republicans, but don't think their collapse as a party is a healthy thing for our democracy. It will only tempt the Democrats to be intellectually lazy, arrogant and ineffective in the long run.

I also find it interesting that you are Southern and so anti-FDR and the New Deal. Don't you realize that FDR is responsible for much of the economic advancements the south made. Prior to the New Deal, half of southerners didn't have electricity (ever hear of the Tennessee Valley Authority?). Most people didn't have telephones, malnutrition and ignorance was rampant. The New Deal ushered in a huge transfer of liberal, Northern tax dollars to the South that continues to this day. You are aware that there is a huge imbalance in the tax structure whereby federal tax dollars raised in states like New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, California is spent in Southern states. It wouldn't hurt you to say thank you. But for Northern tax dollars spent since the New Deal your company wouldn't be viable because there wouldn't be the basic infrastructure for it to operate.

 

[ABoyNamedSue]

I find Palin disturbing in some many different ways. She resigned from Gov. of Alaska because she could not handle the pressure of the office. What is the population of Alaska. If she cannot handle a state with that small of a population what maked anyone think she can handle the responsibility of leading the United States and in many eyes with that position the leader of the free world. She cannot handle the press being in her day to day life as a governor of Alaska, what the hell does she think it is going to be like if she assendecd to higher political office.

What is she going to do cancel all media in its entirely, make Faux News the only news channel. Filter the internet to such a point that no one can express any differing opinions in any way possible.

Life in public means your life is an open book. Right or wrong that is what it is. Rather or not she will run in 2012 I am not so sure about, but being that it is getting close to time to start agressively organizing and getting the ground worked lay now is getting to be the time.

I think most likely she will be a more effective King Maker than being the Queen herself. She has a strong pull on the fundies and traditional family vaules you people, but I do not think it is enough to propel her to the white house.

However, if Obama does not step up to plate I do not think it matters of who runs against him it will be any is better than Obama. Personally, I wish there was an option on the ballot were I could mark None of the above.

 

[Kulindahr]

Personally, I wish there was an option on the ballot were I could mark None of the above.

Hear, hear!

 

[Kulindahr]

^
What's ironic, Alfie, is that all you have to do is change a few words and you sound like some of the blind Republicans when Bush got in -- check out such books as "Why Bill Clinton Was the Last Democrat in the White House" -- they sound just like you, from the other side.

 

[Kulindahr]

Don't you realize that FDR is responsible for much of the economic advancements the south made. Prior to the New Deal, half of southerners didn't have electricity (ever hear of the Tennessee Valley Authority?). Most people didn't have telephones, malnutrition and ignorance was rampant.

There was a TV special once called something like "The electrification of America". It dealt with how under FDR and Truman electric lines got extended out everywhere -- my home county would be impoverished still if that hadn't been done; it was the BPA power lines which brought dependable electricity.

Until then, getting power was like getting sewer service today: you pay for the pipes to reach your house, or they aren't likely to get there. While I prefer small (okay, tiny) government, building infrastructure is one of the things I don't object to. I can even see where that can actually (as opposed to all the fantasy stuff Congress has done) come under the Commerce clause: keeping commerce regular, by the meaning of the word back then, meant organized and orderly -- and it's a bit difficult to do that without infrastructure.

Where I grew up, we were far enough out in the sticks that we still had party-line telephones; I don't think we actually had our own phone number till just before I finished grade school. But without FDR pushing infrastructure, we wouldn't even have had that.

So it wasn't just the South; a lot of the West didn't have power until the New Deal, either.

And now, thanks to the "stimulus" bill, my home town is getting some highway work done that was originally surveyed and designed when -- get ready to be shocked -- Truman was in office. It's going to help the downtown tremendously, and will make it more of a tourist stop by improving traffic flow.

Spending on infrastructure is almost invariably a sound investment.

 

[Kulindahr]

Ain't that that the GD truth.

"Grossly Distorted"?

"Generally Denied"?