Posted by Christi Parsons at 1:15 p.m. CST
The honeymoon may not be over, but the parties aren't exactly lounging by the pool in their swimsuits.
In a question-and-answer session this morning, Obama criticized "one of the narratives" about him showing up in the mainstream media.
Summed up, he went on, the narrative says that "I can deliver a pretty good speech" but that it's all rhetoric and no detail.
Not true, said Obama.
"I have the most specific plan about how to get out of Iraq of any candidate," Obama said, also mentioning his proposals regarding education, health care and energy. Plus, he pointed out, he has written two books "that give more insight into how I think and feel" about important issues.
"The problem isn't that the information's not out there," Obama told reporters.
"You've been reporting on how I look in a swimsuit," he said, a reference to the recent publication of pictures of him on a Hawaiian beach and subsequent commentary about it.
In recent months, Obama critics have complained about the honeymoon treatment they say the Illinois Democrat has been getting as a "media darling" and "rock star."
Before a rally in Ames -- a day after announcing his run for president -- Obama met with the press. That's where he criticized the media coverage, following up his defense of the detail of his plans with the admonition that it's more important to "build consensus and inspire the country" than to generate "a bunch of white papers."
As he left the room, Obama paused to answer the question of a teenage student who attended the press conference. She asked about education.
Obama answered her, then pointed to the reporters leaning in to listen.
"Take some notes, guys," he said. "That's how you do it."
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Comments
OF COURSE our state's answer to Paris Hilton is all about media coverge. Incessant, unrelenting, fawning publicization by the Tribune and its reporters.
For example, just take a look about the above puff piece. It mentions that he has positions (tamely safe Liberal ones, you can bet) but doesn't bother to mention any of the positions. For example, his answer to the education question--what was it?
Obama's book should be titled "The Audacity of Hype".
Posted by: bruce | February 11, 2007 1:58 PM
BillO'Bruce,
Why don't you tell us little people who we should be reading about weenie Bruce.
Your spiel,just like Paolo's is getting tired.
Who should we vote for Bruce ?
I don't see anyone from the Republic Party that's setting the world on fire with hope,so why don't you tell us what you think we're missing.
Posted by: John E. | February 11, 2007 4:20 PM
Obama's has mentioned proposals
regarding education,health care and energy? The only thing he has ever did in politics of note, was a shady land deal that benefited him financially.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | February 11, 2007 4:27 PM
Obama says his aim is to "inspire the country"?
What arrogance. What a lack of humility.
The Americans who inspire me are our men and women in the Armed Forces. Not some preening politician.
Posted by: Bruce | February 11, 2007 10:27 PM
Welcome Democratic Underground
Posted by: Dale Peters | February 11, 2007 10:34 PM
Wait, what? Sen. Obama doesn't like fawning coverage? Here that, Frank James, Mark Silva, Christi Parsons, et. al.? He wants real questions. So, please by all means, give him some. Ask him about how he plans to make Iraq stable after he pulls the troops out. Ask him what he plans to do with Iran. Ask him why he continues to stand by Todd Stroger. Ask him, if elected, would he allow Patrick Fitzgerald to complete his investigations of the Daleys and the Blagojevich administration. Ask him if he's comfortable with his supporters insinuating that anyone who disagrees with Sen. Obama is a racist. Ask him these and any number of other substantive questions normally reserved for presidential wannabes. It would be about time someone did.
Posted by: JB | February 12, 2007 9:18 AM
Fanny shots are not fawning coverage.
And that's a cheap twist of "inspire"; when he actually meant something much more powerful and necessary. The quote is, "the admonition that it's more important to "build consensus and inspire the country" than to generate "a bunch of white papers.""
This is a different usage than Obama inspiring us, ala JFK or Superman. There are no elispsis in "build consensus and inspire the country". He's talking about inspiration that grows from consensus. Consensus is people talking. Ideas and inspiration flow from true conversations, voices who know they are heard.
Listening to voices is the only way to keep democracy.
Notice how "concensus" is some wierd science-fictiony thing these days, like dark matter?
But Friends do it every day.
Posted by: LightningJoe | March 13, 2007 5:08 AM