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AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Barack Obama held his first prime-time press conference this evening. There were no big surprises. He repeated that the world as we know it will end if the stimulus bill isn't passed. Of course, with Democrats in control in both houses, it will pass. He then spent the next 50 minutes or so answering about 10 questions. No surprises there either. The answers were short on specifics but long on....length.
The interesting thing to me was his style. I'm sure he intended to display confidence, reason and intelligence with his 5 minute answers. That actually plays well on the Senate floor or in a television interview. However, from a chief executive holding a press conference it comes across as evasive and uncertain. I don' t know if that's actually the case or if he's just very accustomed to the long-winded answer.
He was both absolutely confident that we can solve the economic crisis, while at the same time forewarning that not everything we do is going to work as planned. He pledged to both work with Iran and be tough with them. He vowed to continue to reach across the aisle in a sense of civility to solve problems while also taking the occasional jab at the GOP. He emphasized the need to get consumers spending again while also stating that they have to be wiser about managing money.
He took his first question from Helen Thomas, who has been a member of the White House press corps since the Washington administration. She asked a question in which she referred to the folks who plan and execute deadly attacks on civilians as "so called terrorists". It was refreshing to hear our President state in no uncertain terms that they were, in fact, terrorists.
Overall, the whole thing was very Senatorial. He left himself plenty of outs. Again, I don't know that he was trying to be clever or if it's just the conversational style he's become accustomed to over the years, but it sure didn't clarify anything from my perspective.
Video's below, parts I and II of 2
Comments
I was very disappointed that a man that is supposed to be a great communicator couldn't get his thoughts out clearly. I counted (literally) 181 "ums" and "uh's" from the president during the Q & A part of press conference. That is one every 16 seconds during the 50 minutes it lasted. YIKES!
I found it amusing that he's taken to ending a lot of his statements with "m'kay"
Since, according to you, terrorists plan and execute killing of civilians, what does that make Israel? If the right wing candidate wins in Israel we'll see more of their ethnic cleansing.
Actually it was according to President Obama as well. I'm not sure how your opposition to right wing policies in Israel excuses the actions of terrorists in Pakistan, Afghanistan or anywhere for that matter.
He stinks at unscripted speaking. His speech writer must be cringing. I'm disappointed. Such generalisms.
"However, from a chief executive holding a press conference it comes across as evasive and uncertain"
Stupid!
"However, from a chief executive holding a press conference it comes across as evasive and uncertain"... I guess you guys prefer another stupid president with a couple of talking points that he recites regardless of the question being asked. Stupid.
I prefer a concise answer to a lengthy dissertation with no information in it.
Steve, he didn't say anything that the average American already knows. He shold have kept it short and sweet. I don't want a "stupid" as you put it...president reciting talking points, but I don't want a rambler talking about how health care is in crisis because nurses can't read doctors handwriting or how teachers can't teach uninterrupted because train noise from nearby trains vibrates the school houses. He's too generalized and not focused enough. People are going to lose patience with him.
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