May 26, 2010 5:45 PM

Not All Obama News Conferences Made the Same

By
Mark Knoller
Topics
White House

President Barack Obama conducts the daily press briefing at the White House, in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.

(Credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

When President Obama tomorrow offers his latest comments on the BP oil spill and takes questions from reporters, it remains to be seen what kind of news conference it will be. They are not all the same.

When he took questions in the East Room for the better part of an hour in prime time -- which Mr. Obama last did ten months ago on July 22, 2009 -- it was deemed to be a formal, full-scale, solo White House news conference.

But when he and President Calderon of Mexico responded to a single question apiece last week at a joint press availability, also in the East Room, that event was seen to be a lower grade of press conference.

That's why there's a difference of opinion on whether Mr. Obama's last formal White House news conference was that Q&A session last July or instead a surprise appearance he made in the White House Briefing Room on February 9, 2010. At the latter, he took 12 questions from six reporters after making a statement about his talks earlier in the day with Congressional leaders of both parties.

By my count, Mr. Obama has done six formal, full-scale White House news conferences, including the one on February 9. Four of the six were prime-time events in the East Room that lasted between 52 minutes and 59 minutes. Then there was a 53 minute session in the Briefing Room on June 23 and the disputed 35 minute event on February 9.

But add up all the press availabilities Mr. Obama has done, including abbreviated sessions with foreign leaders, and some solo news conferences at home and abroad, and the number of press events he's done since taking office climbs to 49.

During the same period of time in his presidency, George W. Bush took part in a total of 33 press availabilities of all varieties of which five were formal, solo White House news conferences. Only one was an evening event in prime time. The others were daytime sessions lasting about half an hour.

Besides press conferences, Mr. Obama has also sat for 190 interviews with members of the press, far more than any of his recent predecessors during their first 16 months in office.

The numbers reveal that Mr. Obama finds news conferences less appealing a format for conveying his views than one-on-one interviews.

Keep those numbers in mind as you watch Mr. Obama field questions tomorrow. Most will focus on the oil spill and criticism that he was slow to respond to the crisis, a charge his immediate predecessor faced in 2005 in the days after Hurricane Katrina.

Also keep an eye on what you perceive to be the president's comfort level as he faces questions on other matters. Then, make a guess as to how long it will be before his next press conference.

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.


Add a Comment See all 25 Comments
by MurdochSucks May 27, 2010 5:28 PM EDT
by cleantheDCcesspool May 26, 2010 9:27 PM EDT
Okay, please give just a few examples of what Bush did along the lines of "far more egregiously illegal acts."

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1) Illegal detainment and subsequent torture of prisoners of war, including violations of the Geneva Conventions.

2) Illegal unwaranted electronic surveillance (wire taps).

3) Illegal concealment and noncompliance with Congressional subpoenas, asserting "Executive Privilege."

4) Misled Congress in the drumming up for the war in Iraq (Dems voted based on misinformation, fear, and angst).

5) Illegal invasion of Iraq. House Joint Resolution 114, passed by Congress based on said misinformation, authorized Bush to use military force against Iraq "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate," but required that he meet certain conditions. Bush did not meet these conditions.

6) Violation of international. Bush attacked Iraq, against the decisions of the United Nations, and thus violated the UN Charter. Planning and committing a war of aggression is a violation of the Nuremberg Principles. According to the US Constitution these international treaties are part of the "Supreme Law of the Land". Bush has violated the Nuremberg Principles and the UN Charter.

7) Had his staff fire federal judges based on political grounds (not illegal but very scandalous and unethical).

8) Lied under oath.

9) Outed CIA agent.

10) Violated the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, by expanding on biological weaponry. In February 2003, for example, the US granted itself a patent on an illegal long-range biological-weapons grenade.
Reply to this comment
by M_Mcf_M May 27, 2010 2:21 PM EDT
Our talking head president can't interact with the media unless the questions are submitted in advance, and there is a one-on-one interview. The pressure of press conference with dozens of reporters, it's open format and no telepromter is too difficult for this 'Harvard Law Graduate' to navigate. It speaks to his inability to grasp the facts of the complex issues of the presidency. To drag out an old chestnut, "He lacks gravitas."
Reply to this comment
by sunday42 May 27, 2010 12:38 PM EDT
Obama's teleprompter was sent to India for repairs. It's being shipped back and soon it will be business (BS)as usual.
Reply to this comment
by stn_sage May 27, 2010 10:18 AM EDT
No "extensive" news briefings since JULY 2009!

From Mr. Transparent Government, himself!

Well, if HE thinks THIS is transparency, I wonder what he considers to be non-responsiveness?

Amazing how standards change from candidate to elected official!
Reply to this comment
by Harden_Tar May 27, 2010 9:18 AM EDT
Part of the progressive / socialist agenda. Control the flow of information. If he doesn't talk about it or allow questions about it, it doesn't exist.

I remember how the Nixon administration handled the media during Watergate and this administration is starting to look a lot like that. Only in Nixon's case it was only one subject they avoided. Obama is black listing a number of issues.
Reply to this comment
by D0ntTread0nMe May 27, 2010 8:22 AM EDT
OBAMA QUOTE:
?We will promote these values above all by living them -- through our fidelity to the rule of law and our Constitution??

What, pray tell, would you know about the Constitution? Who?s Constitution are you referring to sir? It most certainly is not the United States Constitution.

The fact is that you, Mr. Obama, are extreme: In-your-face-Healthcare, Unaccountable Communist Loving Czars, Boldface Lies, Race-baiting, personal attacks on American Citizens who disagree with you and your Democrat Party, calling Tax Paying Natural Born American Citizens ?nazi?s?, attempting to cover-up or dismiss 8 terrorist attacks or attempted attacks since you stepped into the ?Office of the President?, and your fawning media that is complacently, treacherously, allowing these things to pass unquestioned, unanswered?

Moreover, it is the Democrats that ?should not be elected to any public office?, EVER! Mr. Obama and the Democrat Party are the ones with the extreme views. Democrat Party is the one who acts like nazi?s. The DemoNazi Party is the one attacking the U.S. Constitution, The DemoNazi Party wants to control free speech, The DemoNazi Party attacks the Constitutional Right to Bear Arms, The DemoNazi Party wants unfettered control of individuals lives, The DemoNazi Party ?thinks? that it can make decisions for individuals better than they themselves can. All the while you are happy to see the United States Constitution eroded, year by year, decade by decade, making political fodder out of each issue until you have the Natural Born U.S. Citizens up to their chins in fodder. We have had quite enough. Each generation has a task. This generation?s task will be to RIGHT the ship that has been listing for nearly one hundred years. That ship is the U.S. Constitution. The Natural Born Citizens are awake to the water in the bilge. YOUR party, Mr. Obama, is the water in the bilge and we have our teacups ready to bale. No federal program is more sacred than the Constitution. It is Un-American and akin to treason to trample on the Constitution. It is time to get back to the basics of the U.S. Constitution. There is no need to prove you are a Natural Born Citizen anymore. That time has passed. It is now IMPEACHMENT time for treasonous acts against the United States, the U.S. Constitution and the American People, and failure to adhere to the Presidential Oath of Office.
Reply to this comment
by wdh3007 May 27, 2010 2:23 AM EDT
Perhaps the reason he doesn't do many press conference's is because he just can't take the hard questions or admit that he has failed the people & taken america backwards with his own policies & agendas.
It would seem a mouse running across the presidential podium is now more important than the views or comments of this president. He also wouldn't want to get upscaled by a fox news reporter that just so happens to be present now having said that no telepromter anywhere will help his image on what he really wants to say.
Reply to this comment
by nuttyworld May 26, 2010 10:23 PM EDT
Obama does not love this country. He doesn't even pretend anymore that he has no respect for the people who gave their lives for this country. I don't know why I am complaining, it will be nice not having to hear him speak on Memorial Day, the day for honoring our heros. My apologies to all military personnel, living and dead, for a poor excuse for a commander in chief. My thanks to all of you.
Reply to this comment
by cleric60 May 27, 2010 8:25 AM EDT
salmoc44--you have to define "love" if it means promoting/forcing your own personal socialistic agenda on the citizens of USA-I guess for you-"love" means being self-centered and very big ego.
Question: Can you look into another person's heart and mind to tell them about their own feelings??? It sounds like you think you are a deity/god to have that power.
by cleantheDCcesspool May 26, 2010 9:27 PM EDT
..by MurdochSucks May 26, 2010 7:56 PM EDT
This is a completely unrelated article. However, I feel obliged. Bush carried out far more egregiously illegal acts during his presidency and he remained in office without an impeachment proceeding.>>>>> Okay, please give just a few examples of what Bush did along the lines of "far more egregiously illegal acts"; and before you list the Iraq war, keep in mind that most dems in congress voted for that war. Now, go ahead.
Reply to this comment
by Perish1 May 26, 2010 11:01 PM EDT
I really don't want to hear their response. I have been trying to follow conversations and posts on these comment lines. It is very difficult because of all of the partisan bickering. The worst is those who will not accept any criticism or even expectation of President Obama. I have come to the conclusion that they would stick up for him if he was raping their grandmother.
by MurdochSucks May 27, 2010 5:20 PM EDT
1) Illegal detainment and subsequent torture of prisoners of war, including violations of the Geneva Conventions.

2) Illegal unwaranted electronic surveillance (wire taps).

3) Illegal concealment and noncompliance with Congressional subpoenas, asserting "Executive Privilege."

4) Misled Congress in the drumming up for the war in Iraq (Dems voted based on misinformation, fear, and angst).

5) Illegal invasion of Iraq. House Joint Resolution 114, passed by Congress based on said misinformation, authorized Bush to use military force against Iraq "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate," but required that he meet certain conditions. Bush did not meet these conditions.

6) Violation of international. Bush attacked Iraq, against the decisions of the United Nations, and thus violated the UN Charter. Planning and committing a war of aggression is a violation of the Nuremberg Principles. According to the US Constitution these international treaties are part of the "Supreme Law of the Land". Bush has violated the Nuremberg Principles and the UN Charter.

7) Had his staff fire federal judges based on political grounds (not illegal but very scandalous and unethical).

8) Lied under oath.

9) Outed CIA agent.

10) Violated the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, by expanding on biological weaponry. In February 2003, for example, the US granted itself a patent on an illegal long-range biological-weapons grenade.

Shall I continue?
by achmedcouscous May 26, 2010 8:01 PM EDT
OH, this is "Rather" biased.....even for CBS. So Obama has done 40 something and Bush has only done 33. Wow. And if you take all of Obama's press conferences that were a waste of time, his count goes down to 12.

And out of the 12, if you take out all the ones where the press asked about the dog, his kids, where will they go on vacation, etc., it goes down to 0.

Hey, libs....I can see NOVEMBER from my house!
Reply to this comment
by MurdochSucks May 26, 2010 8:15 PM EDT
Enjoy November in your dreams. November 3rd you are going to wake up to a calm that you've never heard. All of the Republicans passed away holding their breath in a glimpse of hope for returning to office. Alas, they are to be shuffled out of the Senate doors with their small box of "No" cards. Too bad that strategy never works for long. I will almost feel sorry for all of you crushed, desperate folks losing even more seats to the Democrats in what you envisioned as such a sure win. Boo hoo.
by gearhead1000 May 26, 2010 8:50 PM EDT
LOL @ Mudochsucks.

Delusion has thee in her wicked grasp.
See all 25 Comments
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