End Of The Obama Affair

The New Republic: The Dem. Candidate And The Press Are Going Through A Break-Up

(The New Republic)  This column was written by Gabriel Sherman.

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Around midnight on July 16, New York Times chief political correspondent Adam Nagourney received a terse e-mail from Barack Obama's press office. The campaign was irked by the Times' latest poll and Nagourney and Megan Thee's accompanying front-page piece titled "Poll Finds Obama Isn't Closing Divide on Race," which was running in the morning's paper. Nagourney answered the query, the substance of which he says was minor, and went to bed, thinking the matter resolved.

But, the next morning, Nagourney awoke to an e-mail from Talking Points Memo writer Greg Sargent asking him to comment on an eight-point rebuttal trashing his piece that the Obama campaign had released to reporters and bloggers like The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder and Politico's Ben Smith. Nagourney had not heard the complaints from the Obama camp and had no idea they were so steamed. "I'm looking at this thing, and I'm like, 'What the hell is this?' " Nagourney recently recalled. "I really flipped out."

Later that afternoon, Nagourney got permission from Times editors to e-mail Sargent a response to the Obama memo. But the episode still grates. "I've never had an experience like this, with this campaign or others," Nagourney tells me. "I thought they crossed the line. If you have a problem with a story I write, call me first. I'm a big boy. I can handle it. But they never called. They attacked me like I'm a political opponent."

So much for "Obama Love." That's the title of John McCain's new web ad, which strings together clips of cable news pundits gushing over Obama like besotted teens. This romance has been a prominent story line of Obama's entire campaign, and clearly elements of it are true: "I felt this thrill going up my leg," Chris Matthews crows in one clip flagged in the ad. But scratch the surface, and you'll find a lot of mixed feelings behind the Obama "love." Reporters are grumbling more and more that the campaign is acting like the Prom Queen. They gripe that it is "arrogant" and "control[ling]," and the campaign's own belief that Obama is poised to make history isn't endearing, either. The press certainly helped Obama get so far so fast; the question is, how far can he get if his campaign alienates them?

Last year, when Hillary Clinton campaigned as a front-runner, Obama provided access to the press corps and won over the media. One night, during a campaign stop in Iowa, he met reporters for off-the-record drinks. He cooperated for magazine profiles and appeared on the cover of GQ. And Clinton's relationship with the press wasn't half as easy. "The difference is the Clinton people were hostile for no reason," a reporter who has covered both Democrats tells me.

But, as Obama ascended from underdog to front-runner to presumptive nominee, the flame seems to have dwindled. Reporters who cover Obama these days grouse that Obama's flacks shroud the campaign in secrecy and provide little to no access. "They're more disciplined than the Bush people," a reporter on the Obama trail gripes. "There was this idea of being transparent, but they're not. They're total tightwads with information."

In June, there was something of a revolt after Obama ditched the press corps on his campaign plane for a secret meeting with Clinton at Senator Dianne Feinstein's house in Washington, leaving the reporters trapped on the flight to Chicago. The D.C. bureau chiefs of half a dozen news organizations, including the late Tim Russert, sent an angry letter to Obama aides Robert Gibbs and David Plouffe and threatened not to reimburse the campaign for the cost of the flight. "The decision to mislead reporters is a troubling one," they wrote. "We hope this does not presage a relationship with the Obama campaign that is not based on a mutual respect for the truth." After the incident, the press corps decided that one pool reporter would keep Obama in sight at all times. "It's a body watch," one reporter jokes.

Meanwhile, there have been widespread complaints over the shortage of spots to accompany Obama on his tour of the Middle East and Europe. A few days before the tour departed, Time magazine was told it couldn't send a photographer along, and, on July 22, NBC foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell complained on-air that the only images the press had received of Obama meeting with the troops was released by the U.S. military. (To be fair, congressional delegations to Iraq are kept secret for security purposes). And there's been widespread grumbling that the campaign revoked New Yorker writer Ryan Lizza's spot on the trip as retribution for the magazine's recent satirical cover. These may or may not be legitimate complaints -- the evidence is mixed -- but the press is hardly inclined to give the campaign the benefit of the doubt.

Obama's press liaison, Robert Gibbs, has built a particularly large reservoir of ill will. David Mendell, who covered Obama's Senate campaign for the Chicago Tribune and authored the 2007 Obama book From Promise to Power, wrote about Gibbs as "the anti-Obama" and described him as "Obama's hired gun, skillfully trained to shoot at reporters whose coverage was deemed unfair. Mendell tells me, "if [Gibbs] feels you're necessary to achieve a campaign goal, he will give you access and allow you in. But, if he feels you're not going to be of help, he can just ignore you." Mendell has his own specific gripe: Apparently, the Obama team was less than pleased with his biography, on which they cooperated, and Gibbs has since refused to help with the second edition.

One reporter sniffs that Gibbs, a native Alabaman and veteran of John Kerry's 2004 campaign, is the "communications director who doesn't communicate." "If you're getting an interview, and they say ten minutes, it's ten minutes," adds Time's Karen Tumulty, who scored an interview with Obama in June. "Robert Gibbs will cut it off."

Much of this is certainly the run-of-the-mill complaining of campaign reporters who can't get enough access. Still, the campaign hasn't helped itself, approaching reporters with a sense of entitlement. "They're an arrogant operation. Young and arrogant," one reporter covering the campaign says. "They don't believe in transparency with their own campaign," another says.

Reporters who have covered Obama's biography or his problems with certain voter blocs have been challenged the most aggressively. "They're terrified of people poking around Obama's life," one reporter says. "The whole Obama narrative is built around this narrative that Obama and David Axelrod built, and, like all stories, it's not entirely true. So they have to be protective of the crown jewels." Another reporter notes that, during the last year, Obama's old friends and Harvard classmates were requested not to talk to the press without permission.

As tensions escalate, the risk to Obama, of course, is that reporters will be emboldened to challenge his campaign ever more aggressively. At the same time, McCain has demonstrated a longstanding ability to deftly manage the press. After all, it wasn't long ago that McCain, short on cash and trailing in the Republican primaries, re-launched his campaign in New Hampshire by courting the press, "my base," as he once proudly put it. In June, the McCain camp unveiled its redesigned campaign plane, a Boeing 737 that recreates the Straight Talk Express bus, so reporters can assemble with McCain and shoot the breeze.

Now, Obama may be handing McCain a shot at winning back his "base." Of course, making ads that paint the media as Obama's stooges may not be the best way to accomplish that. But the press wants to put its love somewhere, and, right now, that love is up for grabs.

[hbevis]

As President Bush and our "great" state department have done a 180 degree
turn and have adopted the proposed policies of Senator Obama by engaging
in "peace and surrender talks" to Iran. The very same policies of Neville
Chamberlain in the 1930s. There no longer is an aircraft carrier in the
Gulf of Arabia. America has already sold out Israel with its pledge to
stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

In 1967 after the six day war Abba Eban (a person on the left) commented
"As we looked around us we saw the world divided between those who are
seeking our destruction and those who would do nothing to prevent it."
Nothing has changed. America by its actions if not its words have betrayed
their faithful ally just as Great Britain betrayed its ally
Czechoslavakia.

The words of Churchill come right back to haunt me and Walid as it should
do every free loving person of the West.

"We have been given a choice between war and shame, we have chosen shame
and we will get war."

No more than 63 years after the end of World War 2 the world is repeating
the identical mistake. God Help us all.

[noloyalisti]

Most Republicans, including John McCain, favor more offshore drilling. Most Democrats, including Barack Obama, oppose more offshore drilling. Obama, Feinstein, Pelosi and company utterly are clueless. Just tax, tax and hot air.

Posted by rktsci3127 at 11:54 AM : Jul 28, 2008

What is wrong with taxing the rich. They should pay for the war they are benefitting from. Or would you rather spend and keep borrowing like the Grand Oil Party. Borrow and spend, borrow and spend. Who is going to pay it back?

[samthetvcat]

---"but when opinions were expressed 28 percent of statements about Obama were positive while 72 percent were negative. The study indicated opinions about McCain were 43 percent positive and 57 percent negative."---
Posted by allamericand

But if Barack''s getting twice as much air time as McCain, doesn''t that mean by a ratio of 4 to 3 Barack''s netting more positive comments than McCain?

[mt_guy]

When I see Obama on TV or the net, the guy seems pretty *** genuine to me. That footage of him in the Baghdad embassy and greeting the troops in Afghanistan and the way the troops responded to him... that was no hype there.

That said, he''s the first black man ever to run for president as the candidate of a major party. For that reason, everything he does is scrutinized and parsed to death. I can understand why the guy''s a little touchy around the PRESS.

Personally I''m getting all sorts of slanderous emails against Obama that seem to be coming from the Right Wingers. Remember: Snopes.com is your friend...

[allamericand]

There have never been a love relationship between the press and Obama. We all know, at least people who know how to read and smart enough, the MSM try to hide everything that would be damaging to McCains from abusing his wife, infidelity, tax problems to, Worst,some jokes about raping women.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THE HYPE, I''LL SUGGEST YOU TO CHECK THE NEWEST STUDY ON THAT MATTER THAT FOUND that most statements by anchors and reporters were neutral, but when opinions were expressed 28 percent of statements about Obama were positive while 72 percent were negative. The study indicated opinions about McCain were 43 percent positive and 57 percent negative.

[rktsci3127]

Most Republicans, including John McCain, favor more offshore drilling. Most Democrats, including Barack Obama, oppose more offshore drilling. Obama, Feinstein, Pelosi and company utterly are clueless. Just tax, tax and hot air.

[tkd61]

Obama works everything. It will be nice when the press figures out they too are being worked.
The phrase "Young & Arrogant" reminds me of how I feel about the young Harvard MBAs who shot out of school only to plan brillant schemes to rip off America (in lending, banking, energy co like Enron..)
With nobody in the White House and their fathers laying the cheating groundwork (tax shelter schemes and Cayman Island deposits)- and their new found knowledge, they were ready to go!
Slick! Very slick!

[mbcsmith]

BRIAN WILLIAMS of NBC has his head so far up Nobama''s a$$ he could blow his nose.

[abmitus]

Don''t hate the player, hate the game McShame. People just don''t ike your old crusty a$$. Go fishing or something and leave running the country to the next POTUS, Barack Obama.

[paris1969]

Obama is so tired ... that only people like McCaskill from Missouri are still thrilled with him .. he had to go to Germany and France to get applause because this empty-suit is no longer being believed in the US.

[standlee5]

There''s a guy on headline news that is ga-ga over Obama. He can''t even sit still when he mentions his name.

[standlee5]

I have yet to see any media ask any hard questions of Obama and if they do they just let him dodge without challenge. He just dodges, flashes a smile and all is well. More doting. Constant doting. It''s all about the doting. Now they''ll try to fake objectivity but bottom line they adore him. He''s everything.

[samthetvcat]

SharnCedar, I agree with your assessment of Barack being 100% likely to have voted to go to Iraq. I also agree with your assessment that I fell for it and I got suckered.

I think so many of us were because we just really couldn''t stand to see the domineering and controlling power-hungry sham-marriage Clintons running amok in the White House with Bubba and Gina Gershon making a fool of the President right under her nose.

If I had the choice to vote again in the Primaries, I''d probably choose Bill Richardson or Chris Dodd. They SEEM like nice family guys with experience, but who knows . . . although I''m starting to think low key people are may be a sign of solidity rather than ''boringness'' the way Al Gore got pegged. I don''t know . . .

[sharncedar]

"But, these attacks will only prove that McSame is devoid of any ideas as to how to clean up the mess left by the Bush/Cheney Administration. Obama 08!!! "


Posted by caliguy55 at 05:50 PM : Jul 27, 2008

Ok, so tell me this - what are Obama''s ideas? I know he said that we need new faces in Washington, that we need to clean up the lobbyists, and the government should be for the people, not for the few. I know this, because EVERY POLITICIAN WHO HAS EVER RUN FOR ANY OFFICE EVER has said these exact same things.

But what are his ideas? What proposals? What specifics? What is his voting record, other than 1000 "present" votes and a flip-flop on telecom spying? He never voted on Iraq, so we didn''t get to see his flip-flop there, I am certain, from his actions so far, he would have voted 100% with Hillary and the other war-mongrs on that issue, since he ALWAYS VOTES EITHER "PRESENT" OR WITH THE PERCEIVED POLITCALLY SHREWD POSITION.

His ideas don''t extend much further than the usual rhetoric and scheming for power. A huge nothing, a moal zero with nothing but a deep voice and platitudes. Sorry you fell for it, sucker.

[caliguy55]

July 27, 2008

Gallup Daily: Obama 49%, McCain 40%

Third day with Obama holding a significant lead over McCain

%u2022 USA
%u2022 Election 2008
%u2022 Gallup Daily
%u2022 Americas
%u2022 Northern America

PRINCETON, NJ -- Barack Obama now leads John McCain among national registered voters by a 49% to 40% margin in Gallup Poll Daily tracking conducted July 24-26.

__________________________________________________________

July 26, 2008

Gallup Daily: Obama Retains Lead, 48% to 41%

Second day with Obama holding a significant lead over McCain

%u2022 USA
%u2022 Election 2008
%u2022 Gallup Daily
%u2022 Americas
%u2022 Northern America

PRINCETON, NJ -- Barack Obama has stretched his lead over John McCain among national registered voters to seven percentage points, 48% to 41%, in Gallup Poll Daily tracking conducted July 23-25.

__________________________________________________________

This is why McSame is becoming such a pathetic figure. Obama will beat him into the ground come November. And, McSame knows there isn''t anything he can do to stop it. McSame''s attacks will become even more negative as the election approaches. But, these attacks will only prove that McSame is devoid of any ideas as to how to clean up the mess left by the Bush/Cheney Administration. Obama 08!!!

[jimfinster]

McCurryM4:

Posting multiple times is childish.

[bluestardad]

YOU CAN SEE THE RIGHT WING KOOL AID DRINKING NEOCONS DISLIKE OBAMA!

EVERYONE OF THE AIPAC MEMBERS AND THE SEND OTHER PEOPLES CHILDREN TO DEFEND ISRAEL AN THE OIL COMPANIES FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEAR CROWD ARE USING EVERYTHING IN THEIR ARSENAL TO DISCREDIT OBAMA.

THEY CANT BUY HIM!

THEY CANT BLACKMAIL HIM!

THEY WANTED TO TAKE HIM OUT ON THIS TRIP!

THEY KNOW HE IS GETTING AMERICA OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST WHERE AMERICA HAS BEEN BOGGED DOWN FOR THE PAST 65 YEARS!

IF THAT ANGERS THE RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN NUT JOBS AND THEIR BRAIN WASHED NEOCONS OR THE DUEL PASSPORT HOLDING AMERICAN ISRAELIS LIKE JOE LIEBERMAN THEN SO BE IT!

IT IS TIME AMERICA DID WHAT WAS IN ITS OWN BEST INTEREST!

THERE IS NOTHING IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT AMERICA NEEDS!

THERE IS NOTHING IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT IS A THREAT TO AMERICA!

THE ONLY REASON MIDDLE EAST ARTICLES ARE KEPT IN THE AMERICAN MEDIA IS BECAUSE AIPAC MEMBERS RUN THE AMERICAN MEDIA AND FILM INDUSTRY!

AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!

TAKE BACK YOUR COUNTRY!

[mccurrym4]

This article was the most refreshing one I''ve read since the beginning of this very long campaign. The 90% of the MSM that have been ''in the tank'' and acting truly hypnotized-mesmerized by B.O. have been frighteningly reminiscent of fascists rises of past foreign regimes. Katie Couric''s recent interview with Obama was finally good journalism. She would not let him get away with his near irrational statements about his stands on the surge and his more than self-contradictory statements coupled with his obvious annoyance with her perseverence was hopeful telling of the real emptiness of this fairy tale figure. He is an arrogant, deceitful Marxist who would rather trade the best of American values for the cesspool that Europe is becoming. Somebody, outside of FOX news is finally starting to catch on. Keep up this kind of open and honest journalism and let the truth shine free!! Open your eyes America!!!

[andylance1]

If you think Obama and his staff are arrogant and controlling as a candidate, how do you think he will be if he gets into the White House?

It will be like the imperial presidency of Richard Nixon. Obama is part of the cut throat Daley machine politics of Chicago - the 21st century version of Tammany Hall in New York. He smiles a lot and gives pretty speeches - but his organization is cold and ruthless.

[mccurrym4]

This article was the most refreshing one I''ve read since the beginning of this very long campaign. The 90% of the MSM that have been ''in the tank'' and acting truly hypnotized-mesmerized by B.O. have been frighteningly reminiscent of fascists rises of past foreign regimes. Katie Couric''s recent interview with Obama was finally good journalism. She would not let him get away with his near irrational statements about his stands on the surge and his more than self-contradictory statements coupled with his obvious annoyance with her perseverence was hopeful telling of the real emptiness of this fairy tale figure. He is an arrogant, deceitful Marxist who would rather trade the best of American values for the cesspool that Europe is becoming. Somebody, outside of FOX news is finally starting to catch on. Keep up this kind of open and honest journalism and let the truth shine free!! Open your eyes America!!!