Obama's No. 1 Media Problem

MarketWatch Media Columnist Jon Friedman Says Democrat Better Get Used To Probing, Critical Coverage

(MarketWatch)  This is the first installment in a two-part series discussing how the two presidential candidates are dealing with the media. Next week, Jon Friedman will look at Sen. John McCain.

---

I'm starting to worry about Barack Obama.

From a journalistic perspective, he seemed like such a refreshing departure from the oft-paranoid media relations practiced by Bill and Hillary Clinton and the two George Bushes.

Now I'm not so sure.

Too often, Obama and his handlers have overreacted to what we've come to accept as frivolous, basically harmless "coverage" by the celebrity-obsessed mainstream media.

Two examples of him getting his back up: Obama made a federal case of the appearance by his daughters on "Access Hollywood" and he was snippy with reporters when he was pressed about his unexpected email friendship with actress Scarlett Johansson.

Sure, these are minor events. But if he is going to be anal about the small stuff, it may get ugly if he loses his composure about something important.

Obama has staked his claim by offering American voters a fresh voice and a strong sense of optimism about the future. When he was on the way up, he was the favorite son of the media, who heaped almost unprecedented praise on him. Now that he has all but secured the Democratic nomination, Obama has shown little patience for standard media practices, which can range from silly to stupid.

The Obama team may still think the "old" rules apply. By old, I'm referring to the kid-gloves treatment the media gave him when he was an up and comer and Hillary Clinton was heavily favored to secure the Democratic nomination.

Even before Obama stunned Clinton by winning the Iowa caucus, the first high-profile showdown between the rivals last fall, the media had all but decreed that Obama would be their darling, the one who could do no wrong.

If Obama was designated "hero," the media had to find a "villain" to complete the convenient story line and, of course, Hillary Clinton was consigned to wear the black hat.

That was then. Now, Obama and his staff must accept the reality that the game has changed as he prepares to battle John McCain. As PBS anchor Jim Lehrer told me a few weeks ago, it wasn't so long ago that McCain was the media's darling.

The story line the media love best is to hail the candidate who was down, but not out, and somehow rallied to achieve a stirring victory. This is McCain's saga over the past year.

Obama has to realize that he will be subject to increasing scrutiny as the campaign really heats up. What we've seen so far is the orchestra tuning up. The real show begins after Labor Day, as the Obama-McCain debate season begins to take shape.

The mainstream media, as well as bloggers who have a point of view, will seek to exploit any situation as a way to create news. Don't forget that all hell broke loose when the New Yorker, which you'd think was solidly behind Obama in his fight against McCain, published (I thought) a biting and witty look at the stereotypical way many Americans view Barack and Michelle Obama.

Still, some accused the magazine of exploiting Obama and his wife. Others said it was a racially insensitive cover. These critics completely missed the point that the New Yorker was mocking bigots in the strongest fashion. Or, perhaps, they wanted to miss the point as a way to advance their arguments.

Members of Barack Obama's campaign thought he got a raw deal from the media during his battle with Hillary Clinton to win the Democratic nomination. Perhaps they were just trying to stir an argument because any fair-minded observer could see that Clinton was the one should have felt mistreated by the press.

Obama had better toughen up -- fast. The media spotlight -- or is it a glare? -- will only get brighter in the months leading up to Election Day. Expect the incessant charges that Obama is too inexperienced and unprepared to be president and a Pollyanna cockeyed optimist to get more shrill, too.

Obama has resented the media for treating him like a presidential candidate -- someone with a personal life, a family and a past. He had better get used to it. The pace is sure to quicken between now and Election Day.

And if you win, Mr. President-Elect, look out. Things can only get worse.

[yngrob]

I''m usually don''t read baseless op-eds but I couldnt help reading this trash. We have a lot more to think about that the comments made by this celebrated journalist, however maybe not. By the way how would you like the nations pedefiles looking at your young daughters, or for that matter exposing your children to the media before they really understand its purpose. As for emails and young starlets thank god for a politician who can concentrate on what he''s doing.

[stn_sage]

What I find interesting is the intensity or focus of the media on Obama''s family and home life, etcetera, and the media finds no dirt to exploit!

But there''s good, ole John McCain, Mr. Philander, himself! Dumped his first wife, chased others around, had a lobbyist girlfriend, and last week offered to put his wife up in a biker''s topless shirt beauty contest!

Now, there''s plenty here to be asking Mr. McCain about?! But, I don''t see the media DOING IT!!
WHY NOT!? Yet, they seem to like to brow-beat Obama!
Why is that?! Uh-HUH!!

So, the next time the McCain camp gets indignant, let''s acknowledge WHO''S really being ''picked on''?!
OKAY!?

[allison2008a]

Who are you kidding? The media has already elected and inaugurated Obama. They are going to look like real idiots if he doesn''t get elected.

[territc2000]

I see you have run out of news. The two incidents you refer to are so long ago, that you bringing them up or even writing this article shows the news pot is currently dry. Oh wait a minute it''s just the media wanting to keep Obama in the spotlight. People out there shouldn''t complain about getting an Obama overdose. It''s not his fault. The media knows that Obama sells so they need to keep writing about him, anything, doesn''t matter what, as long as it screams Obama.

[xlib]

So there isn''t any "dirt" on the messiah for the media to focus on?? Seems to me there has been plenty but there isn''t the prolonged never ending coverage. There was virtually no coverage when his buddy rezko when he was getting ready to go to trial. There was some on his good friends the ayers. There was coverage of wright (which should have been coverage) but we heard excuse after excuse. As for his family, seems to me his lovely bitter always angry wife put herself out there to be scrutinized. The problem with the left leemings is that you seem to become indignent when anyone dares to say something critical about the empty suit.
As for mccain, yep, he divorced his first wife and remains married to cyndy. Seems to me I remember the last product the left put out made it a career of marrying very, very rich women and that wasn''t a problem for you leemings then.
Lastly, as for the obvious reference to the "celebrity" issue, if you leemings don''t get the real meaning of that ad and how very true the message is you guys are blind or just don''t want to get it. The messiah, he who we have been waiting for is treated like a celebrity by your msm.
Now, go inflate your tires and demand your mechanic give your post-1985 car a tune up because the messiah decrees it. After all to quote the messiah "it would save the same amount of oil that we would have if we drilled." And remember "words matter".

[my3cents-2009]

Dude your stupid. Mr. Friedman before you write another article please ask your boss to read it first. He might help you understand that your not as clever as you think you are. And those of us who read articles based on titles of interest want feel dumber for having read your words.

[my3cents-2009]

Dude your stupid. Mr. Friedman before you write another article please ask your boss to read it first. He might help you understand that your not as clever as you think you are. And those of us who read articles based on titles of interest want feel dumber for having read your words.

[my3cents-2009]

Dude your stupid. Mr. Friedman before you write another article please ask your boss to read it first. He might help you understand that your not as clever as you think you are. And those of us who read articles based on titles of interest want feel dumber for having read your words.

[vbfree2]

Articles rarely if ever note the thoroughly researched examination of Obama''s Chicago days that appeared inside that New Yorker cover. From a concerned progressive perspective, the article was far more biting tan the cartoon.

[jrefo]

"Obama has resented the media for treating him like a presidential candidate -- someone with a personal life, a family and a past. He had better get used to it. The pace is sure to quicken between now and Election Day"

''Obama has resented the media for treating him like a presidential candidate''??? , see this is how I know you watched this election race blind with ear plugs jammed into your ear. When Obama has ever complained that media is treating him presidential, you''re getting him confused with John McCain.

[jrefo]

"Perhaps they were just trying to stir an argument because any fair-minded observer could see that Clinton was the one should have felt mistreated by the press"

If someone in the mainstream media did their job non-silly and non-stupid and reported Hillary''s campaign fundraiser fraud of $2 million dollars she made from Peter Paul of the defunct Stan Lee Media venture whom had filed a lawsuit against them which the defense and media have shielded Hillary claiming she had no connection, despite the evidence available to the media (Youtube: Hillary Peter Paul) which directly ties her to accusation, her political career would have long been over. The same goes for John Edwards whom the press knew he was having an affair since 2006 but the mainstream media didn''t break it to 5 months after he dropped of the presidential race, his presidential campaign would have long been over. All the media has done with Hillary was play gotcha games this primary when she was directly caught lying. McCain continues to lie and he''s getting a free pass more than any other candidate

[jrefo]

"Don''t forget that all hell broke loose when the New Yorker, which you''d think was solidly behind Obama in his fight against McCain, published (I thought) a biting and witty look at the stereotypical way many Americans view Barack and Michelle Obama"

That cover that the New Yorker created which the "silly and stupid" media ran with was and still is a racist imagery, and it don''t matter which side the magazine publisher politically leaned toward, the covered served them no good but deserved backlash.

[jrefo]

"Obama has to realize that he will be subject to increasing scrutiny as the campaign really heats up. What we''ve seen so far is the orchestra tuning up. The real show begins after Labor Day, as the Obama-McCain debate season begins to take shape"

I don''t want to sound cynical but the real heat has already left this election, and it occurred during Obama''s campaign against the Clintons. The Clintons left nothing for McCain to use which may be why the media has resorted to acting ''silly and stupid''.

[jrefo]

"Now that he has all but secured the Democratic nomination, Obama has shown little patience for standard media practices, which can range from silly to stupid."

Silly to stupid, that''s my point exactly with the media, this is not Obama''s problem it is your own issue.


"The Obama team may still think the "old" rules apply."

The old rules was when the mainstream media reported serious news, with objectivity factual information and not opinionated or political spin, that were the old rules.

[jrefo]

"Obama made a federal case of the appearance by his daughters on ''Access Hollywood'' and he was snippy with reporters when he was pressed about his unexpected email friendship with actress Scarlett Johansson."

It doesn''t make any sense to critical of Obama for wanting to protect his daughters%u2019 privacy, and the press assumed they would have unrestricted access to his daughters after the Access interview. The email friendship with Scarlett Johansson was a bogus bait trap that the Obama campaign smelled a mile away, and showed that they were well repared to quash. The only reason the press was giving this story gives attention is because they want to fictionalize a scandalous affair for ratings, had it been Ciara, Rihanna, or Beyonce who had an email friendship with Obama I doubt there would be much of a story behind it.

[SusanneF]

This is written from such a self-absorbed point of view that the writer ought to be embarrassed. How is it that he deigns to think that Obama or his campaign doesn''t see what''s ahead? What a crock. Nobody needs this writer''s advice about the media, especially not the Obama campaign. The "old rules" included barbequeing him for the opinions of people around him. As if we don''t all know some fruit loops whose opinions we may tolerate. That tolerance is not a measure of agreement. And if he happened to serve with someone with something sketchy in their past, that doesn''t mean that he is lacking in character. It means that to work publicly we have to work with the public, a place that includes EVERYONE. The whole "somebody got better press" argument has always been a football that politcal PR people pass around as cover for some other story that they''d like us not to pay attention to right now. Look at what a snit McCain was in while Obama was in Europe. Please. Everyone knows what they are doing, and they know what this writer is up to as well.

[tootall10142]

JARGON, BABBLE ,WASTE OF SPACE.FAVROTISM,USELESS!

[trrrorislamx]

hmmmmmm what does ham-asss, lez-balless(hezbollah), nation of terrorislam and ism(international solidarity movement) know that you do not know???

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hamas+endorses obama&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hezbollah endorse obama
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=nation of islam endorses obama &btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=International Solidarity Movement obama &btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=obama islamic marxist group ISM &btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=obama Audacity of Hope I will stand with the Muslims&btnG=Search

Once upon a time there was a serpent who was badly injured in a fight with another animal. It managed to slither away to safety but would have surely died if a benevolent man had not seen it suffering by the side of the road. The goodly man carefully wrapped the snake up and took it to his house, where he bestowed the kindest and gentlest care on the snake until it was healed and could return to the wild. Just as the man was releasing the serpent back into the grass, the ungrateful snake turned and bit him on the hand.

"What did you do that for?" cried the man, who knew that the bite of this particular snake was usually fatal. "Didn''t I take care of you when no one else would?"

The snake shrugged (no small feat for a snake!) and replied to the benevolent--and now doomed-- man, "What did you expect? You knew I was a snake when you picked me up."

[abmitus]

trrrorislamx,

You should check into the nearest hospital and sign up for a brain transplant. Either you don''t currently have one or the one you do have is FUBAR!

IDIOT!

[vbfree2]

Reporters rarely if ever note the thoroughly researched examination of Obama''s Chicago days that appeared inside that New Yorker cover. From a concerned progressive perspective, the article was far more biting than the cartoon.

[carltondhouston]

I guess all this article really serves to prove is we may as well hang up any hopes we have for the news organizations in this country to bother themselves with reporting facts. This is writing for the sake of writing and nothing else.

[TomMariner]

I''ll believe treatment of Senator Obama as something other than a deity when I see it. The two softball examples of the kids and Ms. Johannson properly illustrate that the candidate has yet to be tested.

The question isn''t how he will react to a real hardball question (which he will never get on "Hardball with Chris Mathews") but if he will ever see such a question. The Obama handlers have skillfully taken out any media outlet that will ask anything other than his favorite color or to recite a campaign plank. (Talk radio has been attacked by Obama''s Pelosi and Fox was emasculated by the Democratic candidates who refused to attend their debate.)

I''ll know that the media is at least trying to fool us that they are anything but an unpaid ad for Senator Obama by having Matt Lauer ask the candidate about the misdeeds of his surrogates. And blast back at him when he hears, "Oh Matt, boys will be boys".

[carltondhouston]

I guess all this article really serves to prove is we may as well hang up any hopes we have for the news organizations in this country to bother themselves with reporting facts. This is writing for the sake of writing and nothing else.

[usais11]

The Democrats sound like desperate people trying to get dates at a prom that was over years ago.

[vbfree2]

Reporters rarely if ever note the thoroughly researched examination of Obama''s Chicago days that appeared inside that New Yorker cover. From a concerned progressive perspective, the article was far more biting than the cartoon.

[vbfree2]

Reporters rarely if ever note the thoroughly researched examination of Obama''s Chicago days that appeared inside that New Yorker cover. From a concerned progressive perspective, the article was far more biting than the cartoon.

[baycat571]

Sen. Obama''s problem with the media is the media''s refusal to play ''hardball'' with Sen. McCain.
What I don''t understand is why this Marketwatch article made the ''big'' time as opposed to the far more insightful and more fact-loaded article on John McCain by Rex Nutting.
Nutting''s comments are far more useful than this expression of dislike.
Here the only complaint is that Sen. Obama has a thin skin, ignoring Sen. McCain''s own long history with over-sensitivity, or the cakewalk the media have given him over his campaign.
How many of you have heard that Sen. McCain comes from a pretty ''elite'' background himself as the son and grandson of Admirals? Or that he was nearly dead last in his class at Annapolis? Or that he crashed three planes before he was shot down in Vietnam? That he cheated on wife #1, who supported him through his imprisonment, to take up with younger, richer, wife #2? Or that - recognizing that with his record of non-accomplishments in the Navy, he had no hope of matching dad and granddad, so he opted for politics? Or that even he no longer supports the two bills in the Senate that actually bear his name.

[ericmiami]

Wow, John. What an empty story. You should look for another line of work. You wouldn''t even make a good speechwriter for McCain.

[intifadagirl]

Or what about the rally where he got testy with the young African-American man who stated that Obama wasn''t focusing on issues concerning blacks? Obama responded angrily "we have a question-and-answer session afterwards," or something to that effect. Then he proceeded to repeat the same elitist garbage, hallmark of all his campaign speeches.

[barbcham]

You should have started worrying about Obama a long time ago. Obama''s #1 media problem is that the media gave him a free pass for far too long. If you all handled him like you do any other politician - i.e., did your job and really vetted him - Hillary would be on the fast track to becoming President. Now we''re stuck with a choice between Bush Redux and Mr. Tra-La Change. I used to scoff at my mother for averring that the media plays favorites. Once again, my mother was right.

[bill1037]

Yes, you go sit in your corner and "worry" about Obama. The rest of us will worry about the mess that Bush has created and if we will ever dig our way out. What did we lose? Another 50,000 jobs lost last month and the month before and the month before... while Bush sits back and says we can''t interfere with free trade as all of our manufacturing jobs move to China or Mexico, A ridiculous war that has left so many innocent people dead and us so far in debt to China that the only answer will be to sell them our land and businesses, gasoline at an all time record high, while oil companies sit back and flip us the bird. We have bigger fish to fry than to "worry" about how Obama is replying to the media.

[potomac_will]

This is the kind of story--self-serving public relations stories in which the media and not the news becomes the story--that convinces us that the traditional media are usurpatious and self-absorbed.

[bill1037]

Excellent points psy-war! But of course, "we can''t mention that" Talk about that. We just rack that up to good-ole down home folksiness. Instead of mentioning what is really going on. McSame''s handlers are white-knuckling it every time this guy talks. He not only doesn''t know what he''s saying, but what''s said is more of the same tough-guy, texan approach to diplomacy that got us in this mess in the first place. (while knawing on a piece of straw) "I think I''ll mosey on down her to this here Iran and bomb some sense into this here culture, yup, that''s the ticket"

[se999]

I support Obama - and I totally agree with this bit of wisdom. Maybe he''d benefit from Aikido lessons. Kids in the media eye? Laugh and say, "Aren''t they great?" Michelle bashing? Nod and say, "Interesting perspective. You wanna know mine? *** I''m a lucky guy!"

[maloot]

As PBS anchor Jim Lehrer told me a few weeks ago, it wasn''t so long ago that McCain was the media''s darling

That was when they had to make him beat Romney.

[closethippy1]

Hilary should have had the wisdom to run for president back in 2004.
If Kerry was that close from winning she sure would have been able to beat Jr.
I don''t know why she waited.
Now, she and her supporters should concede defeat, move on and stop ******** about Obama.

[usais11]

Republicans are not any more lecturing than the Dummies people call Democrats who think they are above the law, committ adultry- apologize, want to be forgiven, and the people do just that. If it were a Republican the incident would never be forgotten. Stop being a hypocrit..Change isn''t change if it makes you look like a fool. McCain is not any more like Bush than Obama is like Kennedy.

[chitown639]

Just google, "Obama homosexual *** affair" and see the numerous websites pop up.

For starters, check out -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqxmn1ZuM
w4&NR=1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by dasfarg

The mere fact that you believe EVERYTHING you read on the INTERNET sleds light to your obvious naive and gullible perceptive. Heres a clue for you my mental midget friend. JUST BECAUSE YOU READ IT FROM THE INTERNET DOESNT MAKE IT TRUE....

[mostlympc]

.

Totally ridiculous article. Shame on you Friedman for selling out so easliy.

.

[zerato-2009]

Posted by dasfarg at 08:26 AM : Aug 11, 2008

The guerrilla campaign against obama by the republican smear machine is in full effect. what are you getting to slime obama. Larry sinclair could not pass a single lie detector test, a convicted liar wanted by the state of Colorado. A con man trying to cash at obama''s expense. Your slime is despicable

[msay3]

Obama is not experienced enough to be president...He gets his back up over the small things, tries to gloss over the big stuff....

[msay3]

Obama is not experienced enough to be president...He gets his back up over the small things, tries to gloss over the big stuff....

[seneca69]

Hmm, Oba-me works hard and gets "accepted" at the overtly racist Harvard. No prob, he still had to have the grades.

Next stop, Chicago, that''s where the Oba-me machine was put together; complete with defective wheels, preordained to fall off.

Phase two of the Chicago assembly line: Oba-me seeks out and sucks up to leftist cowards and rolls in their fecal pleasures like a young hound enraptured with an aging pile of ***.

Phase three: With some of the dirtiest cash on the planet, Oba-me is groomed and showcased. He becomes quite adept at keeping that po'' urban voting constituency on the DNC slave ship -- and, of course, this ability engenders much trust from the Chicago assembly line execs.

Phase four: Why wait? Let''s get after the Klingtons the Chicago way, that is, smile in their face and knife ''em in the back every chance you get. "Is that how it''s done" Oba-me asks? "Depends on what the meaning of is, is," chortles the Chicago Hegemony.

Epilogue: The shiny Oba-me vehicle made it to the big dance, even as the wheels are (prophetically?) coming off. The Klingtons? Well, their machine is cloaked but well armed and ready to unleash a tactical clout of poison rhetoric.

As for the repugs? McLame? Same vehicle/game, different assembly plant.

In the meantime, the overtly leftist mainstream media just discovered a lump in it''s collective breast.

Independently yours,

Seneca69

[chitown639]

Does that mean that "Chimp" Obama will get his rabies shot and have his anal glands cleaned out?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by willo1301

Well, isnt that grand??? It seems that YOU cant handle that the ''chimp'' as YOU call him, has surpassed you in EVERY conceivable degree. YOU cant stand that when YOU compare yourself to Senator Obama, YOU look like a utter FAILURE one million times over. YOU cant understand how members of a race that YOU were told over and over throughout your miserable life YOU were better than, have reached levels of success that you can only dream of.

[intifadagirl]

I only wish Obama had real ties to Islam. Then maybe he wouldn''t lust after AIPAC dollars to the extent that he is willing to carry out the homicidal tradition of US aid to "Israel" to the tune of billions a year so they can massacre and ethnically cleanse Palestinians.

[msay3]

Posted by chitown639 at 08:55 AM : Aug 11, 2008
---------------------
My, what insight! Do you know willo1301 personally or are you just guessing, based on your own stature, perhaps?

[susaninok]

Too little and way too late. The fact that the MSM is starting to get what many of us (18 million to be exact) have known about Obama is ridiculous and shameful. The media''s adoring treatment of Obama resulted in him being the nominee rather than Hillary Clinton. The voters started to see through the hype long before the MSM did. It was this same type of hands off treatment by the media that gave us our current president. Shame on the press for not doing their jobs.

[dante805]

A few words taken from Barrack Obama%u2019s first resume.

Conceited, self-absorbed, arrogant, self-important, hubristic, ambitious, vain, snobbish, stuck-up, high and mighty, smug, superior, self-righteous, haughty, full-of-yourself, spectacular, elitist, snooty, overconfident, showy, self-aggrandizing, puffed-up, narcissistic, educated, pious, bigheaded, inflated, vainglorious, condescending, incomparable, untouchable, illustrious, outstanding, superior, flaunting, high-class, pretentious, exceptional, advanced, better-quality, pompous, stateliness, august, ostentatious, erudite, portentous, grand, magnificent, flashy, brassy, significant, affected, brilliant, glowing, special, esteemed, extraordinary, unique, distinctive, exclusive, bold, daring, assertive, intrepid, audacious, valiant, brash, forthright, divine, scholarly, nervy, self-assured, better, enhanced, a cut above, first-class, prominent, patronizing, aristocratic, regal, bossy, famous, high and mighty, breath taking, supercilious, majestic, imperial, stately, fancy, noble, overconfident, egotistical, self-centered, proud, pushy, brazen, presumptuous, aggressive, strident, loud, studious, cocky, boastful, swaggering, audacity, resplendent, knowledgeable, blustery, bullying, memorable, privileged, selected, anointed, god-like, chosen, preferred, vaunted, saintly, extravagant, inflated, overstated. And that%u2019s before he became Senator. And now celebrity.

[chitown639]

Posted by chitown639 at 08:55 AM : Aug 11, 2008
---------------------
My, what insight! Do you know willo1301 personally or are you just guessing, based on your own stature, perhaps?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by msay3

I know the kind of individuals that think its cleverly humerous to call other human beings ''chimps''!!!

[msay3]

Posted by psy_war at 09:01 AM : Aug 11, 2008
-----------------------------

Actually, McCain did NOT cave.....He actually refused to be released because he wouldn''t leave his fellow prisoners behind....