Now Obama's jumping on the press
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 5:34 pm
Obama’s new boogeyman: The press corps
By David Nakamura
The Washington Post
MINNEAPOLIS – Move over, Republicans. President Obama has a new boogeyman: The media.
During his two-day tour here, the president has let out his frustrations on the fourth estate for failing, in his view, to cover serious issues facing the American people and instead focusing on the frivolous.
“If you watch the news, you’d think, ‘Okay, Washington is a mess and the basic attitude is that everybody’s crazy,” Obama told a crowd of 3,500 here at the Lake Harriet Band Shell.
Noting that he met with a local resident to discuss her difficulties paying her bills, Obama said: “You don’t see that on TV sometimes. It’s not what the press and pundits talk about. But I’m here to tell you I’m listening.”
White House aides have said Obama doesn't watch TV news but that he does read major newspapers. He has made fun of bloggers before.
Obama’s disdain for the political press is well known, but he seems to be emphasizing it as part of a new White House push to convince the public that the president is focused on solving problems such as the economy and the environment, while his Republican rivals are focused foremost on scoring political points by blocking him at every turn.
“My message to Republicans is, ‘Join us. Get on board. If you’re mad me helping people on my own why don’t you join me and we’ll do it together. I’m happy to share the credit,’” Obama said.
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By David Nakamura
The Washington Post
MINNEAPOLIS – Move over, Republicans. President Obama has a new boogeyman: The media.
During his two-day tour here, the president has let out his frustrations on the fourth estate for failing, in his view, to cover serious issues facing the American people and instead focusing on the frivolous.
“If you watch the news, you’d think, ‘Okay, Washington is a mess and the basic attitude is that everybody’s crazy,” Obama told a crowd of 3,500 here at the Lake Harriet Band Shell.
Noting that he met with a local resident to discuss her difficulties paying her bills, Obama said: “You don’t see that on TV sometimes. It’s not what the press and pundits talk about. But I’m here to tell you I’m listening.”
White House aides have said Obama doesn't watch TV news but that he does read major newspapers. He has made fun of bloggers before.
Obama’s disdain for the political press is well known, but he seems to be emphasizing it as part of a new White House push to convince the public that the president is focused on solving problems such as the economy and the environment, while his Republican rivals are focused foremost on scoring political points by blocking him at every turn.
“My message to Republicans is, ‘Join us. Get on board. If you’re mad me helping people on my own why don’t you join me and we’ll do it together. I’m happy to share the credit,’” Obama said.
MORE
