Obama's talk yesterday has me upset

[MrYikes]

I have watched with horror the disrespect piled on Obama for four years. I thought we were done with that because of his re-election. I was wrong.
Obama was forced to say during his talk, "Guys, I can hear you".
No media has talked of this and maybe to most folks it's a small thing, but it certainly got my attention and also raised my blood pressure.
It's just so wrong. I may not always agree with him, but I will always respect the President.

[madokie]

1. The dis-respect President Obama is shown by many in the media

as well as many of his fellow lawmakers is a sad commentary on where we are as a 'still racist' country. Very much so

Here we are damn near 40 years after the civil rights act and you would not know it if you were outside looking in.
We must not let this happen again and the way to stop it is to get out the vote and vote these b&b out of office. Throw some of them in jail for good measure.

[RKP5637]

8. Although I clearly respect President Obama, it's really hard anymore to

respect much of congress. Many sound like babbling fools. Yes, there are some excellent members of congress, but the net/net of it all is pretty dismal IMO. All congress does, for the most part, is wade this country through ruts of oligarchies and corporatism, while determining how to best benefit themselves and their cronies ... in a well run company most would have been fired by now for incompetence.

[madokie]

11. I agree

[bananas]

22. That's why Bob Filner left congress

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101651608

[RKP5637]

25. Yep!!! IMO Congress does little more than stoke the fires of national anxiety while

coasting along collecting paychecks, their ridiculous benefit packages and inflating their egos. If congress were effective the US would not be consistently wallowing around in mud. The voters are the blame too!

[Voice for Peace]

28. ++++ yup yup yup

[shintao]

40. So what can Obama do? Plenty!!!

Obama doesn't bring the fight, but he stays to get the crap kicked out of himself, and is partially responsible for his own weak state and fate. When he does finally fight, he wins.

1.He needs weekly, even daily fire-side rants, not chats. Stop being Mr good guy when getting your teeth kicked in and fight back. He needs to be telling the American people who is doing what to whom, and where to place the blame for obstruction. If he had use this bashing tool in prior years he would have won with many more millions in a super landslide.

2.He needs to be a warrior in the fight, like telling Boner he gets nothing. There is just not enough examples of Obama standing up, he is too passive.

3.He needs to set the agenda, and bring in the social programs like NOW. He needs to be aggressive and decide if he represents the Dem's or the corporate whores.

[shintao]

43. The video

See at 2:00 "Boys I can hear you," more or less pointing off at the side, not out to the media audience.

[link:

&feature=player_embedded#!|

[JaneyVee]

2. What did I miss?

[Ineeda]

4. Right in the middle of his statement yesterday,

people in the room, off-camera, were chatting away, not even bothering to whisper. I have no idea if it was staff (unlikely his) or press or whomever, but it was obviously disrespectful. I must say that during the joint session of Congress in 2009, if the president had stopped his speech when Joe Wilson twice yelled, "You lie," perhaps the disrespect would not have escalated. He set the standard, unfortunately, by tolerating that outrageous outburst and not humiliating Wilson in front of the whole world.

[JaneyVee]

7. Ugh. Thanks for the info. And thankfully Joe Wilson himself will be gone soon.

[GoCubsGo]

36. Not a chance.

This racist hellhole district is so gerrymandered, he's pretty much guaranteed it until at least 2020. He ran unopposed back in November.

[deathrind]

9. Could not agree more with you.

President Obama should have stopped right then and there when Wilson did that and addressed Wilson in the manner a teacher would a 2nd grade student acting out in class. Because that is exactly what Wilson was acting like. The President has certainly paid a price for not doing so.

[SkyDaddy7]

18. The Press & of course the Republicans...

Would have blamed Obama for going overboard & being too sensitive...After all the "being too sensitive" excuse is used by them to deflect women coming forward about sexual harassment in the work place & especially when it comes to racism!!!

I think Obama handled it the best way by simply ignoring it & allowing others to defend him because after all he is the POTUS & he is way above such disgusting behavior. IMHO.

[GoCubsGo]

39. I think he was just too surprised to say anything.

Wilson's behavior was beyond shocking--at least at that point. Seems to be commonplace now. The real disgusting thing was that not only wasn't he severely reprimanded by Congress for that utterly disrespectful behavior, but many there actually lionized him for it.

[Cha]

53. Assholes are always going to be assholes..

The President told said asshole that "It's not true" and that was enough.

Joe Wilson Humiliated himself.

[Ineeda]

54. Sorry but

the asshole who said 'that's not true' was Supreme Court Justice Alito when the President criticized the Citizen's United decision during the SOTU. Wilson's outburst was during an entirely different event (joint session of Congress) related to health care reform. The president, as far as I'm aware, has never commented on either instance of disrespect.

[Cha]

56. I thought I remembered it.. correctly, it turns out..

Mr. Wilson's finger-pointing eruption - in response to Mr. Obama's statement that Democratic health care proposals would not cover illegal immigrants - stunned members of both parties in the House chamber. Mr. Obama paused briefly and said, "That's not true."

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/addison_graves_wilson/index.html

Also the ol apology from Joe Wilson.. poor thing.

Not long after the speech ended, Wilson issued an apology. "This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill," he said. "While I disagree with the President's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility." Wilson also called the White House to apologize.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/09/joe-wilson-apologizes-for_n_281541.html

I do remember when Roberts said that..

[Enrique]

57. you're both wrong

[Cha]

58. I still heard "Not True"!

[magical thyme]

32. In fairness, as someone who is treated with immediate disrespect wherever I go...

President Obama did NOT set the standard by "tolerating" Joe Wilson's outburst.

I am treated disrespectfully, and as if I am believed incredibly stupid, wherever I go, and have been for my entire nearly 60 years. No matter what station I've reached, no matter what my job position has been, I have always been subjected to such blatant rudeness by some one or another, usually co-workers, lower level works and management, as well as whispered and giggled about by others.

In my reality, my IQ has measured as high as 155 (and as low as 135, depending on the day, my blood sugar, my sinuses, etc.) and I am essentially a kind person.

You would think by now I would have learned to expect it. Yet people's blatant rudeness, such as Wilson's outburst, never fails to shock me. I have learned that the best response is to allow themselves to be seen for what they are. Nobody needs for me to point it out to them. They either get it or they don't, and if they don't and joined in, they've dug themselves so deep into the ditch it'll be a small matter to bury them alive.

The short term pain of putting up with it never fails to turn into a long term gain. In fact, I'm going through the exact same situation at the lab where I work. After being openly dissed and pretty much shat on by everybody from the lab manager to the lab assistants and one member of the cleaning staff for 18 months straight, as well as in my last 2 years of MLT school, the worm has at long last turned.

I was playing softball; they were playing hardball. But I have learned all their weaknesses and have documented their discrimination and harassment. Now the ball is in my court, as it is in President Obama's, and I'm am well positioned to ram that ball so far down their collective throats it may well emerge out their butts.

Just sayin'

[Cha]

52. That's not true.. and that's exactly what President Obama said

to Joe Wilson. That was quite enough. Joe freakshow wilson Humiliated himself.

[leveymg]

3. Previous Presidents have been challenged, but I can't recall general Press Corps disrespect

Is there just a decline in standards and professionalism among the news media? A lot of them also seem to repeat the same stupid, obvious questions.

[RKP5637]

5. The news media to me, today, is nothing but a bunch of corporate shills and

not overly bright. And, there has been a distinct decline in standards and professionalism among the news media. ... not unlike much of the US.

[Vattel]

6. Rudeness and stupidity often go hand in hand.

Last edited Sat Dec 29, 2012, 04:00 PM - Edit history (1)

[RKP5637]

10. Definitely!!! n/t

[shintao]

42. It all starts with Congress & trickles down

The lack of professionalism is leading the charge in congress, and a stumble for Obama who wants to be above the fray and nonsense going on below. So who do we thank? Those rich bastards who are too big to fail, and use their media to tell lies, distort reality, and applaud disrespect of the Office. When it comes to Rush and his Sl-ut comments, libs really came down on him and his advertisers to make him squeal like a piggy on Broken Back Mt.. So where are Libs pressuring rightwing media?

[whistler162]

12. Does anyone know if it was the press or staffers?

Because he looked over his shoulder like he was talking to someone off stage not in the audience.

[MrMickeysMom]

24. That's what I thought, too...

All in front would have been the press.

[tavernier]

13. It must have been the press, msm, etc.

because I have not heard a word about it on any of the talky shows. These bobble heads who like to think of themselves as noble journalists, working in the interest of the American people, display shock and outrage when anyone dares to cite them with any blame. Yet they will pick at any thread of a prurient story that might capture audience attention and thus bring in more profits for their like-wise "noble and pure of heart" corporations.

Edward R. Murrow flips over daily.

[lastlib]

30. Ed Murrow turns over in his grave....

...so much that he could be an alternative energy source.

His nickname in heaven is "Pinwheel Eddie"

[spanone]

14. i was half expecting the media to report on it...when they didn't, i suspected it was them

he was talking to

[mantis49]

31. NPR reported it this morning,

and yes, it was the press.

[spanone]

35. thanks.

[Enrique]

38. i'm surprised

this doesn't sound newsworthy to me, what did NPR say about it?

[mantis49]

41. They just reported on it

and played the audio portion of him telling them he could hear them. It was camera operators over his left shoulder. No editorial comment.

It was included in their report on his press conference in general.

[Enrique]

46. ok thanks

I guess a lot of people including myself wanted to know, so good for them for reporting it.

It figures it would be union thugs. Kidding!!!!!!!

[AndyA]

15. Hopefully, whoever was creating the disturbance will be banned from future press conferences

Whether a staffer or media, they should be told they are not allowed to return, ever. When the President is on camera live addressing the nation, everyone else should be quiet.

I agree that the level of disrespect shown to President Obama is disturbing. No one will ever convince me that it's due to anything other than the color of his skin.

[primavera]

17. I suspect that the infotainment culture...

... that has grown up around Fux News, with its American Gladiator approach to news, in which journalism is no longer a profession to be taken seriously, but rather an inconvenience, probably plays some role as well.

[Enrique]

16. it happens

I recently mistakenly sent a print job to the printer during a staff meeting, forgetting that any noise gets picked up by the sensitive phone. My CEO actually shook her fist at me when she saw it was me. I felt terrible.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. K&R and agree

I was disgusted that the animals from the press zoo decided that they wanted some attention.

[BlueStreak]

20. Seriously? You are going there?

That is ridiculous. There are definitely cases where this President has been disrespected, but this isn't one of them. It makes all of us seem like flakes when people overreach with arguments like this. There are plenty of REAL issues to talk about.

[spartan61]

23. You are actually saying that this was not

disrespectful to our president? Of course it was disrespectful and should not be tolerated. I'm 100% with the original poster.

[BlueStreak]

27. It was a couple of people having an animated convesation, period

It wasn't because the President is black, for chrissakes.

Do we even know it was press people? It might have been administration people or a janitor or anybody else.

Yeah, Obama was a little irritated, but do you think that might have something to do with the cat-herding he is having to do with McConnell and Boehner?

Seriously, everybody should chill, especially Obama. Everything is better for him when he goes "over the cliff". He really needs to stop being so bought into avoiding that.

[spartan61]

33. And you know this...how??

I didn't say it was because the President is Black or that it was press people or the janitor or....I'm saying it was pure out and out disrespect for the president, no matter who is president. As much as I loathe G W Bush, I would still call it disrespectful if this happened while he was speaking. This was not the time or place for "animated conversation."

[BlueStreak]

48. You are the one making the accusation

I am simply giving the people the benefit of the doubt that, in all likelihood, they did not intend to insult the president or disrespect the office. You made the accusation. You prove: a) that it was press people doing that, and b) that it was an international act of disrespect.

If you cannot do that, please drop it because this kind of thing makes us all look foolish. There is plenty of REAL disrespect. We don't have to make it up.

[spanone]

37. the media TALKING thru the President's message that they are there to report on...no disrespect?

the height of disrespect

see # 31 it was the media.

[Enrique]

45. #41 says it was camera operators

is the lack of respect for the president among camera operators a big problem?

[BlueStreak]

49. Or was it simply a technical problem they were discussing -- too loudly?

Last edited Sat Dec 29, 2012, 05:44 PM - Edit history (1)

I have certainly done that before.

The only real story here is that the President had a very short fuse, and I say "Good for him". I'm glad he is getting irritated with Boehner and McConnell. Maybe he will go to work on them now.

[loyalkydem]

21. yes we are going there

this man has been disrespected all over the internet even on this site.

[brooklynite]

26. Um, I think he was talking to his staff.

[BlueStreak]

29. That's what I thought too

The press are seated in front of him normally. He seemed to be looking over his left shoulder. I suspect that was either his own staff or some other behind-the-scenes people. It was no big thing, and it wasn't because he is black.

People making arguments like this make us all look foolish.

[graywarrior]

34. Yeah, that pissed me off, too.

[Pirate Smile]

44. A reporter tweeted that it was a camera-person with a headset on speaking back to

their control room.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

47. If Obama wanted the room cleared of those who were interrupting his talk, he could have them ejected

[arthritisR_US]

50. I got the very same feeling and it makes me sick!

[cilla4progress]

51. just got tv after 20 years

cannot BELIEVE how dumbed-down and coarse the discourse is.

Husband wanted to see History Channel last night (channel-surfing). There was a terrible, rude, coarse show on about Native Americans that treated them terribly rudely and offensively! Discovery, no better.

I think American culture has become terribly coarse and rude over the past 20 or so years. In the guise of coolness, I guess. It trends too towards violence and pornography. Everything has to be graphic and in your face. Reality TV - so obviously contrived, but many Americans seem to think it is true. (Read a book!)

A rare film director who runs counter to this trend is Ang Lee (Chinese, but makes films shown in the West). Contrast this with Tarantino. People just have to go further and further to "shock and awe," grab attention, and we all just get stupider and more desensitized.

Now get off my lawn!

[Cha]

55. What made you get a tv after 20 year, cilla!?

I know exactly what you mean about the dumbed down discourse.. it's excruciating! As I wistfully long for the days of Walter Cronkite, Harry Reasoner, and Edward R Murrow.

When I retired to Kaua'i in 2010 I left my tv in NY and I'm not buying one over here. If I want to watch shows I like I stream on my LT. I stopped watching any corporate "news" in 2002.. for my own sanity.

[cilla4progress]

59. Oh - we can't stream here.

We live in the boonies, no DSL, have to use satellite so there is a download limit.

I said that if Obama won (yes!) I would get TV so I could watch his historical second term. I listen to a lot of politics on the radio (Sirius - MSNBC). Now I'm finding not that interested in watching - prefer radio, where I am less tethered.

Do enjoy being a part of certain "events" though, such as Obama on Meet the Press this morning.

In sum, still sizing it up. 24 mos. to decide whether it's worth continuing.

[Cha]

60. Oh, If I couldn't stream.. I'd have to

have a tv, too..'cause I love to watch movies and some tv shows.

If you want to get a photo journal history of the Obama Admin.. I reccommend The Obama Diary.. She's had an amazing chronicle of his Admin for the past 4 years.

http://theobamadiary.com/