The Trib, Tampa's right-leaning paper, and their coverage of Obama in St. Pete

[Coexist]

Here it is. And I'm pleased.

Let's break it down... first the headline and accompanying photo:

Obama Calls For Economic Stimulus


??? No screaming 30 pt. font declaring Obama heckled? Am I reading the St. Pete Times?

ST. PETERSBURG - Barack Obama used a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg on Friday to outline a new economic stimulus plan he wants Congress to enact even before he takes office, to be paid for with a windfall tax on oil company profits.

After this great opening paragraph comes the obligatory Uhuru/lofty rhetoric combo for the little disruption we had, but further on – Obama did something so right, even though you’ll think its silly – he was filmed doing this:

After his morning appearance, Obama stopped in Plant City for a strawberry milkshake - 50 of them for his media and staff entourage, actually - and then talked about housing at a manufactured housing company near Lakeland.

He had something strawberry in Florida’s strawberry homeland, Plant City, home of the yearly strawberry festival – big event with the “low information, working class white” set around here. Such a smart move. I'm glad someone knew to do this.

The article then subtlety compares him to the right’s hero, Reagan, and actually (and I wish the MSM would get on this) discusses his infrastructure rebuilding plan.

It even reports on something that should worry McCain. I attended the event yesterday, and, from my seat, I noticed a couple of unenthusiastic suits, with really good VIP seats, one in a pink tie, who warmed up and even clapped sometimes – want the lowdown on them?

There were at least two prominent Republicans in the crowd as well.

•Randy White, the pastor of the controversial Without Walls megachurch in Tampa said he's supporting Obama and thinks his ex-wife and former partner in the church, Paula White, does also.

•Retired St. Petersburg businessman and philanthropist Fazal Fazlin, a Republican fundraiser and political donor who sometimes backs Democrats.

Fazlin donated to Guiliani and Romney, not McCain. Without Walls is big news around here, a nasty divorce and typical cash scandals that surround these types of churches - but still a huge influence on those so inclined in this town.

The rest of the article is dedicated to two undecideds. One Hillary supporter, and one unaffiliated. They both left happily decided!
Please go read the entire thing and leave some love in the comments if you are so inclined.

[writes3000]

1. WOW! That's four great gets! I love that all of them are for Obama.

It sounds like Obama needs to do more of these kinds of events in Florida.

Let us know if there's more coverage of his visit.

Thanks.

[Coexist]

5. will do!

[gblady]

2. thanks...

it's great that they did not lead with the sensationalism...
and chose substance instead!

[glowing]

3. Wow, that was in the Tribune Rag? That's awesome.. That's pretty good,

considering I think the Times is too freaking conservative. That's awesome.. that'll do it for a lot of people in Tampa who are on the fence. And article like that will change a lot of heads and at least make them look again.

[Coexist]

12. I like that their readership, which leans right, will get that great information about Obama.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Informative and balanced article.

who would have thunk it? :shrug:

Excellent read.

[monmouth]

6. When Obama collected his Strawberry shake he asked the counter

person if it was "fattening, 'cause I don't want to be skinny, ya know?" I'm paraphrasing here but I just about fell of the couch with that one. He has a dry and subtle wit, you need to listen to his asides. He knew the mic was on and said it on purpose. Classic.

[Cosmocat]

7. Is is heresay here, but REAGAN ...

was good with that ...

Now, don't get me wrong, the man was a disaster as a president ...

But, on Comcast, they have a top 20 or so clips of key moments in past presidential races on demand, and one of the clips was from a Reagan/Carter debate ... Carter was just killing Reagan with in depth factual points ... And, Reagen did this dismissive "oh, there you go again" thing and just repeated cookie cutter "conservative" crape ...

But, everyone just focused on the "there you go again" like it was some great thing ...

Keeping in mind BO has INFINITELY more depth than Reagan, he shares that same confident and as someone else noted, gentlemanly manner, as well as the aside humor ...

I think some of those statements that BO made about Reagan that riled up the dems in the past, I think he has mannered his approach in some ways like Reagen ...

[Coexist]

10. that was funny - thanks for adding that

did you hear it on the news or a live broadcast of the event?

[monmouth]

11. They showed it either on CNN or MSNBC. Everyone loved it..n/t

[Cha]

8. Loved the article and your

commentary, FLDEM! Rec'd~

[Coexist]

13. thank you.

I loved the article!

[Hope And Change]

9. K & R!Great job FLDem5!Thanks for posting!

[Coexist]

14. happy to do so!