Obama, but not in a swimsuit...

[carpe diem]

In a question-and-answer session this morning, Obama criticized "one of the narratives" about him showing up in the mainstream media.

Summed up, he went on, the narrative says that "I can deliver a pretty good speech" but that it's all rhetoric and no detail.

Not true, said Obama.

"I have the most specific plan about how to get out of Iraq of any candidate," Obama said, also mentioning his proposals regarding education, health care and energy. Plus, he pointed out, he has written two books "that give more insight into how I think and feel" about important issues.

"The problem isn't that the information's not out there," Obama told reporters.

"You've been reporting on how I look in a swimsuit," he said, a reference to the recent publication of pictures of him on a Hawaiian beach and subsequent commentary about it.

In recent months, Obama critics have complained about the honeymoon treatment they say the Illinois Democrat has been getting as a "media darling" and "rock star."

Before a rally in Ames -- a day after announcing his run for president -- Obama met with the press. That's where he criticized the media coverage, following up his defense of the detail of his plans with the admonition that it's more important to "build consensus and inspire the country" than to generate "a bunch of white papers."

As he left the room, Obama paused to answer the question of a teenage student who attended the press conference. She asked about education.

Obama answered her, then pointed to the reporters leaning in to listen.

"Take some notes, guys," he said. "That's how you do it."


http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/02/obama_but_not_i.html#more

[illinoisprogressive]

1. this guy is putting everyone, including the Aussie PM on notice.

[beaconess]

2. The FOX roundtable criticized him for being short on in-depth policy talk in his announcement

Excuse me? Since when is a candidate's announcement speech supposed to be full of policy details?

Obama's speech was heavier on policy than most, but come on. HE WAS ANNOUNCING HE WAS RUNNING, NOT DOING A MAJOR POLICY ADDRESS!!!

Jeez!

[silverweb]

3. Video?

"As he left the room, Obama paused to answer the question of a teenage student who attended the press conference. She asked about education.

"Obama answered her, then pointed to the reporters leaning in to listen.

"'Take some notes, guys,' he said. '"That's how you do it.'"

I'd pay money to see the video of this! The man's pure dynamite.

[beaconess]

4. How long before the "cool kids" in the press corps turn on Obama because he won't kiss their asses?

Yesterday, they were bitching and moaning about him doing his announcement outside in the cold, whining that he should have moved it indoors.

Of course, Obama didn't seem to mind it being outside. The thousands of people who came and stood out in the cold didn't seem to mind. But the press crybabies whimpered and wept and spent as much time talking about how cold it was as they did about the event.

Frigid Weather Tests Crowd's Fortitude

By Anne E. Kornblut
Sunday, February 11, 2007; Page A04

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 10 -- Raising questions about his judgment and risking the ire of the national press corps, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) held fast on his first major campaign decision: to conduct his announcement speech in the frigid outdoors here on Saturday.

And so, as much as it was a political story, the Obama event became a weather story.

"I guess the Arctic Circle wasn't available this morning," said Chris Matthews, quivering during his live interview on NBC's "Weekend Today" as he ruefully noted that anchor Campbell Brown was usually the one outside doing cold-weather reporting.

. . .
Campaign officials pointed out that the backdrop of the old Illinois statehouse, where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous "House Divided" speech, was too symbolic and picturesque to be skipped, even on a morning when the temperature was 7 degrees. There were also suggestions that a pampered press corps might be more fragile than the candidate, who emerged in a simple suit and an overcoat, without head covering of any kind. By contrast, columnist Joe Klein of Time magazine wore a large, fuzzy hat made of rabbit fur, procured in Amsterdam. A member of one of the camera crews -- which began assembling at 5 a.m. -- wore a full-body ski suit.

Though a trifling matter, the insistence on staying outside raised questions about the Obama message. Was he trying to prove his mettle? Distancing himself from his upbringing in Hawaii -- where he was recently photographed in his bathing suit? Subtly appealing to flinty Northerners who pride themselves on enduring the cold?



Memo to press: STFU and just cover the story. It's not about you.

[silverweb]

5. Of course, that will happen.

But I'm also convinced that if Obama remains even-handedly fair and straightforward with the press, and stays on message -- refrains from taking potshots at them, but calls them on it every time they take their snide little snipes at him -- he'll definitely come out on top.

He can handle them. Of that, I have no doubt.

[Imagevision]

6. FOXnews; "would you vote for a candidate that smoked cigarettes"

Can it possibly get any more absurd then that?? (psst!) Obama is a smoker!

[CalebHayes]

7. OBAMA is the man!