No-Shock Barack Aces Day 100 Presser

From swine flu to torture, Obama stayed focused and calm

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 30, 2009 6:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama's 100th-day press conference last night was a "schizophrenic affair," writes Mike Madden in Salon, with the president fielding questions on everything from swine flu to torture to the intricacies of running a profitable car company. On every issue, Obama stuck to the "loose, easy style" that marked his campaign. As the world panicked about a possible flu pandemic, the president once again played it calm—sounding a bit like "the pediatrician in chief."

Throughout day 100 Obama stuck to one message: that he and his team were hard at work fixing Bush-era problems, primarily the economy. But it was style as much as substance that was on display last night: "a calm president, coolly giving the appearance that he would help the country recover from the state it's in." It might not have been a great change from earlier pressers, Madden admits, but it was "probably exactly what the White House wanted."

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Chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, advisers Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod, and press secretary Robert Gibbs watch the president's press conference. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

President Barack Obama speaks during a prime time news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

President Barack Obama smiles during a prime time news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday April 29, 2009. The news conference marks his 100th day in office. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama answers a question during a prime time news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday April 29, 2009. The news conference marks his 100th day in office. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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A clip from last night's press conference, at which Barack Obama discussed the progress of his 2010 budget. (itnnews)

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No-Shock Barack Aces Day 100 Presser