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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 OPINION 
10

Fawning Press Glosses Over Obama's Agenda

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(Newser) – Barack Obama has enchanted the media more than any president this side of Jack Kennedy, writes Robert Samuelson of the Washington Post. A recent Pew study concluded that Obama had enjoyed “substantially more positive media coverage,” than either Bush or Clinton during their first months. “On the whole, this is not healthy for America,” Samuelson opines, because Obama’s vast agenda isn’t being questioned.

Obama “envisions the greatest growth of government since Lyndon Johnson.” But no one’s asking if those proposals are practical. “All ‘reforms’ do not succeed,” Samuelson points out. “The press should not be hostile, but it ought to be skeptical.” Instead it’s fawning, in part because Obama is popular, but mostly for one simple reason: “Most journalists like Obama.”

Kristin Aldridge of West Chester, PA., surveys an array of glossy magazines featuring President-elect Obama and his family on their covers at a Penn Station news stand in New York, Jan. 14, 2009.
Kristin Aldridge of West Chester, PA., surveys an array of glossy magazines featuring President-elect Obama and his family on their covers at a Penn Station news stand in New York, Jan. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
President-elect Barack Obama is shown on the cover of People magazine on a New York newsstand Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008.
President-elect Barack Obama is shown on the cover of People magazine on a New York newsstand Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
This image supplied by Time Magazine, shows the cover of the magazine's December 29, issue naming President-elect Barack Obama as their
This image supplied by Time Magazine, shows the cover of the magazine's December 29, issue naming President-elect Barack Obama as their "Person of the Year" for 2008.   (AP Photo/ TIME)
In this Jan. 21, 2009 file photo, a newspaper vendor displays the New York Times and a magazine featuring President Barack Obama, in downtown Seattle.
In this Jan. 21, 2009 file photo, a newspaper vendor displays the New York Times and a magazine featuring President Barack Obama, in downtown Seattle.   (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
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The press has become Obama's silent ally and seems in a state of denial. - Robert J. Samuelson

Most journalists like Obama; they admire his command of language; he's a relief after Bush; and they don't want to see the first African American president fail. - Robert J. Samuelson

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10 comments
VIEWING:
 
Observer
Jun 1, 09 8:34 AM CDT
Skepticism is healthy. That's why we should question all "authorities". Like - why hasn't the Patriot Act been repealed and civil rights restored. 9/11 happened 8 years ago yet Big Brother is still aggressively profiling minorities and intruding on everyone's privacy. And why isn't the DOJ indicting the Bush junta's war criminals? Reply
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-1
IN RESPONSE:
ClingingToHope
Jun 1, 09 8:47 AM CDT
You suffer from Bush Derangement Syndrome and ObamaBlinders. You simply cannot admit that Chairman Barry can do any wrong. He is a lightweight in an empty teleprompter suit who is not prepared to lead this country except to fatten his liberal fascist cronies. This will go down as the WORST presidency in US history.
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-3
Nwambe
Jun 1, 09 9:33 AM CDT
Oh, don't be such a racist. I don't hear you bemoaning the leadership of the Republicans under Steele. It's a misleading fact - Yes, Obama is opening sectors of society to government control, but only AFTER GWB increased the profile of gov't deregulation. He's not 'increasing' the government, he's only putting it back to where it was BEFORE GWB. We've all seen where deregulation goes, and the mantra of 'greed is go(o)d" doesn't work anymore. Try something new. Reply
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0
IN RESPONSE:
ClingingToHope
Jun 1, 09 10:14 AM CDT
"He's not 'increasing' the government, he's only putting it back to where it was BEFORE GWB." Huh? You cannot seriously believe the statement you made.
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
IN RESPONSE:
ClingingToHope
Jun 1, 09 10:15 AM CDT
Socialism and fascism are not new. They have always failed. Just b/c you have a new suit (Chairman Barry) doesn't make them any better.
Vote up! Vote down!
-2

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