Barack Obama v. the Press: Is the Love Affair Over?

The heavy hand the Obama administration takes with the press has damaged the love affair. The president may wind up with only fawning media outlets like MSNBC on his side in short order. Who would wat keith olermann as their most prominent cheerleader?

The press is saying the White House is ultra sensitive to criticism and controlling of the narrative. The administration has pledged to be more cooperative, but an air of access for positive stories still remains. The message isclear--print what we want or the press does not get anything.

Obama is also, believe it or not, media shy when it comes to talking with reporters. He does so only about once a week. I suspect this is because his inner circle fears off the cuff remarks, such as the assertion the police acted “stupidly” in the Henry Gates case. The unwise comment on live, national television prompted the famous Beer Summit as a public relations stunt. The Beer Summit is now more of a joke than anything else. Obama’s inner circle surely wats to keep a similar scenario from occurring.

The press is said to be subject to all sorts of profane vitriol if any of them step out of lie. Treating the press that way is not the best method of paiting arosy picture for the public.

Nevertheless, I am skeptical much will come of it. When conservatives are o the attack, the press will rally around their guy. Remember how John McCain was the New York Times’ favorite Republican until he got the GOP no in 2008? They will abandon their personal issues in the name of progressivism when called upon to do so. Ideological loyalty trumps journalistic professionalism every time.