Why is Barack Obama ignoring the foreign press?

The McCain campaign has described Obama's visit to London as nothing more than a photocall. This response has little to recommend it politically. But there is one advantage to it. It gets pretty close to the truth.

A major theme of the Obama campaign is that he will mend America's broken relationship with its allies. He will talk to the world, not just to Texas.

Which makes this a more important question than it might otherwise be - why is Barack Obama ignoring the foreign press?

He hasn't, as yet, given an interview to a foreign newspaper. He doesn't, as far as I know, have any foreign press on his plane on this trip. He has received many requests by foreign journalists to accompany him on his travels in the US, but has turned them all down.

This is strikingly different from John McCain.

Perhaps Obama doesn't want to face the sort of questions he fears might be put to him - on free trade, on Iraq, and on how his foreign policy would differ from George Bush's.

There is room for debate about whether this stance towards overseas media is politically wise. But surely avoiding European media on a trip to Europe cannot be squared with this statement, made by the candidate in Berlin:

America has no better partner than Europe. Now is the time to build new bridges across the globe as strong as the one that bound us across the Atlantic. Now is the time to join together, through constant cooperation, strong institutions, shared sacrifice, and a global commitment to progress.

Obama's press strategy is totally at variance with his stated foreign policy.

Comments

[Paul Millre]

Come on Daniel, surely you understand that Obama is not yet President but still a candidate, and for the time being his priority is getting elected, and he will reach his electorate through US media, not foreign media. Your post assumes that Obama's current media strategy as a candidate can be taken as an indication of his foreign relations style as President. There are not only no reasons for thinking such an assumption might be true -- there are many reasons why it's highly unlikely to be true. You can't really think that, if you think about it for half a minute. You remind me of this satire headline I saw a while ago, something to the effect of "Shock Horror, Obama is Actually Trying to Get Elected"!

[Andrew]

Indeed, McCain is going to great efforts to woo the British media, as PR Week reports (http://www.prweek.com/uk/home/article/833901/FRONT-PAGE-McCains-secret-PR-drive-win-friends-Britain/).

Of course, when Obama is being attacked for a German language flyer in, um, Germany (http://www.thenextright.com/patrick-ruffini/obama-campaign-prints-german-language-flyers-for-berlin-rally) and faces other nativist attacks, e.g. for self-describing as 'a citizen of the world', it goes some way towards explaining his coolness towards the European media.

Still, there'll be the press conference outside Downing Street tomorrow...

[Alan Black]

The press really have been a bunch of whiners this election cycle. And with stuff like Gerard Baker's snarky BS in the Times today it's little wonder the Obama camp has no time for the foreign press.

[Andrew Pandap]

Obama will not talk to the foreign press for the same reason that American presidents bless themselves daily for a system of government that demands no Question Time before the people's elected representatives. He is no thinker. He is not well-informed. He no doubt has difficulty remembering what his current positions are supposed to be. The US media has no interest in substance. Some foreigners still do.

[Jack Rowley]

Wow, just what I would expect from a Murdoch lacky. McCain is lambasting Obama here in the US for spending too much time with foriegners and not enough time with real Americans. Murdoch's papers in the US are even echoing that charge.

It is really, really pathetic to now see some hack journalist on fleet street whining that Obama will not bow down to his demands.

[TDE]

He doesn't have any foreign press with him, because if he did (as only a candidate) it would be ruthlessly used against him by American conservatives.

[Mark]

1) Gerard Baker's "snarky BS" is brilliant.
2) Obama is not running for office anywhere but the US of A and has so little experience that he fears the press outside the US, unless of course his camp is in control.

[jack]

Obama does not need to cater to the foreign press. He has the foreign "vote" locked up---it's just too bad they can't vote. Obama can brush off the foreign press and they'll still love him---just look at the headlines in the British, German and Austrian press the past few days.

He needs to focus more on the domestic press and American citizens. And I suspect he'll do just that once he returns.

Obama 2008.

[Marcos]

This is very consistent with Obama's behavior domestically; despite the tremendous and largely uncritical 'event' coverage he recieves, he is much less available to the press than McCain and rarely answers questions. The US media put up with this because they are very pro-Obama and they're getting their 'story' as they want it; they really don't want footage of him saying something stupid. He doesn't want the foreign press because he's not confident they will play the game and he doesn't know them well enough to judge their 'reliability.'

[ACar]

With cries of "Hubris!" welling up in the US just over the tour with our own press, imagine what the snarks would do if he let the foreign press in. Anyway, that isn't stopping the German press who declared that Obama acts like he's running for president of the world. Uh oh.

[snarkyspice]

When I read this, my first reaction was 'why do you think?'

I mean seriously. It's blindingly obvious.

[zrahul]

"He hasn't, as yet, given an interview to a foreign newspaper."

This is not correct.

Just a couple of weeks ago Obama gave a full length Interview to an Indian Magazine "Outlook" www.outlookindia.com.
I am surprised that a Washington Bureau Chief of a newspaper is not aware of this.

This is the link of the interview http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20080721&fname=Cover+Story+%28F%29&sid=1

Which appeared as a cover story of the July 21 issue. Yes the it was not easy get that interview. Here is another link on how this Indian journalist Ashish Kumar Sen got this scoop. May be our frustrated German can learn something from this Indian.

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20080721&fname=Cover+Story+%28F%29&sid=2

[DJ]

Hmmmm, whats this?
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331093161&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[Ryan]

The U.S. is below Germany in almost any measurement. But that didn't stop 200,000 Germans flocking to adore the sub-par pundit.
You would think with this kind of ironic lauding,
Obama would be squealing confidently to anyone he could. How could he lose? 10th place is the new 1st place. Obama must just be overwhelmingly clueless without sappy stage-speeches memorized.

[joe]

Obama's lame excuse for not visiting US service men in Germany says more about his policies than his savior speech in Berlin. --jws

[jpmzo]

Why is Barack Obama ignoring the foreign press?

Answer: Because the foreign press may actually behave like the press, and not fawning sycophants, that's why. Duh!

[British Expat in Chicago]

Any US election campaign is designed to get and hold the attention of US voters. Obama's goal is to win the next election ergo he has to concentrate on the US Press. When he wants to bring home the US troops and needs someone to provide troops to backfill the void it will create, then he will turn his attention to the European and World press. Unless of course the recession gets too bad, in which case it will be the Asian press and trade that he will turn his attention to.

[Dennis Paullette]

The McCain campaign specifically Sen McCain, challenged Sen Obama to go abroad and speak with General Petraeus and foreign officials concerning the status of a timeline on the war and withdrawal of our troops. Now that he has done this successfully Sen McCain is the one starting to whine. Present ratings for Sen McCain may have moved up temporarily but when Barack returns the ratings most assuredly will be at an even higher percentage than when he left.

[Kenny Benson]

Barack yelled at Americans for not speaking at least three languages. Did Barack speak any German as JFK did? All Barack can say was bonjour. So, did he say bojour Sarkozy? Well, he tells others what to do, but he never does it himself. The greatest Hypocrite?

[Bob Evans]

Oh, su, silly, that le nouveau Messie is too shrewd to expose himself to the foreign press? With the Yank press having anointed him long ago, and now preparing his way with rose petals, their worship forbids them from asking those embarrassing questions, prying to deeply, or reporting unsavory issues. But the foreign press? They may be enamoured with him, but not yet converted. They are simply not to be trusted!

[twigg]

It's really very simple:
Obama wants to avoid the possibility
of having to answer a question other than "what did you have for breakfast?", and the Messiah is also worried that this world tour
b.s. is really p---ing off a lot of
people back here in the States.
It must be nice to have 4 major TV
networks working 24/7 for you.
Europe had better be careful what it wishes for- if this clown is elected, and Congress stays Democrat, he's going to wreck our
economy- and you guys are going down with us.

[Tom]

Actually, it's no mystery at all. Put it this way. Obama's campaign says no foreign press on the plane. McCain says foreign press is ok. But which one continues to put his foot in his mouth and drive the people who travel with him nuts?

Once Obama makes his "official" acceptance speech they'll welcome all foreign press. And they in turn will welcome the chance to finally get away from the doddering old fool McCain.

Superior long-range planning, eh?

[paul vandusen]

He is not answering direct questions anywhere it takes him off message and he is no go on his feet,that is why he won't debate McCane

[UK PUMA]

Obama likes to control the press. He can control the US press. His campaign sent a direct email to a NY Time journalist for writing a column that was not supportive of his campaign. He doesn't want any column that is critical of him shows up in the press.

He can't control the foreign press, so he never gives an interview with them. I'm sure if one of the foreign press guarantees to him that the column will be positive, he will agree to do the interview.

[Dennis Paullette]

When Obama marches home again
Hoorah Hoorah
McCain will quiet down again
Hoorah Hoorah
Democrats will cheer and Vets will shout
The voters, they will all turn out
When Obama marches home again
Hoorah Hoorah

[Mary Fernandez]

"Obama's press strategy is totally at variance with his stated foreign policy."

Everything he says is at variance with something else he has said. Sometimes in the same day.

[April]

Obama doesn't want to talk to the foreign press because first the audience of foreign media will not be his voters. Second, because the foreign press cannot be controlled. He cannot dictate the questions they will ask. As a candidate and a representive of the United States of America he has to respond to any question asked by the foreign media.

This whole 'global tour' is a farce. Here is a man who claims he is going out of his way to mend the tarnished ties of America to the world...giving speeches in countries where his voters don't reside. For what reason?

All I see is a man who is trying to 'pimp' up his image to his American voters. What difference will his speeches do for the foreigners who listen to them? Will it affet them directly, no. All the foreigners are just there so he can look good in his videos and his photo shoots.

I am appalled that the Americans cannot see through all these. The foreign press is also very harsh because they have seen so many political manipulations in the international scene. They know the right questions to ask. They can spot a fraud who is trying to hide his insecurities.

Obama is not the President of the United States of America. And God help America if ever he does become one.

[John Bull]

Obama is saying nothing because he has nothing to say. To suggets that hsi first rpiority is to get elected, and then he will deign to tell the world what he is about is to insult the American voters. Surely they will want to know what, if anything, Obama stands for? Surely the Americans will not ape the British in 1997 when they said 'anyone but the current leader is fine'. In fact, what strikes me as obvious is that Obama resembles not JFK, but a black Tony Blair, in which case, God help us all.

[Stephen Vargha]

As a member of the American media, I try to get my facts straight. If I make an error, I correct it as soon as possible to get the correct information out to the public. In your case, Mr. Finkelstein, you need to correct your statement that Obama has ignored the "foreign press". He gave two interviews in Israel to the "foreign press", including the Jerusalem Post
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331099249&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[Simon R]

I think Obama's worked out that photocalls are all he needs abroad, the voting population don't read interviews but do see five second clips on the news. He has nothing to gain at this time from putting forward sentences that will be hacked to pieces by opponents.

[Mladen Andrijasevic]

So Mr. Finkelstein, you are apparently one of the journalists who believe that the press should not ask Senator Obama whether in his youth he had been a Muslim? As an American citizen I believe that the press and the electorate have every right to know about the background of the person who is a candidate for the most powerful office on this planet. In fact, he should have given a speech like this one long ago: The Speech Obama Never Gave http://web.israelinsider.com/Views/12629.htm

[Carl Hackert (USA)]

Very much on target... The liberal US media openly supports Obama and that's what he needs to be elected. The Europeans are being "used" by his campaign to bolster his weak foreign credentials in photops. It would be very risky for him to "mis-speak" again as he did in Berlin regarding the walls coming down in Belfast. His record in the US is that he gets into serious trouble when speaking without prepared texts or rehearsed remarks. He is actually quite uniformed and as a Republican I would say that Hillary Clinton is much more qualified than Obama and I could sleep at night with her in the White House instead of Obama. What if a European reporter asked him about the status of John Edwards, a rumored to be on his shortlist for VP who was caught the other night in a Beverly Hills hotel with a mistress and love child? No American reporter has dared ask that question.

[Foodforthought]

Its simple--Obama and his minions can't control the foreign press like they do here in America, so they won't talk to them.

If anyone thinks the majority of our American media is reporting accurately or telling the truth about Obama, they are sadly mistaken. The message is completely controlled by the Obama campaign, and those in the press who won't go along with that simply get booted to the curb.

The only reason Obama has gotten this far is because journalism and integrity no longer go hand in hand in America. The media has aided and abetted Obama in this farce of a "candidacy" and have manipulated the American people by only telling the story Obama & Axelrod want to be told.

[Steve]

Neither candidate is what America needs. Both candidates pander too much to foreigners. All these foreign trips in an election year? What's up with that?

I was shocked and outraged when I heard that McCain was having a fundraiser in London -- "by kind permission of Lord Rothschild OM GBE and the Hon. Nathaniel Rothschild."

If fundraising in foreign countries has been a practice in the past still it is wrong and should be outlawed.

And then on the day before we celebrate our nation's birthday McCain is in Mexico?

And then the outrage of the Obama trip. It is common knowledge that he hates America and will use his position of power on behalf of the foreigners who want to bring us down. He will be elected no doubt and his true colors will be brought to the forefront (although we are kind of seeing them now). And I actually welcome that as it will be the ultimate test of the American character. It was going to happen sooner or later so in that case BRING IT ON!

I will put my faith in my belief that in the end when it counts Americans will reject this modern day Hitler and in the process will not only reject Obama but all those who share in his Marxist vision which includes the whole of the Democratic party and the Marxist/McCain wing of the Republican Party.

[Peter]

What do you expect of BO (How does this abbreviation sound to Americans?), an egoist and man of no manners? Would anybody in his right mind campaign in a foreign country? Would you expect a provincial politician who meets foreign leaders for the first time to pat their backs and shoulders? Would you think a politician who is on his way to introduce himself to "the rest of the world" to be so timid as to avoid the foreign press?
Well, perhaps yes, since this US senator and "jurist" does not even know the number of states in the Union, let alone other pertinent information the average high school student is supposed to know.

[greg]

Campaigning outside the US really says all anyone needs to know that this is an escalation of a world government movement, a 'new world order' as described by the CFR and the Bilderbergers personified. Obama and McCain are just their chosen figureheads for the sheep. This is like a Don King fight - both sides are owned by the same promoter.

[K. Bradley (U.S.A)]

To my mind, Obama's goal is to get people behind his main message. Anyone who has taken to time to listen to his speeches and read his essays knows what he stands for. He will not be making strong pronouncements to the press, European or otherwise, about complex issues such as trade agreements until he consults on each of those issues with his advisors and can discuss the matters with those leaders whose countries are crucial to such agreements. It's called prudence.

[Bubba]

Yeah but the French love him... oh joy I will sleep better tonight knowing that.

[m wilson.]

You don't seriously think he could stand a real interview with the likes of John Humphreys, Paxo, or the Hard Talk/Straight Talkers when they have hangovers? He would be slayed.

[JohnG]

The American media would not dare ask Obama a question that would hurt him. The foreign press does not have any problem asking him hard questions. This is one reason he is avoiding the press from other nations. One question I would ask is "What does CHANGE mean?" He as far as I know has never explained his definition of the word.

[Allison]

FYI - Obama sat for interviews with numerous Israel newspapers when he was here...

[T.Morrissey]

The more I follow this presidential campaign the more I crave 'objective' media reporting. I am at a point where I have almost ceased listening and reading to what amounts to pure 'hype'. Has England now become the "land of HYPE and glory". Give us all a break, give us objective, intelligent reporting that reflect the 'real issues'!

[Anker]

The stated purpose of Senator Obama's overseas trip was 'to listen and learn'. Questions by foreign media folks, sometimes designed to embarras or trap the interviewee, do not always facilitate that process.

An example is Obama's cancelled visit to 'injured American soldiers' at a German hospital. Some headlines have been put the spin that he was unpatriotic, when in reality a hospital policy prevented him.

[kumar]

I am not surprised; the press is once again on the wrong side. When Europeans embrace the new phenomenon, the press pick holes: the crowd of 200000 than came to see him in Berlin, was reported as 'thousands'; his popularity in Europe should be the inverse across the Atalantic; too young to represent a big nation as America.

One thing is clear: the press, especially the British, is thoroughly uncomfortable with the prospect of Obama becoming the most powerful man in the world in a few months.

To get a taste of it, you have to read between the lines.

Whether Obama will be an effective leader or not determined by policies alone. The inexplicable substance called, the luck, is a must too. Bill Clinton had it; George Bush didn't, despite being an amiable and warm individual.

While indulging in character assasination by stealth, the learned journalists - foreign or otherwise - harm none, but themselves - in the long run.

Mushrooming of blogs is bad omen for them. They must take it seriously before becoming the lates endangered species.

[Anker]

To: m wilson. | 27 Jul 2008 00:06:02

Here is my interpretation of what "CHANGE" means: A break with the disasterous policies and self-serving people of the Bush administration.

Disasterous for the American people, and disasterous for the world at large. Mind you, Sen. Obama may not be the perfect presidential candidate, but he is certainly and by far a better bet that Sen. McCain, the soon 72-year old Republican who considers his Vietnam combat experience a major qualification.

[Joe Noory]

Many Europeans tend to forget this: it's OUR election. Though they believe that they have a stake in it, ALL of our national political issues are at stake... OUR taxes, OUR economy, OUR kids, OUR roads, etc.

Get the picture?

Arrogant attempts to coopt it may be forgetten my most Americans, but aren't appreciated, and put into context the venal emptiness of those abroad who try.

[Joshua]

Daniel, are you that much of a person who can't see reality? Obama doesn't take principled stands. He is a politician first and foremost, who has no work background that is the 'Right Stuff' to show he is a leader, or even has experience in ways beneficial to be the Prez of US. He doesn't like pointed questions!

[AnnaL]

This smacks of sour grapes. You are informed. Obama has not been ignoring the foreign press. In fact, there was even a British reporter onboard his campaign plane: Richard Wolffe. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/07/26/do2611.xml
Furthermore, his first exclusive interview of the trip was granted to another foreigner: Lara Logan.
Gee Mr. Finkelstein, is it possible that he is simply ignoring you? And who could blame him, given your apparent sense of entitlement?

[Snoppy]

There has been a BBC journalist travelling with the Obama camp throughout his "overseas tour" -- maybe some good background might have proven useful...before making such claims.

[Joe]

Whoa, Kenny Benson, 'yelled' at Americans for not speaking 'at least three' languages? He said in a tone like any other that Americans should learn a SECOND language, and was accused of elitism for it. Actually, he was lamenting U.S. elitism in other countries and domestically, where when everywhere else most people speak more than one language, in the U.S. we insist on English alone, and expect everyone else to speak it too.

Obama doesn't speak a second language fluently, you're right about that.

I see the whole 'the press is easy on Obama' is big here. People don't seem to want to recognize something: Obama makes very, very few mistakes. You can only talk about Rezko or Wright for so long once he's already explained. He's berated with questions about the surge, when noone tries to force McCain to say he was wrong about the Iraq War to begin with.

Meanwhile, McCain is inventing borders and messing up history, making desperate statements and then changing his opinions to Obama's ("16 months is a pretty good timetable") hoping noone will notice.

Obama should pay more attention to the foreign press. However, he's not ignoring them out of spite or fear, but because he's not familiar with them yet and doesn't need to be until he actually IS president. He wouldn't have made this trip if McCain didn't practically force him to, anyway.

[janephilip]

Obama is sacred of answering serious questions on his policies. He doesn't have any answers.

[Erik Roth]

Obama does not always say things I approve of, but I certainly think he would be a better president than Mr.Magoo.

[Joanie]

As a European, living in the United States, I am truly disgusted and ashamed of this man, O.B.! He is nothing but a moron and, hopefully, the younger generation of America will come to their senses before election day

[Robert Berke]

Finklestein and his right wing buddies will focus on anything but the issues. No one cares about the press. What voters care about is whether we continue an endless war or find a ways to disengage. That is one of the real issue between Obama and McCain, The other is oil prices and the failing economy, neither of which concern Finklestein.

[Jacquie]

Well, Obama has been wooing the Asian press, as this continent is the present and the future. Why bother with the European press, which only represents the past?

[haralambos]

"Perhaps Obama doesn't want to face the sort of questions he ......fears" If he fears now he'll become certifiably paranoid if he ever gets the hot seat. My first impression was that he is a snake oil salesman but you need guts for that - seems to me this BO is a man of straw

[haralambos]

Let's be frank - the man doesn't look like a US president. No not the colour of his skin - (Denzel Washington is perfect) It's that goofy grin, that skinny neck, that pimp roll of his - Alfred E. Neauman looks more presidential than Barak Oboma for God's sakes. What are you people thinking of? You invented public relations and advertising and you do this to your brand!! Why?? because you're on the re-bound? You're always going to be on the re-bound if you don't stop this fascination of the Obamanation.

[Shirley]

Haralombos - are you suggesting that only pretty people should be eligible to run for POTUS.........or are you implying that black people should be pretty in order to be eligible for high office? Or that the package is more important than the content, in direct contradiction of the post you made 13 minutes earlier?

[Josh]

If we're being really frank, neither candidate looks like a good Prezidunk. At least with Kerry you can have some idea what you're getting; with BO, you have no idea - just a fishy smell...

[William Birmingham]

You I read all these comments and there are people out there with very narrow minded views on this. Obama's focus is right where it should be. On his election. I'm sure that sooner or later he will open up more towards the foreign press, but it will be on his terms. Not theirs.that in it-self is how he can conrtol the foreign press. And since he is running for president, he has that right. Besides, look at the statistics people... Every presidental candidate in history that allowed excessive interviews to foriegn press has ended up having to do more damage control above all else, because of potential mix ups that the american media alone is responsible for more than half the time.

[RD]

The premise of this article is below contempt and most of the comments are churlish! Why does a once respected newspaper stoop to printing this drivel?

[Not4Obama]

Why would Obama talk to foreign press when he hardly talks to US press?--unless he controls the questions. He won't do town hall meetings with McCain-not even with US soldiers...he says he'd rather talk directly to voters- DUH-town halls are with voters, up front and personal!