Is the media tide turning against Obama?

Hillary Clinton has long been complaining that her rival gets preferential treatment from the media, but from Barack Obama's latest encounter with reporters it appears the tide may be turning against him.

At a press conference late yesterday, the Democratic frontrunner struggled to field a barrage of tough questions before exasperatedly declaring himself to have spent enough time in the firing line and making a hasty exit.

First on the list was a private talk between one of Obama's economic advisers and a Canadian offical, during which the former reportedly offered assurances that the candidate's tough line on the North American Free Trade Agreement was for political effect.

Obama was probed as to why he last week denied a media report about the conversation, only to acknowledge it after a Canadian government memo surfaced in the press. (His campaign still refutes the version of events in the memo.)

"When I gave you that information, that was the information that I had at the time," he said.

Attention then turned to Obama's links to Tony Rezko, the property developer and former Obama fundraiser who went on trial in Chicago on Monday on corruption charges. One reporter - Carol Marin, political editor at NBC5 in Chicago and columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times - claimed Obama had failed to fully answer press questions on the relationsip, which the candidate denied, suggesting her line of questioning was motivated by his failure to grant her a one-on-one interview. Another then joined the fray and repeated the question, prompting Obama to insist he had addressed all points during past news conferences. However a third journalist then moved in for the kill, pressing him on unanswered questions over fund-raisers held by Rezko on his behalf.

Obama replied, "These requests, I think, can just go on forever." All "pertinent" information had already been provided, he added.

The mood worsened when Obama tried to bring the conference to a close. After a brusque reply to a follow-up question on the Canadian memo, he turned away from the press just after an aide called last question, prompting one reporter to shout that he was avoiding questions just moments after insisting he wasn't.

"Come on! I just answered, like, eight questions," a surprised and flustered Obama told the clamouring media pack as he fled the room. "We're running late."

Comments

[prudence eely bond mcguire]

Quote from Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar'-
'.....and this man is now become a God?'

[Wale]

To say that the press is turning the tide is a tricky question. Clinton has maintained that the press has been agains her for so long as well. But let us look at the facts.

Obama is actively trying to change the dirty nature of politics that has bogged this country. On the other hand, Hilary has dirtied her hands with a lot of bad press directed at her opponent. This kind of scene makes me ask a simple question. Must politicking be such a dirty game to make headway. If so, then those with more noble ambitions are not welcome in the whitehouse.

It also means that if people are swayed by concerted attacks on a candidates person, then the people are not ready for a noble just someone that can "play the game". And that speaks volumes about the people too.

That said, if your father decided to perhaps take hard drugs while you were running for a post and the press comes out and says you're a drug addict. Would you take that as fair? I'm sure everyone one of us have had dealings with one person or the other only to find out that they were perhaps not the noblest of eings. Does that mean you were part of their plot or dealings?

I think these are obvious but it appears that the media tries to latch any piece of dirt on any person rising and make a mounttain of it. The question normally asked is whether its about truth or a sensational story.

Seeing that the press will not relent even in you engraved the answer a thousand times in stone, they would like to hear a different version to analyse it they way they ffeel. That is why much of their commenting is taken with not pinches but handfuls of salt!!

[JR]

Cartoon comment of Obama and his Clarification of Iraq.

"I would immediately withdraw troops and surrender in Iraq but I reserve the right to redeploy them if al-Quida in Iraq forms a base in Iraq. Not saying al-Quida in Iraq is already in Iraq but if they were, it's McCain and Bush's fault... alQuida in Iraq Iraq"