HONOLULU – The media glare, the constant security appendage and the sheer production that has become a morning jog or a hankering for an ice cream cone – it’s been closing in on Barack Obama for some time.
Now the president-elect appears increasingly conscious of the confines of his new position, bristling at the routine demands of press coverage and beginning to chafe at boundaries that are only going to get smaller.
Obama even took the unusual step Friday morning of leaving behind the pool of reporters assigned to follow him, taking his daughters to a nearby water park without them. It was a breach of longstanding protocol between presidents (or presidents-elect) and the media, that a gaggle of reporters representing television, print and wire services is with his motorcade at all times.
Less than a month ago, Obama didn't seem to mind the press so much. (Culled from Seattle Times)
Poor baby.
Interesting, though. I mean, isn’t this the same peson who chafed at not being able to bring the willing press megaphone along with him on his visit with the trops at Walter Reed? So upset was he that he couldn’t being them along, that he canceled the trip.
Now that he’s got the power he used them to get, he doesn’t want the press around anymore? Perhaps the reasons behind Obama’s reluctance to deal with the press now, may have something to do with the various corruption investigations that have popped up since the beginning of last month, Richardson, Blagojevich, and the rest of the Chicago crowd… etc, etc, etc…
You’ll forgive me if I’m not very sympathetic. I’ve just watched this nation’s press prostitute itself for the purpose of giving Obama a ride into power on their backs. His objections to them now, particularly given the questions they’re asking, and he’s avoiding, seem suspect at least.
