After all the complaints about Sarah Palin not meeting the press (which, in my opinion, she should have right from the get go), what about Barry?
On Oct. 24, 2007, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said that as president he would hold regular press conferences and “not just call on my four favorite reporters.”
But the Democratic presidential nominee hasn’t held a full press conference — submitting himself to more than a handful of questions from his whole press corps — in more than a month, since Sept. 24, 2008, in Clearwater, Fla.
The candidate often bemoans the media asking silly and superficial questions. The media isn’t focused on the important issues facing the nation, he complains.
On Saturday in Nevada, Obama sat for an exclusive interview with Mario Lopez, the actor who played “A.C. Slater” on “Saved by the Bell,” to air on the TV show “EXTRA!”
According to the promotional materials from “EXTRA!,” “Asked about the tragic news that (actress Jennifer) Hudson’s mother and brother were killed Friday in Chicago, Obama states, ‘Oh it was heartbreaking, in fact I’m still trying to get a phone number to call her at this tragic time. She is somebody who has campaigned for me, she also lives in my community. So, we’re really going to have to help her and pray for her and her family during this difficult time.'”
If Obama wins, it will be an interesting dynamic. The majority of the media will be thrilled to have a Democrat in office, but, if you want to really tick of the 4th Estate, don’t hold press conferences and do not allow tough questions. Somehow, I get the feeling that the relationship between the media and The One will not be cozy. Certainly won’t be like it is with Bush, who has seemed to say “why bother?”
Anyhow, what of the tough questions, Mr. Obama?
