Posted by
Cecilia Trent on Friday, May 01, 2009 12:00:00 AM
From Timeswatch.org
Posted by:
Tim Graham
4/30/2009 4:13:09 PM
At President Obama’s 100-day press conference on Wednesday
night, White House correspondent Jeff Zeleny became a mini-celebrity –
or a national laughingstock – for asking President Obama how he was
surprised/troubled/enchanted/humbled over the first 100 days. The Times
itself seemed embarrassed by the question. The press conference was
relegated to page A-19, with the headline "Obama Voices Concern on
Pakistan and Defends Interrogation Memo Release." Nine paragraphs in, Zeleny and Helene Cooper acknowledge the "light moments," but don’t acknowledge they were a gift from Zeleny and the Times:
There were a few light moments, particularly when Mr. Obama was asked
what has surprised, troubled, enchanted and humbled him in the past 100
days. "Wait, let me get this all down," he said, taking out a pen.
Why the passive "mistakes were made" phrasing? Then Zeleny and
Cooper provided all the president's answers to the multi-part softball,
including: "He called himself enchanted by American servicemen and
women, and their sacrifices they make, although he allowed that
‘enchanted’ might not be the exact characterization."
The story briefly mentioned Obama's town hall meeting in Missouri,
but ignored his mockery of the protesters with the tea bags and the
networks that don’t like him very much.
This was Zeleny's question: "During these first 100 days, what has
surprised you the most about this office, enchanted you the most about
serving in this office, humbled you the most and troubled you the
most?" This is not a question one would associate with a Gray Lady, a
prestigious daily. It sounds more like an question from Access
Hollywood.
On The Caucus blog,
political reporter Adam Nagourney collegially declared Zeleny’s
puffball his favorite question of the night when the press conference
was over:
Besides my favorite question – yes, the enchanting one from Jeff –
the president was discursive on torture, offered his medical counsel to
a country worried about the flu, was reflective about the political
meaning of Senator Specter’s defection, and lent his view of the
dramatic expansion of government on his watch. That said, he did not
make any jaw-dropping news, which was probably his intention. He also
didn’t make any obvious mistakes, and for this president, no surprise
there. He was also more lively and engaging than he was at the previous
news conference.
Blogger Michelle Malkin gave Zeleny her Drool Bucket of the Day award:
He could have, I dunno, pressed Obama for details about how and why
his administration spooked and freaked out countless New Yorkers this
week for the sake of an alleged photo op update.
But no, New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny decided he was going to be Perry Como and sing "Some Enchanted Evening."
Which makes sense, of course, given the New York Times’ $2 million financial stake in hawking Obama-themed merchandise.
Posted by Cecilia Trent