Newsweek’s Thomas: ‘Slightly Creepy Cult of Personality’ Around Obama

Maddie69 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 07:22 PM

I found this interesting...

Quote:

Newsweek’s Evan Thomas and Jon Meacham shared a bizarre Obama love-fest session with Charlie Rose on the PBS host’s program on Wednesday. Meacham stated that he was "very struck watching the stagecraft" of Obama and pointed out how Obama gave his victory speech by himself: "...[H]ave you ever seen a victory speech where there was no one else on stage? No adoring wife, no cute kid -- he is the message." Thomas went one step further in this vein: "There is a slightly creepy cult of personality about all of this." Rose confronted him on his use of this phrase, and he explained that it made him "a little uneasy that he's so singular. He's clearly managing his own spectacle. He knows how to do it. He's a -- I think, a deeply manipulative guy..." Later, all three marveled about how it was "amazing" that Obama "watches us watching him."

Also, Washington Post admits bias reporting:

Quote:

The Post provided a lot of good campaign coverage, but readers have been consistently critical of the lack of probing issues coverage and what they saw as a tilt toward Democrat Barack Obama. My surveys, which ended on Election Day, show that they are right on both counts...

Stories and photos about Obama in the news pages outnumbered those devoted to McCain. Post reporters, photographers and editors -- like most of the national news media -- found the candidacy of Obama, the first African American major-party nominee, more newsworthy and historic. Journalists love the new; McCain, 25 years older than Obama, was already well known and had more scars from his longer career in politics.

...One gaping hole in coverage involved Joe Biden, Obama's running mate. When Gov. Sarah Palin was nominated for vice president, reporters were booking the next flight to Alaska. Some readers thought The Post went over Palin with a fine-tooth comb and neglected Biden. They are right; it was a serious omission.

And then you have Tom Brokaw admits he doesn't really now who Obama is or what he intends to do in office.

I fear this is just the tip of the iceberg. The media has done the American people a huge disservice with their biased reporting, to to come out after the election and admit is just a slap in the face to the American public, whether you voted for Obama or not.

ohhgodd · #2 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 07:29 PM

By his own words, I find him to be a very self absorbed individual, who I feel borders on Narcissism, or imaybe he is byond bordering and is fully entrenched into it.

Everything I have read, he attributes any success to himself, by himself, for him, by him.. ladada

The words I find to be repeated over and over:

Me
Myself
I
Mine
My

kvmj · #3 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 07:31 PM

The media did a huge disservice to the American public during the entire Bush administration. But, there is plently of information on Obama out there. I think that I know him and what his agenda will be pretty well.

ohhgodd · #4 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvmj

The media did a huge disservice to the American public during the entire Bush administration. But, there is plently of information on Obama out there. I think that I know him and what his agenda will be pretty well.

I think that it is safe to say that all of us agree, the media sucks.

kolu · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 07:33 PM

ohhgodd · #6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kolu

It looks like he is meditating in this picture.

Where is Al Gore, to light the candles, when you need him?

kolu · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvmj

The media did a huge disservice to the American public during the entire Bush administration. But, there is plently of information on Obama out there. I think that I know him and what his agenda will be pretty well.

If you watched PBS, MSNBC, CBS, CNN, ABC or NBC, you got nothing but favorable coverage of barry.

AMulquin · #8 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 11:19 AM

John Meacham's response (on that same show) was interesting. He said:

Quote:

"I don't think it's creepy. I think it's like Reagan. I think it's like great charasmatic leaders who project brilliantly but who are in fact in control...very much in control...".

He did not share Evan's assessment.

Meacham also described Obama during the financial mess as " not only the smartest kid in the class, but the most responsible one..." and that PE Obama has a "prudence" and "caution" about him.

Personally, I was happy to see Michelle and their daughters leave the stage so he could give his speech.

Quote:

Everything I have read, he attributes any success to himself, by himself, for him, by him.. ladada

The words I find to be repeated over and over:

Me
Myself
I
Mine
My

I've listened to him speak and he is always inclusive. I hear him constantly saying "we".

Different perspective, I suppose.

McCain ran a bad campaign and may be why the media coverage was the way it was.

wildwood · #9 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMulquin

[color="navy"]

Different perspective, I suppose.

Or selective hearing.

wildwood · #10 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohhgodd

By his own words, I find him to be a very self absorbed individual, who I feel borders on Narcissism, or imaybe he is byond bordering and is fully entrenched into it.

Everything I have read, he attributes any success to himself, by himself, for him, by him.. ladada

The words I find to be repeated over and over:

Me
Myself
I
Mine
My

I doubt there was ever a president of this country who could not be described as egotistical.

I did a quick, and probably somewhat inaccurate, counts of his speech on Tuesday night.

Pronouns such as "I", "my", "me", about 36 times.
Pronouns such as "we", "our", "us", about about 90 times.

I don't see where he seems to be too focussed on himself. His speech was certainly inclusive to everyone who was willing to listen. And frankly I don't care if he is egotistical, (at least I haven't heard that he has conversations, with replies from god), as long as we get some changes made. I was a Hillary voter and not everything he says is something that I agree with, but for now, I'm going to wait and see. For now, I'm impressed.

truble2301 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 04:06 PM

No worries, he also gets criticized for using "we," because that just shows the he thinks he speaks for everyone.

As you know, PEO (that's President-Elect Obama, sweet words!) cannot win with a certain group.