Yuku free message boards

"make up your mind...I recall when the right wingers were complaining about him having too many press conferences...now you're complaining because he doesn't have enough?"

A lot of people---not just right wingers---have been irritated by Obama's almost daily TV appearances. Hard to escape the feeling he is just continuing his campaign for personal glory, as opposed to working at being President.

It is strange that he did quite a few press conferences early on when virtually all in the press were still uncritical cheerleaders for him. Then when a few in the press began to ask a few normal questions, certainly nothing as hostile as they did toward Bush from day one but something less than adoration, he backed off to very frequent, carefully scripted campaign style TV appearances with no uncontrolled questions allowed.

I really doubt he made any changes in his strategy as a response to criticism from the right wingers. I also challenge the conclusion that he is all that great speaking without a script, or that, while not stupid, he is the intellectual giant his packaged image suggests. As an unscripted speaker he is about equal to G. Bush whom the left insists is a complete fool, which is probably why he does not expose himself to the press unless it is guaranteed totally friendly.

When should he have open press conferences? At some reasonable interval---historical precedence should be a guide but at least every 2-3 months---but certainly when any important event occurs. The Christmas day terrorist attack certainly qualifies, but I don't think his friend's attempt to paint the cops as racist for doing their job qualifies.

The press really has an obligation to start covering his as a President, and drop their role as campaign support. Will they? Will he take that chance?