June 14, 2011
Presidential Narcissism Takes a Weird Tack
I can tell you that if it was me, I would resign.I keep hearing that soundbite on WPRO this morning. It sounded strange to me that President Obama chose to frame his disapproval of Rep. Anthony Weiner's actions in just that way. It doesn't seem, well, Presidential to project oneself into that sort of situation (unless you're Bill Clinton) as a way to help explain your disapproval. It wasn't necessary and it isn't politically astute.
I believe it was a rhetorical misstep: it can plant into the mind of the listener the idea--even but for a moment--that President Obama could be capable of tweeting his junk. Or worse. (Take it easy, I'm not accusing the President of having "lust in his heart" or harboring imprurient twitter thoughts, just thinking aloud about the impression his statement can have.) Yet, this rhetorical choice isn't so surprising, coming as it does from a president who routinely views everything through his own "I's". Maybe it's such a natural thing for him to view the world as his stage that, even when confronted with an incident as unseemly as this, he just can't stay in the chorus.
Obama sure impressed Rep.Rangel with his advice last year,didn't he?Rangel not only survived,but got re-elected in a walk.
Posted by: joe bernstein at June 14, 2011 10:41 AMTalk about reaching...
Rich, I expected a reaction like yours and I can see why you think I'm "reaching" and trying to score political points or whatever. I'm really not. I just honestly found it weird that the President basically said, "If I tweeted my junk to some co-ed and got caught, I'd resign."
Posted by: Marc at June 14, 2011 11:33 AMIf I were Obama, I would resign.
Posted by: Dan at June 14, 2011 11:58 AMNo, you wouldn't. Obama is right where he wants to be, right on track in his plan to impose his ideological plan on the country and entrench himself in power.
The debates in Congress are the diversion. The quiet, hidden actions they are taking on the regulatory front and in constructing a massive vote fraud machine are where the real damage is being done.
Posted by: BobN at June 14, 2011 1:43 PMI'm curious why you think the President answering a direct question is an example of narcissism? It's not like Obama wants those questions to come up so he can opine on Rep. Weiner's personal life. Or is that what you actually think?
btw, typo in the title.
Posted by: Russ at June 14, 2011 4:45 PMI agree with Marc that it was a 'rhetroical misstep' by the President albeit a minor one. He should have responded differently.
I suspect Russ would also have a different response if it had been someone of a different poltical affiliaton. Imagine if the same had been said by Sarah Palin.
Regardless, it's a very minor thing.
Posted by: msteven at June 14, 2011 5:24 PMRuss, Thanks for the typo catch. As for the rest, I really couldn't be any more direct. It wasn't that the President answered, it's that he chose to place himself in Weiner's shoes in a "What if?" scenario when it was unnecessary. I don't think it's a big deal, just a weird little thing that I brought up to see if I was alone in finding it weird.
Posted by: Marc at June 14, 2011 9:31 PMIf we were in a communications class it might be worthy of discussion. I really couldnt believe Danny Boy at WPRO spent so much time on it today though. Funny thing is, the President was very direct in his criticism and went so far as to say if it were him he'd resign and all Danny Boy could do was whine about he not simply saying "He should quit"
Be honest, had the president been evasive or non commital cant you just picture York saying " "I mean look.. gah...C'mon Mr. President, say SOMETHING, anything... say "If it were me, Id quit..."
Today listening to him I really got the old college feeling when you are in a class and there is that one kid who has to be at odds with something, just so he can hear himself talk. I know he has air time to fill but man, some of you commentators were really grasping at straws today.
Posted by: Rich at June 15, 2011 12:02 AM"Imagine if the same had been said by Sarah Palin."
I've actually never written about Palin.
Image the response over here if the President gave a rambling and factually challenged account of Paul Revere's ride. Rats, there goes my streak of ignoring Palin.
Marc, ah, got it. (personally, I think all of these folks who choose to run for president have big egos)
Posted by: Russ at June 15, 2011 11:03 AMI agree with Marc that it was a 'rhetroical misstep' by the President albeit a minor one. He should have responded differently.
Further proof that he's an empty suit when there's no teleprompter i front of him.
Posted by: EMT at June 15, 2011 1:20 PM