I would like to re-iterate that I do like Barack Obama, even though I disagree with him, politically, on many fronts. However, during his campaign, I heard him mention the conservative talk show host Sean Hannity, by name, on several occasions. So, what is wrong with that? After all, as Americans, we all (including the president) have The First Amendment Right to freedom of speech.
From my point of view, this is what is wrong with it…
When someone enters into the world of politics, right or wrong, they better be prepared to be taken to task; if you are running for the presidency of one of the largest countries in the world, you better be prepared to get hammered (at times) throughout the entire world.
Look at Sarah Palin, she was running for vice president and it was simply outrageous how the media treated her. However, while running for office, I can not recall her complaining about it once; though privately, I have no doubt that it was upsetting for her to hear some of those things; and look at President Bush, he was hammered incessantly.
In my opinion, and in the opinion of many others, the president needs to exhibit strength, and stay focused on policies, and running the country; not worrying about what talk show hosts (opinions and commentaries) are saying about him.
As president, when you start saying, this person, or that media host said this and that about me, it sends a signal that you either can not take it, or you are afraid that they may have too much influence.
Well, I am afraid to say, that when Barack Obama called out Rush Limbaugh, and told Republican leaders that, “You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done”, he really barked up the wrong tree. Like him or not, Rush Limbaugh has a daily listening audience of approximately 20 million listeners. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/23/obama-quit-listening-rush-limbaugh-want-things/ When you develop a listening audience of that size, you do become highly influential; and twenty million people could certainly tilt elections one way or the other.
Like many other things, perhaps the president’s comment was taken way out of context, but if you put it into perspective, isn’t it the same as Rush telling millions of conservatives to not listen to those Democrats if you want the country to succeed?
I do believe that the mainstream media really played softball with Barack Obama, but now that he is president, in my opinion, he better get use to being criticized; and learn how to let it roll off of him.
If anyone heard Rush Limbaugh speak at the The annual CPAC conservative convention, he really laid into the president, and the policies that are coming out of Congress lately. So, if I were the president, or one of his advisers, (which I am not), I would advise him to look forward, stay focused, not to engage in this petty, back and fourth non-sense with commentators, and to not come off as so thin-skinned; millions (for better or worse) are looking to him as a source of strength and hope.
Mark
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