March 3, 2008
Barack Obama Can’t Stand the Heat, Gets Out of the Kitchen
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From MSNBC:
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Led by the Chicago press corps that has covered Obama for years, the candidate today faced a barrage of questions in what turned out to be a contentious news conference.Questions centered on why his campaign had denied that a meeting occurred between his chief economic advisor and Canadian officials as well as questions on his relationship with Tony Rezko, a Chicago land developer and fast food magnate, now on trial for corruption charges.
Obama claimed that when he had first denied the meeting between Austan Goolsbee and any members of the Canadian administration he provided “the information that [he] had at the time.”
. . .
Much of the back and forth, though, between reporters and Obama was about his relationship with Tony Rezko, with reporters demanding to know why new details were emerging from the case though Obama and his staff had claimed they had been forthright with all the details.
Obama and Carol Marin, political editor at NBC5 in Chicago and columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times, tangled over how up front Obama had been about Rezko. Obama cut off her line of questioning, saying that Marin’s questions were personally motivated.
. . .
A third reporter followed, asking Obama why information about fundraisers or other details had not been answered by the campaign. He raised the issue of how details were emerging in the case, like the fact that Obama and Rezko had toured the property that resulted in the questionable land deal between the two men.
Obama continued to say that reporters’ interest was due to the fact this was “a hot story.”
. . .
Toward the end of the press conference, the question of Goolsbee’s meeting was raised again. Obama answered curtly and then walked out after a staffer called last question. The press erupted with shouts, but Obama continued to walk out.
He paused only to say, “Come on guys; I answered like eight questions. We’re running late.”
On the flight from San Antonio to Dallas, Obama, unsurprisingly, did not wander back to make small talk with the traveling press corps.
What. A. Chicken.
If — as his supporters keep screaming into the wilderness — he’s got nothing to hide on Rezko or on the Canadian deal, then why not answer questions directly and without walking off like a toddler in a snit?
And another thing (again): If Obama — or his worshippers — think the press is being “unfair” to The Anointed One, this ain’t nothin’ compared to his inevitable crucifixion when and if he gets the nomination.
If Saint Barry can’t handle such gentle love taps by the press now without stomping off in a pique, how do you think he’s going to handle that three a.m. phone call?
Filed under: Barack Obama, Election 2008
