John Stossel
  • February 6, 2010 11:00 AM UTC by John Stossel

    Spiro T. Obama

    AgnewThis week the President again showed how thin-skinned he is about criticism in the media. Maybe he’s so sensitive to criticism because he's gotten so little of it.

    The president’s advice came in answer to a question from Sen. Mike Bennet, D-CO, who is facing a difficult re-election fight back home and wanted to know what Democrats and Republicans can do "to fix this institution so that our democracy can actually withstand the test that we're facing right now."

    "You know what I think would actually make a difference, Michael? I think if everybody here -- excuse all the members of the press who are here -- if everybody here turned off your CNN, your Fox, your blogs," Obama said, before being interrupted by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, who piped up, "And MSNBC!"

    Obama, appropriately reminded of the network with shows more friendly to liberals, continued, "Just turn off the TV -- MSNBC, blogs -- and just go talk to folks out there, instead of being in this echo chamber where the topic is constantly politics. ... It is much more difficult to get a conversation focused on how are we going to help people than a conversation about how is this going to help or hurt somebody politically."

    Glenn Thrush was reminded of another politician who was sensitive about his press reviews.

    President Obama's back is against the wall, so he's getting in touch with his inner Agnew, hitting the neo-nattering nabobs of cable and the Net.

    Which amused Don Surber.

    How un-Bushlike. For most of his 8 years, President Bush 43 took a drubbing in the press. Honeymoon? Every story about him seemed to carry an obligatory Florida paragraph up until 9/11. I don’t recall Bush complaining. At least publicly.

    Whining about bad press has been unpresidential since John Adams and his Alien and Sedition Act.

    Adams did not get a second term...

    Hey, 53% of America, nice crybaby you elected.

Jim

That's 53% of the people who voted. Just wake up and turn out, for our future's sake.

February 6, 2010 at 10:03 pm

Tarheeltalker

Nice mention of Agnew and Adams. How about that noted anti media chief executive, Richard Milhous Nixon?

February 6, 2010 at 9:46 pm

Qvomos

I don't believe the "anointed one" as Hannity appropriately c alls him, understands that although he is a so called democrat, this country, as well as it's principals and values were founded as a Republic in which the politicians, whether voted on or appointed, must, and I emphasize MUST, heed, obey and otherwise conform to the will of the people. Period. The government, specially the Federal government must not have more power than the citizens. Which part he doesn't understand?

February 6, 2010 at 9:10 pm

Phil

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/2033203,CST-NWS-stench07.article couldnt find your email so I just wanted to post this link. Sums up government pretty well.

February 6, 2010 at 9:04 pm

Blue Swan

Here's another thing that never happended under Bush -- no type of racist or off color remark. Never! His Adminstration was one of the most diverse ever, with record Hispanics, two black Secretaries of State, there were never any "gaffes" or "mis-spokes" during the whole 8 years!

February 6, 2010 at 8:26 pm

twiceshy12

You will be known by your deeds, not your words. Obama is a Marxist. He was brought to power by handlers that are Marxist. But add to that his arrogance and you have the picture of a shallow man with no ideas who loves to here himself speak.

February 6, 2010 at 8:13 pm

Barb,

Thank God for a free press, Internet, and Fox News! we would never know what was really going on in Washington if not for them! Of course, Obama doesn't want us to listen to any one but him because he knows best for the entire nation---NOT! I do talk to folks and they want him to go away, even the ones who voted for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

February 6, 2010 at 8:09 pm

Skepticatlarge

Obama is a charmer,and the msnews orgs can't get enough of his glib talk. You folks have elected a economic catastrophic one man wrecking crew. Example GM was nationalized it did not go bankrupt it was taken over by OB and his boy wonders, it was a test and it worked. Good luck over the next 3 years, lets see what else the taxpayers will own.

February 6, 2010 at 7:54 pm

LAD

Seems Obama doesn't want to admit that the blogs are the people. My advice: listen to the blogs, but stop listening to party leaders and unions.

February 6, 2010 at 3:46 pm

paul

John... You nailed it... Obama has now proved he is inept AND thin skinned... But thats status quoe for a narcasist..3 more LONG years of this BOZO..

February 6, 2010 at 3:29 pm

The Pragmatist

I think a classic example among many that disprove your proposition is when it was widely reported that Joe Wilson shouted "You lie" to Obama about undocumented immigrants not being helped by government in the health care reform proposal, I had to go read the bill myself to confirm that it was Wilson who was lying. How much of the press clarified that? Not much, to the best of my knowledge.

February 6, 2010 at 2:50 pm

The Pragmatist

Don Surber is still doing it -- spinning 8 months of Bush era criticism (that I frankly don't recall) into 8 years' worth. I do recall being forced to piece together data for myself because the positive media spin and raucous cheering of Wall Street did not sync with my observations on the ground to such a bizarre extreme that I discussed the real state of affairs only with the closest confidantes. Reporting illegal wire tapping and missing WMD's is reporting. Spin is just deception.

February 6, 2010 at 2:32 pm

Bob Hickerson

John, Bringing up Spiro Agnew was a real treat. I grew up in MD and I remember the corruption that gave a black eye to the state. Despite all the positive things my dad said about the state. I regretted living there and wished I lived in VA. Now Obama is learning from him. Is it 2012 yet??? BobH

February 6, 2010 at 1:01 pm

stevegee

During the 2008 election, the liberal media was so in the tank for Obama -- never a tough question, always the chosen one. Now look at him... He's showing his true colors -- inexperienced, inept, self-indulgent, and an ingrained Marxist ideology. And America doesn't like it, we reject it! Want some government cheese with that whine?

February 6, 2010 at 12:28 pm

John the Libertarian

It's amazing, when I was in college (late 60's) the radicals were concerned about freedom of the press (and their rights to protest - btw, I was not one of the radicals). Now that the radical crowd has some power, they just can't wait to control what is discussed on "the public's airways". I believe that the "fairness doctrine" was in the sights of those in power. I don't think the public will allow it now, but we have to be ever vigilant about it. A Free press is invaluable to liberty.

February 6, 2010 at 12:22 pm

Garry B

So which is it? When Congress when home during the August recess, they were bombarded with constituent angst. At that time he told them to ignore us because we were Corporate lobby paid protesters. Now he says don't listen to the news, but go out and listen to their constituents. Seems like he only wants congress to listen to him, he knows best...

February 6, 2010 at 12:07 pm

Garry B

My how short his memory is. When Congressmen and Senators went home in August to "listen to their constituents" they got a real earful. Then Obama told them to ignore what they heard because he truly knew what they needed, regardless of what they wanted. He also accused us constituents of being organized lobbyist organizations. Seems like he wants them to only listen to HIM!

February 6, 2010 at 12:02 pm

TwoOwls

Obama should just get out of the kitchen.......as he obviously cannot take the heat.....And REFUSES to LISTEN to AMERICANS! When he speaks.....he talks in circles....makes no sense and seems to talk more about his 'feelings' being hurt than taking care of business of the United States!!! Bush was Bashed terribly and NEVER once did Bush tell the American people to quit listening to the news! Obama is a JOKE....and NOT a funny one either!

February 6, 2010 at 11:57 am

About this Web Site

  • John Stossel joined FOX Business and FOX News in October 2009. His show, Stossel, airs on the Fox Business Network on Thursdays at 9 PM and midnight ET. It re-runs Fridays at 10 p.m., Saturdays at 9 p.m. and 12 midnight, and Sundays at 10 p.m. (all times eastern).

    He is the New York Times best-selling author of Give Me A Break and Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity. His "Give Me a Break" commentaries take a skeptical look at a wide array of issues, such as education, the economy, parenting, and more.

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