Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Presidency and the Media
THE BIG IDEA - "How Obama plays media like a fiddle," by John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei: "He is doing it by exploiting some of the most longstanding traits among reporters who cover politics and government-their favoritism for politicians perceived as ideologically centrist and willing to profess devotion to Washington's oft-honored, rarely practiced civic religion of bipartisanship. ... Polls suggest that many independents have many of the same easily aroused erogenous zones as reporters-and improved poll numbers lead to more coverage of the Obama-gets-his-groove-back narrative. Sustaining an effective governing center over the long term would be a formidable achievement by Obama. Riding a short-term wave of centrism fever, by contrast, has proven surprisingly simple. ... Obama is taking advantage of the press's bias for bipartisan process, a preference that often transcends the substance of any bipartisan policy. ... Most political reporters live in Washington. So it's not really surprising that they tend to respect presidents who show respect for Washington culture, Washington rituals, and above all Washington operatives. ... The media love stories about the internal wars in both parties. Obama, in his new determination to hold the center, now loves them, too." http://bit.ly/hplnrp
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I am not sure that the Presidents move to becoming more centrist is the key to becoming endeared by the washington press club or if it is the fact that when the Presidents approval ratings go up it makes all of their jobs so much easier. When approval ratings are down it could be more difficult for the press to do their job finding more stories. The White House Press Secretary is more reluctant to feed the press information when it is clear they are conducting themselves like vultures circling the soon to be politically dead. Is the President going to remain "magnetic, distinguished, inspiring, Reaganesque, or Kennedyesque when the budget infighting begins and the Republicans discover new ways to discredit his policies. I agree to seeking bipartisan support could be key to succeeding in getting the policy reform that will advance the countries future I just have some doubt whether the Rush Limbaugh's in the media that influence the Republican Party will allow for that kind of cooperation. Which is not to stereotype as much as it is the norm from when President Clinton's approval ratings climbed.
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