Morning Media: Second Guessing Obama Speech

The Morning Fix labels its new speech item second guessing. I disagree with Chris Cillizza here. Maybe not everyone agrees with Joe Wilson, I did, seeing him as speaking for me, but the media's focus on the outburst opens the door to questions I don't believe Obama wanted dominating post speech coverage. I thought Wilson's outburst was a win for critics when it happened, the broader AM coverage below suggests I was correct.

Americans may want to know if Obama actually was lying, opening the door for Republicans to make the case that his speech was not as candid as could be. Factually, there is no health care bill, so Obama's assertion that it won't cover illegals is simply theoretical. No one really knows at this point. Disadvantage Obama, as the final bill may attempt to do just that, one way or another, given the current make up of the House.

Other morning coverage below, where not even the AP spun it all that well.

Cillizza: Joe Wilson's War: A little known Republican congressman from South Carolina may wind up being the best friend the White House has in the health care debate. Joe Wilson's "You lie!" outburst -- and his subsequent apology -- dominated the post-speech coverage and gave the administration a convenient foil to run against. Americans tend to blanch at rank partisanship -- particularly when it is displayed in a formal setting like the halls of Congress. As we noted in yesterday's Morning Fix, the White House was badly in need of a villain to demonize in this health care fight. Joe Wilson offered himself up for that role last night.

Via the AP this morning, a mixed bag with no changed minds? I don't think that's what Obama wanted. From Maine, Snowe and Collins not swayed. And out in San Jose, doubters not swayed and the very questions Obama likely didn't want driving post-speech coverage are getting serious play. Obviously there will be the media polling to come, some good, some not. But for the guy who won the presidency due to a biased media, a teleprompter and a podium, with Grecian columns and without, the morning coverage suggests those devices may be played out.

While some were moved to tears by the president's soaring rhetoric, others were moved not at all. Where some saw a new clarity, others saw more vagueness. And while some praised him for reaching out to Republicans, there were those who felt he was overreaching in some ways and not reaching far enough in others.

Americans listened intently to President Barack Obama's much-anticipated speech on health care reform Wednesday night, and not surprisingly, their reviews varied. Few said they had changed their minds.

Unless the Dems and the media shift the narrative from what it is this morning, while perhaps not a clear failure, Obama's highly touted address doesn't seem to have been much of a success, either. Given that he wanted and needed a win, it isn't a stretch to suggest the orator-in-chief mostly failed.

Funny, in contrast to how it used to be. I remember multiple posts I did on how the idiotic, dumb sounding, unable to speak Bush so often got precisely what he wanted from Congress and America time after time. Give the man his due. Not too bad for one of we rubes. heh!

Comments

[Barbara]

anyone who claims what Joe Wilson did was a breach of blah blah blah
does not know JACK about American history.
any GOPer who chastised him needs to be fired.

[WBestPresidentEver]

JOE WILSON WAS RIGHT IN CALLING OBAMA LIAR. HERE IS THE ARTICLE ABOUT ILLEGALS. !! http://bit.ly/2QksfA

The look OBAMA, BIDEN AND NANCY gave Joe Wilson when he yelled out Liar. See pic.FUNNY. http://twitpic.com/h5dev

[notace]

The Associated Press - normally an Obama booster - panned the speech, and all but said outright that Obama was lying and that Wilson was correct to call him out.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32767017/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

The AP said Obama used outright "omissions," some oversimplifications and "only in Washington accounting." Those are media code words for "lies."

So, even the media is not buying what Obama is selling. It's hard to imagine that Congressmen who are on the fence facing thousands of livid constituents and contemplating their forced retirements over this issue are going to be jumping for joy at the thought of having to vote for this turd.

[Barbara]

Does anyone have a list of which GOPers gave Joe crap?
They need to hear from us all and often.

[xerocky]

There will be a spin that Joe Wilson did the dems a favor by yelling, and for what it's worth I appreciate that Dan has come out and said that he stands with him, and to some degree we all do.

In a normal situation, it would be completely wrong to have an outburst like that, but when you have a President saying that he's not going to raise the deficit one dime, who's already raised it so much, so quickly, an outburst is not only forgivable, but in my book encouraged.

Ditto for the illegal immigrant claim. Obama shouldn’t be allowed to lie that badly without someone saying something. No matter how immature it makes anyone look, the outburst has put a light on the basic fact of the issue.

[Lala]

Not ONE dime. No, but lots of dollars.

[Drider]

What gets me about this Wilson shout out is that he didn't take full advantage of it.

Is Obama a liar, yes, it is obvious that he is but when a person makes the display that Wilson did, he needed to hang around after the speech and "point out" the lies to the press who were no doubt waiting for the chance to hang him up by the toenails.

Just calling the POTUS a liar and running out of the room to avoid questioning is weak and comes off looking petty.Wilson had half a good thing going last night but blew it in the end.

[Mr. K]

While I believe yelling in the halls of Congress is not exactly the proper place or time. I agree with the emotion & passion of Congressman Wilson. Who wouldn't? Millions of Americans have yelled, been outraged, etc. at their Representatives, is it wrong for a Congressman to feel the same way? And to call a lie a lie when he sees one?

No.

I wrote this earlier, if you don't want it published, please delete it ADMIN. I am not spamming. http://jumpinginpools.blogspot.com/2009/09/good-morning-mrwilson.html

[Amy]

I can't believe the inappropriate and disrespectful behavior towards our president.

[Ad rem]

Barbara,

According to Rush, it was the "Republican leadership" that asked Joe Wilson to apologize.

[EBJ]

I can't believe the disprespect the President shows to the people of this country that have different political beliefs.

I always thought Bush didn't punch back enough at the political class that called him a liar and worse. But if the choice was Bush's total inaction vs Obama's demonization of ordinary citizens I'd have to go with the former. But why can't a President attack the comfortable Congress critters of both stripes with gusto and lay off the regular folk? If your strategy is to call out some spirited but slightly misguided oldster as too dumb to participate in the debate maybe you need to re-think your strategy?

[alanstorm]

Amy, were you living under a rock during the Bush administration, or were you being sarcastic? If you are serious, what about Mr. wilson's outburst was offensive - the timing, or the accuracy? Please note that there is no third answer available.

[daveinboca]

Protocol issues aside, [and the Dembot loonies in Congresscritterland yelled at GWB in 2005], Obama isn't getting any traction on the fabled [largely mythical] ability of a good speech to sway the public in the marketplace of ideas. First of all, most Americans may have watched the great tennis match in the US Open or Monster Quest &/or Ghosthunters, all as important and realistic as the silliness that now pervades inside the Beltway.

When San Fran Nan displays an inability to move facial muscles [due to multiple Botox injections, no doubt] and a grinning buffoon like Biden reminds viewers that Obambi might not be as bad as the next-in-line, why not allow yourself an alternative by watching a DVD, the Yankee/Ray game, and wait for Dennis Miller afterwards to give a better sum-up than Bri-boy Will-i-ams or Katie Couric or even Chuck-[I despise Sarah Palin]- Gibson? Or the absent-on-vacation The Daily Show.

Obama is turning into Jimmy Carter faster than even I expected.