Obama's war on whistleblowers and the press - was it his?

As of this post, President Obama is delivering a speech on a variety of topics, and in many ways is a reflection on his presidency.

One thing stood out to me, this line:

We have some voters or some elected officials who think that Michelle Obama's Healthy Eating Initiative and school nutrition program is a greater threat to democracy than...our government going after the press if they're issuing a story they don't like

Aren't you the one in charge of that? Why would you bring up an example of your own failing to draw that contrast? It doesn't seem in keeping with his character which generally does not accept much responsibility. Also note, he paused for a long time after the ellipses in the quote, was he thinking whether or not to say it? He seemed a bit uncomfortable saying it as well.

Supposedly Bill Clinton said there's a "government within the government, and I don't run it".

a reply to: WhateverYouSay


Manipulation of the weak minded.

www.whiteh... ouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/15/executive-order-using-behavioral-science-insights-better-serve-american

a reply to: WhateverYouSay

Reminds me of the Nixon "Checkers Speech" in 1959.

a reply to: WhateverYouSay

I believe he was actually referrring to the incoming administration. Specifically Trump's fondness for attacking members of the media when he doesn't like what they say and giving them 'atta boy's when he does.

I think it was a salient point about how public sentiment is completely divorced from objective reality. School lunch initiative? Years of profound consternation. Likely Russian hacking to interfere with an election? Intense denial.

www.nytimes.com...

Unless the FBI is unable to be trusted, they kind of already did an investigation on the whole "hacking" thing and determined that Trump didn't have anything to do with it and the goal wasn't to elect Trump, but to make the US look bad. They accomplished that by releasing factual e-mails from the DNC exposing how corrupt they are and how they will go to any lengths to meet their goals. It seems that all that information was enough to make the general public not trust this administration any farther than they could throw them.

If dems really, really want to be angry about this, and they need somewhere to point, the DNC stands alone in the blame room.

Or, you could be angry at the Russians for spilling the truth beans. But killing the messenger never seemed to fix anything before.

A reflection on his Presidency should really include a few other points.

Handing full control of the US government to the Republicans.....

Overseeing the total sellout of the Democratic Party....

Defending the Clinton Lie Machine...

Failing to defend the Constitution...

A legacy indeed...

a reply to: theantediluvian

It crossed my mind, but the odd part about that is that Trump hasn't actually run any policy yet. But yes, that's probably what it was, just a poor analogy (not that I disagree with him about it, but for the aforementioned reason)

ETA: and given that you're probably right, it does indicate a fair amount of hypocrisy on his part.

president Obama is desperately trying to hold on to any form of legacy. He is now down to Michelle's Healthy Eating Initiative . One of the only ones he has left .
Pathetic