Friday, July 24, 2009

I Can't Hear You!

The Cambridge, Massachusetts police department lined up for the usual "hastily called" press conference this morning to deny being racists, but mainly they wanted to whine about express their outrage at President Obama calling them stupid. And, they wanted to make it perfectly clear that they were NOT demanding an apology. However, if one should be forthcoming, well, that would be nice.

But, never mind that. I'm not here to talk about that situation. I don't know if the police were stupid or whether President Obama should apologize and, frankly my dears, I don't give a d- er - rip.

What I want to talk about is the press conference itself. It was typical of all press conferences not held by the Prez or other elected officials. We in the television audience didn't get to hear the questions. All we heard were the answers. For all we know the answers might not have anything to do with the questions asked.

At presidential press conferences and town meetings, for instance, questioners line up and take turns at a stationary microphone, or a wireless one is passed around. How complicated could it be for the networks to do the same for press conferences held by whoever called it?

I don't expect an answer to my question. Probably nobody can hear it, anyway.

Stay tuned.

13 comments:

Going Like Sixty said...

Welp.
Obama apologized.

Why don't reporters line up behind a Mic? Because they want face time. They need their faces on the screen.

After all, it IS about them.

Going Like Sixty said...

Oh wait, were you talking about the Prime-time press conference or the surprise in the briefing room?

Two different animals.

I'm cornfused. But stable.

Margie's Musings said...

I watched the conference on C-Span and could hear the questions there.

Looking to the Stars said...

I always hate the fact I can't hear the question that is asked. I'll have to look into C-Span,don't know if I have it on my 125 useless channels :)

Grayquill said...

Hey, that's pretty funny! I mean us not hearing you.
Okay I gotta comment even though you don't want me to.
Pres.Obama is very young and in this case was distracted from his main purpose and reason for the press conference. He should never let a question distract him from his message. Now look at all the wasted energy and time he has to take trying to repair. It cuts down on his effectiveness. It is sign of a young undsciplined executive.
Lastly - I think he will learn.

Betty said...

Going Like Sixty: Thanks for the comment. I can't seem to find your blog. I mean, I found it, but got a message that there are no entries. Did you stop blogging? I'm cornfused, too.

Margie's Musings and Looking to the Stars: C-Span. I wonder why I never think of that. lol

Grayquill: Why do you think I don't want you to comment. I welcome all comments, even if they don't agree with me, as long as the commenters are nice, like you.

I agree that he is young, and shouldn't have allowed himself to get enmeshed in that silly controversy. But, I think it was just a knee-jerk reaction because he saw his friend being treated, he thought, unfairly. I think he'll learn, too.

Anonymous said...

Thatd drive me bonkers not being able to hear the question!
Cazzie!!!

Sister--Helen said...

If he just would not have uttered the word, "stupidly" it would have been much better...and yes I am sure he has learned...you noticed when he basically apologized he did not re hash that one word...

NitWit1 said...

It has become apparent at town meetings and even White House press conferences, some questions favorable to what the Prez or Press secretary want to answer are planted. (Not just this administration, but previous ones have done this.}

That is why I don't really care one way of the other. When I was a free lance reporter I hated being manipulated by anyone. How is that "free press?"

But then I don't like the overly biased press these days, either, liberal or conservative.

Our media has become a game of what is perceived the audience WANTS to hear/read/see, NOT necessarily the unbiased truth.

Nana said...

Ditto to what Nitwit1 had to say.

Darlene said...

I blame the press. Obama gave an hour long speech on a very important subject and one word "stupidly" is what they have reported on endlessly.
Did anyone cover the speech?

Obama needs to learn how to play the reporter's game. He needs to be more dramatic in his speeches so they won't accuse him of being 'wonky' or boring.

Betty said...

cazzie: It drives me crazy, too. I don't know why I didn't think to watch C-Span. Duh.

the fourth sister: He needs to learn not to just blurt out something without thinking.

Nitwit1 and Nana: The biased press is going to sink us one day.

Darlene: You know it's much more fun to fuel a controversy than to simply report the dry, dull old news.

Anonymous said...

That is an annoyance for me..Couldn't hear the press conference on some other news stuff, and I could have thrown somethin' at the TV! Maddening! Let's just say that it was handled, "stupidly'...LOL