Barack’s Solution To An Aggressive Foreign Media: He’s Not Talking To Them
We all know what happens when Barack Obama has to get down from the podium and make statements that aren’t scripted and rehearsed in advance. He usually puts his foot in his mouth and his disciples (especially those in the media) are forced to rush in and make it all better.
While the American media might be willing to go along with that, the foreign media may not. So how is Obama tackling this problem? He’s pretty much not going to talk to any foreign reporters outside of scripted events.
We have been wondering how Barack Obama would get by overseas with unscripted moments, in new settings to which he is unaccustomed. I think I have it: he isn’t going to speak in public unless it is scripted. Today from Afghanistan: “I’m more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking.” And from the Wall Street Journal:
Facing Republican attacks that Sen. Barack Obama’s coming overseas trip is a political stunt, the Obama campaign said the Democratic presidential contender will hold private meetings with Middle Eastern and European leaders, and avoid public appearances that could be perceived as campaigning.
It could be perceived as having to handle topics he is ill-equipped to opine upon, with no teleprompter. He has already stiffed the foreign press which is notoriously aggressive and unmanageable. In other words he’s there to look around and take some pictures to show back home. Is he on a tourist visa?
He might as well be. Not only is he not talking to the foreign media, he’s also already made up his mind on policy concerning Iraq and Afghanistan before he even visited.
He says he’s touring the middle east and Europe to “listen” but it really just all seems like a photo-op.
