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Newsweek's Howard Fineman: Obama thinks he's all that

September 28, 2009 3:12 pm ET by Eric Boehlert

This must be one of the stranger White House critiques I've read in quite a while [emphasis added]:

Obama can seem a mite too impressed with his own aura, as if his presence on the stage is the Answer. There is, at times, a self-referential (even self-reverential) tone in his big speeches. They are heavily salted with the words "I" and "my." (He used the former 11 times in the first few paragraphs of his address to the U.N. last week.) Obama is a historic figure, but that is the beginning, not the end, of the story.

Does Obama constantly refer to himself as an historic figure? Not that I can tell. But maybe Fineman's hearing something else from Obama.

As for Obama's speech to the U.N., which Fineman claimed was way too self-referential, let's take a quick look at the text:

I come before you humbled by the responsibility that the American people have placed upon me, mindful of the enormous challenges of our moment in history, and determined to act boldly and collectively on behalf of justice and prosperity at home and abroad. I have been in office for just nine months -- though some days it seems a lot longer.  I am well aware of the expectations that accompany my presidency around the world.  These expectations are not about me.  Rather, they are rooted, I believe, in a discontent with a status quo that has allowed us to be increasingly defined by our differences, and outpaced by our problems. 

Yeah, Obama just needs to get over himself.

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    • Author by magnolialover (September 28, 2009 3:29 pm ET)
      4  
      I've heard this claim before from the loons that Obama uses "I" and "me" too much in his speeches, and they'll count the times he uses it, not in the context of which he uses those words though, that information never seems to come around.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mk3872 (September 28, 2009 4:16 pm ET)
        4  
        I cannot believe our national media actually takes the time to count the number of times he uses a particular word!

        Sounds like to petty-obsessed right wing theme is already permeating the MSM ...
        Report Abuse
        • Author by dSquib (September 28, 2009 9:56 pm ET)
             
          The word-counting trend has been around for a while, I think. Chris Matthews seems particularly fond of it. Apparently all you need to glean from any speech is which 2 or 3 words were used the most, and how often, then you've got it.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by jjcomet514 (September 29, 2009 9:10 am ET)
             
          Well. what the f**k else do they spend their time doing? Certainly not practicing journalism!
          Report Abuse
    • Author by ToddK_Chicago (September 28, 2009 3:38 pm ET)
      5  
      Imagine if people like Fineman, with their ability to reach thousands, if not millions of people, wrote about issues that truly mattered to the masses in this country. Instead, such screeds are written for a select audience within the beltway -- the politicians that will use it to create another faux controversy and his fellow reporters that feed off of each other how superior they are in their profession.

      How many people have heard about the recent college grad from Miami University that could not afford health care and thus recently died from the swine flu and that she was in Boener's district? Would not writing about that heart wrenching story be more productive to society than a holier than thou report about how many pronouns are in Obama's speeches?

      Fineman needs to get over himself.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Limit Corp. Ownership (September 28, 2009 3:53 pm ET)
        2  
        Indeed,

        Speaking of someone who needs to get over himself: I think that would be Fineman. The Grand Poobah of Beltway Punditocracy.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by juliajayne1 (September 28, 2009 4:07 pm ET)
        4  
        Yeah, I'm afraid he is one of those beltway pundit/writers who seems more intent on impressing his fellow cocktail party cohorts, than actually producing a meaningful story.

        It's all about the chatter and gossip and good food/wine after all. Pity, I used to like him.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by MickD (September 28, 2009 3:38 pm ET)
      8  
      It sounds purely like jealousy. This may be the first time a modern press is not as smart or articulate as the president and it really bugs them.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by tangaroa (September 28, 2009 3:45 pm ET)
      4  
      It's like this, Howard. Obama is the leader of the world. He's the single most powerful person on the planet. He has his finger on the Big Button. He really IS "all that."
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Barry Bonds (September 28, 2009 3:53 pm ET)
      6  
      I read the entire article and here is what I learned:

      If only Obama was never on T.V. he would have solved all our major issues.

      If only Obama had written the bill we would have healthcare.

      Obama is so different from many other Presidents in that most if not all Presidents solved all the problems America faced within the firts 8 months of their Presidency.

      Most importantly Obama loves himself, way, way too much.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Limit Corp. Ownership (September 28, 2009 4:01 pm ET)
        4  
        He was probably on vacation and had to churn out some garbage to meet a deadline...

        Our corporate media in action.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by dailyfare3613 (September 28, 2009 5:25 pm ET)
        1  
        Then, if he had written a healthcare bill himself, he really would have been accused of being all that.

        Whatever he does, he will be criticized. "Why does he chew on that side of his mouth?! He's [insert patronizing/insulting adjective]!"

        If it's this bad in only 8 months, what are the next few years going to be like?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by fabucat58 (September 28, 2009 11:14 pm ET)
        3  
        Yeah things were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better and constructive when we had a President who hated himself, like Nixon.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by mk3872 (September 28, 2009 4:15 pm ET)
      4  
      Sounds to me like the continuing drivel from the media elites that have established this theme since Obama took office:

      He is young and naive. Let us all-knowing DC insiders tell you how to act, what to say and when to say it.

      When you don't listen, we'll just call you egotistic and naive.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by juliajayne1 (September 28, 2009 5:40 pm ET)
        2  
        Yes, I guess these pundits fancy themselves as wise and erudite. That actually used to be the definition of a pundit, but I believe that notion needs to be redressed for certain.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by sentient7064 (September 28, 2009 6:08 pm ET)
        2  
        The usual crap that the villagers are somehow in touch and the rest of us are lucky to read their nonsense. Remember how President Clinton wasn't
        "one of us" and how he'd be out of place in the White House?
        He was actually quite able and routinely out did the idiots in the press
        room with thoughtful and on point statements that usually became muddled
        slop through the words of idiots such as Mr. Fineman.
        Now President Obama brings his brand of intelligent humor and insight to
        our national stage and he isn't understood by the twits in the village.
        Fortunately the public has better things to do than get involved with
        the mess in the playpen that is the Washington D.C. press corps.
        Really the Press Corpse.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by skorcha4086 (September 28, 2009 4:37 pm ET)
         
      I am more bothered by politicians who constantly use the phrase 'the American people' to refer to the rest of us. They never include themselves in that description.
      They are always doing something on behalf of or to 'the American people'. Why aren't they including themselves in that? Or do they always see themselves as ABOVE us, the mere 'American people'?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by pourqouinon (September 28, 2009 5:07 pm ET)
         
      I think Howard thinks he may have been a little too reverential toward Obama and is showing how "tough" he is. Bet he got some grief from some peers and had to come out swinging.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mk3872 (September 29, 2009 8:37 am ET)
           
        The problem, though, if you are correct, is that this piece is absolute BS.

        Obama has SET the agenda, PUSHED his policies and Congress is dragging its feet.

        So if Fineman REALLY cared about these issues, he should have written a hit piece on Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell ...
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Pentimenti (September 28, 2009 5:34 pm ET)
      1  
      Would it be better or worse if he referred to himself in third person a la Nixon?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by victoid (September 28, 2009 5:39 pm ET)
      1  
      I am super-impressed...awed even--by Howdy's preternatural mastery of the text search function. Only a seasoned journalist would even attempt such a daunting challenge.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by lede39571545 (September 28, 2009 8:41 pm ET)
      1  
      Actually it is Howard Fineman who thinks HE is all that AND a bag of chips. The article reads to me like Howard is a jealous jerk. If Howard discontinues his rounds of the TV shows....in 6 months, only a few will remember his name or know who he is. The president will be written into the history of the United States....so I guess he is all that. Sorry Howard.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Daisy21 (September 28, 2009 9:14 pm ET)
      1 4
      Yes, Mr. Obama is definitely full of himself. He claims it is not "all about me", but watching the arrogance he displays daily, it is all about him. He loves the trappings of the presidency and he loves reading prepared speeches off a teleprompter, but he seems to not like to actually work at his job of governing.
      It's interesting to note how much the liberals love Howard Fineman during his non-stop appearances on MSNBC and his normal Obama worshipping/bush hating commentary. Now that he has dared to "speak truth to power" to Mr. Obama, the left is suddenly attacking him.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by DellDolly (September 29, 2009 11:24 am ET)
        2  
        Yes, Mr. Obama is definitely full of himself.

        Okay, that's a definitive statement. I can't wait for the examples to prove that statement. I am sure that they will be coming soon.

        He claims it is not "all about me", but watching the arrogance he displays daily, it is all about him.

        Okay, still waiting for some examples of his arrogance.

        He loves the trappings of the presidency and he loves reading prepared speeches off a teleprompter...

        Okay, he uses a teleprompter so that he's not looking down at notes. So do newscasters, awards ceremonies presenters, Sarah Palin and John McCain and Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, and every other world leader, but somehow it's wrong for Obama to do so?

        ...but he seems to not like to actually work at his job of governing.

        Okay, still waiting for a single example, much less several so one could detect a trend!

        It's interesting to note how much the liberals love Howard Fineman during his non-stop appearances on MSNBC and his normal Obama worshipping/bush hating commentary.

        Actually, liberals didn't love Howard Fineman, and eventually he got run off from MSNBC because of his distatesfull commentary.

        Now that he has dared to "speak truth to power" to Mr. Obama, the left is suddenly attacking him.

        Nothing sudden about it, first off, and secondly, only people like you on the right think that you must praise everything that comes out of the mouth of people from your side. See, liberals recognize that not everyone on our side is right 24/7, and we are comfortable criticizing people for things they do wrong and praising them for things they do right. We don't have to make blanket generalizations about people until they show a serious pattern of offensive behavior.
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    • Author by valleyofthebees (September 28, 2009 11:08 pm ET)
      1  
      I think the invaluable blog "Language Log" actually looked and saw how often Obama used first person pronouns and in what context and compared it to other recent presidents. Result: less often and in a more modest way than either George W. Bush or Bill Clinton.
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    • Author by overmars jr. (September 29, 2009 5:41 am ET)
      1  
      Corporate American media = Confederacy of Douches
      Report Abuse