Echoing Milbank, Cavuto repeated disputed version of Obama's "symbol" remark as purported evidence of his "messianic thing"
SUMMARY: Echoing The Washington Post's Dana Milbank, Fox News' Neil Cavuto repeated as fact a disputed version of a comment Sen. Barack Obama reportedly made in a closed-door meeting with congressional Democrats, citing it as purported evidence that Obama's "messianic thing is getting a little over the top."
Echoing Dana Milbank's July 30 Washington Post column, Fox News host Neil Cavuto repeated as fact a disputed version of a comment Sen. Barack Obama reportedly made in a closed-door meeting with congressional Democrats, citing it as purported evidence that Obama's "messianic thing is getting a little over the top."
Milbank wrote:
Inside, according to a witness, he told the House members, 'This is the moment ... that the world is waiting for,' adding: 'I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions.' As he marches toward Inauguration Day (Election Day is but a milestone on that path), Obama's biggest challenger may not be Republican John McCain but rather his own hubris.
While Milbank interpreted the comment as self-aggrandizing, people who were actually in the meeting disputed that interpretation. Milbank did not cite a source for the quote, but in a July 29 entry on the Post's The Trail blog, Post staff writer Jonathan Weisman reported a similar version of the comments, writing that, "according to a witness," the reported remark "suggest[ed]" that Obama "was beginning to believe his own hype." Weisman later posted an update saying that "House leadership aides pushed back against interpretations of this comment as self-aggrandizing," and reported: "[O]ne leadership aide said the full quote put it into a different context. According to that aide, Obama said, 'It has become increasingly clear in my travel, the campaign -- that the crowds, the enthusiasm, 200,000 people in Berlin, is not about me at all. It's about America. I have just become a symbol.' " Indeed, as Media Matters for America noted, the leadership aide's version of the quote is entirely consistent with numerous other statements Obama has made over the last two years.
But despite Obama's history of making comments similar to what the aide reportedly said Obama said, in his "Washington Sketch" online discussion on August 7, Milbank wrote: "My colleague Jonathan Weisman and I believe the quote was correct as written, and that this supposed 'context' is a recreation, after-the-fact, by Democratic aides who were worried about how the quote looked."
And despite this history, on the August 6 edition of Fox News' Your World, Cavuto cited Milbank's version as fact, saying of Obama: "[T]his is the same candidate who had said, [former Clinton White House special counsel] Lanny [Davis], 'This is the moment that the world has been waiting for. I've become a symbol of the possibility of America, returning to our best traditions.' You know, I'm not dismissing the fact he is an enlivening, engaging candidate, but the messianic thing is getting a little over the top, is it not?"
While Milbank interpreted the comment as self-aggrandizing, people who were actually in the meeting disputed that interpretation. Milbank did not cite a source for the quote, but in a July 29 entry on the Post's The Trail blog, Post staff writer Jonathan Weisman reported a similar version of the comments, writing that, "according to a witness," the reported remark "suggest[ed]" that Obama "was beginning to believe his own hype."
Too much she said, he said. Who's interpretation is real, who cares. Obama beleives the hype, even the main stream media is getting tired of this guy. I am still trying to figure out why he is running for President, and the American that was good was when?
About this "messianic" thing:
The McCain/Heston ad was Moses. Moses wasn't the messiah. Not even close. So why did all the pundits giggle about how clever that ad was, because it pegged Obama on the "messiah" thing?
Just asking.
They probably chose the Moses metaphor, becuase if Obama is elected president, the country is going to wander in the desert for the next four years....
...and then will be led to the promised land where they will reside for the next 40 years under democratic control.
Doubt it. It will be JC 2- (Jimmy Carter, Not Jesus Christ) where after four years of "malaise" a New Reagan will rise and right the wrongs of the naive and ineffective dems. LOL
Plus you're assuming that "Jimmy Jr." will make it to the big chair come November.. Presumtption didn't help the dem cause in 00 or 04 if you can get past the "stolen election" pablum you've all been chewing for nearly a decade now..
Hardly Colonel Cluck... so far, things would indicate that your annointed one hasn't exactly run away in the polls, as the liberal media and the liberal base expected after his "second coming tour" in Europe.
It's gonna be a tight race, and you're deluding yourself as to the same things that havent' worked for the dems in the past two presidential races.if you're that condifent. Ask Gore and Kerry what it's like to be saying "Huh? what happened???. Liberal elitism always underestimates the intelligence and common sense of the majority of Americans. America's bigger than just the liberal coastlines.
Missdee, I'm trying to read between all of the "liberal media" nonsense of your post, and the meat of it seems to be disputing my confidence in an Obama victory.
The problem here is, I never stated or implied my opinion on the odds of Obama winning.
Are you retarded, or just putting on an act.
The other point you're completely upside-down on is your idea that Dems lose elections by underestimating the electorate.Aside from the number of your fellow meathead-Americans who voted for the guy they'd like to have a beer with, there are just too many examples of the Republicans dependency on the ignorant vote to even start here. You can be exhibit A, if you'd like to start your own list.
"........people who were actually in the meeting disputed that interpretation"
By people, you mean House Democrats.
I think you need to go back and reread the story. Jonathan Weisman of the Washington Post quoted an unnamed source who was present at the closed-door meeting. This is the quote that Dana Milbank later picked up on. But before Milbank's article came out, another unnamed source who was present at the meeting informed Weisman that the quote was incomplete and missing context that altered its meaning entirely.
Both sources were at the meeting. By your logic, this means that both sources are "soaked in bias" and "not worth much." But the only one you're questioning is the one that's favorable to Obama.
I read it perfectly fine. My comments stand. One could read the entire text of Obama's comments and come away with different interpretations, that is the point. For MMFA to rely on only those who actually heard them, namely fellow Democrats, is weak.
"For MMFA to rely on only those who actually heard them, namely fellow Democrats, is weak."
That's one of the most ridiculous things you've ever said. Instead of relying on witnesses who actually heard what Obama said firsthand, you want to rely on the interpretations made by people who weren't even there? So hack reporters who are pushing the "Obama is arrogant and presumptuous" meme are somehow more trustworthy than people who actually heard Obama's comments firsthand?
Make it simple. When those propping up your interpretations are of the same political party, then yes, that is weak. If you are that incredibly naive, I actually feel sorry for you. What do you think they are going to say?
You cannot be this simple.
One could read the entire text of Obama's comments and come away with different interpretations, that is the point.
There is no text. That's the point.
I'm good with that. Presidential candidates are raging egotists by definition.
I can get you an autographed copy for $19.95, plus shipping and handling. Makes a great back to school gift.....
:)
Trade you straight accross for mine. As I've mentioned, it makes a good coloring book.
Are we missing a post from the col somewhere arround here?
He is not the Messiah!!!!
He's not even a very naughty boy.