After criticizing Obama for lacking emotion, right-wing now attacks Obama for seeking "ass to kick" over spill
Right-wing media have rushed to attack President Obama for responding to criticism that he spends too much time consulting experts rather than "kick[ing some butt]" by saying, "I want to know whose ass to kick." Many conservative media figures previously hyped criticism that Obama lacked emotion in his response to the oil spill.
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Fox, right-wing media hyped criticism that Obama lacked emotion in oil spill response
Carlson compared Obama's response to Bush's 9-11 "bullhorn moment." On the June 3 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Gretchen Carlson said: "People can remember back to other crises. And they remember George W. Bush down at 9-11 in the pit, and they remember Ronald Reagan with the family members of the Challenger hugging them. And those are poignant moments that are forever emblazoned in people's heads, and that puts emotion in their hearts as well. They're still waiting for that picture from President Obama."
Briggs: "[W]here is the fire and emotion?" On the June 5 edition of Fox & Friends Saturday, after playing a clip of Obama's Larry King Live interview, co-host Dave Briggs claimed, "Some Americans saying where is the fire and emotion that this country's been begging for?"
Bolling: "Emotion, right? A little emotion!" On the June 6 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends Sunday, guest host Eric Bolling said: "President Obama has been facing a lot of criticism in his handling of the Gulf oil crisis, not only for showing a lack of emotion, but for failing to do much beyond pointing the finger at BP." Later, while introducing a guest, Bolling asked him, "I mean, emotion, right? A little emotion!"
Drudge: "Spike Lee Tells Obama: 'Go off!' ": On June 3, the Drudge Report blared the headline: "Oil Balls Bobbing Toward FL; Spike Lee Tells Obama: 'Go Off!' "
Hannity: "[T]he rap now is the president -- he's so cool under pressure that he hasn't been able to ... show enough emotion to the American people." On the June 3 edition of his Fox News show, Sean Hannity said: "I find it interesting. Spike Lee saying -- well, the rap now is the president -- he's so cool under pressure that he hasn't been able to -- or show enough emotion to the American people. I don't think it's going to fly." (transcript accessed via Nexis)
Ace of Spades: "Mr. Spock is trying to do emotion and it's not working well." A May 28 Ace of Spades blog post responded to Obama's remarks during his second trip to the Gulf Coast by saying: "Ah, here's his 'I feel your pain bit'...'you are not alone'. The media will leave you at some point but I won't. Mr. Spock is trying to do emotion and it's not working well."
Fox, right-wing media also criticize Obama's "ass to kick" comment
Obama responded to criticism that he was spending too much time consulting "experts and advisers" rather than "kick[ing] some butt" by saying "we talk to these folks" to get answers "so I know whose ass to kick."During a Today show interview which aired on June 8, co-host Matt Lauer asked Obama to respond to critics who say: "This is not the time to meet with experts and advisers. This is a time to spend more time in the Gulf and -- I never thought I'd say this to a president but -- kick some butt." Obama replied: "I'm going to push back hard on this, because I think that this is a -- just a -- an idea that got into folks' heads, and the media has run with it. I was down there a month ago before most of these talking heads were even paying attention to the Gulf. A month ago I was meeting with fisherman down there, standing in the rain, talking about what a potential crisis this could be. And I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar. We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers, so I know whose ass to kick."
Kilmeade calls the comment an "artificial, I'm tough because you wanted me to be tough" moment. On the June 8 edition ofFox & Friends, after playing the clip, co-host Brian Kilmeade called it "artificial, I am tough just like you wanted me to be tough." Carlson admitted that Obama is "in a no-win situation" regarding the emotional appeal but criticized him for "us[ing] the language that he used," calling it "phony," while co-host Steve Doocy called it "less presidential."
Fox & Friends hosts Ingraham to attack Obama's comments as "defensiveness" and un-Presidential. Later on the June 8 Fox & Friends, Fox News contributor Laura Ingraham said Obama "is now leading by being defensive. So he's -- 'People say I'm not tough enough in my response, so I'm going to use an expletive on television. I'm gonna be really tough.' That's not leadership. That's defensiveness, and it just doesn't look all that presidential." After playing the clip of Obama's comments, Kilmeade called it a "tough guy act," while Doocy joked, "He's blown his top."
RedState: "Obama tries tough guy act on for size." A June 8 RedState post claimed Obama had "decided to try to inherit something else from Bush: a spine and fortitude. However, in true incompetent Obama form, he failed, as always." The post called Obama's comment "[p]itifully feigning an attempt at opening up a can of whoop arse" which "fails miserably when we've all seen Obama daintily sip beer, pinkie extended."
Hoft: "Oh Brother...Obama Ready to "Kick Some A$$." In a June 7 Gateway Pundit post, Jim Hoft wrote: "Is this real or some kind of weird joke? Obama's looking for some a$$ to kick."
Allahpundit calls Obama's comment "a feeble show of command." In a June 7 Hot Air post, Allahpundit wrote, "I thought nothing would top 'plug the damn hole' as a feeble show of command in the teeth of pure federal impotence, but never underestimate The One." Allahpundit also wrote:
So here's his attempt at damage control with another two months of this nightmare (at least) still to go, imitating the same sort of bravado that the left used to detest in Bush in hopes that it'll stop their caterwauling about his dispassion and give them a happy new meme to push. "See? He's mad. He cares." It's completely out of character with his Cool Hand Luke persona and roughly six weeks too late, which means it's as phony as a three-dollar bill, but so what? This is all about changing the subject from the spill itself to Obama's engagement with it, and for low-information voters, it'll do nicely. Three cheers for the cynical scripted soundbite!
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Wouldn't that be more productive?
And on the other hand, many on the right coddle BP and make excuses and rationalizations for them and would probably prefer Obama act unemotionally and guarded where kicking their ass is concerned.
It's weirdness all around :/
In what way is that ironic? And if it's the second part of your sentence that's supposed to be ironic, then who on the left is calling for Obama to be more emotional?
There's nothing weird about either of those reactions. The right protects big business (and big oil in particular) at all costs, and they will attack Obama no matter what his response. While the left generally calls for stricter regulations on big oil, so that these disasters don't happen in the first place.
And it's MMfA defending Obama's unemotional responses so far, which is also ironic, especially after you said this "While the left generally calls for stricter regulations on big oil".
Figure it out from there, my spoon to feed you is busy.
And this is a real head scratcher. Are you kidding me? Rachel Maddow for one, and many others. Are you saying the left is fine with a reasoned amp down tone towards BP from the White House?
People are so angry and anxious over something like this that the president is the one who takes the brunt, always does. He or she can never satisfy everyone because people's emotions are invested in it, and people want to vent and blame someone. In this case there is actually a villain, BP, which undeniably takes some of the sting off Obama - unlike natural disasters or storms when there isn't one.
Obama is tough enough, or he should be, so he can take it. It's his job.
ROFLMAO.
It is impossible to please these devils.
Why don't they just say 'we hate having a black President' and get it over with?
If I was willing to make of fool of myself because of hate, I would have the courage to let the world know what the hate was. Not these demons.. They want us to believe they are "fair and balanced".
Obama is smart not to worry about things he can't control. These white haters will damn Obama no matter what position he takes. You know, "damned if you do, and damned if you don't".
It is impossible to please these devils.
Why don't they just say 'we hate having a black President' and get it over with?
If I was willing to make a fool of myself because of hate, I would have the courage to let the world know what the hate was. Not these demons.. They want us to believe they are "fair and balanced".
Instead you object to the most shallow of offenses.
"Profanity is the attempt of a feeble intellect to express itself forcefully."
And every profanity Bush ever uttered went unnoticed or applauded by you, edrossindeliriumtremens...
I know! It's much more suited to the office of the VP.
i.e. Go "Cheney" yourself.
Most politicians I'd venture do a fair amount of swearing off camera. As do most people.
Again, the greater obscenity is causing harm to others, like wars, invasions, corporate greed and indifference to human suffering. Perhaps a little swearing about THAT is in order.
WOW! So poor BP? Sometimes bad things happen to good corporations? Stop picking on them Obama! GMAFB!
And more than a little interesting that you wanted to include "basketball court" as places the president could cuss.
I also said the golf course, because Obama enjoys playing both basketball AND golf. Don't try to drag this into a racist issue when it's not.
Exactly - that's the language of V.P.s!
Thanks
Bush Gives Finger (video; it's real, no photo shop required)
Randy