The Wrong Reporter Asks Obama A Question

The chance to ask a question during a prime-time presidential press conference is treasured real estate in the world of journalism. So when the President called on Steve Koff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Wednesday night, it was not an insignificant moment for either him or his paper.

And yet, as soon as the moment presented itself, it disappeared. Steven Thomma of McClatchy stood up as soon as Barack Obama said "Steve," not Koff. Within a matter of milliseconds the president's attention was on the wrong portion and journalist of the room.

The question, like those beforehand, centered on the health care debate. But half the audience was distracted. Koff and the group of reporters around him were asking what exactly happened.

When Obama, in the course of answering the question, mentioned that he'd been stopping in Cleveland the next day, bits of laughter erupted.

"I thought, this isn't right," Thomma recalled after the press conference was over. "I gave him a quizzical look and he gave me a quizzical look."

Luckily for him, the mistake was rectified. Koff stood up after Obama's answer was finished, explained politely that a mishap had just occurred, and asked his question - again about health care, though with a Cleveland-specific angle.

"Mistakes happen," he would say after the conference. "Had he not addressed my question then I would not have been happy."

Back in the press briefing room minutes later, Thomma was getting hazed both by his fellow reporters and the rest of the White House press corps. "I'm hard of hearing," he explained, sincerely. In no short order he had established a new policy for presidential news conference.

"The next time the president says Bill, I'm just gonna stand up," quipped radio host Bill Press.

Comments

[Newsmonger]

To all those, who wrongly think that America have the best healthcase system in the world...

According to WHO, this is the USA world healthcare rankings.....


No. 37 in quality Health Care:
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html

No. 24 in Life Expectancy:
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthy_life_table2.html

No. 72 in Healtcare Performance:
http://www.photius.com/rankings/world_health_performance_ranks.html

No. 19 in Child Well Being:
http://www.photius.com/rankings/child_well_being_in_rich_countries_2007.html

No. 2 in Healthcare spending by %GDP:
http://www.photius.com/rankings/total_health_expenditure_as_pecent_of_gdp_2000_to_2005.html

The people that told you that America have the best healthcare system are counting on you to take their word without doing any research. If you start asking them for independent studies that states what they are saying, they will not be able to answer.

[Newsmonger]

1. While the U.S. Spends Heavily on Health Care, a Study Faults the Quality....

2. Access to care in the United States has worsened...

3. Other countries worked hard to improve, according to the Commonwealth Fund researchers. Britain, for example, focused on steps like improving the performance of individual hospitals...

4. the report also emphasizes the inefficiencies of the American health care system...

http://allcountries.org/health/usa_health_care_2008_nyt.html

[betty22]

see what happens when you don't do your homework. you just don't know

[Tulka2]

And i thought this item was going to be about Lynn Sweet asking Obama the question about the arrest in Cambridge of Harvard Professor Gates. Now that was a "wrong" question. Not on the side of health care reform is she?

[politicaleconomy]

Obama needs to stop mediating who gets to ask what question. In fact all presidents in the future need to to stop it. Before the Huffposters come get me for my critique, I am an Obama supporter and I have the guts to actually critique him and not be sycophantic about him.

[larry278]

To be snide, mistakes of that sort are common in Cleveland, Oh. It must be the wind from Lake Erie or the water.

[jdw1981]

Obama actually called on a reporter whose question wasn't prescreened for content the previous night?

Rahm Emanuel's going to fire someone for this!

[Corners]

Wasn't Bush the King of no follow up questioning? I think Obama has opened up his press conferences to questions this year more then Bush did in 8 years of press conferences.

[truthartbeauty]

bush was a total chickenshit. obama is not afraid to answer any question

[zionistoilmafia]

Wow you folks are easily fooled.

The only reason this is an "issue" and being discussed is because the ROSTER has changed folks.....

Duuhhh....the TV and Print media that used to be given access first are NOW last....and they are whiny and whinging twits......now it's news they don't get to ask about their contributors agenda....­...first..­...as they did for 8 EIGHT years....so it's a bad and Gibbs is Bad........what a bunch of looooosers.

[jazabelz]

Aren't all of you Republicans the same ones who cried fowl when Palin was asked questions she wasn't prepared for -- didn't you say that was "gottcha journalism"? But now, that's what you want to inflict on the President so you can try to embarass him and waste the time of the American Public who really want to hear what the President has to say! You can't have it both ways.

[TimnySlagle]

Here's the thing:

If he already knows what he's going to say, what is the purpose of staging it to look like a Press Conference?

Why not just give a speech?

[fiorastar]

You mean like Palin did during her VP "debate"? Refusing to answer the actual debate questioner and launching into a completely different topic, along with her winks and nods and cutesy little smiles?

[Samlas]

What? what is the point here? HP please don't bore us with this stuff.

[Bingolong]

Please don't bore...

Zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz

[SemperVeritas]

And this is important, why??

[atlanta1962]

More scripted news conferences from Obama........
When is going to answer the tough questions on health care?

1) How much will the total cost of this bill be, where is the cost estimate at?
2) How will these costs be paid? Don't say tax the rich because they aren't so rich anymore.
3) Who will it cover, how much per person, what will the deductable and copays be?
4) Who will not be covered and why not?
5) Do senior citizens still get to keep the Medicare and Medicaid that they are already using?

[P2MAY]

let me get this straight...Bush has scripted press conferences(all four of them)...yet you are upset that Obama has them

the president is trying to get out his viewpoint on the issue...the questions that are being asked are the ones he wants asked because he wants the American people to understand his side of the issue.

so far he has had little input into the healthcare issues as Congress has had the ball..he has been making suggestions. republicans have had 160+ ammendments added to one of the competing bills. you want questions answered...write your local congressman or senator from your state...

[TimnySlagle]

Here's a couple better questions:

If Americans really want national health care, why are you having such a hard time selling it?

And what's the hurry?

[TimnySlagle]

Here's a couple better questions:

If Americans really want national health care, why are you having such a hard time selling it?

And what's the big rush?

[Newsmonger]

7 in 10 Americans what healthcare reform...

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121883/Most-U.S.-Want-Healthcare-Reform-Vary-Urgency.aspx

The problem is those 70% Americans cannot vote the reform they want. The GOP in congress who can vote for this bill are obstructing; those are the people are not willing to buy it. Their default position for every and all important bill that comes up so far is a NO. Those are the hard sellers, the America people want it, some do not want it this year because of the economy but majority wants it.

The GOP grand standing not withstanding, the Health Bill will pass.

[oberon123]

The president has better things to do. So I am going to answer your questions:

1) This bill will cost a lot less than the Iraq war is costing our country.
2) Last time I checked, thanks to king George, the rich have actually gotten richer.
3) The bill will cover more people and cost a lot less than private health care. I doubt anyone running this program will get a 1.8 billion dollar retirement package ala Bill Mcguire.
4) Anyone voting against this bill will not be covered. They will be shipped to a rural village in Mexico and made to drink tap water for a week.
5) Seniors get to keep their plans. They also dont have to go broke paying for medication that fall into the donut hole of their coverage. The Pharmaceutical Industry has already pledged 80 billion dollars per year to cover the gaps in the system. Once the government can negotiate the price of medicines down seniors will benefit further. I doubt even a raging dittohead like you would say that a canister of Albuterol is actually worth 100 dollars.

I would be more than happy to answer any further questions you might have. Or, you could do both of us a favor, get your head out of your ass, turn off the Rush Limbaugh Comedy Hour and go do some research.

[zionistoilmafia]

wow I stand in awe.....fan'd and fav'd and still laughing.....

[TimnySlagle]

"turn off the Ru$h Limbaugh Comedy Hour and go do some research."

Pretty funny coming from the side who thinks Jon Stewart is Americas most trusted "newsman."

1) but, but,, but, ...BUSH!
2) but, but,, but, ...BUSH!
3) not according to the CBO. I'd love to see a link proving your speculations
4) Fine with me, as long as people not covered don't have to pay for it
5)Once the Government can negotiate the price of medicines, the profit incentive for inventing new medicines will disappear, and there won't be anymore. How many breakthroughs come from Canada?

And you still didn't tell me...What's the big hurry?

[TimnySlagle]

Press Corps busted for reading prepared questions!

Here is part of Obama's answer to Steve Thomma:

...And that's the whole idea behind Mayo. That's the whole idea behind the Cleveland Clinic. You know, I'm going to be visiting your hometown tomorrow to go to the Cleveland Clinic ...

Here is part Steve Koff's question, that came AFTER the response:

You cited the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinics as models for the delivery of health care in the past

CLEARLY Obama had a repsonse prepared to Steve Koff's question

[NedroidPrime]

Might be a bit hard for you to follow, but I will try.

1. Obama calls on "Steve", and the wrong guy (thoma) stands and asks his question. Obama answers and mentions Mayo
2. When the question is answered Koff stands up and asks his question, which points that he cited Mayo.

See, that is kinda what journalists are supposed to do. Take what is said, and ask for clarification, or use it as a segue to another related item.

Not everything is a conspiracy, so take of your tin foil...

[TimnySlagle]

Then why did Koff say "in the past" rather than "just now"

He obviously wasn't referring to the response he just heard, he was reading a prepared question off a note card.

[DEJM]

The questions are submitted in advance, so the President's writers can answer them and put them in writing for the President to read from the teleprompter.

When Obama called on Steve, the wrong one stood up, but Pres. Obama answered the other Steve's question. Then the other Steve stood up, and amended his question and the President answered it again.

In journalism circles it's unethical to give someone your questions in advance, but the reporters obviously want to be called on because it looks good to the American people, even though it is truly unethical and it doesn't matter whether Bush started it, it's still unethical.

[evercor91]

Oh my god just because he was able to answer a question, you think he cheated. You insult obama saying he is nothing wihout a teleprompter but then when he answers questions of telepromter you assume he scripted it he can never win in your opinion.

[TimnySlagle]

um, Thomma wasn't even from Cleveland

[Ohming]

The admin goes to all the trouble of prescripting Q & A's and the they still can't get it right. Whats a prez to do.

[expired]

WtFis up with the headline?

[blico]

When I read the headline I thought the wrong question was the healthcare question about his harvard friend.