Ed Schultz: 'At Times Last Night I Thought Obama Was A Beaten Man' (VIDEO)

The reviews of President Obama's press conference last night have been decidedly mixed and one pundit who was not impressed is Ed Schultz. The liberal radio and talk-show host wondered, based on his impressions from last night, if President Obama even wants to run for re-election:

Last night, when I was sitting there, I wonder if this guy wants to run for re-election. There were times last night when I thought President Obama was a beaten man. And I thought, where's the fire?

Tell us your thoughts about Schultz's remarks in the comments.

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Last night, when I was sitting there, I wonder if this guy wants to run for re-election. There were times last night when I thought President Obama was a beaten man. And I thought, where's the fire? [...] It wasn't there. Maybe it was the White House, maybe it's the setting, the press thing, and everything else, but I don't know. My level of disappointment was in the demeanor. And I know Barack Obama is a very smart guy. I hope he's on point getting this thing done.

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Comments

[MeloMaloPaulino]

ed is cool

[Lasnoe]

I curious...

Do any of you guys think Ed is competent, analytical or insightful??? Forget the fair or balanced part.... i'm not even going to ask that one.... hahaha

[lordmi]

Many want him to be aggressive.

Just watch - he will get result.
And for future - maybe we all should be less aggressive but more productive.
Anger is not creative thing.

I fully support Obama's approach.
people, there is NO any other at this time.
That is like maybe You dreamed to marry Cindy Crawford..­. but maybe Your girlfriend is really nice?

[FrenchWarHero]

Who are these Blue Dogs - need FREE healthcare! How can anybody not want that AND it is a gift that will keep us com'n back for MORE! CMON DOGS GET SMART.

[lordmi]

that would not be free. But it is Reps who said - healthcare is a privilege
So -0 who can sign in with GOP since that?

[Marcospinelli]

I am endlessly suspicious, it's what I do for a living and am nearly always proven right. That said (and knowing that the DLC Democrats serve corporations just as Republicans do, but rely on a constituency to vote for them that expects populist representation), Democrats give lip service to public health care and really little else.

I'm suspicious of a press conference billed as vital for the president's moving health care reform forward, before the break, and a man who comes out to speak with the press never mentioning his commitment to public health care, and appearing disengaged.

I'm suspicious of press conference that ends with a question from a hometown journalist, that is off the subject stated as the reason for the press conference, not an issue relating to the president other than he's black. And completely out of character for 'No Drama' Obama (one of the most disciplined of politicians we've ever seen), he responds to the question, and in such a careless, non-lawyerly manner. It makes no sense at all. Unless.

Unless it was planned, for getting the media off the subject of his and Democrats' failure to get meaningful healthcare reform for the American people. Setting the people up for no reform or "You'll take what you can get, and at this time what you get is another giveaway to Big Insurance & PhRma, and you'll be happy with a few crumbs (some more, but not all people, will get insurance who couldn't before)".

[Marcospinelli]

It's now yet another day with the media talking about Henry Gates, parading the police force out, and NOT talking about healthcare reform and Obama's distancing his health care program which now isn't universal nor inclusive of a public option (much less the people's overwhelming support for single payer universal health care).

The American people keep getting played by these corporate politicians and corporate media.

[Samalabear]

I'm right with you on this. Here's last night's Bill Moyers. I'm trying to post this in as many places as I can so that people who support Obama and health care reform understand what is being shoved down their throats. It's not what need and it will eventually bankrupt the country. It's not even a good start. It's a spree for pharma and the insurance companies:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07242009/watch.html

I totally agree with you about the "distraction" thing.

[lordmi]

sorry, but it'd better to have argument, than just conclusion.
Where is bases of Yours?
Same Republican thing - "We all do have healthcare"?

[Marcospinelli]

I think that people mistakenly believe that Obama&Democrats want public health care.

If TheBushYears taught us nothing else, it's that anyone can sell anything to Americans, if you're stolid & relentless in your sales pitch & tactics. It's not that Bush&Rove were geniuses & knew something that nobody else knew; Bush&Rove were just more ruthless (clumsy & careless many political graybeards would say) in doing what politicians & the parties had gone to great lengths to hide from Americans.

Obama didn't get to be the first black president, vanquish the Clinton machine & the oldest, most experienced politicians in our nation's history (including the Rove machine) by not having mastered these skills. Nor do Democratic politicians (more incumbents than ever, in office longer) not know how to do it. How do you think Democrats managed to keep impeaching Bush&Cheney off the table & have us still reelecting them, not marching on Washington with torches&pitchforks?

Obama&Democrats know how to do it -- They don't want to do it.

The trick for them has been to keep the many different populist groups believing that they really do support our issues, but that they're merely inept. And to get us to keep voting for them in spite of their failure to deliver on any of our alleged shared objectives.

[breakingpoint]

Reid let Bush walk all over him
makes you wonder which side he's really on

[lordmi]

not true

[itsjustanillusion]

Screaming, spitting fire and throwing pencils will get nothing done. The President has been cool and calm since the beginning. There's no need to lose faith in him as he has plenty for us all. My take on the news conference is that he was simply trying to get people to understand "why" this has to be done. The President has been making this argument again and again. Trust and believe he will make it again until it sinks in. Think of teaching somone how to ride or drive for the first time. They fall down, hit the brakes too hard or knock over the cones or even hit the curb. So what do you do? You start from the beginning, trying over and over until they get it. As boring as the press conference was, I got the feeling he is picking us up and putting us on that bike or behind that wheel until we get it! When you spit fire at the student they more than likely won't get it and will not listen. Remember, patience is a virtue and teaching is an art.

I totally understand what Ed is saying and value his opinion. I just see it a bit differently.

[lordmi]

Agree. 100% agree.
Let him work and help with support.

it is so much easier to make a program on friendly MSNBC than to stay under attack and still DO thing.
Look, for 6 months it is done other Presidents did not do for 3 years.
Relax and do not watch but support actively.

Still Love Ed's show a lot.

[PatrickforO]

Maybe all of us can help the President 'lift this weight!' Remember, 'them' is actually 'us.' We are the ones responsible for making our representative democracy work. How? By keeping ourselves informed and involved in the process. I recommend that all of us write our senators and congressional representatives two or three times per week on health care. This will 1) impress on them the seriousness of the issue to the American people, and that 2) their conduct is being watched. Also, please, advocate a single payer option! Let the insurance companies get screwed this time instead of us again!

[lordmi]

Yes, we shopuld

[sailor422]

down with the BLUE CROSS DEMOCRATS. Send money to their primary opposition. Get progressives in there that will fight for the common man.

[RecentRetiredVet]

Why can't someone put together a "March on Washington" with a Million or more people and demand Real healthcare reform now!! Why can't this happen? Is it important enough?

[cyndeewi]

You put it together RecentRetiredVet and I will be there!

[javaz]

With the economy and so many people struggling and out of work, maybe people are unable to make the trip for a protest.
Cost of travel, food and lodging are things millions of Americans can simply not afford.

[hollybork]

I thought Pres. Obama seemed to go on and on, which added an air of defensiveness I haven't seen since certain shaky times on the campaign.

I thought for the first time that this guy thinks he may not be able to lift this weight. The result was a creeping sense of dread and impending disappointment which has deepened over the last day. I wonder whether I can get so involved again, and maintain my idealism going forward if the national healthcare project fails. My pessimism is not over Obama, but from the way our congress has been bought and paid for. How depressing it is that Congress, even when populated by an overwhelming majority of democrats, is simply not up to the task of major change. What can possibly be more important than this country moving forward with the rest of the industrialized world with a world class national healthcare system?

I hope this latest press conference for Pres. Obama was just a bad night. I hope he really believes he will get healthcare, because that belief is powerful. We as a people are so close. It would be a devastating blow to go this far after all this time, and not succeed.

[Austintatious]

the most insightful and analytically correct comment made here

[msyphax]

Yes, there was a lack of fire and passion. But maybe we need to get used to a President that does keep his head and remains calm, as one other responder pointed out. Having said that, I have been wondering when Obama is going to show some anger. I think he has public support, especially for healthcare. My concern is htat he seems unwilling to really lean on the Republicans and Democrats that are standing in the way of a public option in healthcare. He has a large public support for this, but isn't really acting like it. A little anger, properly expressed, is a good and useful thing, I'd think.

[DSOTM]

President Obama is not like the Governor of Alaska.

Health care reform will get passed, maybe not to the level he wants, but unlike others in the past, he will not give up and it will not be his Waterloo.

[Whinger]

A strong leader keeps his head while all around him are losing theirs!

That's a quality Republicans no longer possess, having more in common with Nero!

[lordmi]

But President he does.
Stand behind him - he would be even stronger.