Barack Obama is the Roger Federer of the Press Conference

The gateway to the Oval Office is the media. On the campaign trail, you need to master your handling of them, both on camera and off, to get elected. It is the most important prerequisite because, once you are elected, controlling what comes out of the televisions to the eyes and ears of hundreds of millions of people defines a President.

From Nixon sweating on TV in those early televised debates to former actor Ronald Reagan's mastery of the media to Clinton's telegenic persona, tube appeasement was job one, until we got to George W. Bush.

For W., who makes the suspects on cops look articulate, tackling the media head-on was not a winning strategy, so he went negative.

The Attack and Avoid plan, which W. used to minimalize and marginalize the press, was effective. Call the media irresponsible, or, in the case of 9-11, unpatriotic, and put them on the defensive. Hand out stories to friendly sources like Fox News, and refuse to speak with journalists like Helen Thomas because they won't toss you softballs. Get hit with a question like your Guantanamo policy being unconsitutional? Deny and denigrate the media for questioning the executive powers of the President. Do very few press conferences in your first term so you can avoid slipping up. Do even fewer public addresses.

The short-term wins of the mushroom theory of media handling may have saved the day or the news cycle, but they ultimately cost Bush's administration in the bigger picture of both his agenda and his place in history.

By the time that he got to his second term, and eased up a bit on the media lock-down, he had already turned off and tuned out most of the nation to the White House. His failure to speak regularly had cost the office stature internationally.

Despised and mocked around the world, and here at home, his history-making disapproval rating has impacted his legacy because his lack of command over the media leads to the tidal wave of speculation and pontification by talking heads and political "experts" who have been allowed to define his presidency to mean pretty much whatever they think it means.

Clinton was a great communicator with the American public, but his gamesmanship with the media was largely what affirmed his nickname, "Slick Willie." The GOP used Whitewater, which cost the public millions, to tie up Clinton's administration as much as possible, and to set up the springboard to motivate their religious right wing base with accusations that Clinton was morally improper on a wide variety of fronts. When he was caught lying in the Lewinsky scandal, all of the good work that he did as President became mired in his personal foibles, and the media chewed up what was left of his political stature.

Barack Obama is the Roger Federer of the press conference. He plays the game to win. He usually stays three moves ahead of his opponents with the pads, tape recorders and cameras.

The media may find Obama dryer than Clinton, but if he is anything, the President-Elect is the consummate craftsman of his message. He serves up answers with heat, and the surgical precision of a cardiologist.

Look at the speech on health care from December 11, 2008, the text of which appeared recently in the New York Times.

Rather than waiting for the bad news ball to come to you as Bush would have done, Obama believes that you go to the ball before it gets there. He launches the healthcare conference with:

"Before we get into the subject of today's press conference, there are a couple of issues I'd like to address. Today we received more unsettling news about our economy. Jobless claims are now the highest they've been in 26 years, with more than 570,000 people filing for unemployment benefits for the -- for the very first time. "

and

"Now, I'm also aware of your interest in the matter of the Illinois Senate appointment. Let me say that I was as appalled and disappointed as anybody by the revelations earlier this week."

That sets up the agenda for what Obama knows will be the lead questions in the Q&A session. When he gets there, President-elect Obama is a master of listening to the question, parsing it, serving up very specific answers, and politely nailing the media people who ask him something on ground that he's already covered.

The governor Blagojevich situation is Obama's French Open. The press is testing Obama to see if he walks the walk, and if he can stay on top.

There is nothing to suggest that Obama had anything to do with governor Blagojevich's putting the soon-to-be open Illinois senate seat up on political eBay. If anything, the government sting operation transcripts would show that Blago had some pretty unkind things to say about Obama and his staff.

"[T]hey're not willing to give me anything except appreciation," was the most printable thing that Blagojevich said in a taped conversation that was filed as part of the criminal complaint last Tuesday.

To which Obama quipped:

"We were not, I think, perceived by the governor's office as amenable to any deal-making. I won't quote back some of the things that were said about me. This is a family program, I know."

Ace.

A reporter asks Obama the opening question about the Blagogate scandal in the media court. Watch Obama's return:

Question: "... given the -- in your statement, when you addressed the controversy over Governor Blagojevich, you did not repeat what your spokesman said yesterday about having him -- that he should resign. Why did you not? And could you tell us what contact, if any, you know that your staff or any emissaries from you have had with prosecutors or the FBI?"

Mr. Obama: "Well, let me repeat a couple of things.

Number one, I think, like most of the people of Illinois, I was appalled and disappointed by what we heard in those transcripts. And, you know, here in Illinois -- as is true, I think, across the country -- there is a tradition of public service, where people are getting in it for the right reasons and to serve, but there's also a tradition where people view politics as a business.

And part of the reason that I got into politics, ran for the State Senate, ran for the United States Senate, and ultimately ran for the presidency is because we have to reclaim a tradition of public service that is about people and their lives, and their hopes, and their dreams. And it isn't about what's in it for me. And I think the public trust has been violated.

So let me be absolutely clear: I do not think that the governor at this point can effectively serve the people of Illinois. I -- the legislature is going down to Springfield to make a determination as to how to resolve this issue. I think they're going to come to the same conclusion."

Obama speaks very purposefully. His "Well, let me repeat a couple of things" is a very clear shot to the reporter for framing the question in a way that is covering the ground already in the transcript.

With Bush, you would ask the question because you knew that someone else probably framed the speech, and you wanted to know what was on Bush's brain, scary as that thought may be. Plus, there was always the entertainment value of watching him fall all over his tongue, with the likelihood that a Bushism like "the Decider" might ooze out.

There is some retooling for the Obama press conference. You cannot send in your your second bracket journalist. The sad thing is that a media that has been accustomed to nearly a decade of the information fortress at the White House may have a little trouble getting back into mental shape for a president who is going to be more than their intellectual and political equal.

Sure, there will be days that Obama is off of his game. His lightening serve will just miss its mark, or he will miss the return of a media volley. His staff has been a little off-game in getting in front of the Blago-blast from the media, but it is a minor lesson for them in handling the media that was well-learned at a pretty minimal cost.

For me, it is a refreshing change to hear a president who can articulate his policies articulately, although I have to say that George W. Bush will be missified lots.

Follow Brian Ross on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mlnsports

Comments

[Maggie Van Ostrand - Huffpost Blogger]

Obama is even cooler than Jack Nicholson.

[Charmed]

I love when he says "well let me repeat a couple of things"...­.it calls them out and then he answers the question again. It's like he's teaching them "how" to be real journalist. They are going to have to up their game or continue to look silly asking the same question over and over again.

They can't stand him, LOL.

[SeanGardner]

Good piece Brian!!!!

His "Well, let me repeat a couple of things" smackdowns are genius. Not only because he is framing the message and controling the tenor, but because Obama hopes it engenders something in the viewing public. What do I mean? Well, the public wants to hear about job creation, health care affordability, education reform, and crime reduction. So, if Obama very purposefully and forcefully addresses a side isssue (like the Gov. Blagojevich affair), then, in the minds of the public, it almost reduces the need for 20,000 questions on that matter. The public will begin to say, "GEEZ! Obama already addressed the issue head on! Some ambitious reporter always looking for his/her WHITE BRONCO moment! What about Obama's domestic agenda for god sakes?"

Most news is not driven by what is the most cetifiably constructive or positive. No. Most News is largely driven by what is the most seemingly salacious and unscrupulous. In other words, Obama's cyber-fireside chats via CHANGE.GOV is not sexy; Obama's intention to create millions of infrustructure and Green jobs is not sexy; and Obama's plan to make health care more affordable is not sexy. But had Obama been involved with the Blago scandal, then yes, he would be bringing sexy back harder than Justin!!!!

Obama very clearly has an opportunity to have a history making presidency. And his press conference mastery is just one way to ensure that his train doesn't jump the track and endanger his ambitious agenda.

[Brian Ross - Huffpost Blogger]

Amen. The press wants its "dirty laundry," though. Maybe Obama should appoint a cabinet position: Secretary of Scandals, to keep them occupied.

Who would they get, though?

[rockyb26]

spot on

[Jazzcomedian]

The most entertaining and compelling press conferences I've seen since JFK. I used to run home from school to watch them. I make a point of watching PE Obama's press conferences to their completion. Crisp, substantive and no-nonsense. This man was a teacher of Constituional Law at an elite university, and is not only accustomed to dealing with the best and the brightest of minds, but also setting the agenda, and challenging them. This man ran the Harvard Law Review,and the true ramifications of that haven't sunk in yet to the GOP, media and journalists. The journalists along with the media pundits are going to have to lift their games substantially. He has been a high achiever every step of the way in his life. They are dealing with a man who obviously intends to get nothing less than an A in being the president.

As a highly skilled and avid tennis player myself since 1975, I especially appreciate your analogy of PE Obama to the graceful, elegant, and classy Federer, who along with the lovely Aborigine, Evonne Goolagong are my favorite players to watch of all time. I love Pete Sampras too, and got a big kick out of seeing the Sampras-Federer exhibitions. I get a similar pleasure watching PE Obama's press conference. Sparkling.

[Brian Ross - Huffpost Blogger]

Perhaps the networks are going to have to start hiring more Rathers and losing the kewpie dolls and male bimbos that have infested the White House press corps. Find some real journalists, and send Dana Bash over to Fox. She's perfect for them. (That, by the way, is not a compliment­.)

[harriscrl3]

LOL you noticed it too its a thing of beauty to see. The Press likes to think that they are in control but Barack is efficiently and shrewdly telling them through words and action that he is in control. The fact that he started out discussing the Balgo incident before they could get to it was his way taking the power away from them. THey thought that he would not even mention it and then they could pepper him with questions on it to throw him off but he started out with it and threw them off track and they end up asking questions that he has ALREADY answered. They didnt plan on coming up with a new question so they end up asking the question that he has already answered and of couse he is NOT letting it get away instead he starts out his answer AS IVE SAID BEFORE LOL.

This guy is one step ahead of everybody and if you cant keep up you are in trouble.

Carol

[Onyx335]

My sentiments exactly. Thank you for reading a sistaz mind.

[allonfla]

I love it when reminds the reporter that he's already covered that question and then answers it anyway. I also noticed that when a reporter or interviewer claims he said something, Obama comes back at them with exactly what he said and shoots down their set up question.

[RumiSouth]

That patience allows Obama to repeat his message and control his message. Patience, it turns out, is actually a virtue.