Obama's Brilliant "Jackass" Remark Boosts Image And Plays ABC, et al

Lost in the huge media fracas about how President Obama called Kanye West a "jackass" and whether ABC should have reported it and whether ABC's groveling apology would restore its access to precious White House scoops is the observation that Obama played this brilliantly.

To wit:

• Obama is way too smart not to know that calling Kanye West a jackass on a live feed monitored by several rabidly competitive reporters would not get reported by someone.

Obama is also smart enough to know that:

• Kanye West was a jackass when he grabbed the microphone away from Taylor Swift, so few people would disagree with this characterization
• The word "jackass" is colorful and startling, but harmless--and therefore very well chosen. Obama just looks like a regular guy telling it like it is.
• The Glenn Beck fans who believe that Obama is a racist whose policies and actions are driven by a "deep-seated hatred" of half the country because of their skin color will have a hard time fitting this remark into their theory--given the respective skin colors of Kanye West and Taylor Swift.
• Such a remark could never be made on the record in a normal setting, because it would be inappropriate for the President of The United States to share an opinion on such matters.
• The "off the record" convention around these White House interviews would focus much of the ensuing media tumult on whether Obama had been wronged by the media--as opposed to whether he should have said what he said.
• The news organization whose reporter reported the remark would be so terrified of being given less Obama access that it would issue a groveling apology, furthering the impression that Obama had been wronged (which ABC already has).

This isn't to suggest that the remark was planned in advance. Only that Obama's instincts were pitch-perfect here.

Well done, Mr. President!

See Also:
The Greatest Sucker's Rally In History, Play By Play
Sorry, Glenn Beck's Job Is Not Protected By The First Amendment

 

 

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Comments

[OverIt]

And sometimes Obama just falls into the right groove by accident. Just like he did when he was asked the question about meeting with enemies. What started off as a potential mistake in an off-the-cuff answer became a foreign policy doctrine.

[mom of three]

Very true. :o)

[Miguel Guadalupe - Huffpost Blogger]

I agree it benefitted the president more than anything. Lewis Black on the daily show said it best when he talked about how it must have been a bitter sweet moment for Kanye "The President talked about me? What did he say?" We rolled with laughter at that scenario.

[Freedom of Logic]

That is pretty hilarious. My question here is...when did off the record remarks start to become news? With this day's fast information spread, there seems to be no walls or secrets. People act like this was the best thing he ever did. I think what makes it so great is the fact that both sides can actually smile and agree with him without counter protesting.

[Freedom of Logic]

I think they put too much thought into it. It was a slip up that happened to benefit him. In 2 weeks or less, people will forget about this and it will be back to business as usual. Trying to dethrone him.

[neoprimordial]

Splendid analysis. I agree.

[MarieNat]

I think the president is a brilliant guy, but he would have to exceed the limits of genius to have orchestrated this little PR bonanza!

[picaman]

Reminicent of the remark that Cheny made during the Bush Cheny Campaign.

Seems "unintended" slips while being on mic have become a powerful tool in "humanizing" a candidate.

McCain's "bomb, bomb, bomb...bomb, bomb Iran'' being the glaring exception

[GeorgeP922]

What I am curious is, how much did the media cover this.

I DOUBT Fox news did, basically because like the Henry said, it makes Beck look even worse.
CNN, maybe but they would have bleeped it.

Did MTV, BET, or CMT cover this?

Did E and TMZ? If so, if this was a media blitz to the Demographic that has 0% interest in watching political news, then yes, brilliant PR.

[allonfla]

TMZ? DUH! they were the ones that provided the audio and the video. and the other channels? OF COURSE.

[ThePeacemakers]

Lame as- remark.
O should pick on someone his own "size" and in the same field. Yeah, brilliant - boost publicity for a drunk rapper.

HP folks: RNC Chairman Michael S. has been referred to on these pages as little more than a jack-as - himself. His perpetuation of BS is far more dangerous than anything KW did. But O can be seen in footage of the White House Correspondents dinner joking and kidding with his invited guest.
That's all political fun, huh? There all brothers in the end, right?

O should pick on someone his own "size" and in the same field. As I said yesterday, if Kanye had been a Repub this "brilliant" move wouldn't have even crossed O's or his advisors minds.

[rmd1064]

Exactly! Brilliant move. Do people really believe a guy as smart as Obama would say something like that to reporters if he did not think it was going to get picked up somehow.

[Bankerrkt]

I give Obama praise for his Kanye West remark. However, the reporter that broke the story should be reprimanded or disciplined in some way by his employer. "Off the record" should mean "off the record". Tip of the hat to Beyonce ... what a class act she is. I also give Obama him high marks for handling the Joe Wilson outburst in a professional manner. There is no need for bad manners on the House or Senate floor by any politician, be they Repub or Dem. If Wilson had an issue with anything that Obama was saying the proper venue would have been to hold his own press conference. I for one am very weary of the name calling and bad manners shown continually by both parties. We could all start by cleaning up our own behavior ... particularly given some the name calling and disparaging remarks that I have read on this blog....and that's both sides.

[kappa08]

Love your bullet point style....great take

[raechel]

Yeah, I spotted it as a plant and myself as part of a large focus group when I first heard it. Truth is, I want him to be successful and to find a way around this mess that is stalling progress on all fronts. And I did appreciate the cleverness of this. So I provided my feedback like a good little focus group participant. Yes, Mr. President -- this is what people want.

[beckpod1]

Way too smart to be the guy who holds up his left hand and says," The right hand doesn't know what the left hand(as he holds up his right hand)is doing!"

[middleoftheroad]

Obama was thinking this would be a "Sister Souljah" moment.

[gavrielle]

Also, the black president comes to the defense of a pretty young white girl, softening the hearts of some in the South and other areas where red state = country music. In effect, engendering the thought, "Well, he can't be ALL bad!"

[sekigahara]

Oh, don't stop there - it's very "possible" that Kanye West visited the White House or perhaps there was a Secret Meeting somewhere where this whole "charade" was put into motion.

"All is in readiness, comrade, this time we cannot fail!"

Geeze-Louise.

Oh, and as someone more eloquent than I mentioned, if President Obama walked on water the conservative right would say it was only because he couldn't swim so I'm not buying the "soften hearts" gambit.

[gavrielle]

The idea is to humanize Obama, seeing as how he is being depersonalized, objectified, demonized and de-legitimatized by the rabid right. That's what "softening hearts" means.

[Scalawag]

Yeah, he's one of the good uns'.

[giorgiana]

Basically, he just said what was right! He has a knack for that and also, it was the plain old truth. He just gets better and better. Not much Beck and his death squad could do with this comment!!

[pghnappyrhino]

miscegenation is still a touchy sobuject with some folks in this country. the ones who need their hearts softened, won't have it happened by this incident.

[cheeriogirl]

Comments like this make me absolutely certain racism is alive and well here in the US of A.
Thanks gav for removing all doubt.

[gavrielle]

I never had any doubt, living as a white woman in a black, inner city Chicago housing project. You play the cards you are dealt CG. If they want to make it about race then we have to be just as cynical as they are and use it against them.

[noudidnt]

Yes, and wh i te racism is so insidious that wh i te voter s need reassurance from the Bla ck Pres ident tha t h e's wi ll ing to call out blacks on the ir behaviour....but if this President does the same to wh i tes watch out. Your comment has confirmed this for me.