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
Follow Henry Blodget on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hblodget
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
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.
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.
"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.