Obama balances humor with seriousness
3/28/09 | 26 comments
political notebook

Obama balances humor with seriousness


By Kevin Miller
BDN Staff

The sidewalks and closed-off streets outside of the White House’s North Lawn were alive with a throng of tourists snapping pictures and chatting excitedly as they strained to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure walking in or around the presidential mansion.

But just beyond the thick, black iron gates and well-fortified security buildings the atmosphere changed. Everything seemed calmer, quieter, greener — and more serious.

On Monday afternoon, I had a rare chance to step behind the gates for a little while and experience the White House that most people (even those of us in the media business) only see in news footage. The Obama administration had invited the Bangor Daily News and five other regional newspapers to Washington for an interview with the president about the economic crisis.

As a journalist, this was likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And as a political junkie who’s inherited his father’s love of American history, it was an experience I won’t soon forget.

I made my way past the Marine sentry standing guard by the door of the West Wing where I joined five other media colleagues from around the country. Eventually, we were shown into the Roosevelt Room, a daily meeting space for the president and his staff not far from the Oval Office.

Portraits of Franklin D. and Theodore Roosevelt hung on the walls, including one of the latter on horseback as a Rough Rider. Teddy’s Nobel Peace Prize — the first ever awarded to a U.S. president — also hung there, as well as a Medal of Honor awarded to him posthumously.

Eight water glasses sat on the large, wooden table, each emblazoned with the presidential seal and resting atop a matching presidential coaster.

President Obama was running late, which gave us time to do what reporters do best: poke about the room, pester staff with oddball questions and probably laugh a bit too loudly in an attempt to ease the anticipation (and nerves) of waiting for his arrival.

“Hey guys, I hear you yukking it up in here,” the smiling president said as he breezed into the room through a side door. It seemed quintessential Obama, and helped put the suddenly alert room at ease.

All the “yukking” was our prodding of the president’s staff to explain the purpose of the mysterious wooden box with a bright-red button that sat directly in front of the commander in chief’s seat.

Obama was quick with a response.

“If you ask a question that I don’t like, that’s the … ejector seat,” he said, again with a large smile.

After that, however, the president was all business for the next 40-plus minutes as he discussed his plans for digging the country out of the deepest recession in generations.

It was serious, often somber stuff about job losses, financial struggles and the ever-present political gamesmanship that is so much a part of the national political scene.

He took a question from each of us, with most focusing on an issue important to our region.

As he did throughout his campaign and continues to do in his seemingly daily public appearances, the president wove talk about challenges and hardships with upbeat assessments about his plans to put the country on a firmer footing over the long term.

Those plans — including trillions of dollars in “rescue” money — certainly have their critics, both on Capitol Hill and on Main Street, U.S.A. Nor is the criticism exclusive to Republicans.

The president summed up his talk with what could be interpreted as anything from a call to action to a warning, addressed to all sides of the political spectrum.

“I think the general principle that I want all of us, including my White House, to focus on is the fact that we’ve got to make some choices,” he said, carefully choosing the words.

“If we say we care about health care, that we care about energy independence, that we care about education, that we care about long-term fiscal discipline, then we have got to figure out a way to pay for it. And we’ve got to take action that sometimes may be uncomfortable in the short term in order to deliver a platform for eco-nomic growth over the long term.”

He then wistfully added that maybe tomorrow everyone will suddenly agree. Everyone laughed.

The meeting over, the other reporters and I slowly made our way toward the gates, although not without first peeking inside the press briefing room. (It looks much bigger on TV).

On my way out, I passed a column of television reporters summarizing for their viewers what the president’s press secretary had just said. And I saw one of the legends of this business, and an icon for political reporters: Helen Thomas, who has logged nearly a half-century covering presidents, from John F. Kennedy to Obama.

I snapped a cell-phone picture of the White House from the grounds (who knows when, or if, I might be back).

Then I turned in my temporary pass and walked back through the security checkpoint to join the rest of the crowd peering at the White House from outside the heavy black gates.

Note: This is the first in what will be a regular feature on political matters by BDN State House reporter Kevin Miller.

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Comments
26 comments on this item
On 3/27/09 at 11:39 PM, seahorses wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Clearly you felt that tingle up your leg like most of the media does when adoring the Messiah. No critical questions allowed, of course, but then you BDN people would know how to ask them anyway.

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On 3/27/09 at 11:41 PM, chersully2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Kevin Miller:

It must have been great to be there!!

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On 3/28/09 at 5:40 AM, JWBooth wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 3/28/09 at 6:00 AM, captain_obvious wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm going to get there someday... I think the way is to contact a senator and get a group together. I've been to DC twice (98, 07) but never got to see the white house for long

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On 3/28/09 at 7:29 AM, ralphmcdevitts wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 3/28/09 at 7:58 AM, leumas wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'll be sooooo glad when this Obama and crew NIGHTMARE is over. I hope we still have some sort of country left.

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On 3/28/09 at 8:57 AM, fourwinds41 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

What question related our our region did you ask, and what was the answer? What did the other "reporters" ask? I understand that reporters today feel it's appropriate to insert themselves into the news, but as the first in a series on "political matters" this piece is disappointing.

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On 3/28/09 at 9:21 AM, ckc1996 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Talk about a cult of personality, wow!

A good question would of been:

"Mr. President, the nation has heard your views on corporate greed and the need for more government oversight, having said that how do you feel about the news of your Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel making at least $320,000 for a 14-month stint at Freddie Mac that required little effort?"

Somehow I don't think that would ever happen....

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On 3/28/09 at 10:10 AM, ilovebama_37129 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The only humor invoked was the joke of a president that we now have in office..........................

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On 3/28/09 at 10:51 AM, BigDog wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Has anyone seen the photos of obamas mother on the internet. Check them out.

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On 3/28/09 at 10:52 AM, scodud11 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

What a puff piece. Not hard to figure out which way this liberal reporter leans. Obama is outclassed and outmatched on the world stage. God help us.

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On 3/28/09 at 11:36 AM, MayorMcheesy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

what a greet opportunity Kevin! Im looking forward to reading it

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On 3/28/09 at 1:48 PM, SLM414 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Nice work, Kevin. And what a great opportunity even if these nitwits can't apprecaite it.

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On 3/28/09 at 5:20 PM, Saltoria wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Kevin, great opportunity and good for you! If we had a competent president, it would have been even better, I'm sure!

And Kevin, don't be surprised when his comment comes to fruition. Its' just a matter of time. “If you ask a question that I don’t like, that’s the … ejector seat,” he said, again with a large smile.

I urge EVERYONE to view this link regarding our form of government. It is a MUST SEE! It is also a look into our future......unless we make a change!

And I'm not talking Republicans over Democrats since there is little difference these days. We need a third party that will bring us back to being a true Republic. Our forefathers gave us a Republic and we need to be smart enough to secure it!

http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/

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On 3/28/09 at 6:21 PM, chersully2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

SLM414:

I agree!

And these ignorant comments about Obama's mother....what is wrong with some of the people here? She was a loving mother, who made sure her son received a good education (at home and at school). She was an admirable person who died young of ovarian cancer and struggled to get health coverage.

Some of you people here show your bigotry and narrow-mindedness. Thankfully most people do not think that way.

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On 3/28/09 at 7:30 PM, Saltoria wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Two of the most important videos at You Tube that you will ever see: Thomas Paine speaks to America

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKFKGrmsBDk&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA&feature=channel_page

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On 3/29/09 at 8:22 AM, Beelzebubba wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 3/29/09 at 1:42 PM, ACountian wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

So ladyslipper, you knew her? If you are basing your judgments on what you find on the internet, no wonder Bush got away with bankrupting this country for 8 years. We sent our military to fight Bush's war in Iraq to the tune of over a billion dollars a month. None of this was included in the rosy budgets Bush sent to the compliant Congress. Now that we have somebody honest enough to show where all the money is going, your type reverts to screaming about budget deficits, casting aspersions on his long dead mother and calling his father names. Judge not lest ye be judged.

For those who want to rant about the end of the world as we know it, how do you defend W's shredding of the Constitution? Federal courts have over and over called his handling of Guantanamo illegal. He even had American citizens locked up without trial, something prohibited by at least 2 amendments of the Constitution. You people ought to think instead of parroting Fox News and Rush.

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On 3/29/09 at 1:48 PM, Saltoria wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm not sure where you get your facts ACountain, but assuming they are true, were those Americans terrorists??? Traitors?? And, which 2 amendments to the Constitution are you referencing?

If you are going to pose the question to ladyslipper about knowing Obama's mother, then you should pose the same question to Chersully. You know, the fairness doctrine..........

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On 3/29/09 at 1:51 PM, anne_of_mdi wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yes, ACountian, Bush had this nation teetering on the brink of a military dictatorship with his Patriot Act. From Eric Alterman's Opinion piece in The Nation, 3/30/09:

"...The ACLU request for, and Justice Department release of, previously secret memos force us to focus on just how eager Bush administration members were to destroy American democracy and replace it with a presidential dictatorship. According to Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, the Bush administration believed it had the right to use the military to seize alleged terrorists in their homes without a warrant, thereby defenestrating the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure and the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the military from carrying out law enforcement operations at home. The First Amendment right of free speech was also considered the product of a bygone era. What's more, Congress, the memos insisted, could be safely ignored and treaties torn up on presidential whim. In a related matter, we've learned that Jose Rodriguez Jr., as CIA directorate of operations chief, ordered the destruction of ninety-two interrogation videotapes because then-CIA director Michael Hayden worried that they posed "a serious security risk." An intelligence agency that violates the law and destroys evidence with impunity is yet another step on the path to a police state..."

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090330/alterman

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On 3/29/09 at 2:00 PM, anne_of_mdi wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

P.S. Anyone who thinks those are actually pictures of President Obama's mother, I have a beautiful bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. Furthermore, can you possibly stoop any lower? Is there no line you won't cross? Are you really that debased?

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On 3/29/09 at 2:16 PM, Saltoria wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Anne..most people would acknowledge that Bush did not govern by all the conservative principles which most of us had hoped for. We would be better served to look toward the future and what it has in store for us under THIS president. However, if you want to learn from the past (history does repeat itself), I would urge you to watch the following videos and ask yourself, "what does our future hold when the President tries to silence Bob Basso, Thomas Paine, in the video". Anne, even you would have to admit he is going too far on his power drink trip! Is it a temporary trip, or do you suppose he will make it a permanent position. Many of us clear thinking Americans know the answer to that question. And, if you want to see what is likely to happen to our government, watch the third video........... Enjoy the videos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKFKGrmsBDk&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA&feature=channel_page

http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/

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On 3/29/09 at 2:17 PM, Saltoria wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

correction..that should read, power drunk!

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On 3/29/09 at 3:12 PM, Saltoria wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I read about this as well Ladyslipper. Every day is filled with more alarming news about what this new president is doing to the country. I sincerely doubt his supporters had the kind of change in mind that they are now seeing. You'll notice that not much is being said in the main stream media....that's why so much of what happens goes unnoticed and people continue to believe in Obama.

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On 3/29/09 at 4:25 PM, Saltoria wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

You notice that everything Obama wants done need to be done quickly! In other words, pass the darn thing before anyone gets a chance to REALLY see what is in it, and before the public gets wind of what is in it and how it will effect the country!! Pass the butter and the bill, please......

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On 3/29/09 at 6:42 PM, scodud11 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Obama is a poison pill leading this country to the brink of communist destruction. All you lefties better wake the hell up.

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