Media Applauded

Today I applaud the media.

President Obama addressed the public in an open press conference, and he was confronted with real questions! And no one censored anything.

However, after listening to NPR on my way home tonight, I felt a little deflated. Somehow, after listening to all the questions and all the answers, the only comment NPR correspondents had to say was that Obama was akin to FDR. That's it. No specific coverage of his answers, no rebuffs, no assertions, in short--no comments! It was the most bland explanation of one of the most important media coverages in which Obama has yet participated. Could we at least comment on what happened?

Interestingly, the National Public 'We Promise We Are Unbiased' Radio (NPR) actually sent a journalist into the media room for representation at the media conference, and just as interestingly, the journalist covered absolutely nothing of the actual report. In fact, he didn't even quote questions asked by fellow reporters. Perhaps this stemmed from frustration at not being chosen for a question, but not reporting well on an event that helps America see their president is nothing short of poor journalism.

So if you haven't seen the media conference, you need to watch it (if for no other reason than to actually understand what went on). At least that way your view won't be censored.



*NOTE* For an interesting view of the media conference, see:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/25/castellanos.obama/index.html

Just highlight the address above and right click for a google search. It will take you right there.

Today I agree with President Obama.

Apparently since AIG is using "his" money to give a few of their executives bonuses, he is "outraged" (see March 16 headlines CNN), and justly so. There is definitely a right to anger when most people are barely making it, and a few chubby (just an assumption) execs decide to give themselves rewards.

Here is where I need to point out something we may not notice from general media coverage of Obama's reaction. He is angry because someone used his government handout in a way that bothered him. And you can bet there will be future accounts of this sort of thing happening anywhere he gave money. But I become extremely wary of a president who acts like Santa Claus and then gets angry when the children don't play right.

I understand there should be regulation somewhere, but my first impulse would be to regulate the reckless gift-giving so the children don't become dependent and spoiled. The problem with government cleaning up mess after mess is simply that-- the government will have to keep stepping in. If money is divvied to irresponsible people (and there's really no telling who the responsible ones are), then the government will feel responsible to create regulations to curb spending and create pay caps again and again. The cycle won't stop, and there will be too many regulations to continue with any kind of free enterprise. Stifling enterprise will certainly do nothing for stimulation.

So be careful. Be very, very careful when you get angry at rich executives and their selfish spending, because you're the next recipient of the spending bill, and your money will also be monitored. Let's hope it's still okay for you to decide how to spend it.

We have been hounded about putting a new picture up, so here it is. She weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. when she was born and was almost 20 inches long. She is getting really big really quickly, too. We are continuing to love Ohio and our little Seattle (the baby, not the city). Brock is considering an internship this summer IN Seattle, though, so that should confuse everyone. We're excited! We love you all.

Brock and Nicole (and Seattle)