Black reporters unhappy with Obama

By Michelle Malkin  •  February 10, 2009 12:49 PM

Michelle Obama made black designers mad. Now, President Obama has black reporters grumbling.

You can never make racial grievance-mongers happy. Never.

Via Joseph Curl at the WashTimes:

After the first black president completed his first prime-time press conference, the black press was red hot.

“We were window dressing,” said Hazel Edney, a reporter with the National Newspaper Publishers Association, also known as the Black Press of America. “We were nothing more than window dressing.”

As the media filed into the stately White House East Room on Monday night, the reporter was shocked to find herself in the front row. Alongside her were the top news agencies, Associated Press, Reuters; also up front, 86-year-old Helen Thomas, who started covering presidents 50 years ago.

Alongside the most prominent journalists in America was Tiffany Cross from Black Entertainment Television. Like Miss Edney, she didn’t know why she was in first-class while all the television networks – every single one – was exiled to the steerage compartment.

“I really don’t know why I’m up here,” Miss Cross said with a shy smile.

While most on the front row got to pose a question to President Obama, the two reporters from the black press did not. Nor did any other black-press reporter, for that matter.

“This was like Reagan, when he’d put all the blacks up front,” said another prominent but visibly peeved black-press reporter who asked to remain anonymous. “He oughta’ be ashamed.”

Posted in: Race Hustlers

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Comments


  1. #1
    On February 10th, 2009 at 12:55 pm, Jack Spectre said:

    Did Reagan really put black reporters up front? Did he answer any questions from them? I’m curious, that doesn’t sound like Reagan.

  2. #2
    On February 10th, 2009 at 12:58 pm, TxSkirt said:

    Maybe Obama’s white half is a raaaaaacist.

  3. #3
    On February 10th, 2009 at 12:59 pm, jbh45 said:

    If I recall correctly, only one black reporter was called upon to ask a question and his question was regarding A-rod.

    Gotta do better than that worthless question…

  4. #4
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:00 pm, Craig said:

    After the first black MULATTO president completed his first prime-time press conference, the black press was red hot.

    If we’re going to be all truthful here, let’s start with the truth.

  5. #5
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:01 pm, sonofdy said:

    Was the fawning to the black press not grovely enough???

  6. #7
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:03 pm, rambler said:

    Gee, wasn’t BO’s election supposed to fix everything? We’re supposed to be in the land of butterflies, rainbows and unicorns. I’m so disappointed.

  7. #8
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:03 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    News flash:

    People with half a brain unhappy with Obama.

    Film at 11:00

  8. #9
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:15 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    I wonder if these habitual victims will ever realize they were victims of their own unrealistic expectations. In any case, the more people who become unhappy with this unqualified farce of president, the better.

  9. #10
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:17 pm, Paul Revere said:

    I told them not to trust a half-White uppity liberal! Bwahahahahahaha!

  10. #11
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:17 pm, JustAThought said:

    Big deal. Some whiners were whining. If all they know is how to complain, why would anyone expect anything else from them? Any wonder their employers are still small time?

    “Waaaaa! I didn’t get a seat at the table!” “Waaaaa! I didn’t get first in line at the buffet!” “Waaaa! I got to sit up front, but didn’t get to steer the bus!” “Waaaa! I got to steer the bus but they let me run it off the cliff!” “Waaaa! I only had a scratch but they took that white dude with the broken leg, bleeding head wound and crushed hand before me!” “Waaaa! Waaaa! Waaaa!”

    All I can say to them is this: “STFD & STFU!”

  11. #12
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:18 pm, Jarhead said:

    Why up front? Well, February is Black History Month. \sarc/

  12. #13
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:20 pm, Jarhead said:

    I know, Iknow, I’m raaaaaacist.

  13. #14
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:21 pm, cheapseat said:

    no, barry shuffling the blacks to the back of the bus. call out al and jesse
    to march the million deadbeats through washington. curious how al and jesse can mobilize thousands to go out in freezing weather in chicago and washington, but neither al nor jesse showed up in new orleans to lead their peeps out of the flood.

  14. #15
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:22 pm, swmntman said:

    C’mon – give him a break. Lowering the oceans and pumping everyone’s gas takes alot of his time.

  15. #16
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:22 pm, wighttrasch said:

    black-press reporter who asked to remain anonymous. “He oughta’ be ashamed.”

    Sounds like more than one ‘ashamed’ there. Why anonymous?

  16. #17
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:26 pm, verogolfer said:

    Everyone else is unhappy with him. Why shouldn’t the black press be unhappy too? If you can share the wealth, you can share the unhappiness.

  17. #18
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:28 pm, txvet2 said:

    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:00 pm, Craig said:

    Just a suggestion: Leave the racism to the liberals. They’re better at it.

  18. #19
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, mattsand said:

    The funniest thing is people from the press complaining that they’re being used. Didn’t these people get the memo that the purpose of the press is now to be an instrument of disinformation and assist in cover-ups? Well, unless it involves a Republican, self-defense, Israel, or illegal immigration.

  19. #20
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:31 pm, Milwaukee Mike said:

    “All I wanted to ask was on what pages of the stimulus bill would I find details on reparations!”

  20. #21
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:32 pm, Juliethejarhead said:

    Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ! ! !

  21. #22
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:33 pm, Flyoverman said:

    They are upset with Obama. Well they can get in line behind the rest of us. Welcome to the party!

  22. #23
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:33 pm, scituate_tgr said:

    Shouldn’t there be a thug thizzle comment here someplace? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

    Must be in the wrong thread….

  23. #24
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:50 pm, Wallyinthedesert said:

    Did Helen Thomas shout, “Thank you Mr. Savior!!!”?

  24. #25
    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:55 pm, denver republican said:

    My President is black a jackass.

  25. #26
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:00 pm, CJ said:

    Did Helen Thomas shout, “Thank you Mr. Savior!!!”?

    No one could understand her through the drool.

    So, do you think HT is one of those women (per the NYT’s Judith Warner) dreaming about sex with Obama? Now there’s an image to short circuit the brain.

  26. #27
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:01 pm, ThunderHawkk said:

    I’m really concerned that Black reporters are unhappy. Really concerned….

  27. #28
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:03 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    “I really don’t know why I’m up here,” Miss Cross February said with a shy smile.

    Uh, huh.

  28. #29
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:06 pm, Sunshein said:

    Seems like continual campaigning. Taking advantage of everyone to achieve his goals is not a surprise.

  29. #31
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:11 pm, Wallyinthedesert said:

    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:00 pm, CJ said:

    LOL Do you think HT even remembers sex?

  30. #32
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:13 pm, pabarge said:

    I watched film of the press conference and I definitely saw a female black reporter ask Obama a question.

    wtf?

  31. #34
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:14 pm, PhredE said:

    Where a particular reporter sits, and whether or not s/he is called upon to ask a question should have absolutely nothing to do with whatever race, ethnicity or they happen to be.
    …At least that was the “dream” Dr. King Jr. challenged us with so many years ago; but apparently, that “dream” has faded and race, once again, really is important.

  32. #35
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:23 pm, flaming_o said:

    “I really don’t know why I’m up here,” Miss Cross said . . .

    That makes two of us.

  33. #36
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:24 pm, fred5676 said:

    On February 10th, 2009 at 1:22 pm, swmntman said:

    C’mon – give him a break. Lowering the oceans and pumping everyone’s gas takes alot of his time.

    And checking the tire pressure in all those tires!

  34. #37
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:28 pm, Craig said:

    Just a suggestion: Leave the racism to the liberals. They’re better at it.

    Not sure what that means.

    mulatto:
    1 : the first-generation offspring of a black person and a white person
    2 : a person of mixed white and black ancestry

    That is indeed Barack Obama’s heritage. There’s nothing racist meant nor implied.

  35. #39
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:34 pm, love2rumba said:

    Obama is just displaying his true contempt for full and darker skinned blacks over the lighter variety…this is nothing new

  36. #40
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:42 pm, Joy said:

    And they expected what again?

  37. #41
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:44 pm, lottadawg said:

    If the black contingent is in the dark about tokenism after being lied to for fifty years by the Dems then just what is it that you report on. Popular Mechanics. Liberal just use people. You may have a black President , however, he is still a Democrat Liberal and that is his religion.
    Don’t ever remember Reagan doing anything like that. Maybe Reagan was half black.

  38. #42
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:44 pm, sillygatboy said:

    Unhappy with your Messiah, huh? I bet 99% of you voted for him.

    Had enough already? You aint seen nothin yet.

  39. #43
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:45 pm, DagneyT said:

    Alongside her were the top news agencies, Associated Press, Reuters; also up front, 86-year-old Helen Thomas, who started covering presidents 50 years ago.

    Thank you MM for not putting this crone’s photo into this post. This hag was never anything to look at [which is why she's a liberal feminazi!], but now she is absolutely enough to make me lose my lunch!

  40. #44
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:46 pm, Mercy4Me said:

    Oh well, they should have seen this coming. I wonder if they thought because the President is black/white that he would give them preferential treatment based on the color of their skin?

    I’m black, I’m entitled!

  41. #45
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:48 pm, pianoman said:

    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:00 pm, CJ said:

    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:11 pm, Wallyinthedesert said:

    You apparently weren’t informed of this, but anyone mentioning sex and “that woman” in the same comment is subject to…well, we’ll think of something. Something horrible.

  42. #46
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:52 pm, DagneyT said:

    …At least that was the “dream” Dr. King Jr. challenged us with so many years ago; but apparently, that “dream” has faded and race, once again, really is important.

    PhredE, as Rush predicted, the race issue will become worse with BO as POTUS!

  43. #47
    On February 10th, 2009 at 2:57 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    You can never make racial grievance-mongers happy. Never.

    Or any other grievance-mongers so let’s stop trying. Now it is Left Handed Pipe Fitters History Month as they are upset using right handed pipe wrenches. Now the Right Handed Pipe Wrench Makers are mad too.
    When the pipe wrench company explained that the R stood for Registered Trade Mark the Right Handed Pipe Fitters went on strike.

    Grievance-mongers: code for lazy sob.”I said I wanted a Job, not work.”

  44. #48
    On February 10th, 2009 at 3:00 pm, JHSII said:

    Jack Spectre #1

    Did Reagan really put black reporters up front? Did he answer any questions from them? I’m curious, that doesn’t sound like Reagan.

    Huh?? How does it not sound like Reagan?

  45. #49
    On February 10th, 2009 at 3:05 pm, judybeth said:

    Probably nobody will read my comment, but I am going to inform all of you of some facts if you did not hear an interview 2/9/09 with Ari Fleischer on Bill O’Reilly.

    President Obama was given a list of reporters to call on. He had a grid showing where each was seated! Most former Presidents have been provided with the same info, but only Obama, except for one mis-step he made in avoiding an unexpected question about Biden (Who?) already KNEW what would be asked and how he was going to answer. Obama is a “puppet” for every left-wing organization that supported him and all of his “big government take-over” scam artists Advisers! jk

  46. #50
    On February 10th, 2009 at 3:06 pm, kyconservative said:

    “He oughta’ be ashamed.”

    Apparently he is.

  47. #51
    On February 10th, 2009 at 3:12 pm, wighttrasch said:

    Grievance-mongers: code for lazy sob.”I said I wanted a Job, not work.”

    funny you should mention that, AZ—in South Africa, they say the same thing:

    ‘I said I wanted a job; I didn’t say I wanted to work.’

  48. #52
    On February 10th, 2009 at 3:17 pm, PhredE said:

    Following on wighttrasch, et al…

    Old Soviet-era saying:

    “We pretend to work, they pretend to pay us”.

  49. #53
    On February 10th, 2009 at 3:18 pm, redpeach said:

    And if they had been sat at the back, or if there weren’t any black reporters on the front row they’d be complaining about that too.

    In the words of Rev. Wright, looks like the chickens are coming home to roost.

  50. #55
    On February 10th, 2009 at 3:49 pm, JDinTX said:

    I will agree that Helen Thomas ought to be banned from any White House press conference. But as far as the black press, it sounds like “Gimme, gimme, gimme.” Why talk about A-rod messing up on steroids when Obama is messing up our country on a steroid induced stimulus (spending) bill.

  51. #56
    On February 10th, 2009 at 4:01 pm, TK-421 said:

    Obama is about as black a wallstreet banker. He prayed on blacks fears and sence of racial connections for the vote. They were used pure and simple. Too bad they can’t see that. He was never “black”, he doesn’t share the same culture, but don’t feel bad black folks, he fooled alot of small time “homey time” whites, Mexicans and others. The man is a liar and he was out fot the gain of himself and his sponsorers.

  52. #57
    On February 10th, 2009 at 6:26 pm, right_on said:

    Heh…Bush 43 had his “Siberia” press area that was never called on, now apparently, Obama has his “Uganda” press area! He cares about them, he just doesn’t want to hear from them…he’s satisfied getting his message out using the tried and true ACORN method.

  53. #59
    On February 10th, 2009 at 6:48 pm, John Lee Pedimore said:

    And what question would they have asked Obama?

    Were they even prepared?Didn’t sound like they expected to be up front so I doubt if they expected to get called either.

    Maybe Obama looked at them and saw the “OMG,I hope he doesn’t pick me,I didn’t do my homework” look on thier faces.The same look he sees in the mirror every morning.

    JLP

  54. #60
    On February 10th, 2009 at 7:10 pm, graysonret said:

    Well, black newspeople, you’re finally beginning to understand that you been used. He isn’t interested in you, except to endorse his own power. Welcome to the world of “useful idiots”.

  55. #61
    On February 10th, 2009 at 9:02 pm, RobM1981 said:

    The Black Press hasn’t claimed discrimination in three weeks. That’s some kind of record, isn’t it?

    Party’s over, gang.

  56. #62
    On February 10th, 2009 at 9:33 pm, MtsEdge said:

    On February 10th, 2009 at 12:55 pm, Jack Spectre said:
    Did Reagan really put black reporters up front? Did he answer any questions from them? I’m curious, that doesn’t sound like Reagan.

    I don’t know how reporters were seated for Reagan’s pressers, but I agree that doesn’t sound like Reagan to be so ungentlemanly as to orchestrate the type of scenario where ANYONE was being used for a photo-op, then ignored.

    The reporter’s comment was a throwaway insult, intended to slam a man who deserved and won the hearts of Americans of all colors and political persuasions…and 49 states in a landslide in 1984. She probably doesn’t even remember that fact, too busy wallowing in liberal la-la-land. (e.g., “Of COURSE Reagan had to be racist, I hate him, don’t I? He’s the epitome of evil, etc.”)

  57. #63
    On February 10th, 2009 at 9:39 pm, MtsEdge said:

    Oh, and how ironic that her man Obama is the one who dissed her, and she is trying to blame Reagan.

  58. #64
    On February 10th, 2009 at 9:41 pm, Jim C. said:

    “This was like Reagan, when he’d put all the blacks up front”

    OUCH! :D

    Right on, #54 graysonret. Obama said, “They will try to bamboozle you, and hoodwink you, run the okey-doke on you.”

    Of course, that doesn’t eliminate the possibility that HE would do some of his own bamboozling.

  59. #65
    On February 10th, 2009 at 9:53 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    (havent read any comments yet)

    CUZ HE’S BLACK????? Like I joke with one of my prominent black Hollywood friends, who in public is all African-American from the hood….

    “You’re more white than I am”

  60. #66
    On February 10th, 2009 at 10:47 pm, Tennessee Dave said:

    Welcome to the real world.

  61. #67
    On February 11th, 2009 at 7:03 am, Kevin K. said:

    Craig said: (*#34)

    Just a suggestion: Leave the racism to the liberals. They’re better at it.

    Not sure what that means.

    mulatto:
    1 : the first-generation offspring of a black person and a white person
    2 : a person of mixed white and black ancestry

    That is indeed Barack Obama’s heritage. There’s nothing racist meant nor implied.

    Yes, that is correct, although the word has fallen out of use (as have a couple of other technical terms denoting percentage). But continuing to harp on his race–or races–doesn’t improve the conversation. And, the way Jim Crow laws were written, any drop of non-white blood made the person colored in the South.

    The point has been made: I suggest it be dropped while we focus on his policies that endanger our beloved Republic.

  62. #68
    On February 11th, 2009 at 9:10 am, thetoysurgeon said:

    When the messiah falls from black grace, he will be labled “to white”, half breed, uncle tom and such by the same people who voted for him because he is black… See how shallow skin color is!

  63. #69
    On February 11th, 2009 at 9:20 am, zyzzyg said:

    Sorry, but it is not about the race of the reporters, it is about the organizations they represent.

    First question was from AP. If the AP reporter was green with pink polka dots, it would not matter, that person would get the first question.

    Then the questions went to the networks, then cable outlets, and then print. The surprising question came when the Huffington Post was called on. Typically a foreign news outlet gets to ask a question, too.

    There is an element of theater (organization, favoritism, etc.) in press conferences and this should not be dismissed.

    I would like to see numbered chits handed out to the press as they enter the room and have the Pres randomly select numbers from a jar. He pulls the number and which ever presser has that number gets to ask a question.

    Probably the best way to sate the egos of the press, and far more fair to the American people, knowing that ’set-ups’ will not be performed.

    OH, and in the future decline to be used as a prop.

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