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November 24, 2008
WTF?
On MSNBC just now, Chuck Todd frames the "blame Obama" narrative while interviewing Obama economic adviser Austan Goolsbee:
"You guys [Team Obama] own the economy at 12 o'clock eastern time today, correct? When Senator Obama announces his Treasury Secretary, announces the Larry Summers position. It is now Barack Obama's responsibility on the economy, is that not correct?"
No it's not, Chuck! Just remarkable. The establishment press is gearing up to blame Barack Obama for everything. Yep. The guy who hasn't even been inaugurated yet is responsible for doing President Bush's job, and also taking the heat for any and all of President Bush's mistakes. Once again, President Bush getting away with murder.
Filed under: Barack Obama || Bush || Economy || Media || MSNBC || Obama Cabinet || Obama Transition || Recession
Posted By Bob Cesca | November 24, 2008 8:12 AM
Comments
And since Erin Burnett just said that I now own 8% of Citigroup, I'm getting right on giving myself a lower rate mortgage....
Posted by: Paddy
at November 24, 2008 8:51 AM
Et tu, wtf Chuck?
Posted by: JackDanieL
at November 24, 2008 9:14 AM
That was exactly the point I was trying to make yesterday on the PANIC thread. Obama isn't president & he doesn't own the economy yet. He's going to get blamed for enough shit that BushCo & the GOP set in motion, he doesn't need to take it on 2 months early.
Posted by: ceu
at November 24, 2008 9:21 AM
Chuck Todd apparently likes his BBQ with a splash of Texas Pete. How can it be Obama's responsibility when he doesn't even take the reins for 2 (long, agonizing) months? Idiot.
And since it's been a couple days for me....fuck TypePad/Key/Wad.
Posted by: KatinWilm
at November 24, 2008 9:56 AM
Well, yeah. Chuck Todd's take on things is quite different from the NYT's editorial effort (the NYT isn't blaming the economy on Obama, they're trying to create a groundswell for him to take ownership of it). Chuck Todd's reporting makes no sense - I honestly can't figure out what he has to gain by making up a storyline like that.
But anyway - supposing if Obama DOES own the economy - and it actually improves? Then what? I mean - given this odd narrative of Obama owning an economy he has no authority to do anything with, who gets credit if Obama somehow actually does jumpstart the economy?
QT
Posted by: QueenTiye
at November 24, 2008 10:34 AM
Oh, and because I'm concerned that more people are made aware of this bizarre reporting, I dugg this...
QT
Posted by: QueenTiye
at November 24, 2008 10:50 AM
Chuck = Schmuck
The WH claimed to know NOTHING about any Citigroup bailout...and the MSM goes along with the 'must be the new guy's idea' meme.
Posted by: bibimimi
at November 24, 2008 11:19 AM
Tough not too, particularly when your treas sec is already involved in the bailout
--------------------------
Chuck Todd
NBC News
From: Carlos Spencer
To: Todd, Chuck D (NBC Universal)
Sent: Mon Nov 24 10:01:22 2008
Subject: Team Obama
"You guys [Team Obama] own the economy at 12 o'clock eastern time today, correct? When Senator Obama announces his Treasury Secretary, announces the Larry Summers position. It is now Barack Obama's responsibility on the economy, is that not correct?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
How does Barack OWN the economy today?? He is NOT the president..President Bush, Bernake and Paulson Jr own the economy right now...I know what you were trying to say, but dude..There is only ONE president at a time!
Posted by: solrac2002
at November 24, 2008 11:29 AM
Chuck was always intended to be a 2nd string support team kind of guy. He's good with objective stats (no where near as good as Nate Silver, I might add, but useful). With the loss of Tim Russert Chuckie has seen far more of the spotlight than was ever intended, and it's obvious that he's enamored by it. The thing that some exec at NBC needs to make clear, however, is that he is NOT a journalist, and definitely has no business playing pundit. This quote is so off-base as to rise to the level of demonstrating incompetence for someone with Chuck's Title. NBC gots a problem w/ Chuckie.
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie08
at November 24, 2008 11:30 AM
I saw this (I think on a John Stewart desk calendar) a few years ago: CNN launched on this date and people questioned whether there was enough actual new to fill a 24-hour channel. They still do.
Unfortunately, now the multiple channels looking for crap to fill the endless air seem to often take their cue from faux (in an attempt to get some of their ratings?) and whatever garbage is said there gets repeated/discussed everywhere.
Posted by: brutlyhonest
at November 24, 2008 11:32 AM
More importantly, what did Goolsbee answer?
Posted by: Broadway Carl
at November 24, 2008 1:37 PM
Posted By Bob Cesca | November 24, 2008 08:12 AM | DIGG ME!
Utterly ridiculous. I thought that Chuck Todd is smart.
I was watching bits of FUX News last night ONLY because I was working out and it came onto the TV. I turned immediately after I saw the bottom-of-the-screen headlines: "LEFT AT THE ALTAR? OBAMA APPOINTMENTS ENRAGE THE FAR LEFT," "LEFT FOR DEAD? OBAMA ANGERS THE LEFT WITH APPOINTMENTS."
I didn't know which I was angrier at-- that dumbass network or Obama for going so far to the right and ditching Moveon.org and other people.
Posted by: MG
at November 24, 2008 1:50 PM
Chuck Turd. Heh.
Posted by: jane
at November 24, 2008 3:34 PM
Carl - Goolsbee said that as of noon easter, Obama's responsibility was to put forth a good team & that there's ONE president at a time, etc.
Paddy put up the video:
http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2008/11/chuck-todd-says-obama-owns-economy-as.html
Posted by: ceu
at November 24, 2008 5:37 PM
Well if Chuckie is going to assign the economy to PE Obama he needs to at least call him something other than Senator. Last time I looked there were no Senators who OWNED the economy. So he disses him by calling him Senator & fouls the airwaves with his stupid comment all at the same time. What a jerkwad!
Posted by: yelorose
at November 24, 2008 6:40 PM
The heck with lowering my interest rate now that I'm a part owner of Citigroup. I'm forgiving my student loans!
Posted by: kemowery
at November 25, 2008 2:46 PM



