Jay Carney is looking for “good reporting” that’s “filled with context.” But only if it’s pertaining to Obama. If it’s Romney, Boehner, or Rush Limbaugh, well, then butcher the hell out of their dialogues by propagating “news” with five-second soundbites.
You might have remembered, Obama said last week that “the private sector is doing fine.” Consequently, reporters sparred with Carney over the remark during today’s press conference. Carney said he couldn’t guarantee that Obama’s reelection campaign wouldn’t expose so-called “out-of-context” assertions the way conservatives slammed Obama’s remark.
“That’s a rather remarkable question,” Carney said during Monday’s press briefing, saying he wouldn’t “speculate” on future campaign strategy for something that hadn’t happened yet. Asked about the president’s comment, which he later clarified, Carney said the remark should have been taken in the context of his “rather full discussion on the state of the economy.”
“Certainly, we believe that you all ought to do your jobs and report on content,” Carney continued. “Our general position is we’re for truthful, factual, accurate reporting that’s done in context.”
Actually, I believe Romney and the media — some of the media, that is — are spot on. I’m not sure why we are bringing up the “context” argument, other than the fact that it’s the administration’s only semi-effective defense.
The President’s assertion is, in my humble opinion, rather explicit: the public sector is flailing, and the private sector is healthy.
