GOP senator says Obama showing Nixonian tendencies
- By BEN EVANS, Associated Press Writer Ben Evans, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 2 mins ago
WASHINGTON – The third-ranking Senate Republican said Wednesday the Obama administration appears to be launching a Richard Nixon-like political strategy of making an "enemies list" of people who disagree with the president.
Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who once worked in President Nixon's administration, warned the White House that such a "street brawl" approach of attacking political opponents "can get you in a lot of trouble."
Alexander offered no evidence that Obama is developing an actual list, as Nixon famously created for his opponents. But, he said, "I have an uneasy feeling only 10 months into this new administration that we're beginning to see the symptoms of this same kind of animus developing."
"It's a mistake for the president of the United States," he said. "Let's not start calling people out and compiling an enemies list."
White House spokeswoman Gannet Tseggai responded that it's Republicans who "seem to be formulating lists of people and policies to oppose" while the president "is focused on tackling the list of critical priorities that Washington has ignored for too long."
The president "remains committed to working with Republicans to include their best ideas, even if he doesn't get their support," Tseggai said.
Alexander's criticism, which echoed weekend remarks from Karl Rove, the former adviser to President George W. Bush and a Fox News contributor, comes amid an unusual public feud between Fox News and the White House. Alexander also cited widening disputes between the administration and business groups such as the insurance industry, Wall Street banks and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Several top administration officials have sharply criticized Fox News in recent days, saying the cable television channel acts like a wing of the Republican Party and shouldn't be viewed as a legitimate news organization.
The president bypassed "Fox News Sunday" during a string of appearances on news shows recently, and Fox News officials have said the White House threatened a boycott. The White House has denied that and says it will book administration officials on Fox News shows.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091021/ap_on_go_co/us_obama_enemies_list
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A Cheeky interpretation:
What is the difference between a president compiling a list of those who disagree with him and the actions of another president who formed an entire group to go on a witch hunt to look for possible socialist sympathizers many years ago? This time those socialist sympathizers would be fellow comrades, while the enemy is now those who still embrace the American Ideal which stands for freedom of speech and freedom of press.
Gee....who is the evil subversive now? Why aren't we making more noise about a president who has lost any ability to connect with the "common" American? He isn't making it easy for truth to prevail. Controlling the media seems to be one of his strong suits.
More and more he has become ALIEN to our needs as a nation. Further....his ability to function as a leader is becoming more and more like viewing a space alien in the white house.....like he is from not only another country BUT also another world. Let's hope they "beam" him back soon before he makes such a mess. Where is Homer Simpson when you need him?
My Transparency Theory........and the ALIEN connection.
I personally would LOVE to see our president openly disclose how much is being spent on his "counter" American free media/freedom of speech here in our own backyards. Why would a president NEED such an astounding amount of control over our information or lack thereof? Seriously...I'd love to know how much is being paid for his own "publicity" and "agendas" and compare them to our prior presidents.
Why does he need an entire PR company to represent him? What is he working so hard to hide? It is the only conclusion I can come up with....that apparently he DOES have plenty to hide otherwise why such a big move to control the media? The only thing transparent in this presidency is the blind minions who are still buying into this idea that Obama is even remotely transparent. It "seems" obvious to those of us who are not blind BUT try explaining that to those extreme socialists now parading as liberals.
They aren't interested. Their fearless leader still has them walking around like zombies....or aliens....
Oh....and BTW.....Obama seems to be the only president in history to care more about what is happening OVER our borders than controlling our borders. Today in this potiential terriorist temperature you'd think he'd be uber concerned? Perhaps it is just ALIEN to him.
Now back to Nixonianism.......
I am pretty sure that would include the "I did not lie" clause in there somewhere. I can easily imagine Obama practicing that phrase in the mirror. "I did not lie....I promised to be transparent....heck I promised a lot......what exactly did these people think they were really voting for? Change? Ha....I did not lie....I didn't promise they'd like it." (Insert evil alien laugh here) "Muuuuwaahhhhha ha.....I did not lie!"



Comfort
The truth will become more and more alien to us if we do not fight for it.
1I think Obama is reaching the end of his rope. The man has spent his entire life getting by on charm. When charm was nor enough he had the Cicago democrat machine to back him up. He is finding that now he can no longer vote "present". he also is finding that the power of the presidency is not limitless. I think history will treat his presidency harshly, and the further out in time, the harsher the judgment.
2wow - he is not alone on this planet... there are many who should be beamed but not on Starship Enterprise - i would prefer them on a Klingon Ship...
3I feel it is very petty for the President to be involved in a feud with a news network. Surely he is not naive enough to think that everyone is going to agree with him 100% of the time? I expect the President to ignore bad press and stay focused on his job.
The other thing I wonder about though, is what is he trying to slide through congress while he shifts focus to Fox News.
4SKB----absolutely! I am wondering the same thing. He has had an alternative agenda through-out his presidency which just reinforces many of us doubting him.
It is actually silly. I did catch a sound bite from someone in his administration which bragged openly in a radio interview that "THEY" controlled the media through-out the presidency by using the internet to go around the media. She actually said the Obama camp "spoon-fed" the media and controlled it. I wish I had a link to it to post here. I think I read it on FOX.
5Greetings ALL,
6sorry i don't agree with your comment about Fox News and yes
i respect freedom of speech.
I don't respect all those racist comments,calling a sitting
President a Nazi,not an American.
Asking for his birth certificate,giving volitile media
access to lunatic preachers making comments, "I'm praying for him to die".
Their were times through this election process,that i could
sense racial connectiveness.There were times when i felt
the reminders of the Civil Rights Movement.
The ploy of Washington spending is asmoke screen to voice
hiddenracial hostily.
Give President Obama the respect of A Sitting President.
After all he human just imagine being under the scrutiny of
a hostile media,because of the Reality of Being Black In America.Why do we keep putting the salt of racism and hatred
in a sore,that won't be given the chance to heal.
Perfect example Glen Beck And Rush limburg.
gallexie, if you want to be fair, you have to also criticise the rest of the news organizations and also the Speaker of the House. She has been calling tea partyers Nazis and other things. The MSM has been namecalling people for a long time.
As far as giving the sitting president respect, liberals need to remember their comments like "he's not MY president" when Bush was in office. You may not think conservatives are giving Obama any respect but I have not heard one single repub/conservative claim that Obama is not our president.
7And seriously, how can you consider Obama to be under the scrutiny of a hostile media? MSM won't even ask him tough questions! The only ones who take a critical look at him are Fox News.
8That is true skb!
One of Obama's advisers admitted (bragged) on a radio show that THEY controlled the media and that THEY determine who gets what news.
How does one reconcile that fact?
I think Obama cannot have it both ways.
He IS our president so he should stand behind our basic rights and support them rather than attempt outright to thwart them.
...... Freedom of speech and freedom of the press......
It is what our country was built upon. He cannot just willy-nilly say "who" is a valid news agency like he is God or something.
9Either way....as long as there are no personal attacks this person can wear as many faces as she/he likes.
It is funny actually and a bit pathetic to make secondary screen names when WHO you are on the net is a bit obscure anyway.
Adding to a commentary--(no matter what your avatar or screen name is)--as long as it is "adding" instead of "destructing" commentary without personal attacks is permissable here.
I am assuming everyone is an adult, has compelling usage of the English language, and is commenting within respectful means to convey their ideas.
No body has to agree. We may simply have to agree to disagree.
10I will say this:
I find it very interesting how much Obama's followers love to arbitrarily toss the "racist" card in as it suits their motives, when often it has been found that race has had nothing to do with any issue.
Even the ACLU has said that racism used in this manner undermines the efforts to erase it and instead perpetuates it.
Many seem to have a difficult time separating themselves (on a racial level) when looking at an attack on this president's policies or even when people question Obama's leadership abilities, past, or even the content he has written prior and post college.
When I question his abilities, leadership, and policies it has nothing to do with his race but has everything to do with what his ethics are and how they are demonstrated by his administration.
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