Chris+Hoffman+W7



by Christopher Hoffman


   Healthcare, a problem dangling in the back of the throat of the American people is proving to be much more complex than Obama had anticipated. On Sunday, September 20, 2009, five interviews with Barrack Obama were televised on five different networks. While the interviewers where different, each conversation between the president and the network representative were strikingly similar and “remarkably overt”. (Stanley 1) Each interview pertaining primarily on facts about Obama’s healthcare reforms, specifically focusing on the manner in which Obama presented his health care proposals; apparently, many Americans had trouble grasping the concept. (Stanley 1) Obama’s Sunday night talk show debut was the first time an American President appeared on five different talk shows at once. This depicts how important conveying this health care message is to Obama. “Mr. Obama wanted to reclaim the health care debate and persuade skeptics that his plans would not increase taxes on the middle class.” (Stanley 1) Despite Obama’s media blitz one of the only things actually made clear during these interviews were Obama’s innate ability to weave around questions and speak with swift ambiguous answers. (Stanley 1)

 Many have perceived this Presidential media frenzy as more as a “Medici vengeance” than a ploy to inform the American citizens. (Stanley 2) The reason for this perception is because of Mr. Obama’s refusal to speak to “Fox News Sunday”. Fox denied the broadcasting of Obama’s health care speech to congress, and this was simply payback. This omission of Fox News, however, has wrenched the White House between Fox and its competitors. “ That omission was not as tactical as it was telling: a rare sign of frustration, and pay back, by a White House that prides itself on diplomacy and an even keel.” (Stanley 2) Obama, however, was not at all resentful in his interviews but very kind and consistent. When he was asked if racism had anything to do with the slandering of his presidency, he responded stating that the news media is really what is “fueling the furor”. (Stanley 2) The “24-hour news cycle” including but not limited too Internet blogs, viral videos and cable television really plays an important role in determining the people’s judgment of the president. These constant updates from different people around the country shape opinions at an unparalleled level. (Stanley 2) With the new medias of today, it’s hard not to be influenced. Most people rarely ever think for themselves; they rather look up someone else’s belief and go from there. The Internet has created a generation of tremendously skeptical people, some of who don’t even have a clue as to what the topic of discussion really is. But, shouldn’t all the nay-sayers who criticize President Obama be guilty of libel and slander? According to Stanley Baren, libel is “the false and malicious publication of material that damages a person’s reputation,” and slander is, “the oral or spoken defamation of a person’s character,” both of which are not protected by the first amendment. (Baran 398) Fortunately for all the “Obama haters” out there are three rules that protect them from legal repercussions. The one that applies to President Obama is called “fair comment”; it basically means that the press has a right to express opinion on public issues, like our nation’s president. (Baran 398) It’s hard to deny the shadow that’s casting across the nation, a shadow that stirs questions and unease in the public eye. Will Obama really initiate the change this country needs, or is he just a really good politician? Only time will tell, but for now, he has this writer’s undying support.



Baran, S. (2008//). Introduction to Mass Communication//. New York, NY: McGrall-Hill Company Inc. Stanley, A. (2009, September 20). For President, Five Programs, One Message. New York Times, Retrieved from [] on September 22, 2009