Politico.com: Obama denies SOTU snub

[bidenista]

Obama responds to journalists, but his explanation seems to contradict Axelrod's claim that he was giving them a "private" moment:

Obama denies SOTU snub

By: Carrie Budoff Brown
Jan 29, 2008 12:52 PM EST

The alleged State of the Union snub wasn’t the slight it seemed to be, Sen. Barack Obama told the media Tuesday aboard his campaign plane.

Reporters devoted countless column inches today to the play-by-play interaction – or apparent lack thereof – between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the House chamber just before President Bush delivered his annual address Monday.

Photographers captured Obama, surrounded by senators who had endorsed him, turning away as Clinton extended her hand to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who had dealt a cutting blow to her candidacy only hours earlier by announcing his support for Obama.

More: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/8178.html

[zanne]

1. Finally! Sanity prevails!

Thank you for that post, bidenista! The link explains it all.

[DURHAM D]

2. Its Claire's fault.

Blame a woman.

[Quixote1818]

8. Why is it that a hand full of Hillary supporters always try to divide DU

and turn everything into something sexist? Most Hillary supporters must cringe when some of you do this. I am sure there are a handful of Obama supporters who scream race at the drop of a hat. Both sides need to cool it because it's divisive.

[aquart]

22. Don't try to speak for others. Have the guts to speak for yourself.

YOU don't like us bringing up the sexism that is obvious to us? Too damn bad. It makes YOU uncomfortable? Bloody about time.

[Alexander]

41. Yeah, how dare Obama talk to Claire McCaskill. The sexist pig.

He should be grateful that Senator Clinton's campaign hinted at him being a Muslim and dealing drugs.

:eyes:

Let's face it - you want to call him "uppity" but you don't have the guts.

[DURHAM D]

26. Typical man - you are judgmental and then you give me an order.

I feel certain that if someone said you are a racist you would want to know why they thought so in order for you to try and improve on your behavior.

When a woman indicates that something is sexist men simply tell us we are wrong. You set yourself up as the final decider on the issue. Racism - you listen to the people you are offending. Sexism - you ignore the people you are offending.

That is why Hillary being in this race is important - it exposes the difference.

[Bluestar]

53. Or tell us that our reaction is too "emotional"

By the way, great smackdown of the sexism in this thread.

[ieoeja]

16. LOL

And touche!

[Quixote1818]

3. Here is what he said

“I was surprised by the reports this morning,” Obama said. “I was turning away because Claire asked me a question as Sen. Kennedy was reaching for her. Sen. Clinton and I have had very cordial relations on the floor and off the floor.”

[tishaLA]

5. i'm trying to see how politico spins this

as contradicting axelrod....

[bidenista]

12. that was my editorial comment

Watch Axelrod on Morning Joe and you'll see.

[tishaLA]

14. ok so tell me how it is contradictory

[jenmito]

28. Axelrod said Obama was giving them a private moment. I think her spoke without knowing the real

reason which he shouldn't have done.

[aquart]

25. WHAT is "Morning Joe"?

[bidenista]

38. Scarborough's show.

[aquart]

17. So when did he greet her? He didn't.

But I admire his congenial ability to lie. And the picture of him turning away does NOT show an eye focused on someone else. But I'm sure his supporters are much relieved.

[KittyWampus]

27. a photograph takes a snapshot of a single INSTANT. It basically lies. Think photos of walking.

Frame by frame. One frame out of the sequence does not portray movement. Unless perhaps you use a slow shutter speed.

This was one reason why the groundbreaking sculptor Rodin made his John the Baptist striding as he did. To portray movement in a frozen moment.

[Maven]

30. Except the veteran AP photographer who took it

reported what happened.

So no.

[KittyWampus]

32. Except here's a bird's-eye view of the same general instant proving Obama WAS talking to McKaskill

[tridim]

35. Yep, Occam's Razor comes through again.

Learn it, live it, love it.

A still photograph can tell many stories, but only one is true. Making a judgment based on 1/30th of a second in time is very Fristian.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. there we are

[mtnsnake]

6. What's he supposed to tell the press, that he really meant snub her? Gimme a break

Of course he's going to weasel out of it.

[Cameron27]

13. Of course.

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. I hate being so cynical, but, there it is.

[Radical Activist]

19. Sounds the Senator was talking about you...

“Frankly, everyone’s spoiling for a fight, which is the politics of old, you know,” McCaskill said. “This thing isn’t the politics of old. It’s about new. It’s unfortunate that everyone is so anxious for there to be a problem on a personal level and I gotta tell you, it’s just not there.

[mtnsnake]

23. Maybe Obama turned his head away because he has a twitch. That will be next.

[1corona4u]

36. LOL...

[aquart]

31. "Who do you believe? Me? Or you're lying eyes?"

I'm just going to sit here and quietly treasure all the fine efforts of Obama's fans: the ones who insisted he didn't snub her; the ones who insisted she snubbed him first; and, my special favorites, the ones who proclaimed themselves GLAD that he did it, because such a meanie as Hillary deserved it.

He did it. He lied his way out of it. He'll get away with it just like he did his Rezko house deal. And one day we'll be stuck with a man frighteningly like Bush, when we wanted one who promised to be different.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

37. Take a look at the image in post 32, he didn't lie n/t

[1corona4u]

39. Boy...

[Marie26]

45. That's the main problem

w/Obama, for me. It's not just that he lies, but that he does it so easily & blatantly. Does he think that we can't use Google, or look at a photo?

[Rageneau]

52. Bingo!

[flpoljunkie]

7. “I waved at her as I was coming into the Senate chamber before we walked over,” he said. “I think

“I waved at her as I was coming into the Senate chamber before we walked over,” he said. “I think there is a lot of tea-leaf reading going on here.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/8178.html

[jasmine621]

9. Obama's denials and explanations will be accepted but Bill's will not.

Wonder why?

[Levgreee]

20. because he was denying something that was never there?

[Rageneau]

54. The stuff Bill was accused of "never was there" either.

That didn't stop people from accusing him of all sorts of things, and deliberately misrepresenting the things he said and did just to put him in the worst possible light.

If that ever starts happening to Obama, you'll see what I'm talking about.

[aquart]

21. Because the wealthy corporate media WANTS Hillary.

Isn't that what the David vs. Goliath Obama meme would tell us?

[Perry Logan]

10. TED KENNEDY WITHDRAWS ENDORSEMENT. "What an asshole," he says.

[Meldread]

11. Don't worry - the facts have little to do with it.

I am sure Handjob Gate will remain in full swing.

[jefferson_dem]

18. Yup.

[Bok_Tukalo]

24. Stop harshing the Media buzz, Obama.

This was a good one or two day manufactured conflict moment. A good outrage merchant could have sold this through the weekend.

Thanks alot for spoiling our fun.

[KittyWampus]

29. I love your post! So true and yet so harshly funny.

:D

[Meldread]

44. LOL.

Breaking: Obama bursts media bubble.

[Texas_Kat]

33. Well he certainly wouldn't admit to it.....

But he and Axelrod need to get their stories straight.

[1corona4u]

34. 'A likely story'...

Uh huh.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

40. The image in post 32 and 18 supports his claims n/t

[tridim]

42. What is it about Obama that makes you say that..

Especially in light of the proof presented in this thread?

Please be specific.

[Marie26]

43. Split-second timing

Or maybe, as Obama tried to convince the media today, it was an averted gaze at the exact second that Clinton sought to make peace with Kennedy.

“I was surprised by the reports this morning,” Obama said. “I was turning away because Claire asked me a question as Sen. Kennedy was reaching for her. Sen. Clinton and I have had very cordial relations on the floor and off the floor.”


OK, I'm about 80% convinced that this is a lie, because Obama did not appear to be looking at Sen McCaskill in the pictures, as you would if someone just asked you a question. But rather, he was pointedly looking *away* from Clinton.

[Meldread]

46. Except that CNN reports that Claire tapped him on the shoulder.

In the CNN blog report of this, they gave a play-by-play. They gave their own narrative, but it sticks to exactly what Obama said happened. Kennedy reached out to shake Hillary's hand, Claire tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around and... next thing you know he's a snubber!

[Marie26]

47. Let's see some video!

All I know is, neither Obama nor McCaskill are saying anything in those photos, and Obama is not looking at McCaskill's face or eyes, which he would do if she had just asked him a question. He's sort of staring off into the distance.

[Bok_Tukalo]

48. Where is Abraham Zapruder when you need him?

<POE>

[Marie26]

49. Exactly

This is vital information! We need the slow-motion of the exact time when Obama turned, the split-second that Hillary moved towards them, who reached out an arm first, etc.

[Marie26]

50. Aha, misleading

Here's what CNN actually said:

"When Clinton straightened up, Kennedy quickly reached across Barack Obama to shake Clinton’s hand. She took it. As they spoke, Obama turned away. Then the senators seated to Obama’s right – Ben Nelson and Ken Salazar — both shook Senator Clinton’s hand and talked to her. Instead of doing the same, Obama turned to look at the back of the room. Sen. Claire McCaskill, who has also endorsed Obama and was seated next to Kennedy, reached across the Massachusetts senator — who was still talking to Clinton — and tapped Obama (still twisted toward the back of the room) on the shoulder. McCaskill engaged Obama in conversation until the moment passed."

So basically, CNN says that Obama turned his back & stared off into space as Clinton greeted his supporters - THEN, McCaskill tapped Obama on the shoulder to speak to him & give him a tiny bit of cover for his obnoxiousness. But very good spin. :)

[bluedog]

51. what did they expect him to say?

He'll blame someone else anyways......