Obama Calls Kanye West a 'Jackass'

[katkat]

Source: FauxNews

President Barack Obama called hip-hop musician Kanye West a "jackass" on Monday in an off-the-record comment during an interview with CNBC, an ABC News anchor reported on Twitter.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/15/obama-calls-kanye-west-jackass/

---

So, I'm over at FoxNews.com, for the first time ever, to see if, as a DU thread reported, they are still posting the photo of the humongous PromiseKeeper march and claiming it is the much smaller teabagger march.

And I run across this article. Now why can't Obama call some Repigs jackasses? Where is that attitude when we really need it?

[ShortnFiery]

1. Guess CNBC leaked this "off the record" statement because they didn't dig what

President Obama had to say to Wall Street yesterday? IMO, jerks! He should shut them off (CNBC) albeit this leak will end up reflecting positively on Obama.

[No Elephants]

26. Really? This leak will reflect positively on Obama? Because we elected him to

trash talk musicians? Or the Cambridge police?

Sorry, but this makes at least two intemperate remarks that could easily have been avoided and that weaken his image when we most need it to be strong.

Call me whacky, but I prefer my Presidents to be Presidential, not critics of the goings on at the MTV awards.

[mac56]

34. So somehow it instantly makes Obama appear unpresidential

if he responds (accurately) to something that occurs in pop culture?

Puh-leez.

[No Elephants]

49. You mean if he calls a hip hop artist a jackass, as though he were one of the snarky

reporters on a TV entertainment show, when the incident had nothing to do with anyhing of any significance? Oh no, that's totally Presidenial, sagacious, temperate, impressive, dignified, etc.

With apologies to Barney Frank, on what planet do you spend most of your time?

I don't usually post that way to people, but claiming calling Kanye West a jackass is Presidential is really a jaw dropper. So kudos for causing me to step out of character.

[mac56]

54. Don't worry. I just consider it an off-the-record comment.

:eyes:

[No Elephants]

59. Who's worried?

[Bicoastal]

60. You're sick--Your standards for Presidential decorum are outlandish and probably not shared by many.

Was it Presidential? No. Was it un-Presidential? No.

It was a comment about a non-political news story, like that which any person would make--not just a TV entertainment reporter, which you strangely keep harping on, but anyone.

It was human. Please lighten up.

[No Elephants]

69. Your standards for sickness are outlandish and probably not shared by many.

If the subject is so frivolous and you don't like my posts on this thread, why are reading and responding to every one you can find?

And you call me sick for having an opinion different from yours, then tell ME to lighten up? You don't seem to have a fine sense of irony.

[snooper2]

76. you never have anything good to say...

nt

[No Elephants]

85. Absolutely untrue. Try again.

[snooper2]

89. hmmm...

( and this is just from the first page )

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4046330&mesg_id=4046772

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4045752&mesg_id=4048600

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4055649&mesg_id=4056230

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4051084&mesg_id=4057336

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4046708&mesg_id=4047985

[No Elephants]

98. Sorry, but that does not equal "never," which was your claim. Today, there was

a thread about Harkin saying a public option would pass and I said I favored people saying things like that to saying it was impossible. I've also posted good things about Kennedy, Kerry, Feingold, many events, etc.

However, you may be one of those for whom everything is about Obama. If so, you wouldn't count my saying something positive about anyone or anything else.

In that case, I don't keep a record, but I know offhand there was a thread I posted on within a day or two about the Obamadmin giving more rights to prisoners at Bagram and I posted I was glad to see it the change.

When I see something that interests me enough to post about, I post either approval or disapproval. Saying I never post anything positive is simply untrue.


BTW, what would you post about Obama's taking the same position as Bush in every court case so far? Great improvement? Big change? Gives me hope?

If you disagree with what I posted on the substance, you are perfectly free to refute my post, if you can. But saying I never have anything good to say is a lie. Just as it would probably be a lie if I claimed you never had anything bad to say. Both comments would be beside the point anyway. Saying something good about a bad thing or vice versa is no virtue.

[Bicoastal]

77. Then how come nearly everyone on this board agrees with my perspective and not yours?

I only started responding to this OP when I noticed how many times YOU responded to it. My interest is not the issue itself, which IS frivolous--it's YOU, No Elephants.

Why do you expect Obama to be so immersed in politics that he has no interest or comment upon anything else? How is that healthy? The mind boggles.

As for the second part--you've thus far revealed yourself to be, at best, fairly humorless. That IS sick.

[No Elephants]

88. So, you're stalking me? And I wish you'd stop twisting and start being honest.

I never even implied that Obama should care only about politics. In fact, the opposite is true. I would hope a President would have a variety of interests.

As for you personal remarks, your humor in your posts to me is not evident at all. However, I do not, on that basis, leap to the conclusion that you are eiher humorless or sick (although your admission to stalking me may start to make me wonder). I do not even assume that you are not smiling as you post.

FYI. My practice on almost every thread I post on is to read the entire thread and post if I agree strongly or disagree. So the number of my posts on a thread does not have any particular significance, except that it is how I approach almost all threads on which I post. If you have a problem with that, take it up with a mod.

[dalaigh lllama]

74. I wouldn't say it's presidential OR non-presidential -- it's human

Guess I don't think everything that comes from Obama's lips has to be carved in stone for the ages.

[No Elephants]

90. Yes, but all things that are human are not also Presidential. I don't

think that everything that comes from Obama's lips has to be carved in stone either.

I just think this was not something he should have said to a reporter, off the record or not and that people who are posting otherwise are mistaken.

[Alcibiades]

48. What, like Nixon? LBJ? Clinton?

Newsflash: presidents are human. Obama is the most presidential president of my lifetime.

[No Elephants]

52. Yes, Nixon, LBJ and Clinton acted "un Presidential" at times, too. And?

[Alcibiades]

124. Calling someone a jackass

Is pretty minor in comparison to just about anything that comes to mind when you think of any modern president.

Except, perhaps, Carter. Carter was and is a very nice man.

[No Elephants]

126. I never said it was a catastrophe. I said it would have been better not said to a reporter.

And by Presidential, I don't mean nice or not nice. Waging war is quintessentially Presidential, but not at all nice. Dummya was often not Presidential. His father rarely was. I don't consider either of them nice.

It's more about gravitas and dignity and what is worth risking that perception in the mind of the public. IMO, calling Kanye West a jackass is not worth the risk. So, I disagreed with posters who were cheerleading it. But, I never equated it to World War III. People are imputing that to me, but that's their mistake.

[Alcibiades]

137. This was in an unguarded moment

And meant to be off the record. During his public moments, Obama has gravitas, even when he called out the Cambridge Police for their unnecessary arrest of Professor Gates.

If you recall, Clinton compared Sister Souljah to David Duke. Not in a private moment, but publicly. Obama called West a jackass because he did, apparently, act like one. You or I may not care, but he's still allowed to have opinions about unpresidential things. Remember when he picked UNC? The press was all over that, not because he was wrong, but because Obama said it.

[Myrina]

66. "intemperate" is hardly a word I'd use in describing Obama...

... I wish he'd be truly intemperate more often, especially to the Republicans and the FAUX Smear machine.

[No Elephants]

72. "Intemperate" is not a word I used to describe Obama. I said he has made two

intemperate remarks that are distractions at a time when we don't need any. That is not the same as calling him an intemperate person. But, you probably knew that.

[verges]

81. You're right about the Cambridge Police comment.

That comment was made during a press conference and was inappropriate. The Kanye West comment was given off the record. He is certainly allowed to have opinions on current events and pop culture. The man doesn't and shouldn't live in a bubble. The fault, this time, goes to the reporter who leaked it.

[No Elephants]

94. No one said he should not have opinions about pop culture or live in a bubble, ffs.

A right to having an opinion does not equal calling West a jackass to a reporter, though.

The fault, IMO, is that of both. The reporter should have kept silent. However, we all, including Obama, know that reporters gossip about juicy remarks, just as most human beings do. (Funny, some can, in one breath, say Obama is only human, then expect sainthood from the reporter.) So, if you say something to a reporter--or to anyone who is not 100% in your corner--you take the risk that it will get out somehow, even if the reporter does not publish it. And, for such a silly issue, it was not a wise risk, IMO.

Not sure why that gets twisted into wanting Obama to live in a bubble, but, oh well.

[verges]

120. Not sainthood. Ethics.

When someone says off the record, it means off the record. And to violate that trust is a breach of journalistic ethics. It's an important distinction. Journalists are duty-bound to protect "off the record" comments. It's the same as an anonymous source. If you report off the record comments, you lose the respect of your subjects. And if they don't respect you; they won't be candid with you. And journalists want their subjects to be candid. They need off the record for background and leads.

[No Elephants]

128. Both reporters were wrong, the one who gossiped and the one who tweeted.

So, IMO, both things are true. Both reporters were wrong and Obama might have used more restraint, especially in this day when "media" includes everyone with a cell phone or a keyboard.

Again, though, I don't think we should assume, on the basis of a tweet, that this actually happened.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

122. Oh, Please

Kanye West WAS a jackass, and I see nothing wrong with Obama saying so. I don't think too many other people will either.

rgb

[No Elephants]

129. You are certainly entitled to your opinion.

[U4ikLefty]

143. ...and so is Obama. n/t

[kestrel91316]

139. Obama spoke the gospel truth. Kanye West IS a jackass.

The comment was said IN PRIVATE, OFF THE RECORD, so the President is within his rights to deny it. It only relfects poorly on ONE PERSON: the roporter who leaked it.

[azureblue]

82. This did not happen - no proof

it was an ABC reporter supposedly at a CNBC event, with no attributes. Basically some schmo tweets that Obama said "jackass", but nobody backs it up. IOW, it didn't happen - it was made up. Yet another GOP smear tactic.

Maureen Dowd:"There' being some public recognition of what should be inescapable by now: that a lot of the more electric and intemperate reactions to President Obama come from people who cannot or will not accept that a black man is the President of the United States."

[azureblue]

87. Proof it was made up:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/14/obama-kanye-is-a-jackass_n_286623.html

"During a CNBC interview on Monday, President Obama called Kanye West a "jackass" regarding his behavior at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Obama's colorful remark was actually made in an off-the-record portion of the interview that was tweeted -- and then deleted -- by ABC News reporter Terry Moran."

So little ABC reporter Terry claims he was at a NBC interview (does this make sense at all?), and claims he overheard Obama call Kayne a "jackass" off the record, then tweets it, then pulls it down. WTF?

And you guys fall for it, hook line and sinker. By now, you should know this is the stuff the GOP uses to tear Obama down.

[No Elephants]

95. Absolutely. We have no proof.

[Teaser]

2. what good would it do?

He's the not the president of "You getting your jollies."

He's the president of the United States of America. As such, there are certain things you don't do, like heap public abuse on politicians of the other party. That's why Joe Wilson is being pilloried.

[katkat]

3. what I mean is

What I mean is, this shows he isn't a total wimp. But you wouldn't know it from the way he acts about healthcare and most everything else.

[joeycola]

15. I tend to agree.

[mwb970]

4. Why is he being so kind to Kanye?

A "jackass"? That's much, much milder than what came to my mind as I watched West's grotesque outburst. What a rude, nasty thing to do to Taylor Swift. This guy needs serious counseling and strong meds.

A "jackass"? Way too kind.

[JohnnyLib2]

5. I agree, but don't think the distraction is worth it......

[No Elephants]

45. To put it mildly.

[CreekDog]

6. My friend here begs to differ

[stray cat]

7. Don't tell me this will be the newest controversy....

[bluestateguy]

32. It's not.

It makes Obama look good.

Now if he would only use that kind of talk pertaining to people like Jim DeMint.

[No Elephants]

53. In your eyes, he may look good. In other people's eyes, he won't. And that is exactly what makes a

controversy--differing views.

[mac56]

8. How are the RWers going to contort themselves

in an effort to "defend" Kanye?

Can't wait to see how this one plays out.

:popcorn:

[No Elephants]

25. Not the issue. The issue is, regaardless of how good or bad Kanye's behavior may

have been, why did Obama make this comment, even off the record?

[Lochloosa]

43. Because West was a Jackass?

:shrug:

[No Elephants]

63. What part of "regardless of how good or bad Kanye West may have been" did you not under-

stand?

[Bicoastal]

46. Why did Obama devote a minute of his time to something non-political, you mean?

Again--Barack Obama is human.

[No Elephants]

64. Riiight. That's what I meant. A minute that is not politics. Twist much?

[Bicoastal]

68. Well, why do YOU think Obama made this comment? nt

[No Elephants]

79. What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? Either he made the remark

to a reporter "off the record" or he didn't. And, if he did, it was either a wise move or it wasn't.

His motives don't matter, let alone my day later speculation about his motives.


BTW, if you read my other posts on this thread, you will see that I have posted at least two or three times that we ought not rely on a twitter. He may not even have said it to begin with. If he did, though, it would have been better if he hadn't.

It isn't even that I think it was horrendous. It's that some of the posts on this thread knee jerk praising it seem borderline idiotic or cultish or something.

[AlbertCat]

67. why did Obama make this comment,

Uh.... because it's true?


Who cares? So now the president has to like all musicians? He must approve of all publicity stunts? He must hold award shows sacred?

[No Elephants]

83. First, your subjective opinion does not equal THE truth. Obama and you expressed a personal opinion

Second, many, many things are true. That does not mean Obama has to voice each and every one one of them to a reporter, off the record or not.

If you don't care, why are you posting about it?

And your other comments are just silly. He could simply have kept his opinion to himself, at least while speaking to a reporter. It's a silly, unnecessary controversy to cause for no good reason.

[Hippo_Tron]

132. It has to do with the relationship between the White House and the press

The White House press corps spends pretty much every moment of their day either at the White House or following the President around wherever he travels. Thus the President and the staff become friends with some of the reporters. They will often comment "off the record" or have casual "off the record" conversations with reporters because it fosters a better relationship and because they're human beings and they like to talk to each other. The thing is that "off the record" is supposed to mean "off the record". Somebody needs to get their credentials pulled.

[No Elephants]

135. I understand and agree, up to an including pulling the press credentials.

Still, people breach friendship obligations, marital obligations, ethical obligations, moral obligations and legal obligations. Was it wise to take a risk over something like this? IMO, no. And I know everyone is upset with Kanye, but he is a relatively young person and a human being. I just don't think this is necessary or wise.

It is not the end of the world, though, and, on the bright side, this lesson may stand Obama in good stead in the future, when something more imporant is at stake. He can be friendly with the press and vice versa, but they are not all 100% trustworthy.

BTW, apparently the press often shares things within the industry that they never expect to see published. Gossip about JFK's affairs is an example. Cub reporters were assigned to catch him in the act. It was the subject of gossip industry wide knowledge and never intended to reach public and it didn't, until well after he died. (One of the cub reporters who got assigned to follow JFK and thought he was going to break the story of the century, now an older man, of course, told this at some event C-Span carried.) Whether the secrecy would have been maintained in the era of changing ethics, cell phone video cameras and the internet is another issue, though.

[GreenEyedLefty]

9. Guess it wasn't quite so off-the-record, was it?

So why say it was. I swear the MSM is a pack of jackholes.

[johncoby2]

10. And the point is?

Kayne is a jackass.

[McCamy Taylor]

11. Can we get video? Something smells fishy here. I am betting he was joking.

[apnu]

24. Maybe, maybe not. Obama said in his book, Audacity of Hope...

... that he doesn't like the hip-hop culture. He even cited agreement with things that Bill Cosby has said about the culture. He doesn't like how messy it is and really doesn't like the baggy pants hanging down by the knees thing either. Obama said that he believes that it reinforces a negative sterotype of African Americans and hurts the cause of equality.

So its very possible that, in an unguarded moment, Obama said Kanye is a jackass.

Having said all that, Obama is a very cautious person and rarely makes a slip like this, so I'm inclined to believe that this story doesn't pass the smell test like you.

[sarah FAILIN]

55. I think it was more likely somene passing by overheard him talking to a confidante

And then repeated it. So what. Kanye seems to be the kind of guy that respects others so little that I wouldn't want my daughter involved with him in any way. Calling Kanye a jackass is the kindest thing you could call him.

[apnu]

96. So what indeed, this ant hill ain't a mountain. (nt)

[jhill3rd]

57. I'm sorry but,

have you ever seen the impact Kanye West has had on hip-hop culture? Your generalization of the culture is off the mark. I do agree parts of the culture does reinforce some negative stereotypes of black people, but not all. Kanye West is in fact an antithesis of those stereotypes. He doesn't where baggy clothes and his lyrical content is non-violent and thought provoking. He's become so influential on the culture with his style and lyrics that hip-hop is reversing those stereotypes.

I live hip-hop culture and a big Kanye fan. Is he a pompous jackass? Sure. But that's why I like him.

[AlbertCat]

71. Is he a pompous jackass? Sure. But that's why I like him.

Are you in the music industry? Do you work for him?

If the answers are "no"...then you have the luxury of "liking" the tiny bit of him you are allowed to see. I'll bet his stylist and make up artist don't like him.

[jhill3rd]

110. OK

And you have the luxury of disliking the tiny bit you are allowed to see. And?

[apnu]

97. Well I never said he was a jackass, I just said I could see where Obama might think that.

Just pointing out what Obama has said in his own book.

[jhill3rd]

111. My intention

was not to offend. My apologies. I was just pointing out that Kanye doesn't fit into what
Obama said are his reasons he doesn't like hip-hop culture.

[apnu]

114. This is true, however Kanye is, none the less, within the realm of hip-hop

I've always found "hip-hop" to be an overly broad description of a musical genre.

Kinda like calling Metallica, U2, and the Beatles "Rock" which I've seen people do, though I wouldn't.

However, there's no way you or I will ever know the truth about this banal, hyped, and probably misquoted media "story" regardless if Kanye is hip-hop, and if Obama likes or dislikes him.

[jhill3rd]

118. Amen

this story media sensationalism at its' worst.

[Ian David]

12. Looks like no more "off the record" comments to CNBC or ABC. n/t

[newtothegame]

13. Haha this surprises me. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

14. i'm curious at what people will say this time around

remember the hand-wringing on this site and elsewhere when Obama dared to comment on an even bigger jackass (the racial profiling cop in Cambridge)...What Kanye did was a dick move, but at least you can write that off to showbusiness...

[KeepItReal]

16. The title of the article should be "ABC's Terry Moran tweets off-the-record comment by Obama"

Which he un-Tweets and ABC apologizes for.

[FailureToCommunicate]

37. Agreed. "Off the record" used to mean something to ethical reporters (there are a few)

[No Elephants]

42. The journalist to whom the comment was made did not publish it. There have ALWAYS been leaks,

gossip, etc. The one who published it on Twitter is the one who did something new.

If I told you that I told a reporter something juicy off the record and was shocked and amazed that the remark was passed on to another reporter, you'd probably tell me to grow up or get a brain or something along those lines.

The real question here is why Obama felt compelled to make such a remark to a reporter.

[verges]

92. Nope.

Off the record means that it is not to be published. Black and white. If you gave an OTR comment, and it found it's way into the media, you would have every right to be pissed! And both the reporter whom you told and the reporter whom he told would both be violating ethics!! And if it's not clear, the first reporter for not making it clear to the second reporter that it was off the record.

[No Elephants]

99. I might be pissed, but I would not be surprised because reporters, like everyone else,

may gossip about a juicy remark made by the POTUS. The reporter was wrong, but Obama could have foreseen a leak. It's not as though they've never happened.

Over something like this, it would have been smarter to share his opinion that Kanye West is an ass with Michele or Gibbs or Biden, or just let it go.

Is it the end of the world? No. Was it necessary or advisable? Not that I can see. Would I rather that he had not done it? Yes.

[verges]

121. It's a point of ETHICS! Don't you understand that?

If a doctor or lawyer violate ethical rules, there's hell to pay. Is it okay for a doctor to gossip about your medical record? Of course not. And doctor's know this. Journalists are bound by ethical restraints; just as other professions are. They know this. And if they are still going to gossip, they still forward it with the phrase "off the record" the same as a doctor might gossip, but leave the patients name out. This is a basic tenet of Journalism taught to all cub reporters and in Journalism 101. And the penalty for violating this, is that your sources dry up because you've demonstrated that you cannot be trusted!

[No Elephants]

131. I've repeatedly said both reporters were wrong. Conversely, I never said either of them behaved

properly. Try reading for comprehension before you accuse someone else of not understanding ethics or confidentiality obligations.

And the employee's of hospitals, doctors and lawyers are never supposed to gossip about patients' info, either, any more than their employers are, but I've heard them. And, I know that doctors and lawyers gossip among themselves when they think no one outside their respective profession is listening, just as the original reporter did.

No one is supposed to rob a bank either. That does not mean I cannot predict that someone might rob a bank in the near future.

Acknowledging those realities does not mean I approve or that I am unaware of ethical responsiblities, confidentiality obligations, etc. Or that I approve of the breaches.

[robcon]

17. This may be Obama's "Sister Soulja' moment

He gains cred because of this.

[No Elephants]

29. IMO, this gains himcred only with those who already worship him.

If true, of course. Still waiting for something more than a tweet.

[robcon]

144. I disagree. It gains him cred with people who don't like him, but like West less.

n/t

[Algorem]

18. Barack Obama doesn't care about drunk people.

[tammywammy]

19. LOL

Thanks for the early morning chuckle.

[No Elephants]

30. Really? Then why comment? I never called anyone a jackass out of indifference.

[Bicoastal]

47. Lighten up, Francis

[No Elephants]

56. Calling me Francis is supposed to insult or demean me? Why?

[Bicoastal]

65. Are you one of those insufferable bores who refuses to absorb any non-political media?

Because it's all a distraction from the "real issues?"

It's a quote from a Bill Murray movie called "Stripes" and I bet you that (gasp) Barack Obama has seen it.

[lakercub]

80. heh

His response to your Stripes message was my last straw. His reactions in this thread have driven him to the ignore list. Good lord, 18 posts in a 70 post thread about Kanye West. Yikes!

[No Elephants]

101. Don't recall your posts, but I am honored to be on your ignore list.

BTW, did you count Bicoastal's posts too?

[No Elephants]

100. Again, twist much? (BTW, I saw Stripes, too, and I am grabbing a spatula rignt now.)

[WriteDown]

91. Haha, that is funny.

:)

[chelaque liberal]

20. So much worse than when Cheney

blurted out " go f--- yourself" at Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy on the Senate floor.

[mac56]

21. or when Dubya referred to Adam Clymer

as "a major league asshole" over a live mic.

edit - - - changed - - - I thought it was Dana Milbank.

[No Elephants]

38. Actually, the two have nothing in common, other than a "curse" word.

One was said in the heat of the moment, and in the course of government business. The other was a POTUS engaging in show biz gossip and snarking. No comparison.

Good lord. I have NEVER compared Cheney favorably to anyone or anything, animal or mineral, before. But, I find it difficult to let false equivalencies go without comment.

[endarkenment]

61. jackass is now a curse word?

really? Care to tell us why? Is assassinate also a curse word? How asinine can you be, all in one thread?

Asshat: now that is a curse word.

[No Elephants]

103. Um, I did put it in quotation marks. But tell me, besides each of those remarks containing a

word some might consider vulgar, what does the cheney remark you cited have in common with this remark to a reporter?

As to asshat, I tend to agree.

[endarkenment]

130. I cited nothing about cheney. Jackass is not foul language.

It is descriptive, comparing the behavior of a human to an animal known for its stubborn stupidity. Claiming that Obama used a 'curse' word is ignorant. Your persistence in this thread in claiming there is some embarrassing error by Obama here borders on stubborn ignorance.

[No Elephants]

134. Again, there was a reason for the quotation marks. I don't consider jackass a curse word. Many do.

It is a descriptor, but a subjective and pejorative one, not factual or neutral.

While not technically a curse or a swear in everyone's mind, some people consider language that should not be used in polite discourse. Others do not cconsider acceptable in all circumstances. As just one example, I don't think many moms would relish having their seven year old "describe" a neighbor as a jackass when the neighbor might hear.

My persistence on this thread is in part due to the way I approach any thread on which I post, as I explained that in a post on this thread to Bicoastal. And is also in part due to the fact that I have been responding to many posts to me, such as yours.

Opinions on message boards differ. That is simply the nature of message boards. Maybe you can accept that without getting incensed, or making personal attacks on those who have a different opinion than yours and don't back down simply because your subjective opinion of an event is different from theirs.

[SnowCritter]

22. Calling Kanye West a jackass

is an insult to jackasses.

[shadowknows69]

23. If he called a republican a jackass he'd have to resign

[SpiralHawk]

27. That's because 'jackass' is inaccurate. The Republicon Homelanders are assholes

...as all Americans know too well.

[shadowknows69]

28. And about a thousand other terms that decorum and upbringing prevents me from saying

[bluestateguy]

31. Obama is friendly with Jay Z

Beyonce's husband, and Kanye embarassed Beyonce, and she clearly disapproved of his childish actions.

The Obama daughters are big Beyonce fans.

[No Elephants]

35. All that would explain everything, if Obama were Lynn Spears instead of

a mature POTUS and he worked for a record company or Inside Edition, instead of for the people of the United States, who rather desperately need health care reform right now. And it isn't even as though Kanye dissed Beyonce. He said she made the greatest video. Not that the last pont matters, given the point made in my first sentence.

Again, for the sake of discussion, I am assuming this really happened. I don't think we should take a tweet to the bank for any other purpose, though.

[mac56]

36. I gotta know...

How do you foresee this comment becoming the one that scuttles health care reform?

[No Elephants]

39. I gotta know....where did I say that this comment was THE one that would

scuttle health care reform? Or that it would scuttle health care reform at all? Twist much?

[mac56]

41. "(He works for) the people of the United States,

who rather desperately need health care reform right now."

The reference is yours. I presume you thought it was directly at risk due to the "controversy".

[No Elephants]

105. It's a needless distraction from an important issue. It is also fodder for people to attack him. I

am very much opposed to worrying about attacks from media or rethugs, if you believe you are doing the right thing. However, for something like this? Unnecessary.

[The Green Manalishi]

142. I understand your concern, that as a tactical issue it *could* be a mistake,

but I think it was planned. And has worked well.
Harry Truman was blunt and could drop an F-bomb or two; but he GOT THINGS DONE, including delivering a nice ass whooping to Wendell Wilkie. I think a lot of people in the middle need to know that the president knows a jackass when he sees one. It brings him down from the ivory tower to where a lot of Americans actually communicate. As a previous poster mentioned, the President is no fan of hip-hop culture, and that is not a Bad Thing in a tactical or strategic sense.

It will play well with more (and more crucial) segments of the population than it will piss off. And it was the right thing to do, in my opinion and probably that of a good many other people. If I had the time a poll might be interesting.

On the surface it seems a silly thing, but I do not believe it was by accident; this administration would never let a good chance for symbolism go by.

respectfully :-)

[Bicoastal]

44. Barack Obama IS human, ya know.

Like the rest of us, he must take breaks occasionally. And on those breaks, he probably occasionally takes a brief gander at issues going on outside of the realm of politics. Or maybe it was his daughters who saw the broadcast and told him what happened. Either way, why do you blame him for knowing about it? If somebody ASKED him about it, seemingly in private, why not answer back?

I have full confidence Obama has been working hard over the last few months. But must the President be a hermit locked in a room, with legislation shoved under the doorway, to keep him unaware of the outside world and thus somehow "pure?" I don't think so.

As far as controversies go, this is pretty lame.

[Bette Noir]

50. Mr. President is a human being, not a robot to be trotted out

only on occasions of State. If he wants to weigh in on a bit of contemporary gossip, let him.

Besides, the only person in this world who doesn't think Kanye is a jackass is Kanye, and that's debatable.

Since Kanye spoiled the moment for a white, teen-aged country singer, Obama's comment might soften the hearts of a teabagger or two.

[No Elephants]

107. No one said he should be trotted out only on state occasions or that he is not human. I am not

suggesting we confine him to quarters until the next state of the union or that we tar and feather him. I simply disagreed with those who thought this remark was commendable. There is a lot of territory between those two positions.

[JonQ]

33. I think that's a sentiment that people of all political flavors

can endorse.

[No Elephants]

40. Maybe if it had come from Entertainment Tonight or Carson Daly, instead of from

the POTUS. Do we really more ways to have Obama mocked, or more distractions right now?

[JonQ]

104. Never said that he was right to get involved

merely that his take on it is likely to be supported by many.

Personally I think he should have stayed out of it, this is below the presidents office.

[No Elephants]

109. No, you never did. And we agree that this remark would better have been left

unsaid, at least as far as a reporter. I said only that I might have been able to support Obama's comment if it had come from somewhere else. While Beyonce's video probably was better, it was not the time or the place for Kanye to say what he said (which, now that I've typed it, seems similar to my comment about Obama's remark to the reporter).

[Bodhi BloodWave]

123. Since this was supposed to be off the record

Considering his answer, i would assume he was asked what he thought about Kanye's comment/behavior last night. If i am correct in that, what exactly should he have said?

Would you rather that he lied or said 'no comment' to a rather trivial and silly question about a musician that actually was acting like a jackass

[dbmk]

51. Just in:

Obama hates black people too.

[thereismore]

58. He can safely call him a jackass because they're both African American. If he'd said it about

a white repig, the teevee would rip him to shreds and force him to apologize.

[jhill3rd]

112. 100% Agree

[apnu]

116. Yup, the double standard of race is alive and well in America (nt)

[AlbertCat]

62. Well Kanye certainly got the publicity he was seeking.

His music must suck if he has to resort to these tactics.

[CJCRANE]

70. Are Twitter and Facebook going to be the source for all Fox News headlines?

:shrug:

[AlbertCat]

75. Are Twitter and Facebook going to be the source for all Fox News headlines? Posted by CJCRANE

They're not already?

Along with Nostradamus.

[Richd506]

73. It's off the record so I'm not worrried about it

Besides, Kanye West kind of had it coming. He's a very arrogant person...

[verges]

78. Bit of a breach of journalistic ethics there.

Do they not know what "off the record" means! Somebody should get fired for this, and an apology given to Obama.

[The Backlash Cometh]

84. Yes, but wasn't that a lovely moment between Beyonce and Taylor Swift?

Makes you realize that it's the Jackasses like Kanye that force the best out of some of us.

[TankLV]

86. Oh oh, how long before obama APOLOGIZES - again?!!!

[Demit]

93. I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread! Esp. the posters who have their reaction all mapped out

for "if it actually happened." I have never seen such swagger and aggressiveness and time devoted to a truly trivial matter. Somebody needs a more calming hobby.

[CTyankee]

102. My thoughts as well. It just isn't that big a deal, altho on balance Obama

should probably not weigh in but if he was asked, well,then he's in a bit of a quandary.

[David__77]

106. He's right lol...

There's no harm in this comment - it's absolutely true!

[jhill3rd]

108. This just in!! Black male president calls black male celebrity a jackass!!

And here we go again. sigh...

I'm just going to come out and say it: the American media plays us for the fool. By us, I mean black men. I'm sure there has been plenty of times Obama has had a few choice off-the-record words for Republicans and there ilk, but that will never get reported. Wanna know why? Because it doesn't have the right visuals: Black tension.

Let me explain. The American media has perceptions to maintain. Some of their greatest hits are cops are never wrong and the urgency of finding missing cute girls(see Nancy Grace). The most insidious perception media thrust upon the American populace is black aggression. We see this in our newspapers and news stations everyday. It's unavoidable. The black aggression meme is even more juicy when opposing aggressions collide creating tension. And this situation is exactly what this is. With two extremely high profile black men who's actions appear to be anger, the media couldn't pass this up.

What frustrates me the most about this sensationalized BS that it doesn't matter what Obama or West said, whether right or wrong, it's 100% negative. Period. These types of stories always are. I know will be flamed for this but, I had to get it off my chest.

[ShortnFiery]

113. + 1

We (the USA populace) must resist latching-on to any tripe "news story" that the M$M hands us.

Well put. :toast:

[jhill3rd]

117. Thanks :)

[PurityOfEssence]

115. The microphone is ALWAYS ON

Public figures need to embrace this dangerous reality. Just like Jesse Jackson learned when he mused about de-narding Obama, ALL celebrities, elected officials and other prominent people need to know this: when you're near a camera or a microphone, it's best to assume it's on.

As for West, it was certainly tacky, and in moments like these, I feel some true authenticity from our President. West was mean, snotty, arrogant, demeaning, hostile and childish.

Our leaders need to be careful; we all pay for their mistakes, and the President needs to be the consummate showman.

[Myrina]

119. West IS a jackass. He was acting like a whiny teabagger.

"I didn't get what I want, so I'm going to make a mess of the entire evening! Waaaaah."

[wordpix]

125. well, our new green jobs director was sacked for calling repigs a-holes

which they are, absolutely.

So WTF is the big effing deal?

[jillan]

127. IF this is true - JACKASS is too kind of a word.

Kanye needs to take a breather and realize he is not better than anyone else.

[Hippo_Tron]

133. Alternative headline: "Obama says that the sky is blue"

[SomeGuyInEagan]

136. There are *NO* off-the-record comments when reporters are around.

Everybody of any success knows that. This was planned. To what end, I do not know. But this was planned.

[mlevans]

138. Much ado about nothing.

[backwoodsbob]

140. listening at woek today

even the repukes were laughing about what the President said.

I think this is going to be a big net positive for him

[SlingBlade]

141. From what I saw of his interview on Lino

He would probably agree.

He seems more than repentant and introspective

I think the media has bigger fish to fry than this