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First Nixon, now Obama: The 'enemies list' grows
Joseph Gasser
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Commentary
During Richard Nixon's first term, his staff compiled what is now informally known as the 'enemies list.' The list comprised those individuals or organizations that were perceived as opponents of the president, and it was intended, in the words of the White House Counsel's office, to "screw" those opponents through tax audits and other government manipulation. Nixon's administration rightly drew criticism for his enemies list, which was, frankly, despotically un-American and an egregious example of bad politics.
Surely, President Barack Obama, the historic symbol of post-partisan politics and the supposed enemy of 'business as usual' would be the exact opposite of Nixon. Through high-flown language and airy assurances, we were led to believe that Obama was open to dialogue, competition of ideas, civil debate and bipartisanship. It appears not, because this president has got an enemies list of his own, and it's growing.
First on Obama's enemy list is Fox News. Here is a quote from the president in a Feb. 3 interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace: "I think it's fair to say that I don't always get my most favorable coverage on Fox, but that's part of how a democracy is supposed to work. We're not all supposed to be in lock step here." This was the Obama that many Americans voted for. He treated Fox News, whose editorial programming often finds fault with his policies, fairly and legitimately, as a president of a democratic republic must. But as his approval ratings fell, Obama did an about-face and decided to demonize his sometime critics at Fox. On Oct. 11, Obama's White House communications director Anita Dunn, who cited Mao Zedong as one of her favorite political philosophers, had this to say about Fox: "It's opinion journalism masquerading as news." The next weekend, Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and political advisor David Axelrod appeared on two different Sunday morning talk shows to articulate the White House's new position: "It's not a news station so much as it has a perspective," and "They're not really a news station," respectively. Just last weekend, the White House attempted to exclude Fox News from interviewing 'pay czar' Kenneth Feinberg. That is, until the other reputable news organizations protested Fox's exclusion and refused to provide coverage until Fox was allowed back into the press pool.
Surely, President Barack Obama, the historic symbol of post-partisan politics and the supposed enemy of 'business as usual' would be the exact opposite of Nixon. Through high-flown language and airy assurances, we were led to believe that Obama was open to dialogue, competition of ideas, civil debate and bipartisanship. It appears not, because this president has got an enemies list of his own, and it's growing.
First on Obama's enemy list is Fox News. Here is a quote from the president in a Feb. 3 interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace: "I think it's fair to say that I don't always get my most favorable coverage on Fox, but that's part of how a democracy is supposed to work. We're not all supposed to be in lock step here." This was the Obama that many Americans voted for. He treated Fox News, whose editorial programming often finds fault with his policies, fairly and legitimately, as a president of a democratic republic must. But as his approval ratings fell, Obama did an about-face and decided to demonize his sometime critics at Fox. On Oct. 11, Obama's White House communications director Anita Dunn, who cited Mao Zedong as one of her favorite political philosophers, had this to say about Fox: "It's opinion journalism masquerading as news." The next weekend, Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and political advisor David Axelrod appeared on two different Sunday morning talk shows to articulate the White House's new position: "It's not a news station so much as it has a perspective," and "They're not really a news station," respectively. Just last weekend, the White House attempted to exclude Fox News from interviewing 'pay czar' Kenneth Feinberg. That is, until the other reputable news organizations protested Fox's exclusion and refused to provide coverage until Fox was allowed back into the press pool.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Mark
posted 10/29/09 @ 10:42 AM EST
Once again, I love the article this week Joe. Great use of facts regarding Obama. There is no doubt he is becoming a huge Hypocrite in regards to what he pledged during the campaign and the trash he is doing now. (Continued…)
Jujube
posted 10/29/09 @ 10:42 AM EST
You really ought to be a letter to the editor writer and not a featured commentary writer. You fall into one of those sensationalist talking heads categories where you are inflammatory rants masquerading as real commentary. (Continued…)
faithl17
FLM
posted 10/29/09 @ 7:52 PM EST
This is the third of these slanderous "commentary" pieces you've written, and the third that has been hugely offensive. You seem to take such joy, pride even, in criticizing our President. (Continued…)
Virginia Independent
posted 10/30/09 @ 9:51 AM EST
My conviction is that few rational people take Mr. Gasser or his "commentaries" seriously. He surely does NOT speak FOR intelligent conservatives but TO the wingnut faction in American Politics. (Continued…)
Kim O'Brien
posted 10/30/09 @ 3:52 PM EST
What was revealed at the end of the Nixon Administration was the use of dirty tricks against his political opponents and that his list had grown to include his "loyal oppostion" in the Democratic Party. (Continued…)
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