The only people who haven't sacrificed in this economy are Chuck Todd and the media elite. Hell lots of rank and file reporters have lost their jobs lately, but the Chuck Todds of the world keep on collecting their big pay checks.

Chuck is living in a bubble with the rest of the beltway bobble heads.

Do you get the feeling the press is just now getting up to the level where they could handle Bush at a press conference? I suspect it will be another 7 years before they fully understand who Obama is and that they need to adjust the approach/questions accordingly.

Talk about slow on the uptake....

"they're missing: these are different kinds of crises"

I say this to the point that I'm bored typing it, but this has nothing to do with the press being too dumb to get the distinction.

The press grills Democrats and gives Republicans a pass.

Sipmle as that!

OK - Simple as that!

Where was Chuck during the Bush years? We've asked taxpayers to help pay for the mess created during the deregulation fiasco. He's going to ask those earning over $200,000 to return to tax rates at the beginning of the Bush era.

Todd may be a fine election analyst but he's a bust in understanding what's happening in the real world.

He might set an example and make a personal sacrifice by resigning.

Let's see.

Pension to be significantly reduced starting April 1. Check.

IRA busted. Check.

Gas prices started back up. Check.

Food prices on the rise. Check.

Etc. etc.

And I'm one of the "lucky" ones.

Maybe the press corpses (yep) need to join in w/ the "sacrifices" most of the rest of us are already making -- involuntarily.

o
o

This inane question shows, as much as anything, the complete disgrace that is the national press corps. The proper answer to this question would have been, "That's the stupidest question I've ever heard, you stupid fucking moron." Alas, press conference decorum prevents such an answer. Too bad.

Something's gotta give in these difficult times. I'm giving up Chuck Todd for my country.

(Actually, he's one of the better ones...usually. He did all right during election season.)

I think Todd's question means that Obama needs to work harder to make sure the middle/lower classes (that he correctly points out are already getting socked by the economic downturn) accept their fate like the good little folk they are.

You see, it's so unfair that all the recent talk has been about how the superwealthy corporate elite (i.e,, white collar criminals) must "sacrifice" their huge gains in the face of this crises.

Todd's just playing the good mouthpiece for his corporate overlords. After all, who among us doesn't want a house on the Vineyard?

The DC elites in the media have been out of touch with mainstream America since the Clinton administration. America loved Clinton and the Clinton economy. The elite media loathed Clinton and never got the script.

When a prominent member of the establishment media asks a patently stupid question, is it usually for one of two reasons: the reporter is stupid; or the reporter is advancing a meme he got in a background conversation with a Republican.

If I had to guess, I would say Todd's question is a result of the latter. The thing the GOP fears more than anything else is that Obama will succeed in fixing the economy, and that Americans will decide it's a good thing for the government to help people when they can't help themselves. For example, if the government can actually get people working again, and get the economy moving again, maybe "government-run health care" won't be dystopian nightmare that Republicans say it will be. And then, maybe the American people will start to want government to do other things for them, like keeping lead paint out of toys, or making sure their food is safe to eat. And maybe the American people will decide that it's okay to expect government to pay for all that stuff.

So, when Chuck Todd asks Obama why he hasn't demanded more sacrifice from the American people, he probably means "why haven't you told the American people not to expect government to help them in a time of crisis? Why not just hand them a pair of bootstraps and wish them luck?"

Todd's question, along with all the other projecting Republicans have been doing lately, fits in with their everybody-does-it mantra. The greater strategy is to suggest that if there is no other difference between the Dems and the Reps, at least the Reps call for lower taxes and less government.

But lower taxes and less government led to greater division of wealth and a whole host of disasters from the Katrina levees and the Minneapolis bridge to the economic meltdown and the lead paint toys and toxic foods.

So where is the sacrifice? I would advise Todd to avoid carrots, since he can't tell his ass from a hole in the ground.

Seems to me what the press corpse (deliberate spelling) is incapable of recognizing is the difference between VOLUNTARY sacrifice (the thing Bush failed to ask the nation to do) and INVOLUNTARY sacrifice, where millions have already lost a tremendous amount and without being asked if they objected.

Despite his mostly brilliant analysis in 2008, could Todd actually dumber than a box of oacks in his his present role?

In this context, "sacrifice" is Beltway/GOP dog whistling coding.

It means getting rid of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

The sacrifice Todd is demanding Americans to make is to give up their pensions. And, by the gutting of health care, their lives.

Teo relieve, as Scrooge put it, the surplus population.

This was literally the question that made me turn off the television. Obama was doing a fine job of the whole thing, but the questions coming from the press corps were too stupid to listen to.

I suppose at some level Beltway reporters are ashamed of their cowardice during the Bush years so they want to lokk ( in their own eyes) tough and challenging now. It is hard to be tough and challegning is one is pretty ignorant and out of touch so they fall back on asking the questions they should have asked Bush.

Mr. Todd belongs to a class which has long believed (and, for the most part, they are correct in that belief) that they can (and should) somehow avoid said "sacrifice" via various loopholes.

I'm starting to think Josh Marshall is wrong. The press corps is not in fact wired for Republicanism.

They get all turned on for talk of National Sacrifice. They worship at the feet of military leaders. They dismiss civil liberty concerns out of hand.

The media is in fact wired for fascism.

I have been trying to find on the NBC website a way to contact this dope. Does anyone have an email address for him?

I realize libs have a hard time figuring out answers to simple questions, so let me help.

Todd was asking when Obama would ask Hollywood celebrities to sacrifice instead of running their mouths and displaying their ignorance. Time to give up a Prius or two for the public good, tree huggers.

He wasn't talking about minorities who irresponsibly took on mortgages they couldn't handle or factory workers who were dumb enough to get jobs at companies that went down.

Duh.

Todd's question was perhaps the stupidest that I have ever heard at a presidential press conference. The very nature of a deep recession entails harsh and involuntary sacrifices of a large swath of the populace.

Obama did a good job of showing respect for people he disagrees with. Except for the legitimate question regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the press demonstrated how hollow, thoughtless and inbred they are. Hopefully, the country took notice of the environment Obama operates in and will give him support. And, maybe, at some point in the future, the press will start acting in such a way as to give credit to their constitutional protection.

Since everyone in the press corps (with a couple noble exceptions) pretty much just postures for the camera and has entirely vapid thoughts, why aren't they called "Washington celebrities" instead of "journalists"?

It's a setup to fail, win-win for the media and the GOP. upChuck implies Obama's not being straight with the American public; therefore some baaaaad mojo is coming around the corner and our glorious leader's not prepping us for an upcoming fall. Never mind there's no evidence of it, damn it man, there's shenanigans to insinuate...

BUT...

Were Obama to actually offer some specifics as to how "regular" Americans can make more sacrifices, the media will lead the charge of "how...DARE YOU, SIR? Mister President, haven't the people sacrificed enough? FOR YOU AND YOUR SO-CALLED STIMULUS PLAN?"

And dill-holes like upChuck Todd will be amongst the first.

Christ, the eat-your-vegetables caucus (the DC political-media establishment that always bitches about people not doing enough - sacrificing SS, health benefits, kids in stupid wars - and shows how ignorant it is) has now turned into the eat-shit caucus, because that's what the media is telling the public.

How big of an asshole do you have to be to think that American people aren't already sacrificing? Apparently, you have to be a Chuck Todd-sized asshole.

Americans have suffered and sacrificed for the last eight goddamn years.

I have no use for Millionaire Moralism.

Todd may get to ask our President 30 or 40 questions at a news conference throughout his entire career. One of those opportunities was used to advance the Bush equivalence meme for a very small audience, composed mostly of Republican Villagers. So, the interesting question is why he would choose to use his moment in the sun for such a purpose.

Zoomie above and ROF @ 8:44 reflect my sentiment!

The Washington press corps needs to get out and discover what it is to live 24/7 in the hinterland. Sacrifice is everywhere, and has been for the past two years - yeah, that's two years!

Living only in the immediate media cycle, journalists like Todd sometimes get caught up in their perceived story-lines, instead of simply allowing themselves to investigate the real story.

We Americans, at least my neighbors, loved ones and friends, have at first given up that easy meal we would justify if convenience served us, then we didn't top the gas tank off when out for the next time, then we put a few things on the credit card at the end of the month because we were a bit short and Mary needed shoes, then we made sure we lived the winter in warmer clothes (four layers instead of three) so we could pay the monthly energy bill, then we stopped going to the doctor because even though we have health insurance we can't afford the $20 co-payment at the same rate we had been because we don't have it at the ready anymore, then Joey broke his arm in PE at school and between the doctor's visits, castings and other interventions we are now in the red with our medical budget, then . . . .

The current economic downward spiral began two years ago American Washington Press Corps. Do your research before you ask such a stupid question next time Chuck Todd! -Kevo

This question was silly, but what about all the deficit/debt questions? These clowns were completely silent while Bush was turning growing surpluses into growing deficits. But now that Obama is trying to turn growing deficits into shrinking deficits they're all over him. Insanity.

Well, didn't Chuck have to give up his nylon panty hose, while others still get their rationing stamps?

U.S. diplomats, after serving tours of duty, are rotated out to the "heartland," in large part to get them back in touch with regular people. Beltway journalists should all be required to serve a couple of years in Boise, or Memphis, or Kansas City, or Raleigh, etc. every so often, to bring them back in touch with reality.

Beltway journalists should all be required to serve a couple of years in Boise, or Memphis, or Kansas City, or Raleigh, etc. every so often, to bring them back in touch with reality.

Hey, it's a little difficult for the Villagers to understand what sacrifice means, considering that the previous President defined it as "go shopping."

Steve:

I'm going to disagree with you and your readers. This is the PERFECT time to ask people to conserve energy and recycle. It's a sacrifice that EVERYONE can do and it will reduce our dependence on foreighn oil and domestic coal.

And what about asking the SUV generattion to give up their low mileage clunkers and purchase an American higher mileage vehicle? This is, again, a useful and smart sacrifice.

Maybe the Washington Monthly can start this campaign.

If I remember correctly, Chuck Todd asked an inane question at Obama's FIRST presser, too. Three strikes and he oughtta be OUT.

Okay. I sacrificed at least a third of the value of my investment and retirement accounts.

I made half the income in 2008 that I did in 2007.
I'm not taking a vacation, not buying any clothes, books, cds, or other discretionary items this year.
My kids aren't going to summercamp.
My 9 year old car is going to have to do for another year or so.
I won't go to the Don Henley concert. Or any other concert this year. Or any plays. Forgive me, but I did take my kids to see Coraline this past month.
I don't go out to eat anymore. I feed my kids GENERIC macaroni and cheese once a week.
I'm trapped in my 20K per annum health insurance because of pre existing conditions.
I just canceled my whole life insurance policy.

Yes, you're so right Mr. Fuckwit. I should sacrifice more. I should be the one to pay more taxes right? Let's put off that health plan thing for another generation. I don't mind my health care constituting half my monthly expenditures! I don't need no stinking federal handouts, welfare, whathave you!

Now do you get it you fuckwit? Mr. Chuck Todd? Do you get that we have already sacrificed? That maybe it's time for the coddled top 5 percent in this country to sacrifice? God, the political discourse in this country is so fucking inane.

Oops..foreign. Darn typos.

Oooh I know - Go shopping - the ultimate sacrifice as posited by the illustrious GW Bush. as ajaye sez fuckwits all of them

"Sacrifice" is for the proles.
Now open up another bubbly, Jeeves.

My initial blog notes on this weren't far from the general WTF interpretation, but after sleeping on it, it might be possible that Todd was talking about volunteerism during a crisis - - kind of in line with Obama's inauguration speech. But if that were his intent, it was fairly obscure; if he wanted to bat a fungo to Obama, that wasn't a fungo.

Not ot feed the trolls ...but I had to respond to Mike
"He wasn't talking about minorities who irresponsibly took on mortgages they couldn't handle or factory workers who were dumb enough to get jobs at companies that went down"
I will gladly watch as you or any of your relatives turn down any form of public assitance when their jobs go south or their medical insurance is cancelled. Your are just a mean and nasty individual who harbors nothing but hate in his soul.

I'm starting to think Josh Marshall is wrong. The press corps is not in fact wired for Republicanism.
...
The media is in fact wired for fascism.

They're wired for hierarchy and the obvious, heavy-handed use of power, which makes them pretty well wired for Republicanism, and for encroaching fascism (although I'm sure they'd eventually notice it and start to object once it was too late). They like structure, knowing who's in charge and who they should listen to-- since GOPers do a lot more messaging and meme development than Democrats (i.e., they create simple, easily digestible narratives and feed them to the press, which saves many boring hours analyzing policy), from the media's perspective they are always in charge or at least very close to regaining control. The parties, think tanks, lobbying, and all the other heavily institutional stuff helps, too.

The media is in fact wired for fascism.

Yep. Very clear in 2002-2004.

Let me preface this by saying I regard the Bush presidency as a train wreck; dishonest, criminal and incompetent.

I know many who ridicule Bush's advice following 9/11 to "go shopping". It sounded ridiculous, of course, but don't you believe he was just concerned about the economy stalling more than it had?

I just got off the NBC webpage with the article about Obama's speech last night. Reading the comments was something of an awakening. I know that there are many absolute fools out there, but I had no idea of how many. These are, for the most part, literate, educated people, but their inability to analyze situations rather than think in bumper stickers put out by Rove & Co. leaves you dumbfounded.

Actually, he's one of the better ones...usually. -Shortstop

In the post conference circle jerk on MSNBC, Todd was waxing stupidly with Matthews about how Obama needed to spend his political capital now; he said the Bush administration was a warning because Bush never used his political capital or the bully pulpit to push things through congress.

I got laid off my job more than 4 weeks ago. I live in the rust belt. I'm...not young. I'm basically rethinking most of my employment options. I think I've sacrificed enough. I'm attempting to keep a positive attitude about things. Part of me, frankly is scared sh*tless.

I've cut my budget to the bone. I count almost every purchase I make. My girlfriend got an $8000 pay cut out of a $50,000 job a couple of months ago. We now shop by going for the absolutely least expensive, but healthy, products.

Chuck Todd should remember the telling stat that the president has referred to more than once - during the last 8 years the average American wage was FLAT. I'm sure that when he became the NBC White House correspondent that Chuck's pay didn't go up....yea, I believe that...

So Chuck - what the f*ck are YOU sacrificing??

That question feeds into the notion that the media has of the general public, that we lack critical thinking skills. The press, of course, has no role in the fact that the American public has been fed their news in 30 second segments for the last 10 years. And they lead with the most explosively loud headline to gain that critical mass to show advertisers that they have the most viewers.

It is a business. And they are now forced to compete with cable TV for advertsing dollars.

The people that understood how patronizing the questions was really don't need Chuck Dodd to figure out what is going on. He is focused on the people that don't pay much attention to this stuff. The people who are sitting in their barcaloungers blinking and looking around trying to figure out what happened to their jobs and 401K's. You know, those people that slapped yellow magnetic ribbons on their cars secure in the knowledge that their kid isn't the one getting shot at.

People who post on this board knew this was coming. A good portion of America did not which is why Bush tried so hard to kick the financial implosion down the block and why the
GOP is trying to tie this to Obama. But the guy is having none of it. And he knows how to fight back. And the GOP just keeps looking like fools. It has worked for so long that they don't know how to do anything else but blame the Dems.

Good rebuttal by Jindel though...Did anyone watch??? Did anyone but NBC who had Eric Cantor this morning on even report on Jindel silliness??

It sounded ridiculous, of course, but don't you believe he was just concerned about the economy stalling more than it had?

I think he was concerned that someone might ask him to do the hard things that would slow economic damage -- regulate, pay as you go, ask the top half of one percent or so of earners to forgo obscene tax cuts -- and telling people to go buy stuff was the only thing he could say that wouldn't upset his viciously self-centered base. Perhaps he was "concerned" in his disengaged, short-attention-span way about the economy stalling. He just didn't have what it takes to do the right things to fix it.

In the post conference circle jerk on MSNBC, Todd was waxing stupidly with Matthews about how Obama needed to spend his political capital now; he said the Bush administration was a warning because Bush never used his political capital or the bully pulpit to push things through congress.

No doubt he was (I couldn't bear to watch it). And he's still one of the better ones among the MSM. Ain't it a disgrace? ;)

Mike K is the stupid troll, Myke K is a performance arteest. ;)

Your are just a mean and nasty individual who harbors nothing but hate in his soul.

Typical liberal, responding to factual arguments with ad hominem attacks.

Oops, few typos there. Chuck Todd...

The US press corps is ALWAYS fighting the last war (and the two or three before that as well). Most of them simply aren't especially wise or knowledgeable. All the concerns they failed to raise during Bush's administration, all of the abuses of power and unconstitutional actions that they failed to notice, they are going to unleash on Obama with abandon.

Just as for decades the media couldn't deal with a scandal without calling it "something-gate"*, we are going to spend the next twenty years examining both sides of every stone for Bush-type misbehavior and incompetence. Just wait until Obama has to send the military somewhere new.

(Did anyone notice how the superabundance of Bush scandals and screw-ups finally made it impossible and undesirable to add the "-gate" suffix to "the latest Bush inanity/policy/scandal"? That and the partial demise of telemarketing will be his only positive contributions.)

Community organizer Obama knows how to get people that don't want to do what they have to do...to do it. That is the role of a community organizer, articulate what the problems are, manage expectations and rally the troops behind the idea. Persist with the plan throught the short term pain to the change that results.

Thank God we went with the community organizer this time and not the "MBA"

Typical liberal, responding to factual arguments with ad hominem attacks.
Posted by: Myke K on March 25, 2009 at 10:42 AM
*********************************

Proclaims Myke K., as he uses the words 'liberal' and "typical" pejoratively to respond with an ad hominem attack. Way to go Mykey boy!

(Actually, he's one of the better ones...usually. He did all right during election season.)
Posted by: shortstop

Bullshit. The disappointment in his voice was palpable on election night as Obama began to rack up victories in red states, and he realized McCain wasn't going to pull an upset. I never understood those on the left who were happy to hear he'd be the new NBC White House correspondent. I was terribly disappointed, and this is a prime example of why. As noted above by msmolly, this is the second presser in a row in which Chuck Todd asked the most ridiculous question of the evening. Three strikes, and he should be out. But hack journalism isn't baseball. It's all about collecting scalps.

Typical liberal, responding to factual arguments with ad hominem attacks.
Myke K
You must be one of them there college edjewcted fellers usin them 10 dollar words...and how come you spell yer name like one of them Hollywood glam boys...

It means getting rid of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

This. The media and other elites are obsessed with the idea that lower- and middle-class people should be forced to give up any gains they've made since FDR. That's the "sacrifice" they want us to make: give up any hope of having a reasonably comfortable and healthy retirement so the elites don't have to pay taxes towards it.

The irony is that Obama is the one who should be telling Americans to go shopping.

My guess would be that Todd was suggesting some sort of volunteerism. Personally, I agree. I think it would be a good idea for the administration to lean back on the campaign's ability to network and mobilize neighborhoods for GOTV and redirect this force towards helping those hurting the most right now.
While the truth is that many in America are already sacrificing, many others aren't. And resources are scarce.

BD,

Regarding volunteerism -- we need paying jobs with health insurance, not more charity. Volunteers hurt job seekers. Calling for more volunteers sends the wrong message.

Obama's proposing to double the size of the Jobs Corps which offers low-paying jobs and educational benefits. I think that's the way to go. Add in universal health coverage and we've got something to build on.

People don't want to be lining up at food kitchens to get handed sandwiches by their neighbors unless things have gotten really desperate.

A woman I know got laid off a couple of weeks ago. Her husband, my best friend for the last thirty years, was laid off in September and hasn't found work since. Giving up all of their income would seem to me to be quite a significant sacrifice, but since it wasn't requested by the President, it apparently doesn't count.

This is what I mean about getting rid of 40 years of fascism being hard when you do it non-violently. For people under about their early 50s, there has never been anything they've been aware of but a dominant and aggressive fascist movement defining the political discourse, with we anti-fascists being mostly on the defensive during that time. So they "think" like Todd thinks. In fact, for all of them under about 35, they mostly don't really know how to think critically, since their formative education years were in the time of "whole reading" where they never learned to really read, which means they never learned to really think - this is now a huge problem in the country, since the leading edge of that population of semi-literates is now moving into leadership positions for their generation. (No, all of you under 35 aren't "semi-literate," there are those who got educated in spite of the b.s., but you're a minority - a valued minority, but a minority nonetheless, and there are a lot of folks over 50 who are also semi-literate due to the education "reforms" of the 50s and 60s)

But my point is that these people like Todd don't even know that they ingested all that far right bullshit that surrounded them all their lives - it was "there," it was "natural." And they need to be finally educated (not "re-educated," since they were never educated to begin with)

Myke K said "workers who were stupid enough to get jobs at companies that went down"....

Som Mykie-boy, what kind of great job do you have? The standard-issue Far Right Dittohead generally has some dead-end job at a company in danger of "going down." I love how guys like you love to defend the people who bent you over, pulled your pants down, and "did you" repeatedly. Ol' Massa loves them loyal chillen, y'know???

e-mail for Chuck Todd:

Chuck.Todd@nbcnews.com

My god, what on earth was Dodd thinking?
------------------------------------------
I'd have asked him:
'What did you have in mind Chris?'

What haven't Americans already sacrificed?

Millions of Americans folks are working two, three jobs to make ends meet. They can't give their kids that new computer or outfit for school. Those who do still have a home and job are losing sleep over whether or not they'll lose their home or job. With one expected illness, a whole family is thrown into chaos and debt they see no recovery from.

If you'd like, Chris--I'll be happy to share some of the tragic letters I read daily
about those who are literally hanging on by thread..

Or--maybe I misunderstand you. Now, if you're talking about those whose lives have in recent years been marked by greed and entitlement--those at the top 2-3% of the income bracket who enjoyed lower tax rates, those on wall street and in the banking industry who have reveled with years of million dollar bonuses and salaries and golden parachutes--, well, yes, they do need to sacrifice. They need to play it more fair, and we intend to do everything we can to ensure they do.

Sorry, not Chris Dodd--meant to say Chuck Todd!

Sound alike, but hopefully they don't have much in common! :)

The press wants Obama to say he is going to cut entitlements. Social Security in particular.

Hmm. Perhaps the subtext to this is 'Americans should sacrifice by giving up some of their promised future entitlements'?

I never understood those on the left who were happy to hear he'd be the new NBC White House correspondent.

It's probably a good idea to point out here that when I call a member of the cable/network MSM better than other members of the c/n MSM, it doesn't constitute praise so much as a slightly fainter damn.

I wasn't happy to hear he'd be the new NBC WH correspondent. I thought it was a supremely weird choice, and as it turns out, I was right. I did find much of his analysis during the campaign to be surprisingly unstupid. Didn't see him on election night, so no idea what he was doing then.

Anyone stupid enough to take what Myke K says at face value has to move to a state whose governor is rejecting stimulus funds. You don't deserve help.

I know one thing Todd wouldn't personally sacrifice in these troubled times and that is lunch. I doubt that he'd skimp on breakfast or dinner either by the looks of him.

I've sacricifed 40% of the value of my 401K. Does that count?

I've sacricifed 40% of the value of my 401K. Does that count?

Hey, I've only lost about a third of mine. Maybe you should be taking investment advice from me?

It's like the bubbleway media elites are stuck fighting the last battle.

They're holding Obama not only to a measurement they never applied to the Bush admin, but also one that doesn't make sense in current situation.

Honestly, wake up, people.

"The press corps is not in fact wired for Republicanism.
...
The media is in fact wired for fascism."

That's what I call a distinction without a difference.

BTW, shortstop, 401K down only 33%? YES, please, give us all your investment secrets.

Does Chuck Todd want me to give up my retention bonus? Ok, Done!

Typo alert:

"In a follow up, the NBC White House correspondent asked why Obama has [not] called on 'specific' sacrifices from Americans. And again, the president explained, '[T]he American people are making a host of sacrifices in their individual lives.'"

Hey we're at war! War means sacrifice! That's why we're cutting soldiers' pay 30%!

Do you think my first-born child would satisfy them?