President-Elect Obama's first press conference (Part 2)

President-Elect Barack Obama held his first press conference yesterday, one that focused mainly on the current economic crisis. One detail that flew under the radar, however, was which networks and newpapers got to ask questions, or, rather, which one didn't get to ask a question. As Media Bistro notes, one network who was not called upon sticks out: Fox News.

It will be interesting to see how the conservative network adjusts to a political reality in which the Democratic Party holds the White House and substantial majorities in both houses of Congress. Michael Wolff, a Vanity Fair columnist who is writing an authorized biography on Rupert Murdoch's career and family, claims that even Murdoch is embarrassed by Fox News
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/08/fox-news-cut-out-of-quest_n_142404.html
CHICAGO — Inheriting an economy in peril, President-elect Obama warned on Friday that the nation faces the challenge of a lifetime and pledged he would act urgently to help Americans devastated by lost jobs, disappearing savings and homes seized in foreclosure. But the man who promised change cautioned against hopes of quick solutions.

"It is not going to be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in," Obama said at his first news conference since winning the presidency on Tuesday.

The No. 1 priority, Obama said, is to get Congress to approve an economic stimulus plan that would extend jobless benefits, send food aid to the poor, dispatch Medicaid funds to states and spend tens of billions of dollars on public works projects. If the plan is not approved this month, in a special session of Congress, Obama said that "it will be the first thing I get done as president of the United States."

In his first appearance since a jubilant election-night celebration, Obama sought to project an air of calm and reassurance to a deeply worried nation. He stood in a presidential-like setting with an array of eight American flags and a lectern showing a presidential seal above the words "The Office of the President Elect." The stage behind him was lined with advisers he had summoned, his economic brain trust.

Almost 20 minutes late to his first meeting with reporters, Obama spoke for just 20 minutes and broke no ground with new policy announcements or disclosures of who would be in his Cabinet. In lighthearted moments, he joked about seances with dead presidents and the appeal of animal shelter dogs that are "mutts like me."

A new jobless report offered no comfort. The unemployment rate climbed to a 14-year high in October,and 10.1 million people were out of work. In Detroit, General Motors reported a huge third-quarter loss and said it may run out of cash next year. Ford planned more job cuts after burning through billions of dollars of its own.

While standing back as long as Bush is president, Obama said his advisers would keep close watch on the administration's efforts to unlock frozen credit and stabilize financial markets. Obama said he wanted to make sure the Bush administration was "protecting taxpayers, helping homeowners and not unduly rewarding the management of financial firms that are receiving government assistance."

Obama spoke after he and Vice President-elect Joe Biden met privately with economic advisers to discuss ways to stabilize the economy.

"We are facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime, and we're going to have to act swiftly to resolve it," Obama said. He said he was confident that "a new president can have an enormous impact," but he tempered that optimism by adding, "I do not underestimate the enormity of the task that lies ahead."

"Immediately after I become president, I will confront this economic challenge head-on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hardworking families, and restore growth and prosperity," Obama said.

"Some of the choices that we're going to make are going to be difficult," he said. "It is not going to be quick. It's not going to be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in." But he said he was confident the country could do it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/07/obamas-first-press-confer_n_142174.html

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[beeboy77]

this guy is a good guy

[ThermostatAgreeable]

Five stars just for the video info, dude !!

Very informative !

[jcNOVA88]

F obama!!! obama's the next Bush they both voted for the war, patriot act, more government, wallstreet bailouts, they're the SAME!!!!! they're socialist bastards!!!! Ron Paul 2012 for FREEDOM!!!!!! yaliberty . org ronpaulforpresident2008 . com F big government F wars F taxes F gov. for taking our liberties Legalize the Constitution!!!!

[MountOlivet]

Obama is very articulate and he understands how to relate and get along with other politicians such as Bush.

[ubuibiok]

Not one CEO at GM has TAKEN A PAY CUT.....

Only bail out the auto makers only if all management takes a 75% pay cut, build only "Diesel" engine and electrically powered cars and pre-fund worker pay at present levels for 1 year in a trust fund. NO MORE GAS BURNING ENGINES, Only build for Bio-Diesel consumption.

If the companies goes under, workers will have a severance package and time to get reemployed. But I have, NO, support for the Management Team that got the company were it is today.