What's wrong with cheering for the President?

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
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http://www.politico.com/blogs/..._Washington_Post_.html

Similar stories have been circulating for months now, seemingly making it taboo for professional journalists and politicians to show too much admiration for the President-elect. But what exactly is wrong with this? Isn't there something of an American tradition of revering our incoming commander-in-chief?

I sense some reasons why this now seems unprofessional. 2004 was bitter to the core, no matter who won the race this was inevitable due to the political climate at the time. 2000 may have had a better chance if not for the results being so close and keeping politicians at one another's throats for a couple months longer. 1996 was a relatively easy win for the incumbent, providing little reason for the nation to think about the inauguration. 1992 was also somewhat bitter, with a third party candidate giving rise to a candidate who was little respected by his rivals.

And not to single out conservatives, but I remember hearing a whole lot about supporting our President in a time of war, a whole motherfucking lot, during the past 8 years. This was a constant line of defense especially during the '04 elections.

So now that we are still at war, now that we are in an extremely serious and worrisome economic crisis, why should it be odd to cheer the President-elect? Why should it be seen as something partisan? If not recently, historically isn't support for a new President something that trumps party affiliation?
 

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
4,814
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71
I'm not cheering, but I'm not throwing tomatos yet either.
maybe when he does something, I will do one or the other..shrug
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,862
6,783
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Here comes the sun, little darling, here comes the sun.....

Tuesday afternoon,
I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way
It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away.

Something, calls to me,
The trees are drawing me near, I've got to find out why?
Those gentle voices I hear, explain it all with a sigh.

I'm looking at myself reflections of my mind,
It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind.
So gently swaying through the fairyland of love,
If you'll just come with me you'll see the beauty of

Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday, afternoon,
I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way.
It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away.
Something, calls to me,
The trees are drawing me near, I've got to find out why?
Those gentle voices I hear, explain it all with a sigh.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,823
6,368
126
It's a Survivalist strategy. Just in case Obama does pull off the mask and reveal himself to be the clone of Stalin. This way, all the Liberals who have been cheering Obama on for months will soon tire when mandatory cheering is implemented. Liberals die, Conservatives will live.
 

Mursilis

Diamond Member
Mar 11, 2001
7,756
11
81
Originally posted by: Farang
http://www.politico.com/blogs/..._Washington_Post_.html

Similar stories have been circulating for months now, seemingly making it taboo for professional journalists and politicians to show too much admiration for the President-elect. But what exactly is wrong with this? Isn't there something of an American tradition of revering our incoming commander-in-chief?

I sense some reasons why this now seems unprofessional.

Many of the Post's senior reporters have said they take their responsibility and integrity as journalists very seriously, above even their obligations as citizens. Some have even written in print that they do not vote, as it would suggest bias, even if balloting is secret, which it is in the US. I think that's why some people are coming down hard on reporters cheering for the President. If it were just a bunch of workers in an auto plant or something, it would be a non-story.
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
Originally posted by: sandorski
It's a Survivalist strategy. Just in case Obama does pull off the mask and reveal himself to be the clone of Stalin. This way, all the Liberals who have been cheering Obama on for months will soon tire when mandatory cheering is implemented. Liberals die, Conservatives will live.

Winnar111, is that you? :shocked:
 

PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
201
101
Journalists should not be cheering for any president or any other government official. They are suppsed to report the news and present it in an impartial way. Cheering for any official is unprofessional.

Also, "supporting" the president is not the same as cheering for him. Cheering is what blind partisan fans do. Supporting is what citizens do, even if they don't always agree with his decisions. Supporting a president doesn't mean you blindly agree with everything.

I won't cheer for our new Dear Leader, there is a small sliver of hope that the damage he does will be limited. We'll see.
 

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
86
91
Originally posted by: PokerGuy
Journalists should not be cheering for any president or any other government official. They are suppsed to report the news and present it in an impartial way. Cheering for any official is unprofessional.

As soon as news company CEOs found out there is money to be made in making the news... impartiality went out the window.
 

Elias824

Golden Member
Mar 13, 2007
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Originally posted by: Farang

And not to single out conservatives, but I remember hearing a whole lot about supporting our President in a time of war, a whole motherfucking lot, during the past 8 years. This was a constant line of defense especially during the '04 elections.

Indeed I do remember that, and to be honest for awhile I really didnt want to support obama and maybe even wanted him to do poorly so I could be a little safer in my convictions. However I realized how very petty that was, and how it reminded me of how the dems acted under bush. so here it is, good luck obama I hope you can fix this stuff even if I disagree with you.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
in the lead-up to the Iraq war, the press basically gave the president a free pass... I think it's understandable to be concerned about a press that's siding more with the president than the people.
 

SigArms08

Member
Apr 16, 2008
181
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The media has a tremendous influence on politics - the expectation is that their reporting is unbiased so as not to favor one side or the other (impartial). It's not the reality, but it is the expectation that many people hold for these professionals.
 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,029
2
81
Generally I would say there's nothing "wrong" with cheering or clapping for a President.

But the mentality that we have that puts these people on a pedestal is what is wrong. Politically, the government is not our boss. These are people that work for us. We are the boss. We do the hiring, and we do the firing. We should decide what is lawful and what is unlawful.

We elect a President, not a King.
 

mooseracing

Golden Member
Mar 9, 2006
1,711
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Why does the President need his own logo? What "leaders" have had their own logos?

I think Obama did what he needed to win, he marketed himself like a product and people "bought" it.

I'm not cheering for any president until they have their OWN ideas and not jsut their parties, that pplies to any political person. I'll cheer when politics actually progress and we get out of each politic sleeping with some company.
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,862
6,783
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The American Presidency is being transfered from the grasp of the American 6 fingered to Americans who have 5. A little clapping is in order by those who can be proud of their hands. The grip of the retrograde, venal, and vindictive south has been broken.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
36,032
10,360
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Originally posted by: Farang
Topic: What's wrong with cheering for the President?

Nothing, however it does undermine the concept that they aren?t cheering him on in their reporting.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,161
7
0
It shows just how impartial the media really is.

When Palin was picked to be the VP nomination there were reports of laughter in news rooms.

When Obama shows up in a news room they cheer.


Now think of the media coverage these two were given during the campaign.
The media worshipped Obama while they made jokes out of Palin.

BTW if Bush showed up would they cheer him as well??
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
It shows just how impartial the media really is.

When Palin was picked to be the VP nomination there were reports of laughter in news rooms.

When Obama shows up in a news room they cheer.


Now think of the media coverage these two were given during the campaign.
The media worshipped Obama while they made jokes out of Palin.

BTW if Bush showed up would they cheer him as well??

Any objective person (i.e. reporters) would laugh at Palin being picked as VP. There is no way a rational person can see that as a serious nomination, in fact I think it shows a major flaw in these MSM-biased conspiracy theories that Palin was allowed to be as serious of a candidate as she was. She was unacceptable and a complete joke, even worse were the partisan parrots making fools of themselves trying to defend her.
 

Eeezee

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
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Originally posted by: loki8481
in the lead-up to the Iraq war, the press basically gave the president a free pass... I think it's understandable to be concerned about a press that's siding more with the president than the people.

I agree, but that's the opposite of what the press are doing now; right now they're siding with the people, the majority of which favor Obama (as opposed to Bush right before Iraq, when most people opposed the idea of the war)
 

Eeezee

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
9,922
0
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Originally posted by: mooseracing
Why does the President need his own logo? What "leaders" have had their own logos?

I think Obama did what he needed to win, he marketed himself like a product and people "bought" it.

I'm not cheering for any president until they have their OWN ideas and not jsut their parties, that pplies to any political person. I'll cheer when politics actually progress and we get out of each politic sleeping with some company.

Is this a joke post? Either you know nothing about history or you're doing a great job at pulling my leg.
 

Eeezee

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
9,922
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
It shows just how impartial the media really is.

When Palin was picked to be the VP nomination there were reports of laughter in news rooms.

When Obama shows up in a news room they cheer.


Now think of the media coverage these two were given during the campaign.
The media worshipped Obama while they made jokes out of Palin.

BTW if Bush showed up would they cheer him as well??

It's possible to have opinions without letting those opinions effect their job. This is called being nonpartisan. I know it's a new concept around here, but really, you can vote for and support the president but still write articles about his screw ups.

Since Obama has not fucked up yet (ie he wasn't even president yet), what should the reaction have been? Boos? Please. Can we hold off on demonizing him for just a little longer, until he actually makes a mistake or uses his power to do something you disagree with?

Edit: Ie even if Bush wouldn't have gotten an applause, who gives a shit? Reporters are allowed to have opinions and still not let it introduce a bias. "Thieves believe that everyone else is stealing from them."
 

Starbuck1975

Lifer
Jan 6, 2005
14,698
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I agree, but that's the opposite of what the press are doing now; right now they're siding with the people, the majority of which favor Obama (as opposed to Bush right before Iraq, when most people opposed the idea of the war)
Actually it was sabre rattling and cheerleading by the American people, with a reluctance on the part of the media and the Democrats to oppose a popular wartime President, that resulted in Bush rather impetuously marching us into Iraq.
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
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Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
I agree, but that's the opposite of what the press are doing now; right now they're siding with the people, the majority of which favor Obama (as opposed to Bush right before Iraq, when most people opposed the idea of the war)
Actually it was sabre rattling and cheerleading by the American people, with a reluctance on the part of the media and the Democrats to oppose a popular wartime President, that resulted in Bush rather impetuously marching us into Iraq.

I think you've got the jist of it but I'd dispute your order as well as your forgiveness of Democrats and the media, who I think were more complicit than you let on (the media moreso). The number 70% seems to come to mind when I recall American public support, but I attribute this more to the PR campaign that went largely unquestioned for months.
 

Starbuck1975

Lifer
Jan 6, 2005
14,698
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126
The blame falls squarely on Bush for marching us into Iraq under false pretenses, but there was enough evidence, and reason to question the decision...and the media and Congress failed to even question his decision before it was too late.

I was before the war before I was against it...
 

JackRipper

Senior member
Apr 8, 2002
609
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Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
The blame falls squarely on Bush for marching us into Iraq under false pretenses, but there was enough evidence, and reason to question the decision...and the media and Congress failed to even question his decision before it was too late.

I was before the war before I was against it...

Just like when the media/left blame the administration for not "connecting the dots" when they received tons of reports of threats daily and did not act on those threats...

Stop giving Bush so much credit/power for everything...

Bush would've been impeached long ago and no1 would even bother joining the volunteer military for the last 4-5 years... Why not blame Clinton for lack of response action from the USS Cole incident? Maybe that could've prevented 9/11.

Why don't u just appreciate the fact that we've been pretty safe for the last 8 years....


-JR