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Obama's (Almost) Round-the-Clock Coverage
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ShareJuly 06, 2008 2:03 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Sen. Barack Obama -- subjected now to a press pool of reporters categorizing his every move -- says that it's taken some getting used to adjusting to the new level of press surveillance.
It's been one week since the Obama campaign agreed to a "protective pool" or "bodywatch" -- allowing reporters to follow the Illinois Democrat, not only in his public moments, but his private moments of down time off the campaign trail, as well.
The pool has followed Obama to the gym, to neighborhood BBQ’s, to get his haircut, to his daughter’s soccer game, and even taking his wife out for a date at a hip Italian restaurant in Chicago. When Obama is inside his Hyde Park home, reporters wait for his next movement in a van parked outside. The additional amount of monitoring has left the presumptive Democratic nominee with a certain level of unease about his privacy and the pomp and circumstance of his every move -- even after a full week.
"I’ve never been a big entourage guy, and so, one of the adjustments of being a candidate is not being able to go take a walk somewhere without having a big fuss," Obama told his pool of reporters aboard his press plane on Saturday. "And that takes some getting used to."
While most of the private moments categorized by reporters are typical of a husband and a father, it is often a clue to the candidate’s lifestyle.
For example, pool reporters caught Obama heading to the gym every single day in the inaugural pool week. Reporters also now know the routine of Obama’s grooming schedule. The candidate gets his hair cut on a weekly basis, usually on Sundays in Chicago. The schedule also shows how the rigors of a candidate's lifestyle spill over to his private life. Reporters caught Obama yawning six times in 30 minutes while watching his oldest daughter’s soccer game, for example.
"Now, fortunately for Michelle and my life, our lives have been sufficiently boring that most of the things we do are not particularly press worthy anyway," Obama joked about the interest of his down time.
But minus the daily routine, the nearly round-the-clock surveillance also informs reporters of any goings on that the campaign may not want reporters to know about, but may be hard to hide with the new press contingent.
On the 4th of July in Butte, Mont., pool reporters picked up that Davis Guggenheim, director of "An Inconvenient Truth," was filming a convention video for the senator -- a tid bit the campaign did not share outright with reporters -- and wouldn’t have been known had it not been for the pool reporters spotting him leaving the building with Obama after private filming.
The Obama campaign says the decision to move to a protective pool with their candidate is part of them being an "open and transparent campaign," and they challenge the McCain campaign to do the same with his campaign coverage.
"We hope the McCain campaign will join us in welcoming the press to join them from dawn till dusk for family moments, like soccer games and movie nights," notes Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
Obama says that his family will maintain their regular life as best they can –– even with a large group of reporters trailing their every move.
"We’re gonna try to keep on doing the things that we do," Obama tells reporters.
What’s on tap this Sunday for the presumptive nominee who is "down" in Chicago with no campaign events?
An early morning workout with his brother-in-law, a haircut, a basketball game with his half sister, niece and his daughters, and a barbeque at a neighbor’s house.
Just a typical Sunday -- with a group of seven reporters in tow.
July 6, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (158)
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Ryan...Let's talk about the issues DA. This is a blog not an english exam. Obama is right on the economy, right on the environment, right on the war, right on eliminating the Bush tax cuts, right on not accepting public funding, right on change, right on social security, right on free trade,and right for America. So pick one, and it would be my plum pleasing pleasure to debate your DA. McCain was wrong on the IRAQ, wrong on MLK holiday, wrong on social security, wrong on the Bush tax cuts (flip flop),and wrong for America. He is just right for thenursing home! Too old and senile to be President. You McCain supporters don't want to talk about the issues, so you spew ignorance instead.
Posted by: dmac | Jul 6, 2008 5:26:18 PM
This is a lie. Carter was the worst. If you're life sucks it's your own fault not anything to do with Bush. You can't even come up with anything of substance. Just keep saying the same lines and insults ad nauseum over and over again. Al Bore or Kerry would have caved in like a witch's teet on a bright, Sunday morning with all the things that this country has had to face the past 8 years. Go get a job and live in the real world
-------------------------------------
As I said, your low IQ want allow you to discuss the issues. Does anyone intelligent want to debate the issues?
Posted by: dmac | Jul 6, 2008 5:33:28 PM
WAGGDOGG
what are you talking about can you even read obama has welcomed the press you should be asking your self where mrmcmagoo is we have not heard from him since his trip to mexico and colombia is that where he spent his fourth selling out the american people and our jobs??? talk about patriotic!!!!
Posted by: ANGIE | Jul 6, 2008 5:44:47 PM
Obama is a man of Christian faith. He has nothing to hide. He represents unity and speaks unity. Why are you afraid for our country to come together and live out the true meaning of its creed?
Division equals nothing. Together the possiblities for America are endless. I am looking for to see the real greatness of America.
Posted by: Dr. Real | Jul 6, 2008 5:49:53 PM
George W McCain will never let the press follow him at all times.
Reason?
Up to three hours every day, he is behind closed doors, where his handlers are desperately trying to teach him how to make a speech without looking and sounding like a piece of dried-out driftwood. Another three hours a day...he's taking his daily nap.
His handlers don't want America to see that.
Posted by: wilder5121 | Jul 6, 2008 6:20:35 PM
O'Bama O'Bama - never to be president because he doesnt know what he's talking about. He lies, he goes to a church that hates whites, he is ignorant of the world and how it works, he in inexperienced, etc, etc, etc, etc. McCain is the ONLY, ONLY answer this November......the ONLY ANSWER!!!!!
Posted by: M. Smith | Jul 6, 2008 6:28:19 PM
This entire dialogue is so,so sad
Posted by: flippit | Jul 6, 2008 6:37:40 PM
Chuck,
I know you had to google all that info, but I'm old enough to remember the 70's. He was a loser. Double-digit inflation. Horrible leader who showed weakness. And everytime he got on the set during the hostage crisis he looked like Khomeni had kicked him in the nutz. The hostages were released because Reagan was coming into office, and when they demanded 45 billion as ransom he said, "We are not going to give that kind of money to a bunch of barbarians." Only person I know who likes Carter is my dad who was laid off his government job in 1983 and never went back to work because he said it was "Reagan's fault". Most left-wingers are like him. Pro-abortion, anti-Israeli-pro=Palestinian, big government from cradle to grave. No sense of personal responsibility.
Posted by: Lo And Behold | Jul 6, 2008 6:38:52 PM
It is my belief that only those Americans competent enough to speak good English,think openly and able to judge a presidential candidate based, on his qualifications should be allowed to vote. Some of the comments expressed on this page make me fearful of the people who hold the right to choose the next president of the United States of America.I guess it's just a matter of free speech. This display of "free" speech comes with a very heavy price.
Posted by: flippit | Jul 6, 2008 6:54:46 PM
The Obama campaign is now a spectacle, not very dignified, full of self induldence and unpresidential. But then, this is how he avoids talking about illegal immigration, sanctuary cities, criminal harboring of illegal aliens by Mayors, doing something to avoid $5.00 a gallon gasoline, helping the housing crisis, saving our schools from liberals revisionism, fighting the terrorists, protecting the family, etc etc, I have seen Obama talk his fluff and when he gets distracted into talking about the issues, he stutters badly.
Posted by: Bill | Jul 6, 2008 7:04:28 PM
Obama is trying to fool the people just like he did in CAUCUS.
Posted by: FACT | Jul 6, 2008 7:13:39 PM
McFlipFlopper is in no position to label anyone a flip-flopper. With his flip-flops on offshore drilling, immigration reform (to the point of voting against his own bill), his support of the Bush Tax Cuts (which he voted against and labeled unfair and biased in favor of the wealthy), etc., it's hard for him to make any headway with this argument.
Posted by: caliguy55 | Jul 6, 2008 7:23:58 PM
How many positions did Obama take on each issues since last January?..
Posted by: FACT | Jul 6, 2008 7:28:55 PM
Obama has become a spectacle instead of a leader with solutions and ideas. But a spectacle is easier to hide his inability to articulate the issues. We will see how this self serving style serves our country.
Posted by: Bill | Jul 6, 2008 7:43:31 PM
Sadly, I think reality television programming has created this appetite for 24-hour hyper-vigilance. Although an Obama supporter, I don't agree with the Obama campaign's call described in this article to John McCain urging him to likewise adopt 24 hour press scrutiny. Politicians, even presidents, deserve privacy, and of what value to the American electorate is so much extraneous information? This dross of no entertainment value even!
Posted by: Brian | Jul 6, 2008 7:43:48 PM
I guess this means we will have to listen more to him telling us what we just heard is not what he said at all.
More flip flopping ahead I'm sure...
Posted by: glenda | Jul 6, 2008 7:52:55 PM
If anyone feels Obama is not saying anything, open your ears an listen. Like his politics or not, he is one of the most gifted orators in 100 years. He is able to eloquently address complex subjects. Imagine that, a leader that has a vision and can articulate it.
Posted by: Eric | Jul 6, 2008 7:59:06 PM
Must be nice. When will I ever get my 15 minutes?
Posted by: Huh | Jul 6, 2008 8:04:56 PM
I wanted to vote for a democratic President, but she is no longer in the race. Now, all we have is a communist...Obama and a Republican...John McCain. I'll take my chances with John McCain. There is no other choice! It's that simple.
Posted by: carolyn | Jul 6, 2008 8:05:25 PM
Geez Glenda, how's your life? Everything perfect? I wonder if you've taken a risk, because taking a risk certainly does entail the specter of big failure. Conversely, what if Obama is a big success, for himself and for us too? Wouldn't that be great?
Posted by: Brian | Jul 6, 2008 8:08:47 PM
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