DrHolliday
11-13-2008, 07:00 AM
Strike up that song, "I'm the 'Cult of Personality'." :rofl:
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-balan/2008/11/06/newsweek-s-thomas-slightly-creepy-cult-personality-around-obama
Newsweek’s Evan Thomas and Jon Meacham shared a bizarre Obama love-fest session with Charlie Rose on the PBS host’s program on Wednesday. Meacham stated that he was "very struck watching the stagecraft" of Obama and pointed out how Obama gave his victory speech by himself: "...[H]ave you ever seen a victory speech where there was no one else on stage? No adoring wife, no cute kid -- he is the message." Thomas went one step further in this vein: "There is a slightly creepy cult of personality about all of this." Rose confronted him on his use of this phrase, and he explained that it made him "a little uneasy that he's so singular. He's clearly managing his own spectacle. He knows how to do it. He's a -- I think, a deeply manipulative guy..." Later, all three marveled about how it was "amazing" that Obama "watches us watching him."
Thomas and Meacham appeared during the second segment of Rose’s program on Wednesday night. The host first asked Thomas about how Obama seemed to be "always in charge of this campaign." After giving an anecdote about a meeting in which Obama discussed his vice presidential pick with his advisers, Thomas commented that Obama is very inclusive, yet very self-contained. It's an unusual leadership style."
Rose then turned to Meacham and asked if it was known when he decided that he wanted to be president. Meacham first joked that it was just after the now president-elect had left eighth grade, and then continued in the same line of thought as his Newsweek colleague: "I think, to play off what Evan just said, he's -- he is very elusive -- Obama, which is fascinating for a man who has written two memoirs. He's the chief custodian of the story of Obama. He is a stand-alone brand."
The three then had their exchange over Obama’s "creepy cult of personality:"
MEACHAM: I was very struck watching the stagecraft -- and this comes out again and again in the project -- in Grant Park [Chicago], he walks out with the family, and then they go away. Biden’s back, you know, locked in the bar or something, you know --
(Rose laughs.)
MEACHAM: They don’t let him out. And have you ever seen a victory speech where there was no one else on stage? No adoring wife, no cute kid -- he is the message.
THOMAS: There is a slightly creepy cult of personality about all of this. I mean, he is such an admirable --
ROSE: ‘Slightly creepy cult of personality’?
THOMAS: Yes.
ROSE: What’s ‘slightly creepy’ about it?
THOMAS: It just makes me a little uneasy that he’s so singular. He’s clearly managing his own spectacle. He knows how to do it. He’s a -- I think, a deeply manipulative guy -- you know, this could be a useful thing in a leader --
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-balan/2008/11/06/newsweek-s-thomas-slightly-creepy-cult-personality-around-obama
Newsweek’s Evan Thomas and Jon Meacham shared a bizarre Obama love-fest session with Charlie Rose on the PBS host’s program on Wednesday. Meacham stated that he was "very struck watching the stagecraft" of Obama and pointed out how Obama gave his victory speech by himself: "...[H]ave you ever seen a victory speech where there was no one else on stage? No adoring wife, no cute kid -- he is the message." Thomas went one step further in this vein: "There is a slightly creepy cult of personality about all of this." Rose confronted him on his use of this phrase, and he explained that it made him "a little uneasy that he's so singular. He's clearly managing his own spectacle. He knows how to do it. He's a -- I think, a deeply manipulative guy..." Later, all three marveled about how it was "amazing" that Obama "watches us watching him."
Thomas and Meacham appeared during the second segment of Rose’s program on Wednesday night. The host first asked Thomas about how Obama seemed to be "always in charge of this campaign." After giving an anecdote about a meeting in which Obama discussed his vice presidential pick with his advisers, Thomas commented that Obama is very inclusive, yet very self-contained. It's an unusual leadership style."
Rose then turned to Meacham and asked if it was known when he decided that he wanted to be president. Meacham first joked that it was just after the now president-elect had left eighth grade, and then continued in the same line of thought as his Newsweek colleague: "I think, to play off what Evan just said, he's -- he is very elusive -- Obama, which is fascinating for a man who has written two memoirs. He's the chief custodian of the story of Obama. He is a stand-alone brand."
The three then had their exchange over Obama’s "creepy cult of personality:"
MEACHAM: I was very struck watching the stagecraft -- and this comes out again and again in the project -- in Grant Park [Chicago], he walks out with the family, and then they go away. Biden’s back, you know, locked in the bar or something, you know --
(Rose laughs.)
MEACHAM: They don’t let him out. And have you ever seen a victory speech where there was no one else on stage? No adoring wife, no cute kid -- he is the message.
THOMAS: There is a slightly creepy cult of personality about all of this. I mean, he is such an admirable --
ROSE: ‘Slightly creepy cult of personality’?
THOMAS: Yes.
ROSE: What’s ‘slightly creepy’ about it?
THOMAS: It just makes me a little uneasy that he’s so singular. He’s clearly managing his own spectacle. He knows how to do it. He’s a -- I think, a deeply manipulative guy -- you know, this could be a useful thing in a leader --