The mainstream media loved to mock what they perceived to be President Bush’s lack of intelligence, but even Bush didn’t resort to writing down reporters’ questions during press conferences.

Politico reports that for the second time during his presidency Obama took to writing down a reporters question:

At Tuesday’s press conference, Obama picked Jackie Calmes as his last questioner, and then listened for the better part of a minute as the New York Times reporter talked at length about budget negotiations with Republicans.

Obama finally interrupted: “I should have written all this down — I’m running out of room in my brain!”

The moment might have prompted a feeling of déjà vu — this was not the first time Obama was stumped by a New York Times reporter’s wordy question.

In 2009, Obama called a press conference to mark his first 100 days in office. Jeff Zeleny of The Times caught the president off-guard with this four-part question: “During these first 100 days, what has surprised you most about this office, enchanted you the most about serving in this office, humbled you the most and troubled you the most?”

“Now, let me write this down,” Obama said, taking out a pen from the inside pocket of his jacket, as reporters laughed. “I’ve got, uh — what was the first one? Surprised. Troubled. Enchanted? Nice. And what was the last one? Humbled? All right.”

After taking a few seconds to regain his composure, Obama proceeded to tackle each of the four questions.

Obama has been viewed by the mainstream media as one of the smartest presidents in recent memory, and even if he was doing this in jest it must have been jarring nonetheless. If Obama is having trouble handling the more complex questions, then maybe he should ask that reporters submit them in writing so that he doesn’t overtax his brain.

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About the author

Don Irvine
Don Irvine is Chairman of Accuracy in Media. He is active on Facebook and Twitter. You can follow him @donirvine to read his latest thoughts.

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6 Comments for Obama Overwhelmed By W.H. Press Corps.

tom chase

When you vote for an empty shirt, you get an empty shirt.

ctr

Right on, Mr. Chase!

The Major

In my opinion,,BHO usually has his shills all set beforehand,,,have you seen it?? 50 reporters in a room & who gets picked NPR,NBC, & other PRO-Left groups,,& I believe he knows whats coming like the Clintons did. Without his “Handlers” prewriting his Q & A & NO teleprompters,,we really see how poorly BHO thinks on his feet. Why do you think he travels with more teleprompters that aides,,,he stutters WITHOUT them.
YOU PRO-Left fools out there,,,you got him elected,,,& now you are stuck with him & ALL of his HIGH prices for even the basics. Sooner or later you will learn what the rest of os already know. Hope you learn it before Nov 5
of 2012.
My opinion only

Ted

Could this be a serious misunderestimation?

(According to what I’ve heard, the only reason Bushleaguer didn’t write down reporters questions in news conferences was that his handwriting was so bad that even he couldn’t read it after he wrote it ???)

The truth is … in pure intelligence and native IQ … Bill Clinton and Barack Obama probably rank #1 and #2 respectively.

Brian

Why is this a story at all… The real headline could be
“President makes joke about long question, gets railed in independent media who obviously has zero sense of humor.”
Seriously, why is this a story at all???

ARay

Headline should be PRES CHECKS SCRIPT DURING ‘PRESS CONFERENCE’ or ‘NATIVE IQ’ FAILS PURE INTELLIGENCE, GRAVITAS QUESTIONED