Hmmm… After taking up the cudgels for John O’Connor and others in the media whom my friend Peter Hamby says the governor “lashed out” at and “blasted” today, I saw the video clip above.
What I saw, and what you will probably see as well, is the usual, casual, lollygaggin’ Mark Sangfroid delivery, delivered complete with little chuckles thrown in — not exactly a foaming rant. (Which means that, while I hear the guy really has a temper, I still have never really seen it fully on display.) More of a passive-aggressive sort of delivery.
Missing is what in text seems like the worst part of the session, which is what really set me off (everyone knows I have a temper), and which Peter describes thusly:
Sanford singled out John O’Connor — a political reporter for South Carolina’s largest newspaper, The State — and accused the newspaper of covering the political back-and-forth over the travel controversy while skimming over Sanford’s arguments defending himself.
Sanford took one question, but refused several others. But when O’Connor asked a question about private flights that Sanford failed to report on public disclosures, the governor became irritable.
“John, we’re not going to play your game,” he said, jabbing his finger in the reporter’s direction. “I don’t work for you.”
Wish that part was on the video.
Now, I just think Sanford was taking unfair advantage of his bully pulpit to make the press the issue rather than his own misconduct. But he did it without the ill grace of a Spiro Agnew. He was affable about it. Which means he still has his equanimity. Which you can see as good or bad. Personally, I’d like to see a guy who was feeling that pressure and moving a little closer to changing his mind about himself. But I don’t see that, either.
What do y’all think?
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OK, well, that imbed doesn’t seem to be running very well. But you can see it here…
OK, I think the imbed’s working now…
What is it with these younger Republicans and the rambling delivery?
At least he didn’t accuse anyone of “making things up.”
Yeah, I sure didn’t hear lashing out. Seemed right friendly in a Charlestonian way!
I’m getting tired of cliched hyperbole in journalism anyway. Are all calories “whopping,” all hot days “scorching” and so forth? Just tell us what it actually is, as best you can. Report; don’t embellish.
kb, good points. It is to the point where I find it excruciating at times to read or listen to a reporter or anchor reporting the news, especially politics and climate change.