Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Did President Obama play the press on gay marriage?

Details

  • Description

    Richard Benedetto on how the media reacted to his support for same-sex marriage

  • Duration 7:21
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Is going to be joining us he is a contributor to foxnews.com he has a new column up he's also -- former USA today White House correspondent.

With a long and distinguished career and I also read your bios sir that you are an alarm of the Newhouse school of Syracuse.

As MRI so it's especially nice to talk to you today.

-- -- Let's talk a little bit about your column which basically and I'll sort of sum it up by just reading.

The last line where you allude to the fact that the that the Obama administration has sort of the story that that the Obama administration is told about how this sort of roll out has taken place.

In terms of the president announcing his support for gay marriage you say if I if you buy that I have a bridge I want this value.

Why are you so skeptical.

That this happened the way the White House says it did.

Well I've been watching the Obama administration for the last three and a half years and how they manage the media and I find -- Indeed given my experience as a long time not only as -- White House correspondent there also is a professor of journalism political science.

I mean I -- look at how the media are covering various issues and how they come about and I see that this White House.

He's very adept at managing -- them media cover them.

So even though there are stories about the vice president having to sort of go into the Oval Office and apologize.

To the president say I'm sorry for what I said on Meet the Press.

Which is which is sort of is part of the -- -- that it was because of those comments that the president.

Was sort of moved along in his own remarks.

You think all of that is sort of part of this -- of a grand orchestration.

Yes I do I think that nothing happens by accident in the Obama White House they planned everything -- well ahead of time.

And Joseph Biden is given his marching orders and Joseph Biden's merger is apparently work.

That to go out there and you say something about gay.

Same sex marriage and and get the ball rolling because for the put it in.

Yeah I guy you like it did in the column to say -- as John the Baptist paving the way for the coming of Obama.

And you also point to last night's event.

Out in California where the president raised fifteen million dollars in in one fund raising event alone.

An event that was long on the calendar and so the White House obviously knew.

They're getting this news out ahead of the event last night might help to bring in some more cash.

Sure that said that that group that went that a Hollywood home of by George Clooney.

Is it but obviously a very strong it's the same sex marriage supporting group and so therefore I think did -- do when you look at the -- -- Biden on Sunday and Meet the Press.

These stories on Monday that Obama is becoming -- being pushed it to come out on the issue.

And by Tuesday we've got.

We've got the vote in North Carolina and gay marriage and then -- by Wednesday the president is out there and making his decision.

And on Thursday the Washington Post headlines.

About Mitt Romney's days in private school.

Hazing a student that was widely known to have been gay.

Do you do you see any any link with it with you tell you eat it.

There -- too many coincidences for it to be just happenstance.

They're a bit -- as I say this what this White House doesn't -- too many things happen by accident.

And so therefore I actually came to the conclusion that this was would this is a grand plan this was the week that they were gonna do it even -- the president in his interview.

-- with the ABC news saying.

That I didn't I was gonna do it but I wasn't intend to do it right now.

I -- Joseph Biden got a little -- that phrase a little bit over his skis that I don't bet spousal contrived to.

-- ever heard the President Obama talking in -- -- it out of scheme metaphors before.

And I don't think he's a -- I don't know whether he is or not but I mean I wonder if I could tap into your experience as a seasoned Washington journalist and White House correspondent.

Is this White House different from others.

It will -- in the way that it orchestrates message.

Every White House tries to manage its message in the best it can did our job in the media is to cut through with a five.

That's our training that's our experience that's our rule.

This White House.

Does it better than most White House's I think I've seen the Reagan I've seen them the bush first bush I've seen that Clinton White House.

And I seen the George W.

Bush White House this this White House doesn't better.

Why what what are they.

How they plan ahead more I think they plan had more.

They -- -- adept at using all media would go there they were adept at using new media.

And they and they have a press corps that I think is a little bit more friendly toward the president than other press -- have been toward other present.

And what do you think that the end result is when it comes to voters to people around the country.

Who might not be -- tapped in to all of these things might not be looking at the different sidebars stories but who are just reading the headlines.

You know it's sort of going about their daily their daily lives.

Does does this sort of trickle down.

And create sort of more cynicism.

You know in with win in the general public -- -- people to sort of take it at face value and move on.

Think that they I think that you know the general public period that's out there are real people are not paying attention to this kind of politics to the degree that we do.

And so therefore they're getting cumulative messages the cumulative message that I think that they get from the Obama White House.

Over -- through all of this is that this this is a president who's constantly active who's constantly out there.

Who's constantly speaking they don't know what he's saying from day to day but they say to themselves while he's out there must be doing something.

And that gives him a sort of as sort of the idea.

I can't shake that people say well that might not think he's doing a great job but at least he's working at it and I think that's kept his job approval ratings.

Near 50%.

Throughout.

And as you watch the the Romney campaign respond to all of these events.

-- is there also obviously trying to control the message about their candidate.

How do you think -- response has been in their response to the Washington Post and later and ABC news story that's out about his his days in private school how are they doing well I think.

-- there there always seem to be on the defensive about one thing or another and you got to get often defensive.

When you when you kept on the defensive all the time it's really hard for you get your message out.

And and so therefore see what the big difference between that and Obama Obama is always on the offensive he's in his message out.

In a positive way and not being forced to be reacts to something else.

And that's that's the power of incumbency is well.

But I think in the case of Mitt Romney.

All -- the forces working against them to put him on the defensive.

Prevent him from trying to get his message is getting back on his message which is the economy and jobs Richard then -- that it was a former correspondent for USA today.

He is a contributor to foxnews.com and you can read his latest column.

On the web site right now it's there gay marriage Obama 2012 presidential campaign.

-- article is there right now with all of his analysis so nice to talk to you sir thanks very much for your insight and your time.

-- that I -- can you really can go orange.

Load More