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The first family and the first dog: Is the American media

acting as the media arm of the American presidency?

 

 

Al-Arab al-Yawm, Jordan

World Must Not Fall for Obama PR Onslaught

 

"Traumatized by their economic collapse, haunted by fears of unemployment and bankruptcy and horrified by the immensity of the hatred the world feels toward them, Americans are entitled to cling to their illusions. But the rest of the world's people, including ourselves, are required to show scrutiny. With all due respect to Obama’s courage and objectivity, we mustn't succumb to illusion or give in to a myth."

 

By Amal al-Sharqi

                               

 

Translated By Mohammad Yousuf Fadal

 

April 21, 2009

 

Jordan - Al-Arab al-Yawm - Original Article (Arabic)

President Barack Obama: Criticism of a 'permanent campaign' on the part of a U.S. president is not new. Perhaps the first president to be charged with the practice was President Ronald Reagan.

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Obama: 100 days in 100 seconds, Apr. 29, 00:02:34RealVideo

It is well known that the American press, in spite of the broad spectrum of freedom it enjoys, remains directed by political inclinations, intelligence agencies and special interests. This is clearly reflected in the coordinated and simultaneous coverage of certain issues that inflame public opinion to wage war or secure international [U.N.] resolutions condemning other nations. Perhaps the most prominent recent examples of this type of promotional campaign were claims that Iraq had acquired weapons of mass destruction and that there was genocide on Darfur. The first claim was belied by facts on the ground, while the second was recanted by the International Criminal Court.

 

[Editor's Note: The author is misinformed about the International Criminal Court. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was indicted for genocide and war crimes last March].

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

It's also known that every U.S. president, prior to running for the office, appoints someone to direct his campaign. And that this director, along with his team, coordinates with a broad spectrum of institutions that they call public relations firms to draw up the most appealing image for the candidate and circulate it far and wide, from the playgrounds to the halls of the United Nations. If the candidate is elected and settles into the Oval Office's presidential chair, this PR crew becomes an official institution with an official name, which formalizes the campaign - perpetuating and entrenching it for the long term.

 

What we have seen since the nomination of President Barack Obama has been an amplification of this in the form of a Super Campaign depicting Obama as a savior and change agent who will turn things in America and the world upside down, transforming the deteriorating situation into a better one. In the context of this Super Campaign, the press, radio and TV media has spent excessive amounts of time talking of Obama’s vision, Obama’s promise of change and Obama's novelties. Talk is encouraged of his promise to reform the loss-making aspects of the financial sector, the justice he heralds for the starving people of Africa, and his sympathy and understanding for the people of the Muslim world. News was spread of his neutrality in regard to the Palestinians and Arabs while his sympathy was conveyed to Cuba and the Latin American nations.

 

The campaign includes trying to woo the hearts of women by talking about Mrs. Obama's elegance and teenagers by discussing her husband's sportsmanship. Finally, it has extensively covered Obama’s dog, whose walk on the White House lawn was even covered by the most prestigious newspapers and satellite channels in the Arab world. We now confront a Super Campaign to create a Super Legend.   

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Traumatized by their economic collapse, haunted by fears of unemployment and bankruptcy and horrified by the immensity of the hatred the world feels toward them, Americans are entitled to cling to their illusions to maintain hope through the ordeal. But the rest of the world's people, including ourselves, are required to show scrutiny and patience before rushing in with excessive optimism. With all due respect to Obama’s courage and objectivity, we mustn't succumb to illusion or give in to a myth.

 

CLICK HERE FOR ARABIC VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US April 29, 8:45pm]