Shocker! Fox News Pundits Not Satisfied With Obama’s B+ Grade

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by Robert Quigley | 8:53 am, December 15th, 2009

» 12 comments

obama-b+ When Obama gave himself a “solid” grade of B+ in a recent interview with Oprah, it was only a matter of time — less than a day, to be precise — before the cable news punditocracy chimed in. As you can imagine, the Fox News faction, represented by Greta Van Susteren, Dana Perino, and Bill O’Reilly, did not take too kindly to it.

The president giving himself a grade is the sort of opportunity cabledom dreams of: it’s ‘newsworthy’ but totally subjective, and provides a hook for hanging on any sort of argument, talking point, or roundtable debate one wishes.

On On the Record, Van Susteren and Perino took the popular ‘bludgeon Obama for all his failings’ route. A preview of the clip below: B+ is a darn fine grade, and if my kid got a B+ in calculus I’d be proud; Obama was disrespectful to Bush; Obama was arrogant for analogizing himself to FDR in his Oprah interview (“I think we have inherited the biggest set of challenges of any president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt”).

O’Reilly was still critical, but a little more nuanced. He hammered Obama on public approval ratings and confidence polls. But he had the edge of having rolled out his own set of grades for Obama on GMA the previous week, which he made a focus of his discussion: B on jobs, C on Afghanistan, D on health care — a C average, if they’re all equally weighted, but not as brutal a pile-on as it could have been.

barack obama, Bill O'Reilly, Dana Perino, fox news, Greta Van Susteren, O'Reilly Factor, Obama Oprah Interview, Obama's B+, On the Record, Oprah

rmbltmbl

Answering that question was entirely foolish.
marigrace

Agree with rmbltmbl.

However isn’t that characteristic of this plastic boy president? Another classic was when he claimed that the “police acted stupidly” in the Gates incident before knowing all the facts.
Duc du Berry

In ten years time (hell, make it 2) nobody will remember what the dumb media said, but Obama’s solid will live in history.
Duc du Berry

solid B, is what I meant, of course.
TfT

And what pray tell did CNN and MSNBC have to say about Obama grading himself a B+???

Did CNN say — no way, the man gets a solid A for all the great and glorious things he has done?

Did MSNBC say — Obama is the MAN, he was entirely too humble by only giving himself a B+, in our world he is the almighty so we give him an A++?

How about a little balanced reporting on the board; did the other cablers even talk about it?
Snipzor

@TfT

Chances are they gave as much of a hoot as I did. Most likely less actually. But then moved on to talk about the most recent in gossip news (If it were CNN) and then talked about other stuff on MSNBC (Hell if I know). The fact is, nobody actually cares what he gives himself to cover his ass, because it isn’t important or viewer worthy (If the viewers are freepers, it isn’t worth it).
RazorsEdge

My opinon, one of many things disfunctional about federal politics. Where politicians grade themselves, political parties give grades to each other. Another disfunctional thing are Political pundits/strategist that spin bad to good, good to better or visa versa.

Spin is deceit and manipulation. They’re spinning for a reason!

In the end, it doesn’t matter on the self grading. Politcal polls matter a little bit, voting polls matter a little bit more, people in how they vote matter most.

This disfunctional federal political process that’s just as much harmful as it is healthy will NEVER change until the citizens give a grade to the politicians where politicans WILL notice.

That’s voting them out. I’m hoping that 60% of the incumbants in 2010 get voted out. Both parties, I don’t care. Same disfunction will occur, the same complaining about politicians and news organizations on news and blogs will occur UNTIL the people take back the grading of their politicians.
the visionary

the ladies on the view hammered pres obama for grading himself
Tater Salad

This President is in one word…..Pathetic. He is in love with himself. Just three more years and he’s gone! Question: Can America survive? Will socialism/Marxism make it into American society like he wants?
Tater Salad

Seems the Presidents self centered B+ that he gives himself goes right along with this one too:

http://therealrevo.com/blog/?p=16183
ImNotBlue

As I said yesterday (agreeing *shocker* with Dan Abrams), a B+ is about the most politically savvy answer he could have given. An “A” would have been “too arrogant,” and a “C” or lower would have been “too modest” and shown a lack of confidence. That was all he could say… it’s “correctitude” is completely subjective.

TfT says:
December 15, 2009 at 10:26 am

How dare you ask for balance! Isn’t that just like a right-wing poster… always looking for balance and fairness around Mediaite. For shame!

Someone should stalk you just for suggesting that fairness be a goal. ;)
Nachi

Well now, that IS a surprise. Those FOX humorless, dull drones of misanthropic mindlessness offer up yet another intellectual ejaculation – designed to satisfy the millions of would-be Joey Buttafuocos out there. And they do succeed proudly. For FOX people, a one-dimensional world is – the only world! AKA: “White Trash World.” It is good!