The President's Magic Powers

I’m not sure if it is because I am just overwhelmed by the magnitude of news available, or if I have an inherent distrust of the media based upon my past profession and being burned a couple of times. I have become someone who has no patience to sit through an entire newscast, or usually even read the entire front section of the newspaper. There is so much stuff that I find is just crap and am amazed that anyone considers news. There is also just so much stuff that is just incredible, incredibly sad and tragic and just people treating others in ways that sicken and amaze me.


With the tragedy at Fort Hood yesterday, I found myself scanning headlines, trying to get what were actually facts about the case. Of course, only hours after the shooting occurred, they were reporting that the “main” shooter had been killed and that two others involved had been arrested. Of course, in the cold light of day it turns out the shooter had not been killed, the two that were allegedly arrested had been released, and another “person of interest” was being sought. Typical, the news in their hurry to beat every other news organization rushes with “facts” that turn out to be wrong.

So, I logged on today to a streaming of White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs speaking to the press pool, about the Fort Hood tragedy, about the health care vote scheduled for tomorrow, and about the awful 10% unemployment rate nationally. All important issues.

I listen to a reporter, a famous-major-network-reporter ask Gibbs, (paraphrased) “so what is the President doing (regarding the shooting at Fort Hood)?” Gibbs replies, “He has spoken to Scty. Of Def. Gates, he has spoken to the commander of the base at Fort Hood, he has spoken to the head of homeland security and he has offered any resources the federal government can provide to assist in the investigation …” The reporter then asks, “But what is he doing? Anything proactive?”

At this point, I’m ready to throw something at my computer, but I need it to be able to write my book so I hold back. What in the world does this guy think the President should be “doing?” He is not in Texas, nor should he be. He is not an investigator, nor should he be. There are people investigating, there are people providing support, counseling and anything else needed to the affected service members and their families. The president is being briefed and is staying aware of the developments, as he should, and is offering the assistance and support of the federal government, just as he should.

Then the questioning turns to the shooter himself when another famous-major-network-reporter asks, “So is the President concerned that this will cause an issue about Muslim’s in America?” Gibbs looks a little confused almost. He tells the reporters “we do not want to get ahead of the investigation.” The reporter quickly jumps back in, “what do you mean ahead of the investigation, he is a Muslim, he attends a mosque; that is already known.”

I’m screaming at my computer at this point. Thank goodness, someone (the President) is not jumping ahead of the investigation, he is not assuming as the reporters seem to be that the motive for this rampage was the shooter’s religious or political beliefs. Who knows, that may or may not turn out to be the case but to even ask such a question at this point is ludicrous. And really, the alleged suspect is a Major in the United States Army, you don’t get to that rank by being obviously unbalanced or without a lot of people looking at your mental stability. The shooting happened yesterday! I can tell you from experience having been a criminal investigator, rarely are investigations of any type completed that quickly.

I saw Chris Matthews on MSNBC yesterday doing the same thing, trying to goad an “expert” into saying that this was an act of domestic terrorism, motivated by the shooters political beliefs. And that was yesterday, only hours after the shooting. The “expert” was some guy who knows about terrorism, and the military, there is almost no way he would have information directly from the investigation, at least not that early in the game.

Next, a reporter wanted to know if the President was going to do something about the mental health treatment service members receive based upon the incident at Fort Hood. I think the neighbors can probably hear me screaming now … TODAY? ARE YOU AN IDIOT? SHOULD HE GO CALL EACH SERVICE MEMBER CURRENTLY SERVING IN ANY BRANCH PERSONALLY, RIGHT NOW? Sorry, but I am a little fired up at this point.

The questions went on, about all the different subjects but much in the same manner, trying to get Gibbs to say … well I don’t know what they wanted Gibbs to say. I do understand, journalism, both television and print is a very competitive business and there is a hunger for 24/7 news. They are all looking for that perfect 15-second sound bite.

What I am reminded of, not to make light of the seriousness of the issues being discussed, is old television programs, namely “Bewitched” and “I Dream of Jeannie”. It appears that the press, along with some portion of the American public wants the President by virtue of being elected, to be suddenly endowed with magic powers. All he needs to do is to wiggle his nose a-la Samantha, or nod his head a-la Jeannie and suddenly the problem goes away, ta-dah, it’s fixed! Wouldn’t it be great if that were the case?

Let’s be realistic folks. The investigation into what happened, how it happened and why it happened at Fort Hood yesterday may take some time. Personally, I would rather know the truth about what happened, not someone’s guess, not whatever riles up the anti-Obama faction, or not what someone can make up to get it onto the six o’clock news this evening. In the meantime can we just keep our thoughts on the families of those killed that they may find some peace, a speedy recovery for the wounded, and hope for a fair and impartial investigation of anyone allegedly involved.

Sorry, no magic powers involved. Maybe by the end of the weekend we can begin to have some answers about Fort Hood, possibly true Health Care Reform in the form of a vote in Congress, and hopefully a clear mind and deliberate consideration  by the President, to the consequences and ramifications for whatever decision the he makes regarding the future plans for Afghanistan.