NOT EXACTLY PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTION TIME:

Barack Obama shows his anger over AIG bonus criticism (Ewen MacAskill, 3/25/09, guardian.co.uk)

In a press conference dominated by his handling of the recession, Obama was asked why, after being informed of the bonuses, he had waited several days to inform the public.

The CNN White House correspondent, Ed Henry, who asked the question, also suggested that the New York attorney-general, Andrew Cuomo, was doing a better job of dealing with AIG than the White House.

Obama gave a general answer and Henry asked again why he had taken a few days to inform the public. The normally cool and controlled president replied sharply: "It took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak."

The exchange was unusual, both because it is rare to hear US journalists ask Obama hard questions and rare to see Obama in a testy mood. Much of the rest of the press conference was so carefully choreographed, with a long opening statement, it seemed at times like an extended political broadcast.

Obama was taking a risk in holding a prime-time press conference amid mutterings of overexposure.

The media is there to adore him, not question him.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 24, 2009 9:58 PM