Obama and Bill press conference both surreal and astounding.
Obama gave yet another brief, halting, and clearly uncertain explanation of the tax rate proposal, then Obama indicated he was going to let Bill Clinton “speak briefly.” Where Obama had spoken to the press for less than 3 minutes, Bill took center stage and spoke, without teleprompter, and with a concise and authoritative understanding of issues ranging from tax rates to Haiti, for the next half hour.
At the 6:35 mark, Obama made his first attempt to cut off Bill and take back the podium. Clinton disregarded Obama’s move, and continued to speak – managing to talk over Obama while still maintaining his instantly recognizable “aw shucks” tone of voice. It is at that moment we note the first clearly visible anger come from Obama. From this point on, Bill is completely off script. He is now effectively “running the show” – and Obama knows it.
By the 8:20 mark, the White House Press Corps begins asking Bill questions while Obama stands next to the former president, looking increasingly uncomfortable and agitated.
At the 10:28 mark Obama folds his arms across his chest, staring down the reporter who continues to pose questions to Bill. At 10:55 Obama again attempts to retake the podium – Bill does not give it up. It is at that point Obama, current Complainer-in-Chief, looks down at his watch and declares he is 30 minutes late for a Christmas party, and that, “Gibbs will call last question.” (Even though Obama has actually only been at the press conference for about 10 minutes) A clearly terse handshake between Obama and Bill is undertaken, followed by Obama’s abrupt turn away from the podium and a short walk to the door.
It is at this moment, some 11 minutes into the press conference, the situation does indeed enter into the surreal. Obama is now off camera as another reporter poses the next question to Bill while using the title “Mr. President”. For the next 20 minutes, Clinton is speaking to the nation from the White House, without the use of a teleprompter, without specific preparation of the questions being posed – and he intelligently responds.
At about the 16:00 minute mark, a member of the press asks Bill if Obama should be a one term president. Bill, while briefly stating he does not believe that to be the case, spends far more time defending Democrats in Congress- the very group who now openly challenge Obama’s competence as president in now-infamous four letter terms.
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