Every week one can find examples of why ABC’s Jake Tapper is one of the best and most fair-minded political reporters in America. (Hugh Hewitt says, “Jake Tapper is emerging as the next serious journalist in whom partisans of both sides will repose confidence.”) The latest example can be found here, in his exchange with Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest over gas prices. Here’s how part of the conversation went:
ABC’s Jake Tapper: “He [Barack Obama] ran a lot of commercials in 2008 about gas prices. It was a big part of his reelection campaign so I don’t understand – there seems to be a tone of indignance from the White House about the fact that people are talking about gas prices – this is one of the reasons why you guys have your jobs.”
Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest: “If I I – I’m showing a sign of indignance maybe it’s because I’m a little nervous in my first time. I’m not trying to demonstrate that there’s some indignance up here – ”
Tapper: “I actually meant the President.”
Earnest: “I appreciate that. It’s very generous of you.”
Mr. Tapper’s point is that even if a president have very little control over gas prices, it’s only fair that the same standard that Barack Obama used against President Bush in 2008 be applied to him in 2012. That’s entirely reasonable. But that kind of scrutiny is often missing in the press coverage of the president, which is why Tapper’s willingness to challenge the Obama White House (just as he challenged the administration preceding Mr. Obama’s) stands out.
Dennis Miller has "Tap Tap" on his show once a month or so and consistently calls him the best journalist working today, or something thereabouts. He's also a very funny guy and gives to Miller as good as he gets. n nI don't mean to plug Miller's show (which is actually very good, so, yes, here's a plug…:-)) but you can find his interviews there to download. Tapper is a very perceptive guy and it shows. Oh, and Dennis also has Major Garrett on as well. Give a listen to him, too. n nGood guys, all three.
Indignance?
yeah, I noticed that too. I don't THINK it's a word. but I admit to using "misunderestimate" every once in awhile myself, so what the hey…
You have to wonder about education in this country when two guys–a journalist and a communications expert–at the top of their fields repeat "indignance" as if they learned it in English 101. The only reason I care is that I think Mr. Wehner's praise of Mr. Tapper is mild compared to my view of Tapper's skills. And I must say, I'm dismayed to see Mr. Wehner let it pass without remark. My respect for Wehner is such that I almost didn't bother to look for the word in Webster's, convinced as I was that he couldn't be wrong. Walter Owen.
The greater crime than journ-o-list collusion with the White House will come when Tapper is frozen out of future news opportunities by the Obama controllers and treated as persona non gratis by his lemming colleagues. No one will say a word about the blatant censoring and virtual blacklisting.