(CNN) – President Obama gave a pretty tough answer to CNN's Ed Henry when asked why he waited days to express outrage on the AIG bonuses.
"It took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak," he said.
It seemed to imply the question was impertinent.
"After Ed Henry, he looked like he wanted to go home," conservative talk radio host and CNN Contributor Bill Bennett said.
From CNN Politics
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This President...knew that Dodd and Geithner inserted the authorization for the bonuses to be given out. The whole sham of grilling Mr. Liddy was heinous and orchestrated....and could endanger peoples lives. Obama was not outraged....I think it was just ploy ...to now try to grab more power for the Treasury....However this Treasury Power Grab is unconstitutional... Truman tried it and it was overturned .
These guys are really good about not upholding the Constitution... speech, guns, tax laws...etc
Actually he said that he likes to know what he's talking about before he speaks.
There was no doubt the question was impertinent. It was also delivered in an arrogant and condescending fashion.
I understand Mr. Henry is relatively young and trying to make his name with a major news outlet, but he needs to do so with insightful questions and thoughtful analysis. Not with these sort of "gotcha" jabs.
He was rightfully put in his place and I cheered when your President did it.
Peace and love from the north
ya, because it was a impertinent and rude/stupid question. I hate when reporters do that.
Thank GOD a prez who thinks!
The question was impertinent.
Impertinent? Naw – Ed Henry was just looking to:
1) Pick a fight
2) Get more air time
3) Appear more credible than Ann Coulter
4) ALL of the above!
Wow! Someone who likes to know what he is speaking about before he actually speaks – such a novel idea. Maybe the folks at CNN should try this approach. Stop the "gotcha," alarmist journalism and actually practice real, meaningful journalism. I do hope that CNN replays the brief Obama/Ed Henry exchage over and over and over and over and over and over again until we are all delirious over the next several days. One up for President Obama.
The media and the opposition party have been pick, pick, picking apart every word or move by Obama since Day 1. I can see where he might think that was a stupid question. It's so refreshing to have a President who thinks, period.
I did not like Ed's tone. He should be polite but firm
"It took us a couple of days because I like to think about what I'm talking about before I speak," this guy is not in touch with the past and how often he speaks, uh, I hope he was speaking w/o thinking the umpteen gaffes uttered; otherwise, it speaks volumes about his noodle. this is outrageous that he supposedly needed so long. it did not take anyone else that long to process foul and tragic. here we go.
I am sorry, that is stupid reporting. He is obviously not implying that there is anything wrong with the question or questioner. He is stating very clearly that he did not want to jump to alarm or conclusions about the bonus' until he had adequate facts.
The media has GOT to stop pressing people for immediate and thoughtless answers. This is a time when any rash comment can cost billions of dollars and thousands of jobs. Bravo for Mr. Obama for stopping to think before making a comment.
Bill Schneider has got to listen to the both the question and the answer and think about it himself before commenting. I have lost much respect for his reporting from this simple and wrong inference.
Well said, President Obama.
Wasn't that what he said as Russia was invading Georgia- I think we may want a little quicker cognitive ability here.
Yeah, or in other words "Sit down and shut up!"
Go Barack!
Great answer. Shows knee jerk reactions, especially when on the attack should be carefully weighed.
RE Ed Henry's question:
Indeed, the question was not worthy of CNN...rather the scent of tabloid journalism wafted about with Henry's insistence on repeating the inflamatory tag. And he was duly shut down with a pointed rebuke!
Obama is so intelligent and articulate that I stand amazed...and grateful for this man at this time.
Best answer of the night.
Why would you want the president to give a rushed answer to a question that didn't require an immediate response?
I believe the answer to this question was the exact one that he SHOULD have given. Finally, a president that thinks before he speaks!
Wow! A politician thinking before speaking? What the heck is he doing in Washington? That's not how it works! Politicians are required by the pundits of their party to parrot talking points without questioning or thinking! That's how it worked for the past decade at least!
And it was, we have just gotten out from under the old cowboy way of not knowing what your talking about, just mouth off and think later, it cost us 4500 soldiers, enough is enough of that.
No, the delay was so he could try to figure out how to cover his behind since he knew and approved the AIG bonuses in his Spendulus package. I cannot believe how many sheeple are believing this guy and not listening to what he says or paying attention to what he is doing. I guess the sheeple are all waiting with their hands out. Well, pretty soon no one will be working then where will the hand out money come from????
Should the quote have been "...I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak." ??
If you go back and look, the President said that, "I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak." Hardly impertinent, highly refreshing.