All Obama, all the time: The president is getting overexposed

Obama speaks two or three times a day, invites news networks (ABC and NBC of late) to take up residence at the White House, appears with foreign leaders and even makes fun of his relentless presence on camera.

"'Inside the Obama White House' is my favorite new show: There's just something compelling about the main character," our 44th president told the radio and TV correspondents dinner.

"It's wonderful narrative. In fact, the show has been such a hit that all of you guys now want to come and tape in my house."

Laughter came from all corners of the room, a bit less from the Fox News table.

Talking to a couple of D.C. "media type" friends, however, I've heard second thoughts and concern with presidential hubris.

Barack Obama is a deliverer of speeches that can be stirring (race relations, Philadelphia), daring (U.S. and Islam, Cairo) and challenging (inaugural address). He is, at times, very funny.

It's entertaining to read sour assessments by right-wing pundit Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post (and Fairview Fannie). Krauthammer started out in politics writing speeches for Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale, two of the more banal figures in American public life.

But Obama really should regulate, and reduce, the flood of words out of the White House. The effort by presidential image-masters to control the 24/7 news cycle has tipped to excess.

Read more...