Barack Obama may be the least chatty president in the modern era, according to a new study, and it is taking its toll on his relationship with the press. The Wall Street Journal reports:
Look at the numbers. Martha Joynt Kumar, a political science professor at Towson University, has been studying the communications style of Mr. Obama and his recent predecessors. Her research shows that as of the end of May, Mr. Obama took part in 99 short exchanges with reporters. By contrast, at comparable points in their presidencies George W. Bush had done 324 of these sessions; Bill Clinton, 538; George H.W. Bush, 289; and Ronald Reagan, 123.
Words are important to Mr. Obama. When he speaks, it is on his terms — in forums that play to his strength. In engaging the press, he favors long-form interviews where he can prepare carefully and spool out his ideas with the nuance and caveats one might expect from a former Constitutional law professor.
Prof. Kumar’s research shows Mr. Obama has done far more interviews than his predecessors: 464 as of the end of May, versus 159 for W., 181 for Mr. Clinton; 232 for the elder Bush, and 197 for Mr. Reagan at comparable points in their terms.
On Friday a reporter with the conservative Daily Caller interrupted Obama’s speech on illegal immigration, which left the president visibly angry. He said questions should not be asked "when I’m speaking."