Obamastemic Closure

“Flashback: New York Times ‘Only Newspaper’ Obama Reads,” John Nolte writes at Big Journalism:

Back In April, we learned though a former White House advisor speaking to The New Republic, that “There’s only one paper the president reads, that’s The New York Times.” In a new book, MSNBC editor Richard Wolffe paints a portrait of a president obsessed with the opinion of the Times’ editorial page. After each negative editorial “the president would summon his communications team to discuss the critical coverage,” Wolffe writes.

Forget the fact that the idea of a sitting president being so myopic, bubbled, and unwilling to consider alternate opinion is a little scary; what all of this might help to explain is why some are wondering if the New York Times is running the White House’s frantic and widely criticized Syria policy.

Perhaps Mr. Obama should expand his information choices. This is only one man’s advice, but it seems quite reasonable:

Still, if you’re somebody who only reads the editorial page of the New York Times, try glancing at the page of the Wall Street Journal once in a while. If you’re a fan of Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, try reading a few columns on the Huffington Post website. It may make your blood boil; your mind may not be changed. But the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship.

Not to mention effective governing; the above passage is of course, from Mr. Obama’s commencement speech to the University of Michigan’s Class of 2010.