Associated Press Chief Offers Campaign Speech for Obama

Daniel Halper

Dean Singleton, chairman of the Associated Press board, introduced President Obama this afternoon at a speech to news editors in Washington. But Singleton didn’t just tell the audience the president was the next speaker—the supposed newsman offered lavish praise for the Democratic president.

“President Obama made history as the first minority to be elected president,” said Singleton. “Even many who opposed his election felt proud of our country as he took the oath of office.”

Singleton went on to detail the challenges Obama faced, much in the same way Obama himself details his own presidency (the transcript is rushed, there may be small errors):

As president, he inherited the headwinds of the worst economic recession since the great depression. He pushed through congress the biggest economic recovery plan history and what a government reorganization of two of the big three American automakers to save them from oblivion. He pursued domestic and foreign policy agendas that are controversial to many, highlighted by his signature into law of the most comprehensive health care legislation in history. The budget plan’s proposed by the president on the one hand and republicans on the other hand are not even on the same planet. Many democrats believe his agenda doesn’t go far enough and many republicans believe it goes way too far. While we fought be to doubt — while we thought the 2008 white house race was rough and tumble, the 2012 race makes it look like bumper cars by comparison our country has become even more polarized. The 1 percent and the 99 percent are at each other’s throats.  Campaigns are now funded by secretive, multimillion-dollar super PACs. The only thing anybody seems willing to compromise on is — I can’t think of anything. [laughter] really, who would want this job in the first place?”

“We are honored today to have the man currently holding the office and aspiring for another term,” said Singleton before finally announcing the president himself.

Indeed, it sounded like a campaign speech from AP chief himself.

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