President's opinion of Kanye West sparks debate

President's opinion of Kanye West sparks debate
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — President Barack Obama's candid thoughts about Kanye West are provoking a debate over whether standards of journalism have changed in the Twitter age.

ABC News says it was wrong for its employees to tweet that Obama had called West a "jackass" after the rapper embarrassed country singer Taylor Swift. The network says ABC employees had overheard a conversation between the president and CNBC's John Harwood on Monday and didn't realize it was considered off the record.

ABC says the tweets had been sent out before the story was checked out. The network apologized to CNBC and Obama.

White House spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Published 9/15/09 by


AP TV News

Comments (25)

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  • KANYA WEST HATES WHITE PEOPLE AND YES BLACKS CAN BE AS RACIST AS WHITE PEOPLE!!KANYA IS A BOY!!
    Anonymous 9/22/09 Reply
  • Why does it matter if he thinks Kanye is a jackass? What Kanye did was ethically wrong and Obama has every right to express how he thinks. Obama is human just like me and all of you, so why tear him down and make it look alot worse that it actually...
    NicholasMag 9/18/09 Reply
  • It is not the media's job to edit, censor or put their own personal spin on news that they are filming. But, they do it ALL the time!! I think the President should be more careful about making such comments in front of a "LIVE" mike"! I agree with...
    Anonymous 9/18/09 Reply
  • I agree with President Obama. The media should not have shown that part of the video. The only thing that we should have seen was the officai interview not what happened before the interview started. Why was the camera recording at that time and why...
    Anonymous 9/18/09 Reply
  • I totally agree with President Obama. Why can't he say whats on his mind? We all do! Its nice to know how he feels on daily issues! He's down to earth, that makes him an awesome President in my eyes!
    Anonymous 9/18/09 Reply
  • I agree with Pres Obamas comments that guy was plain and simple a JACK XXX. I don't think that anyone is trying to sabotage the President. I'M just glad he got this lesson before he said something else about somebody else which might be more...
    Anonymous 9/18/09 Reply
  • I agree with President Obama. Kanye NEVER should have set foot on the stage. He spoiled what was obviously a great moment for the ladies. I believe they are trying to sabatoge President Obama by releasing private conversations. He has the right to...
    Anonymous 9/18/09 Reply
  • I believe that President Obama has every right to speak his mind. He is only human after all. we the people should not hold him to perfection. He isn't GOD
    Anonymous 9/17/09 Reply
  • i dont think he should apologize for speaking his thoughts.when every other person in the spotlight probably said the same thing. he is a person too and so he said what he thought, and jackass is not really THAT insulting, just meaning kanye was...
    Anonymous 9/17/09 Reply
  • No way should the President apologize. He is a down to earth President, and speaks how he feels why should he hide that. Its nice to have a honest President that you can believe what he says. Because he speaks his mind. And Kanye was an Jack Ass for...
    Anonymous 9/17/09 Reply
  • I don't feel the President needs to apologize---why should he not have an honest opinion? I agree Kanye was a JACKASS!!
    Anonymous 9/16/09 Reply
  • I believe everyone is intitled to their own opinion. It's true Obama isn't a robot and said what he felt in what he believed an off the record conversation. It's not like he was lying anyway, Kanye was being a jackass. To humiliate someone like that...
    Anonymous 9/16/09 Reply
  • Well in my opinion Kanye West can't sing anyway my dog can sing better then he dose in my opinion
    babygirlplay20 9/16/09 Reply
  • Hey I think people who is making a big deal about what President OBAMA said about Kanye West they are the Jackass and he entitle to his opinion just like everyone else that voice their opinion these days lol !!!!!!!!
    babygirlplay20 9/16/09 Reply
  • I do not believe that the President should appologize #1 President Obama has his opinions just like everyone else, the fact that Kaney West did make a "Jack a**" of himself, with regards to what he did to Taylor Swift, He will have to deal with it,...
    BellaB 9/16/09 Reply
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