Cablegate: Media Reaction: State of the Union Address; 1/29/10; Buenos

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TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR PREL AR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS; 1/29/10; BUENOS
AIRES

SUMMARY

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1. Local media analyzed President Obama's speech with a flurry of
opinion articles, although only three were written by Argentine
reporters. Washington correspondents for Argentina's two largest
dailies commented on President Obama's attempt to reconnect with
the American public but also doubted his ability to make peace with
opponents. A third opinion article compared President Obama with
former Presidents Clinton and Carter during their first term, and
how each president dealt with political adversity. End summary.

2. Largest daily Clarin published an opinion article doubting the
ability of the Democrats, the Obama Administration, and the
Republicans to "maintain the spirit of bipartisanship." The
author, Clarin's Washington correspondent Ana Baron, highlighted
the lack of Republicans applauding the President while talking
about Republican-support topics such as free trade. According to
Baron, "Congress is more divided than ever." Additionally, she
highlights voter frustration over the large bank bailouts while the
situation of the "American on the street continues deteriorating."
Although President Obama discussed economic reforms during his
speech, Baron questions whether he convinced the voters. She does
not believe so, pointing to the decline of the stock market the day
after the address.

http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/01/29/elmun do/i-02129267.htm

3. Silvia Pisani, second-largest daily La Nacion's Washington
correspondent, wrote an opinion article focusing on the lack of
foreign policy topics in the President's speech. The article notes
President Obama's relative silence on foreign policy compared to
former President Bush, "who always had something to say." Pisani
also draws attention to opinion polls taken after the President's
speech showing mediocre approval ratings and that half of Americans
believe the President "paid more attention to the banks than to the
middle class."

http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 227108

4. Pro-government Buenos Aires Econ????mico also published an
opinion article by Luis Rosales analyzing the impact of President
Obama's speech on the midterm elections. Observing that the
President's approval rating has descended to the "dangerous level"
of below 50%, Rosales opines that the President needs to improve
his public credibility and find the path allowing voters to believe
in him again. The Massachusetts Senate defeat was a "red alert,"
but a "formidable challenge" awaits this November when there are
midterm elections. Rosales believes that these elections will test
whether President Obama has transformed himself into former
President Clinton, with great "prestige and popularity." Or
President Obama may have transformed himself into former President
Carter, who had great morals but poor economic leadership.

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website
at:

http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
MARTINEZ

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