"I can't stand him. He's a liar."
"You're tired of him? What about me? I have to work with him everyday."
The now famous Sarkozy-Obama exchange about their friend Netanyahu is quite amusing for many, me included.
Who hasn't complained about a friend or colleague before? The sensitivity that we have upon hearing that someone has been talking about is amazing given how much we shit-talk ourselves. Not that I am crying for Netanyahu.
When we hear things about ourselves in that way, it is because we have stumbled into a private conversation we were not meant to hear. Which is exactly what Sarkozy and Obama thought they were having. A few issues I want to note:
1) As public figures can they expect privacy?
They are human and even though they are politicians, they are entitled to privacy. But thinking you can have privacy in a room full of journalists moments before they are supposed to be listening in on your conversation is maybe kind of ... stupid.
2) As a journalist, do you report this or not?
The journalists in the room had class and decided it was an off the record conversation - in part as a way to keep those that organized the event out of trouble. Isn't that sweet? But then someone broke the story anyway.
Dan Israel, an Arret Sur Images writer that broke the story eventually forcing other journalists to confirm what was heard.
3) Obama deals with Netanyahu everyday?
Isn't your economy tanking? Why are you spending so much time thwarting the Palestinian cause again? Just get caller ID Barack - it's life changing.
4) How hilarious is this?
Very. And on so many levels (please do comment and expand on why and how it's funny for for you).
I currently have an article to write, so I must be torn away from this subject that could provide me with endless hours of entertainment.
I think it was ok for the journalist to report this. No?
ReplyDeleteIn the US, i would definitely would have been tweeted out as soon as it happened - but different countries have different cultures around what is seen as appropriate to publish. I personally think if I was in the room, I would have agreed with other journalists that it was a private conversation they accidentally tuned into. It would be a tough call since it was so hilarious and juicy, but it would also take away from the real story on whatever was actually happening at the summit.
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