Austin360 blogs > Digital Savant > Archives > 2008 > July > 21 > Entry
Obama Girl responds to Statesman video
I meant to post this over the weekend, but we’re all back at our desks now and able to fully appreciate it. Late Saturday night (about 1:33 a.m.), Amber Lee Ettinger, better known as Obama Girl, posted a response to the Statesman video we posted on Thursday. I’m trying to reach her associate Melissa to make sure it was really her, but this is what was posted under Amber Ettinger’s name:
Omar, wow how uncool and ridiculous you are. I did walk in there 2 minutes before you put your camera in my face and attempted to ask me questions just to make me look stupid. I am not a political expert and I have said that time and time again. I can answer my own questions and I chose not to answer yours because I wasn’t there to talk about Howard Dean and YES I was bored. Sorry everyone. And to the comment below, I graduated from College, get your facts straight.
As I noted in a Twitter message over the weekend, her assertions of my being uncool, ridiculous and boring are at least accurate. As to the putting the camera in her face, I didn’t know that was out of bounds when she was specifically brought to the Media Room to talk to press. I asked, “Can I shoot a video with you?” and she said yes. I can see how that could be taken as a complete intrusion.
I do not, however, have a sufficient defense for the commenter from France who reposted Obama Girl’s response several times, adding only, “IN YOUR FACE Omar,” It kind of is in my face, so I believe that’s on point.
I like to think I’m one of the nicer journalists in the business, and I honestly meant no harm. As to suggestions in some of the Postcards from the Lege blog comments that I set out to embarrass Ms. Ettinger or make her look dumb, I can assure you that I don’t possess the foresight or the mad scientist skills necessary to pull off such a crackerjack caper. I was rattling off questions off the top of my head based on my limited time at the conference as a non-political reporter.
The whole affair could have been headed off at the pass if Obama Girl had simply told our viewers why she was at Netroots Nation and what she planned to do while she was here. Surely she and Melissa must have discussed this on the plane ride over.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Obama Girl knew, and that’s where the problems started.
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By William
July 22, 2008 6:31 AM | Link to this
If Amber Ettinger (AKA Obama Girl, Entertainer) is comfortable piggybacking the Obama phenomenon by singing inane songs while parading her hotness in cyberspace, she should at least be able to answer the generic kinds of questions Omar asked.
I see nothing inappropriate about the way Omar conducted the interview. It's hardly his fault that Amber embarrassed herself by showing up at a convention for activist political junkies with no opinion or knowledge whatsoever. Even worse, she exudes the arrogance and snobbishness common in the Pretty People Set that swarm the Warehouse District every weekend.
Jeez, folks, some of you need to watch the video again. You act as if Omar asked her to outline Obama's Iraq plan or his approach to health care reform. He didn't. He asked her a very simple set of questions, questions any other attendee at Netroots Nation would've been able to answer with ease. Unfortunately, she's just the Tila Tequila of presidential politics.
Are her fifteen minutes up yet?
By Bruce
July 22, 2008 2:33 AM | Link to this
Omar, I didn't ask you to elevate a thing, I accused you of helping to dumb it down. A nation tends to get the government it deserves, and many of us wish to separate ourselves from those of you determined to win the race to the bottom, as we attempt to give a louder voice to the informed citizens (and voters). You know, so we don't get fooled again.
By Challenger
July 22, 2008 1:51 AM | Link to this
I don't have a clue as to Obama Girl's life philosphy, background, or IQ. I do know that women as pretty, pleasent, and appealing as she is can also be very, very smart. I think she pulled it off and sliped it right over your eyes and you people never knew what hit you. She still has you running in circles and you don't know that either.
By Bob
July 21, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
Cowboy up, Omar! You called out an idiot, and she's mad about it. You obviously didn't expect her to go dumb on you. Nobody expects to step into a rattlesnake nest either, but they still get bit.
What she SHOULD have done was made fun of herself: "Yeah I'm a dingbat, but so what? I still look great in this dress." Sort of a Kirk Watson in heels.
By mjn
July 21, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this
I said it the other day and I�ll say it again: Democrat women who are Obama supporters need to separate themselves from her; what a airhead.
As far as college goes, she didn�t elaborate on where she graduated from or what she earned a degree in, but clearly she was asleep during Government class.
By Omar Gallaga
July 21, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
Dan Cain -- you figured out how us media types work! Noooo! I'm meeeeelting!
Bruce -- I never claimed to be elevating the electoral process.
cd -- I'm not sure I saw Ettinger sit down at all during her Media Room rounds. I don't think she had the time for a Charlie Rose-style in-depth interview. (Plus I had to go pick up my kid from daycare soon after.) I made do with the limited time she was willing to be on camera (and even that was about a minute too long). As I've said elsewhere, it was kind of her to do the interview at all.
By Bud Good
July 21, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
lets face it, this lady doesn't know a single thing about politics, but thats what she's supposedly "famous" for??? supporting a politician?? how ridiculous. she's just as phony and elitist as most democrats. how could she attend this conference and not expect to get asked questions, no matter WHEN and WHAT the question?!?!?!?!?!?! man this would be a perfect topic for Greg Gutfeld and the show Red Eye.
By kenny
July 21, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
This is all pretty funny, I totally agree with Heather. Smacks of those Jay Leno man on the street questions where people are dumb as a stump. She should hang with Miss South Carolina 2006...youtube it....which is where this is by now... I hope.
By Dan Cain
July 21, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this
Face it Omar, you were there to incite a negative reaction from her. That's how you media types work.
By bruce
July 21, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Anyone looking for substantive political commentary is wasting their time with this fringe element. This entire "Netroots Nation" has turned out to be nothing more than a bunch of dilettantes who never had a platform to speak from before, and still don't possess a clue.
There are plenty of dedicated professionals, commentators, and public servants that have dedicated their careers to addressing and solving the issues facing this nation. Take the time to read something other than postings from blogs and chat-rooms. If you really want something to complain about, read any of the several books recently published that detail how our rights and way of life are being taken from us while we watch YouTube.
Seems to me everyone here (including Omar) is complaining about how dumb everyone else is as they contribute to the dumbing down of the electoral process themselves.
By Gas Hog
July 21, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Huh?
By cd
July 21, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
i thought it was kind of worthless to give her any attention. i thought maybe the statesman had put some intern up to it. i'm an obama fan, but the obama girl coming to netroots should be nothing more than a footnote.
she did come across as an idiot in the interview, but you didn't help matters...you really had no agenda when you started filming. a formal sit down interview might have been more appropriate.
By Heather
July 21, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
All I can say, is if you are going to represent yourself as for a candidate and be so widely known, you should also know the opposing side's stance. She doesn't even know what she's doing from minute to minute. Idiot.
By StuckInCustoms
July 21, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
I think you are a nice guy. I don't blame her for not launching into a soliloquy on Howard Dean's latest Marxist diatribe.
Perhaps you should have asked her to take an IQ test on video so she could prove how smart she really is.
Fa�onnable:Fibonacci::Cavelli:_________
a. Chanel
b. Carmichael
c. Chloe
d. Calvin Klein