In a recent combination basketball practice/softball interview with CBS's Harry Smith, President Barack Obama sought to blame certain media personalities for the low opinion many Americans have of him and his policies. "Well, I think that when you listen to Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck, it's pretty apparent, and it's troublesome, but keep in mind that there have been periods in American history where this kind of vitriol comes out." (source)

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This moment from the otherwise snoozer of an interview shows not only this president's knee-jerk reaction to blame someone else for any bad news, but also the cowardly way he confronts his few media critics. When I think of US President vs. US Media, I do not think of the leader of the free world sniping from behind the skirts of an adoring sycophant like Harry Smith. I think of moments like these:

Nixon/Rather: During a 1974 press conference with President Richard Nixon, the president indicated that the next question belonged to an ABC reporter, but CBS's Dan Rather butted in: “Thank you, Mr. President. Dan Rather of CBS News. Mr. President…” By now other reporters were jeering Rather’s brazen, unethical behavior, prompting President Nixon to joke: “Are you running for something?” “No, sir, Mr. President,” Rather replied arrogantly, “Are you?” CBS executives debated whether to fire Rather over the White House incident but decided against it. (source)

Reagan/Donaldson: During a 1982 presidential press conference on the state of the US economy, this classic exchange occured between President Ronald Reagan and ABC's Sam Donaldson:

What President Obama doesn't seem to understand is that the way to affectively take on your challengers in the media is to actually take on your challengers in the media, face to face and in the moment. The occasional snipe while being coddled by a friendly media accomplice doesn't score any points with the American people and it makes Mr. Obama look like the weak leader he is.