Our sterling Washington press corps’ second-favorite thing to write about, trailing only “their own upcoming books,” is that Obama will not talk to them all the time and entertain every one of their useless spin-ready leading questions. The New York Times‘ Peter Baker is our latest example, having written a SNIPPY article today defending his colleague Chip Reid of CBS, who wanted to ask Obama about some midterm political gossip during his White House photo-op with the Mexican president, and was DENIED, tragically, for all.
Watch this one unfold:
Obama Turns His Back On the Press
By PETER BAKERAt a ceremony to sign a bill promoting press freedom around the world on Monday, President Obama refused to take questions from reporters. “I’m not doing a press conference today,” he told Chip Reid of CBS News, “but we’ll be seeing you guys during the course of the week.”
So when the president hosted a “news conference” in the Rose Garden with the president of Mexico on Wednesday, Mr. Reid thought maybe this time Mr. Obama would take questions. Instead, Mr. Obama allowed only a single question from the American news media, calling on a reporter from Univision, making it unlikely that he would be asked about Tuesday’s anti-incumbent election results.
Sure enough, Mr. Obama was asked about the Arizona law aimed at stopping illegal immigrants, a law he had already denounced in his opening remarks and was happy to denounce again in response to the question. He did not have to offer his thoughts on the loss of an ally, Senator Arlen Specter, in Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary, or on any other topic.
As the event ended and Mr. Obama swiveled to head back into the Oval Office, Mr. Reid tried again and shouted out a question about the elections.
Mr. Obama ignored him. Maybe he meant later in course of the week.
This is really amazing, and it’s surprising that Peter Baker never realized along the way that he should scrap the whole thing, because of how obviously self-defeating it is. Because what is it, again, that Obama so very rudely ignored during his appearance with the Mexican president that was never listed as a full press availability? A Very Serious question from Chip Reid about what Obama thinks of the midterm primary election yesterday.
Supposing Obama did interrupt his scheduled events with a visiting head of state to entertain this useless question about American horserace politics, he probably would’ve said something like, “Arlen has been a great ally and we will miss him, but congratulations to Congressman Joe Sestak, who ran a fine campaign and will have our enthusiastic support through November.” Then Chip Reid and other reporters listening in would all go to their computers and file the same quick story, “Stunned Obama Reeling After Specter Loss; Offers Tepid Support To Sestak,” as their coverage of the President’s meeting with our neighboring country’s head of state.
Why do White House correspondents ever think that they should use their valuable time to ask the President about horserace politics, a derivative of the actual issues that the President takes sides on?
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They have no story, so the story becomes an explanation as to why they have no story.
The honeymoon is over.
This story might mean something if Chip Reid was much less of a GOPer propagandist and the WH Press Corps (outside of a few individuals) weren’t a bunch of over ambitious favor seeking lazy sacks of shit.
what a douche
Ah, self-important butt-hurt: the lifeblood of American democracy!
And they’re focusing on derivatives because – like in the stock market! – that’s where the big money is. It’s difficult to say which type is more destructive, really.
Honestly, President Obama should be thanking Pennsylvania voters for ridding him of the Cryptkeeper. Joe Sestak will be a more important ally in his quest to permanently change America into Far-Western Socialist Europe.
And then we can start rounding up all the conservatives to be put into the FEMA built concentration camps.
YAY! FREEDOM!!!!
This is just like when Dubya didn’t know who leaked Valerie Plame’s name, or when he didn’t know all the Iraq evidence was complete lies, or when he lied and covered up — oh, every other fucking thing. Anyway, that’s how bad it is. Which I guess means the press won’t care.
Needs more furry and goblin jokes.
Your average sports-talk radio show is liable to be more in depth and issue oriented than the “discourse” at a White House presser. White House Correspondents: Laziest people with jobs in America.
It’s appropriate that journalists are alcoholics.
It’s funny that the press has decided that Obama must be devasted by the primary defeat of a former Republican by a true Democrat, who looks more likely to win in the general election and would be much more likely to survive for the next six years, which could easily see a Republican Governor of Pennsylvania, should he win.
What midterm election? Midterm isn’t until November. Also, were all those people who didn’t vote for Murtha expressing their anti-incumbent views?
Remind me again why I’m supposed to mourn the death of newspapers and newsmagazines and any other brand of “journalism”?
Fuck these people.
Maybe it’s the fan of journalism in me, but the press wants to ask the president questions, and it makes sense. [Looks at ground.] Does it to you?
I thought all these reporters had drowned in late 2008 because Fox kept telling me they were all “in the tank” for Hopey-Changey.
This is one of many NYT stories I look forward to not paying to read next year.
Both Chip Reid and Chuck Todd should be severely beaten about the head and shoulders every time they open their mouth.
Maybe Barry should pull that “What? I can’t hear you” Reagan move whenever the press gets too full of themselves.
I am never going to feel sorry for Chip Reid. Maybe if he actually asked smart questions I would care if Barry ignored him but mostly he is just a douche.
Yes, because the fact that Dubya gave so many press conferences outraged the press at the time . . .
And if Obama had answered the question, no doubt the outrage would be how he was disrespectin’ the messican presnit with dirty politics and why does Obama embarrass us so much.
and here i thought they’d all be too busy writing angry screeds about how that evil slightly brown socialist from mexico had the nerve to criticize all the patriotic real americans in arizona, simply for wanting to jail all his fellow messicans for the crime of merely existing in all their brownness, during his remarks this morning. talk about disrespecting all the good will and hospitality, which america has shown mexico over the years.
if they want to know the president’s opinion about useless crap aren’t they just supposed to harass the press secretary? isn’t gibbs entire job to basically put up with the press corps’ garbage, without giving in to his desire to inflict bodily harm on them?
Stupid Univision guy. Everyone knows Arlen Specter is all the rage on UNIVISION.
[re=580955]Come here a minute[/re]: Oh, how this country would improve if only Obama would grant time and access to “journalists” such as Chip Reid.
Presidents come and go but hot-shot Beltway journos are the real power in Washington. Wait till David Broder wakes up and weighs in on this!
[re=580988]BaconTime[/re]: I don’t know about that, but those women on Mexican soap operas are HOT!
The hurt and pain really comes through. NYT wins the afternoon. We’re talking Pulitzer here.
Fuck the press. What a bunch of primadonnas.
PETER BAKER should go ask President John McCain where the hell Bin Laden is, because McCain said on national television about 500 times that he knew where Bin Laden is and he knew how to get him, and he hasn’t mentioned getting him since the election ended.
Those poor journalists. I just want to take them in off the street and give them a hot meal.
See, now, if it had been Dubya, he would have pointed to Reid and asked the Mexican president, “Hey, could you have one of your drug cartel guys shoot him?”
[re=581031]gjdodger[/re]: “Now watch this drive!”
Just a reminder how screwed up a kid can grow up to be when they have to go through life with a name like Chip Reid.
Best part is when Obama makes fun of them at various events and criticizes their inability to care about anything but political horse races and the press then goes and writes/reports stinging rebukes to the President for destroying the majesty of the political press and for not answering questions Rasmussmen’s poll on a congressional race in North Dakota
[re=581027]ryang[/re]: Oh sure, encourage them. If you feed them, they’ll never go out and get meaningful employment.
At least Hopey can understand the questions, W could only grimace like a nervous monkey, “Heh, anh, heh…”
The press reacted the same way when Dubya refused to answer Helen Thomas’s questions, right? Other than accusing her of being a terrist, that is.
Chip Reid is like that kid who brought the bat and ball to the playfield and got picked last. Then the ball was hit on the schoolhouse roof, the bat was broken, and he went home tearfully, only to be beaten by his alcoholic step-uncle, and sent to bed in the closet with no supper.
I can dream, can’t I?
“Nobody puts Chippy in a corner!”
= Peter Baker, “The Cock-Us”
All of these comparisons to dubya are misguided, I mean really people, haven’t you noticed; Obama is black.
One thing that Obama is absolutely sure about is that he can answer press questions in depth for 90 minutes straight, and all it takes is that last stupid answer to undo it all. He is still pissed that he had to give that beer party thingy with the cop and the professor. I hope he ignores the press for another solid year. Maybe they’ll take the next one more seriously.
The press is actually more panicky than enraged. Obama is exposing how irrelevant they are.
[re=581048]Hooray For Anything[/re]: synopsis win!
Chip Reid was dissed? I knew there was a reason I voted for Obama.
Oh, yes. Peter “Iraq! WMD! WMD! Let’s go to War!” Baker.
Fine journalist. I remember him well.
freedom of the press isn’t freedom to have universal access to the president. its the freedom to write dumbshit navel gazing pieces like peter baker did today.
Lots of reasons to be cynical, but we’re lucky to have a president who is so much better than the culture that surrounds him.
So Chip Reid shouted out at a diplomatic event, “Enough of this diplomatic bullshit, let’s talk about Arlen Spector losing a primary to another Democrat -AND I DEMAND ANSWERS!”
Maybe Politico will give him a Pulitzer for that. Or, give it to Peter Baker for this stunning expose of presidential malfeasance and misplaced priorities.
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