Single Pool Reporter allowed at WH July 4th party where several other “reporters” attended as guests
By LisaB on July 10, 2009 at 12:01 PM in Current Affairs
Gawker has a very interesting story today. Obama’s 4th of July party was, at the last minute, open to the press. Well, not for reporting, of course. The party had some invitations left over and passed them out among the WH press corps, many of whom happily attended.
Reporters from roughly 30 television networks, newspapers, magazines, and web sites celebrated the Fourth of July with Barack Obama at the White House last weekend. Why didn’t you know that? Because they were sworn to secrecy.
Gawker specifically mentions that Politico’s Mike Allen, who dutifully reported attendees in his column at Politico, forgot to include his own. But gawker goes on to say:
Gawker has learned that the White House gave tickets to virtually every major news organization that covers the president—the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Time, ABC News, NBC News, CNN, CBS News, and so on, about 30 in all. The reporters were invited to attend on the following condition:
“You are being invited to attend this event as a guest. Blogging, Twittering or otherwise reporting on this event is not permitted. If you feel that you cannot agree to abide by these ground rules, please don’t claim a ticket.”
Why was this strictly “off the record?” Well, the WH says it was because they didn’t have enough tickets for all the press who would, of course, like to attend. So in order that no journalist could claim a “scoop” on another by virtue of a limited number of tickets, the WH allowed ONE pool reporter to “cover” the event.
There is a cosmic irony at work here: The party was “closed press.” (Ha!) It was covered, under onerous restrictions, by a pool reporter—the Baltimore Sun’s Paul West. West was ushered in by White House staffers for a mere 40 minutes, so he could record the president’s remarks. He was kept in a pen so that he wouldn’t run amok and interview someone. He shouted questions at Obama as he worked the rope line, which the president ignored. Then he was taken away. West wrote up his blindered account of the party and then e-mailed it to the White House press corps, many of whom were actually at the party, outside of the pen, hanging out with all the other guests. And then, because they had temporarily signed away the right to do their jobs in exchange for facetime with staffers, a few cold Stoudt’s American Pale Ales, and some corn on the cob, their news organizations picked up that pool report and used it to tell their readers what happened at the party. This is how the press covers the White House.
A small deal? Leftover tickets being distributed to hard working WH press, you say? Yep. And the CEO always invites the accountants tasked with checking expense accounts to lavish parties. Everyone working at the WH gets an invitation, so why not the press?
Because, back in the day, attending might be considered a corruption of objective news gathering. But, no worries, it’s OK for our current “journalists.”
But HuffyPot, among others, reported the party as one for “the troops.”
Obama, speaking to military families invited to the White House for Independence Day festivities, praised Iraq’s independence and thanked troops for their service. Because of the courage, capability and commitment of soldiers who have served in Iraq, the country is now “taking control of its own destiny,” he said.
———-Obama told service members they were “the latest, strongest link in that unbroken chain that stretches back to the Continental Army.” Speaking to those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama said the U.S. military has taken on terror and extremism that threaten the world’s stability.
“I’m proud to be your commander in chief,” Obama said. “That’s why, this Fourth of July, I renew my pledge to each and every one of you _ that for as long as I have that immeasurable honor, you will always have the equipment and support you need to get the job done.”
The Pot wrote its story based on the pool report from the afore-mentioned Paul West. The report itself is here. Interestingly enough, while it seems as if several reporters were there, only Mike Allen of Politico was mentioned by name.
Heh. The only reporter outed as attending? So we could all enjoy his somewhat dishonest rehash of the party where he conveniently forgets to mention himself? Ooooo. Someone doesn’t like Mike.
Faces spotted at random in the crowd included AG Eric Holder, White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, press secretary Robert Gibbs (gamboling with his son on the big West Wing play set), social secretary Desiree Rogers, Obama chums Martin Nesbitt and Dr. Eric Whitaker, and Mike Allen of Politico.
I wonder who the other hard-hitting journalists were? Gawker asks a good question:
What doesn’t make sense, at all, is why a group of reporters who have recently begun clinging to the notion that they are independent of Washington’s clubby morass of back-scratching self-congratulation would agree to attend an off-the-record party at the White House while one of their own is walled off in a pen like some forlorn scapegoat, doing the job they’re supposed to be doing.
Seriously, you can’t possibly be surprised. And, no, this isn’t a story. The press has decided it’s not.
(Release: November 13)
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No Kiddin! LOL Loved the ending. Made me chuckle. I’m beyond screaming any more. It’s all just so much fluff & propaganda. People are genuinely broke and pizzzzzzzed off! They’d better watch it with their NY fly overs, parties & sleep overs!
MO & BO Antionette
pfffffffft!
OH transparency at work in the most ethical and open Administration ever.
I just don’t get why more people aren’t concerned with what I see as Obama’s constant need and behavior of controlling the press to his benefit. And penning off a reporter like he’s some wandering toddler who can’t be trusted is really a pathetic move by the White House.
When you keep trying to hide something it means there is definitely something worth hiding. We need to award the patriot who finally finds the truths with a nobel prize!
And, where is that birth certificate, Obama???
Please, where ARE those records that anyone in America has to cough up to get a job?
Everyone, except Barry Barack Hussein (don’t say that) Obama Soetoro (maybe really Frank Davis’ spawn) Messiah, not so much, born in Hawaii (but you’ll never know if that’s true or not) Obama,- lackluster Pretend-er (oops) President of the United States of Airheads (for votin’ for him!)
Come on, investigative journalists! This is prime diggings!
That could be true about Davis, but both Arafat and Dearest leader had/have a purple mouth.
unbelievable..
What else did you expect? This is the new America; USSR version.
Exactly what day are you referring to? “Back in the day” all the reporters were men. They used to hang out with presidents- drinking, smoking cigars and being introduced to his mistress.
You’re right, RK. There have always been journalists who have sold their souls for an opportunity to hob nob with the rich and powerful.
There have been times, when the forth estate has failed completely, and as a group, to share truth with their fellow Americans. Personal and public scandals have been swept under the rug or spun like a web.
GWB and Obama have turned manipulation of the press into an art form. I made a guess months ago that when Obama spoke of transparency, he lied. Bush also spoke of a transparent government in his first campaign, claiming the Clinton White House had been secretive. There is NO information coming out of this administration. Obama has not only embraced the secrecy of Bush/Cheney, his team has made it clear they will try to shut down any opposition.
There have been men of courage in the past who have put their reputations and even their lives on the line out of dedication to their profession. There is a bubble around Obama right now, but that can and will change if his approval rating continues to fall in spite of the intentions of media members like Chris Mathews, who has said publicly, ” I will do everything I can to make sure this president succeeds.”
BO is running the most corrupt WH administration and the press corps is part of it. Just like Watergate, a little known event will set off an investigation to evict/impeach Obama from office.
How do these people live with themselves knowing they are enabling Barry the tyrant??????
off topic, but hilarious: Levi says Sarah Palin quit to “cash in” on her fame -> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090710/ap_on_re_us/us_palin_resignation
HA! that sounds just about right on target too, doesn’t it? I mean really. admit it!
Hmm, why don’t you stay on topic since this is not an open topic thread.
I guess the Sarah Palin hate is too dark a force to resist commenting on for even one topic.
But you gotta put the Sarah Palin resignation in context: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/07/who-quits-in-the-first-term.html
The only other two governors to quit in their first term since 1900 (that’s 109 years ago) ??? Elliot Spitzer & Jim McGreevy!
It’s just so sad that people actually buy into Sarah Palin’s lies. It makes me sad.
MOUSE, you are truly clueless. please stick to your obit sites. you are taking up bandwidth.
Tango is correct. This thread has nothing to do with Palin.
If Palin is “famous” it’s because, even after the election was over, the media simply couldn’t leave her alone. I don’t see all of these reports about McCain and his family.
Now to be on topic it’s true that some reporters have hung out with those in power.
However, there were always some reporters that didn’t not and did real investigative journalism.
Those people seem to have all but disappeared.
John Kass is still out there pounding away. Too bad people didn’t read more of his columns–he had the scoop on Obama long before the election.
But I agree, you have to hunt and peck to find anything resembling investigative reporting these days. And we’re seeing the result of a press that’s been bought by the powers that be.
Yeah you are sad alright. Sarah made it plain as day why she stepped down but all the morons missed it. DOH! How’s this, I’m a blue dog dem who will vote for Sarah anywhere, anytime. Now back to the thread topic…
HAAHAHAH! You actually believed what Sarah Palin said about why she quit?!! HAAHAHAHA! That’s so funny. I mean seriously seriously funny. She wasn’t about saving Alaskans money, she was about making money for herself! She’ll be raking in huge bucks now. This was all about the money just like Levi said.
Levi,
Oh yeah. The teenager who got another teen pregnant, didn’t finish high school and who is currently shopping his baby mama’s family.
Funny. Seriously funny.
HAAHAHAH!!!
Blech.
Ehi Mouse, how is that FBI investigation on Palin going?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
What’s much sadder, A-Nony, are the droves who still actually buy into Chairman Obama’s destructive, hopey-dopey bullshit.
A-Nony-Mouse Obama Campigned to be President during hie last two yeas a a senator, paying no attention to who or why he was sent there
What you mention is a non story compared to the catastrophe of the stimulus package and all of the other shenanigans of this administration. Typical that you wish to divert focus from that onto someone or something else. And off topic to boot.
Hi, Mousey. What do you think of your First [time I have been proud in my adult life] Lady swaggering about with her six$$$$$$$ thousand alligator clutch? Oh, by the way, did you get your 250$ stimulus pack from IRS
? Bet you could sure use an alligator pocketbook to carry it in, huh?
And continuing with the transparent WH that is the Obama Administration, Biden continues his meetings that aren’t open to the press.
“We’ve especially noted Biden’s innumerable “private meetings” that are closed to the press because, well, they’re private.
And we’ve wondered aloud how this Democratic VP’s private meetings with unnamed people on unnamed subjects differs from the private meetings with unnamed people that his evil predecessor had that got so many Democratic senators and representatives worried about nefarious secrets.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/07/joe-biden-update-1.html
Just amazing. And the reporters claiming he wants to control the press, and they go willing to such controlling.
Thank you for another astonishing story.
I have to remind myself that this is the same MSM who made fun of Gore’s sighing in his debate with Bush Jr; who pushed the Iraq war without question; who feminized John Kerry; and who pushed the latest shiny object on us and exhibited extreme misogyny in the last election.
They’re so in love with him it’s like some kind of disease. Or like a focus group where people are afraid to say how they really feel in front of the group or they will be ostracized.
It’s so pathetic I’m surprised they can stand themselves. Every time I see his stupid face on another magazine cover I want to barf. They have no shame. It’s all about celebrity (think Michael Jackson) and money.
And non-mouse, get over yourself. Palin isn’t a story either. But you would rather focus on her than on the f*-ed up stimulus waste plan and all of Zero’s slight of hand moves–his so-called transparency reminds me of Bush’s blue sky initiative–total B.S.
Media simply rationalize events like this as part of their job to develop contacts. They’re too smug and deluded to consider they’re vulnerable to manipulation. The ratio of ass-kissers to muckrakers among them is way too imbalanced anymore. Maybe one reason they’re so besotted with the POTUS is because they recognize in him a kindred spirit who, in the end, just wants love and attention.
Has anyone seen this ad?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWFb1Yvlem4
Sleeeeezy! Hitler? Hitler!? Really?! YOU LOOOOSE!
Obama Fears The Foreign Press
Breaking — At 7 AM, Fox News reporter, Major Garrett, reported that Obama has banned the foreign press from his press conference today in Italy. The foreign press is furious.
It is clear to me that Obama is afraid that he will not be able to manage the foreign press like he does the fawning sycophants in the American press corps.
I’m surprised anyone read the “news” at all – it is the Biased Sun, a great daily collection of editorial and opnion articles. No wonder no one in Baltimore reads it anymore.
All this is so sad and frustrating.
renew my pledge to each and every one of you _ that for as long as I have that immeasurable honor, you will always have the equipment and support you need to get the job done
Why then did BO not give Gen. Ray Odierno the 10,000 troops he asked for in Afghanistan?
Liar.
!OMG! ROFLMAO!
While we’re on the topic of press coverage & accuracy in reporting, I present for your consideration the laterst cover(7/20/09) of National Reveiw!….
http://www2.nationalreview.com/cover/cover_072009.html
As an olympic sport, I’d say they “stuck the dismount” & rate this a perfect “10″
That is a “10.” And funny to boot. And what are they, reptilian fingers? I may never go to the doctor again :0).
I wonder if they’ll catch hell for this cover? Although I think the anger and angst level at this point makes the question moot.
Did you notice the caption at the top of the cover?
“Why Texas Succeeds”
The following is from an email by the Texas Republican Party:
The Texas Democrats’ slogan these days is “Moving Texas Forward.” We’d like to know just where the Democrats plan to move our state. As things stand now, Texas dominates the nation’s economic landscape. The Lone Star State leads in several categories, including #1 energy producer, #1 job creator, #1 exporter and #1 for business generally, and we have the top 5 healthiest housing markets. Even in the midst of the recession, Texas is actually gaining small businesses. Also, unlike 44 other states, our budget is balanced. As National Review’s Stephen Spruiell calls it, Texas is “A lone star above an otherwise dismal landscape.” In short, if you want to raise a family, run a business, have a job or own a home, Texas is the best state to live in. Perhaps that’s why we’re the fastest growing state in the nation.
This stellar record is largely thanks to our conservative governance across this state as brought to us by Republican leaders who act on Republican principles. So it might be instructive to look at places where Democrats rule to determine where this “forward” place is that the Texas Democrats want to take us. Washington DC, where debt is completely out of control and the government keeps threatening to take over more and more swaths of the economy while they arbitrarily shut down car dealerships that have been family businesses for generations? Where they laugh at the thought of actually reading bills before they pass them? Or maybe California, which is so broke its IOUs are being rejected by banks? Or New York State, where the governor has decided that he doesn’t need a constitution to tell him that he can’t just appoint a lieutenant governor if he feels like it?
If that’s what the Texas Democrats like Rep. Lloyd “Cap’n Tax” Doggett mean by forward, well, thanks but no thanks. The Democrats’ idea of “forward” means: More government intrusion into private business and life, more taxes, less freedom, and less opportunity. Texas doesn’t need any of that. We need to keep Texas strong, free and prosperous by keeping those Democrats as far away from power as possible at every level of government, from your county all the way to Congress.
don’t mess with Texas.
portia, we are have a lot of people from other states flocking to texas. my next door neighbors are just here from connecticut. other ones nearby are from florida. drive the street in houston and take note of the license plates.
Now I don’t suppose With ALL That BO transparency he keeps Flappin about, he wouldn’t mind showing us the White house Visitors logs for the day in question?
LisaB, Thanks for showing us that BO’s Change and Hope is the road to the Dark side and those reporters that attended are the freaks of Journalism.
“Pool reporter” as in “designated driver” of Spoon feed news. I read it in the “Gerber Times”
Yes me too. Weren’t they muslim terrorists? Was BO even there?
Sarah had the book deal before she resigned
I had read about this somewhere else and my comment there was:
No wonder so many of us refer to them as media whores.
Also known as “presstitutes” instead of prostitutes.
I lived in Berlin before the Wall fell. I used to read Pravda and TASS and marvel at their false reporting on events in East Berlin and West Berlin, many of which I had attended. I was so proud of our independent media even though I felt they were a little liberal and missed the points occasionally.
I could always comfort myself in the sure knowledge that it was not pure fabrication or propaganda.
We have lost the 4th estate and they have failed to serve the nation utterly. We have no way of getting information without a spin. Our nation is in danger.
I totally agree!
Yeah jackie, back in the day I think we all believed we had a “free press.” In fact, earlier than that I remember reading the claims the then Soviet Union made in terms of discoveries, inventions, medical advancements [all American] and wondered how the Soviet people ever bought into the Big Lie.
Now we know because when once the press is hijacked or sells its soul, it’s an easy skip and jump to control public perception with false messaging and all matter of half-truths.
Sadly, we’ve become what we once hated.
half a dollar hookers have more integrity then today’s so called journalists who are really nothing but stenos.
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
“Pals Around With Terrorists”: Palin Wasn’t That Rogue, After All
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/07/pals_around_with_terrorists_palin_wasnt_rogue_after_all.php
“Pals Around With Terrorists”: Palin Wasn’t That Rogue, After All
In the mail this morning was an advanced copy of Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson’s extremely well-reported history of the 2008 presidential campaign: The Battle for America is what the two veteran Posties have called it. The book will be published on August 4; Balz and Johnson will talk about it on Meet the Press on August 2. There are plenty of scoops, and I can’t resisting sharing just one involving a critical phase of the campaign in early October of 2008.
Whose idea was it for Gov. Sarah Palin to attack Barack Obama as a guy who “pals around with terrorists?” Palin’s camp has always insisted that the McCain high command endorsed the stratagem, while folks close to McCain have accused Palin of going “rogue” and pointed to the “pals around” attack as an example of how Palin simply could not be controlled. The idea that Palin was hard to manage as a candidate and ignored the advice and wishes of McCain’s senior advisers is explicated in some detail by Todd Purdum.
But on the subject of linking Obama to ex-Weatherman Bill Ayers, it turns out that Palin hadn’t gone rogue. Balz and Johnson answer this question pretty definitively. They’ve obtained an e-mail from campaign adviser Nicolle Wallace sent to Palin on the morning of October 4rd, with an attached New York Times article about Obama’s relationship with Ayers.
Turns out that the McCain campaign was a week away from running an ad linking Obama to Ayers. The e-mail from Wallace, according to Balz and Johnson, reads as follows: “Governor and Team: rick [Davis], Steve [Schmidt] and I suggest the following attack from the new york times. If you are comfortable, please deliver the attack as written. Please do not make any changes to the below without approval from steve or myself because precision is crucial in our ability to introduce this.”
McCain HQ had suggested the following line: “This is not a man who sees American as you and I do — as the greatest force for good in the world. This is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country.”
At the event, Palin said this:
“Our opponent … is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough, that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country. This is not a man who sees America as you see America and as I see America.”
Schmidt has never denied ordering this attack, although others in the campaign told me at the time that Palin had instigated it. At a post-campaign discussion I attended a few months ago, Schmidt said that he regrets two attacks: an ad linking Obama with an Illinois sex-ed program and the decision to go after Obama’s friendship with Ayers. (Obama’s campaign aides, in turn, told Schmidt that they regretted running an ad implying that McCain was too old (or out of touch) to use the Internet.)
Very interesting. These people all need to go to confession.
propaganda that,s all we get.
I must advise everyone to read Noam Chomsky’s “What Uncle Sam Really Wants” to get an idea of what’s really been going on since World War II.
Noam Chomsky? Even the Left has problems with some of his political ideas.
Can we move on now? The good Governor of Alaska is moving on. Get used to it. She can make twice as much money fishing sockyeye out of the crisp Alaskan waters than she can rubbing elbows with the less than desirable of both parties. The legislature wouldn’t allow her to lead, She was in no mood to follow, so she got out of the damned way. No more, no less. That’s all in the past now. She’s taking a break and is on sabbatical. It’s old news. Ah, ah, let’s watch barky and his famous wife.
I’m wondering when Me-chelle’s facial stubble grows into a honest-to-God five-o’clock shadow.
The millisecond second after BO was “soooo busted” at the G8.
“I love Italian shoes Michelle, what can I say?”
or ”
“Michelle, I was watching her step on some gum and tried to warn her, to bad my Italian sucks eh?”
or
“See? I can start at a womans ass, my MSM will say it didn’t happen, and I still get to bow and kiss the Popes ring! Michelle you think I’m worried about your stuble? I am God! The pope should kiss my *&^% …That what Wright used to say.”
LMAO
On the topic of biased reporting (and bringing Sarah Palin on-topic as well)…
An article by an ‘insider’ that slams not only the general biased election reporting, but the differences in how Sarah Palin and Joe Biden were covered.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/07/08/sarah-barracuda-palin-and-the-piranhas-of-the-press/
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