Single Pool Reporter allowed at WH July 4th party where several other “reporters” attended as guests

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.
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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.