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| | | | Helen Thomas, Chip Reid Question White House Control of Media
By Mitchell Blatt (Bio | Archive)
July 1, 2009 - 20:47 ET
The press corps might be starting to sour on Barack Obama’s administration.
At a press conference today, Helen Thomas and CBS’s Chip Reid got into it with Robert Gibbs over how the administration has been prepackaging media events.
First Reid asked why the questions for Wednesday’s town hall on healthcare were being preselected. After Gibbs tried to dodge that question a few times, Thomas became involved, saying, “We have never had that in the White House. I’m amazed that you people … call for openness and transparency.”
Thomas said that the administration was trying to control the media, and she pointed out how they coordinated questions with the Huffington Post at a press conference. Thomas is not the first journalist to question the White House’s coordination with the Huffington Post. The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank also took the White House to task for the coordination.
Wednesday’s press conference was also not the only media event that was in some way coordinated. Previous town halls have featured Obama campaign supporters and Democratic politicians lobbing softballs at Obama.
As Thomas noted, “[Obama’s] formal engagements are prepackaged.”
After Gibbs continued to dodge questions, Thomas said, “Of course you would, because you don’t have any answers.”
Before the exchange ended, Reid asked Gibbs to pass along this question to Obama: “Is he going to support a tax increase on the middle class?”
Afterwards, Thomas told CNS News that Obama's grip on the media is even greater than that of Richard Nixon.
Nixon didn’t try to do that. They couldn’t control [the media]. They didn’t try that. What the hell do they think we are, puppets? They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them. ... I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well--for the town halls, for the press conferences. It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.
The full exchange between Thomas and Gibbs is below:
HELEN THOMAS: We have never had that in the White House. We have had some control [inaudible]. I’m amazed that you people who call for openness and transparency…
ROBERT GIBBS: You haven’t even heard the questions.
CHIP REID: It doesn’t matter. It’s the process. Even if there’s a tough question, it’s a question coming from somebody who was invited and who was screened or the question was screened.
GIBBS: Chip, Chip, lets have this discussion at the conclusion of the town hall meetings.
THOMAS: No, no, no, we’re having it now.
GIBBS: Well, I’d be happy to have it now.
THOMAS: It’s a pattern.
GIBBS: Which questions do you object to at the town hall meeting?
THOMAS: It’s a pattern.
GIBBS: What’s a pattern?
THOMAS: It’s a pattern of controlling the press.
GIBBS: How so? Is there any evidence going on that I’m currently controlling the press? Poorly, I might add.
THOMAS: Your formal engagements are prepackaged.
GIBBS: How so?
REID: Well, and controlling the public.
THOMAS: How so? By calling reporters the night before to tell them they’re going to be called on. That is shocking.
GIBBS: We’ve had this discussion ad nauseum, and uh…
THOMAS: Of course you would, because you don’t have any answers.
GIBBS: Uh, well, because I didn’t know you were going to ask a question, Helen.
THOMAS: Well you should have.
GIBBS: Have you emailed your question today?
THOMAS: I don’t have to email. I can tell you right now what I want to say.
GIBBS: I don’t doubt that at all, Helen.
REID: Actually, could you pass along a question from all of us to the president: Is he going to support a tax increase on the middle class?
I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue! - Barry Goldwater |
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| | | | Helen later pointed out that even Nixon didn't prepackage questions for a news conference or town hall meeting.....
so for the non-readers
Movie Unavailable? Click here.
Capitalizm without failure...is like Religion without Hell.
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| | | | 2009 Republican pick of the year as to
*who resembles Ann Coulter the most*!
My #1 pick for the PORK death pool.
...........as to how?
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| | | | Helen Thomas is good at asking the difficult questions - that's why she was put in the back of the White House Press room during the Bush years, and the White House Hooker was moved to the front. Good to see her back.
And yeah, I understand that the corporate owned media is a little pissed that Huffington Post was called on - but when mainstream is locked out of a story (such as has happened with the protests in Iran), you either go with whomever can ask an informed question, or you don't. In this case, the information was deemed important - and though nobody knew what the reporter would ask, they knew he had information that corporate media didn't have because of his contacts,.
(BTW, Stephen Colbert did a hilarious piece on Helen Thomas years ago. I'll try to find it later, when I come back inside) |
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| | | | The point Chip and Helen were trying to make and Gibbs was dodging was not about who ow what questions are asked, it was that traditionally press conferences and town meetings allow for spontaneous questioning without pre qualification or selection.
Obama cannot answer a question he has not rehearsed and put on his teleprompter it seems.
Capitalizm without failure...is like Religion without Hell.
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| | | | LORDANDMASTER (7/2/2009)
The point Chip and Helen were trying to make and Gibbs was dodging was not about who ow what questions are asked, it was that traditionally press conferences and town meetings allow for spontaneous questioning without pre qualification or selection.
Thanks for trying to clarify, but I don't think anyone here missed the point. (Though I did slip into a bit of a tangent - anyone surprised?)
What a lot of people don't seem to get is that whenever President Obama starts acting like President Bush, we EXPECT someone to call him on it - and Helen Thomas is perfect for that, she's been yanking chains for many, many years, and she's good at it. She's got that "feisty little grandma" type thing going - I know a few women like that.
But I have to wonder what some of these people who are complaining now were doing during all the Bush years. Were their tv sets broken? Did they miss all of the staged events and "free speech" zones set up whenever Bush came to town?
Did they suffer from "selective gullibility"?
Seriously. |
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| | | | It is both sad and alarming that El Presidente can't answer a question unless it is e-mailed to him the night before. He's every bit the empty suit we were all warned about.
I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue! - Barry Goldwater |
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| | | | BUT, he is still YOUR President - unless - you team up with LAM
and the rest of the over-throw loyalists - and take matters in your own hands..
hows about a 2 million white guys march on Washington?
what a sight that will be..
the beginning of a movement..
LAM and Slut
.......planning..
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