It’s Deja Vu All Over Again With The Media Sniping

In response to Nice Scoop Politico:

I have so much admiration for John Sexton and John Hayward for wading through that BS. I got through maybe two paragraphs, earlier today, and had to stop because it was making my head hurt. If they’re going to pretend there’s no media bias – they’re just getting bamboozled by Obama’s uber sophisticated Jedi-Media operation – I’m sorry – I just don’t have the patience you guys have.

Seems like we get these types of media stories a couple times a year. Reporters snipe about lack of access – but it doesn’t stop them from giving the president the favorable coverage he expects.

TV Newser 4/2009: White House Producing Its Own News Reports, Shutting Out the Press Pool:

ABC News White House correspondent Jake Tapper brings to light this new media operation by the Obama administration.

“Obama White House officials decided to do their own media report onthe visit, complete with cuts, interviews, and chyrons identifying who’sspeaking,” writes Tapper, while the pool report from the day said:shooting hoops. We protested loudly.”

Tapper asks, “Do Obama White House officials think their media coverage isn’t flattering enough?”

Me in May 2010:  The Most Transparent White House In History Annoys Press Pool – Again:

The White House today posted on its website, a video showcasing Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, speaking “in her own words”. She’s shown chatting cheerfully  about her “personal history and perspective”.

The interviewer? – A White House staffer who produces videos for the administration, which CBS News reported “riled” WH reporters:

While the White House seems to believe the Americanpeople deserve to hear from Kagan, it has not made her available toreporters. That prompted some consternation at today’s White Housebriefing.

SF Gate in October 2011: Obama White House on Press Access: A Nixonian Quality:

Bay Area reporters will not be allowed inside the W Hotel today whenthe president meets with hundreds of contributors paying $7,500 or moreto attend. Only Washington-based journalists were allowed in the pool -continuing a disturbing trend by this White House to severely limitaccess to fundraisers. Even former President George W. Bush, hardly a champion of transparency, allowed local reporters to cover his fundraising events.

Fundraisersare not private events in this post-Watergate era. Contributions are amatter of public record, and the public has a right to know what isbeing said to and by the president. Local journalists are betterpositioned than their Beltway brethren to recognize who is there -and why.

In 2012, because it was an election year,  most of the griping about the lack of  media access was directed toward Mitt Romney’s campaign.

Here’s something Mike Riggs of The Daily Caller wrote on 4/29/2010: Dear White House Press Pool: Stop sucking:

It’s bad enough that we had to read about howheads and stingy with even basic information.” And that’s what yousaid after you let Robert Gibbs walk away from a meeting with the White House Correspondent’s Association saying,both.” What does that even mean? And why are you allowing Robert Gibbsto feel good about anything? You harpies pounded Tony Snow while the man was dying of cancer, and yet you give a perfectly healthy Robert Gibbs a pass to make dumb jokes during briefings?

 

Here it is almost three years later, with a different and even more obnoxious Press Secretary, and they still stink on ice.