Sound Bite of the Day: "Off-the-Record Conversation"

Ezra Klein and Chris Hayes reveal on MSNBC that they were invited to a private, “off the record” briefing during the payroll tax cut debate a two weeks ago. According to Hayes, the White House let the liberal journalists know that the President was prepared to let the tax cut expire and blame Republicans. This threat ultimately led to what was seen as a Republican capitulation on the issue.

The question Hayes and Klein refuse to address is whether they were merely used by the administration to advance their position so the media could apply extra pressure to GOP led House. The question never comes up, of course, because Klein and Hayes are not objective journalists, but advocates for the White House.