MSM have forfeited their right to cry foul
posted at 5:35 pm on June 23, 2009 by Pundette
[ Double Standards ] printer-friendly
Dana Milbank comments on the prearranged question asked by HuffPo’s Nico Pitney:
Pitney asked his question, as arranged. Reporters in the room looked at each other in amazement at the stagecraft they had just witnessed. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel looked at the first row of TV correspondents and grinned.
The reporters are “amazed” that Obama is rigging a question or two? After greasing the treads for their candidate by averting their gaze from potentially immense news stories, smearing his opponents, and spinning everything in his favor they’re surprised when he doesn’t play by what’s left of their rules? Pleeze.
Still, the private agreement — to call on a questioner under condition that he ask his question on a particular topic in a particular way — is very close to what the left justifiably deplored when there were accusations (denied by the media) that the White House was pre-screening reporters and their questions before news conferences.
And Pitney was not the only “plant” at yesterday’s [sic] news conference. Later, Obama passed over the usual suspects to call on Macarena Vidal of the Spanish-language E.F.E. news agency. The White House called Vidal in advance to see if she was coming and arranged for her to sit in a seat usually assigned to a financial trade publication. “Okay, Macarena Vidal,” Obama called out, as the regulars adopted baffled expressions. She asked about Chile and Colombia. [emphasis added]
The irony is delicious. Did the media lapdogs really think that Obama would respect them in the morning? Even this bit of favoritism and flagrant violation of their vestigial integrity won’t make honest men and women of them. They’ll continue to put out for their Sugardaddy-in-Chief.
Related: Obama still giving peace a chance in Iran
Cross-posted here.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Greenroom Feed
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Huffpo bloggers can’t fawn over Obama.
That’s THEIR job, damn it.
Hawkins1701 on June 23, 2009 at 5:56 PM
I think you misunderstand, Pundette. They aren’t mad that the questions were staged, they were mad that they weren’t included.
misterpeasea on June 23, 2009 at 8:02 PM
If this keeps up, the Mainly Stupid Media may figure out that they’ve been used…
Yeah, I don’t believe it either.
Mew
acat on June 23, 2009 at 8:05 PM
How bout this!
HuffPo!
We put the “Banana” in Obama’s “Republic“
DSchoen on June 23, 2009 at 11:19 PM
If you had been reading Nico Pitney’s excellent coverage of the Iran crisis, you would have known that he was going to be asked a question. On his blog he put it to his readers in Iran what they wanted to ask.
For me at least there was no surprise that he was called upon to ask a question. I am glad he got the opportunity to put forward the thoughts of the people in Iran.
maggieo on June 24, 2009 at 1:59 AM
“If you had been reading Nico Pitney’s excellent coverage of the Iran crisis,you would have known that he was going to be asked a question”
That is complete and utter BS.
This is not about Iran.
This is about the Whitehouse planting questioners, along with pre-approved questions.
“I am glad he got the opportunity to put forward the thoughts of the people in Iran.
Maggieo”
This isn’t about “opportunity” because it was pre-arranged and with pre-approved questions.
Seriously do you actually believe that no other reporter would have asked Obama about Iran?
News conference, with pre-arranged and with pre-approved questions is not a “News conference” at all!, it is propaganda .
That’s how its done in a Banana Republic.
DSchoen on June 24, 2009 at 3:20 AM
Just know that when we conservatives take back our Nation & Congress- We too shall have FUN playing. Karma is so wonderful..
hawkman on June 24, 2009 at 1:06 PM