Since then, the phrase has become a frequent shorthand used by Obama to complain about coverage he finds simplistic, process-obsessed and generally geared more toward creating heat than light.

Not surprisingly, he employs the term most often when he’s frustrated that attention is being devoted to what he considers distractions to his agenda: The Henry Gates police incident, rowdy town halls, South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst — all made-for-cable moments that Obama has come to dismiss as unworthy diversions…

“I think a lot of this stems from the election,” said Gibbs, who served as a top campaign official and frequent traveling companion with the then-candidate. “You had primarily donors but others, too, who would get fixated by cable and get freaked out and start calling.”…

Gibbs said cable news outlets hadn’t complained about their whipping-boy status, quipping: “They probably think it’s pretty good advertising.”