The White House Press isn’t very happy. The press cites a “lack of transparency.” President Obama decided to have a guy’s weekend. First Lady Michelle Obama and the girls spent the weekend together while President Obama golfed with Tiger Woods. The press was told they weren’t invited to the golfing event. Much to their chagrin were they to find out that a reporter from Golfer’s Digest tweeted that he spent the day with the two men.
Ed Henry of Fox News said:
“Speaking on behalf of the White House Correspondents Association, I can say a broad cross-section of our members from print, radio, online and TV have today expressed extreme frustration to me about having absolutely no access to the President of the United States this entire weekend. There is a very simple but important principle we will continue to fight for today and in the days ahead: transparency.”
Josh Earnest, the deputy press secretary for Obama, replied:
“The press access granted by the White House today is entirely consistent with the press access offered for previous presidential golf outings. It’s also consistent with the press access promised to the White House Press Corps prior to arrival in Florida on Friday evening.”
Jay Carney, White House Press Secretary, said he was “completely sympathetic.”
While I do think it is laughable when President Obama proclaims his administration has been the most “transparent” in history I don’t think the press should whine and pout over this particular event. Tiger Woods is a celebrity and probably didn’t want all the press corps hounding him during the day. President Obama is certainly entitled to some “free time.”
My problem however is that there is a lack of access to the president. Many times the president will hold a press conference, but will refuse to take any questions. Now I might be mistaken but I thought when you confer you talk, back and forth, with someone. But what do I know. I’m not an English major.
Another problem I have is that this press is so infatuated with this non-story that I am perplexed as to why more coverage isn’t being spent over Congress’ latest vacation (yes, I know it’s called a “recess” but do you really think these “masters of doing nothing” are actually working during this break?).
Sequestration Part whatever (I’ve lost track at this point with all these short-term extensions) is ever looming. While our Congress relaxes during their “recess” there are substantive reports that NO DISCUSSIONS have occurred to prevent the cuts. So on March 1st there will be across the board cuts. VP Biden won’t be there in the eleventh hour of the eleventh hour to save the day. It is going to happen. And weeks later the government faces a possible shutdown.
To be completely frank I have to ask: HOW THE HECK DO WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO NEVER GET THEIR JOB DONE?
So my point is simple:
Is the fact you didn’t spend some time with the president and Tiger Woods really that big of a deal?
Do we not have more important topics of discussion? More important topics to report?
Because apparently it doesn’t seem you think so.
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Twitter: @adrakontaidis & @talkrealdebate
