Remember last November, when, during the heat of the battle for the Democrats’ presidential nomination, the Hillary campaign created a scandal by planting a question at a campaign “town hall” meeting?
At yesterday’s press conference, President Obama, desperate to turn the tide on recent negative news coverage, reverted to the discredited and disreputable practice of planting questions.
Dana Milbank describes Obama’s plant in the clever, “Stay Tuned for More of ‘The Obama Show.’” You can read the details below. Most important is Milbank’s blowing the whistle on this latest Obama abuse:
The use of planted questioners is a no-no at presidential news conferences, because it sends a message to the world — Iran included — that the American press isn’t as free as advertised.
Planting questions is dishonest and inexcusable. This despicable conduct just reinforces the perception that Obama’s permanent campaign is manipulative and schemes to bend the rules in order obtain his goals. You know,m like that old, tired and wrong-headed idiom the ends justify the means.
To make sure there was no mistake, Obama planted more than one questioner at The Obama Show Obama’s press conference. Perhaps Obama was trying to demonstrate that two wrongs do not make a right.
Here are the details of Obama’s plants as revealed by Millbank:
After the obligatory first question from the Associated Press, Obama treated the overflowing White House briefing room to a surprise. “I know Nico Pitney is here from the Huffington Post,” he announced.
Obama knew this because White House aides had called Pitney the day before to invite him, and they had escorted him into the room. They told him the president was likely to call on him, with the understanding that he would ask a question about Iran that had been submitted online by an Iranian. “I know that there may actually be questions from people in Iran who are communicating through the Internet,” Obama went on. “Do you have a question?”
Pitney recognized his prompt. “That’s right,” he said, standing in the aisle and wearing a temporary White House press pass. “I wanted to use this opportunity to ask you a question directly from an Iranian.”
Pitney asked his arranged question. Reporters looked at one another in amazement at the stagecraft they were witnessing. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel grinned at the surprised TV correspondents in the first row.
[. . .]
During the eight years of the Bush administration, liberal outlets such as the Huffington Post often accused the White House of planting questioners in news conferences to ask preplanned questions. But here was Obama fielding a preplanned question asked by a planted questioner — from the Huffington Post.
Pitney said the White House, though not aware of the question’s wording, asked him to come up with a question about Iran proposed by an Iranian. And, as it turned out, he was not the only prearranged questioner at yesterday’s show. Later, Obama passed over the usual suspects to call on Macarena Vidal of the Spanish-language EFE news agency. The White House called Vidal in advance to see whether she was coming and arranged for her to sit in a seat usually assigned to a financial trade publication. She asked about Chile and Colombia.
Will the main stream media continue yesterday’s revival of its watchdog role? A role that has been severly neglected in the coverage of candidate and President Obama. Will the MSM take Obama to task for this transgression? Or will this remain an outrage covered only by Milbank and citizen journalists?
Aaron Gardner
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
I don't know if "watchdog" is the correct term
Michael Dugas (Diary) Wednesday, June 24th at 9:51AM EST (link)Personally I think “nursemaid” describes it better. They seem to enjoy
soothing or doing away with any pain that might come from Obama’s actions and words.
The firing of the that Inspector General was against the law. Nothing
The multitude of violations and conflicts of interest with
the auto industry dealings. Nothing
The fraud and misappropriation of federal funds from AmeriCorps
to TARP etc. Nothing.
And all this and more on top of how he actually treats the press. Nothing.
The MSM is his babysitter, nursemaid and cohort in crime.
Obama would have to get caught red handed by Nuns, with photographic and DNA proof, committing some heinous felony
for the MSM to even consider thinking about not supporting him.
Intro to Federalist Papers; section 5;
paragraph 4.
“…dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the zeal for a firm and efficient government.”
Remember: A Citizen on the dole is a Liberal Vote at the Polls.
END ENTITLEMENTS!
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum !
The American press- free, but not independent
owise1 Wednesday, June 24th at 10:20AM EST (link)With all due respect to Dana Milbank, I don’t doubt that the American press is “free.” Although this Administration has strong-armed the auto, banking, and financial industries to bend to its will, it has not been necessary for it to use such tactics on the press. Why should it? The American press is already in its back pocket. It is “free,” but certainly not independent. The sycophantic press has made the choice to exercise its “freedom” by kowtowing to the Administration and reporting talking points rather than doing the hard work of investigative reporting. Did I say that? “Investigative reporting?” Now there’s an oxymoron. It is sad to see an independent press fade into oblivion without so much as a whimper.
You're letting them off way too easy owise
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, June 24th at 11:08AM EST (link)They’re not controlled by the state. They’re glorifying The Leader of their own free will. Blame them for being the volunteer organs of the personality cult. Don’t give them an excuse by making them out to be government-run, which they aren’t.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Answers to your question...
antisocial (Diary) Wednesday, June 24th at 11:33AM EST (link)Will the main stream media continue yesterday’s revival of its watchdog role?
NO – Obama is thinking “why did I call on these guys…. need to make sure those networks don’t get to ask any questions.”
Will the MSM take Obama to task for this transgression?
NO – MSM is too deep in s*$?
will this remain an outrage covered only by Milbank and citizen journalists?
YES
Did you notice the laughter yesterday. I should say childish giggle…. Major Garrett and Chuck need to watch out…. These maybe their last questions…
Obama Doctrine – Boot On The Throat
—————————–
What is to be done?
——————————
No. You can’t – Moe Lane
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The Emperor has no clothes!!!
Voluntary subjugation
owise1 Wednesday, June 24th at 11:36AM EST (link)Neil, you’re right. I did not mean to suggest that the American press is controlled by the state. Just the opposite, in fact. They are not controlled by the state because it is not necessary for the state to control them. They are voluntarily doing the state’s bidding, and in that sense they have made the choice (either consciously or unconsciously) to give up their own independence. They have utterly lost the ability to think for themselves, to think independently. Whatever drivel is fed to them by the Administration is lapped up like honey from the honeycomb. More and more Americans are beginning to take notice of this fact. I suspect that our enemies have been able to see it for quite some time.
Good article from Milbank
WarEagle01 (Diary) Wednesday, June 24th at 11:37AM EST (link)Now I see why he got banned from Olbermann. In Keithworld no criticism of the Dear shall be tolerated.
“A wise, doughy leg with rich tingly experiences will always reach better conclusions than will a more tanned, muscular leg that hasn’t felt those thrills.” –Chris Matthews’ Leg
“The alternative to the awful extremity of abortion is the indispensable joy of introducing this flawed world to someone who might make it better.”–John Hayward (AKA Dr. Zero)
That's "Dear Leader"
WarEagle01 (Diary) Wednesday, June 24th at 11:38AM EST (link)n/t
“A wise, doughy leg with rich tingly experiences will always reach better conclusions than will a more tanned, muscular leg that hasn’t felt those thrills.” –Chris Matthews’ Leg
“The alternative to the awful extremity of abortion is the indispensable joy of introducing this flawed world to someone who might make it better.”–John Hayward (AKA Dr. Zero)
Class, today's phrase of the day is "rent boy"
civil truth (Diary) Wednesday, June 24th at 11:46AM EST (link)Describes the media’s behavior to a “T”.
The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis
http://www.gmsplace.com/
How is "planting" a question
gonzo55 (Diary) Wednesday, June 24th at 12:20PM EST (link)with Huffington Post any different from the normal routine of taking softball questions about how he got to be so awesome from the pliant liberal MSM (NBC, ABC, CBS, most newspapers)? This owuld bother me more if I thought it were displacing a tough question from a real reporter. Thank God Fox has enough viewers now that it can’t be ignored, even by Supreme Leader Obama.
“Facts are stubborn things” — Ronald Wilson Reagan
Because Now Obama's Playing "Favorites"
IJB Wednesday, June 24th at 2:28PM EST (link)Apparently now it’s not enough to be a “supporter” of Obama’s policies (as almost everyone in the Legacy Media is).
Now, apparently, you are only “worthy” if you are directly “anointed” by “The Chosen One” himself.
This raises Obama’s Cult of Personality to a ridiculous and truly scary level.
If the Legacy Media don’t push back on this, they will render themselves powerless and irrelevant. And then nothing will prevent them from being sent of the ‘the camps’ when the time comes along with all of Redstate’s readership and the rest of ‘Middle America’…
Please be respectful to the departed...
6eorge Jetson (Diary) Wednesday, June 24th at 12:53PM EST (link)RIP, Rob!
Liberal Media Turning on Obama
mizzoutiger Wednesday, June 24th at 6:11PM EST (link)The liberal media is turning on Obama. This Newsy report offers some perspective on the recent turning of the tide.
http://www.newsy.com/videos/leaving_the_fold
This was inevitable right? Certainly the White House’s decision to play favorites with giving ABC the town hall health care exclusive has not sat well with the political media. If we see Obama and O’Reilly playing golf, then we know there’s a problem!
Or Hannity and Obama drinking a beer
izoneguy (Diary) Wednesday, June 24th at 6:15PM EST (link)n/t
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.