Chuck Todd, NBC’s new White House Correspondent, isn’t too happy about the short leash the Obama Administration is keeping on the press corps:
Obviously, I’m one of the newbies here in the White House press corps, so maybe I’m unfamiliar with the ways of how this place works. I have to say, nothing is more frustrating than covering an actual event here at the White House if you at all believe in anything remotely having to do with the First Amendment.
For instance, today, the president gave a speech in the East Room to the business council, an audience of dozens of CEOs and major business leaders in America. As per usual, we’re allowed to watch the event behind a ropeline. Ok, standard procedure for any event for any candidate, let alone a president. But unlike public events, here at the White House, when the event ends, we get no access to the audience unless the audience happens to amble up to the ropeline and chat with the press.
Today, it was so bad that we were kept behind closed doors so that these CEOs and other business leaders could leave without accidentally mingling with us poor press peons. Once the CEOs were clear and escorted downstairs, then we were let out of our East Room pen. And it’s not like we could rush over to the east side of the White House and find anyone left to interview about their role on this business council. By the time, a member of the press leaves out the one exit they can come in and out of, those guys and gals would be history. I’m sure most of them had cars at the ready to quickly get them to their next meeting.
And Todd has this parting shot in response to some of the comments his original post received:
“This isn’t about us not having access, this is about ANYONE having access… if it’s NOT us, it’s the public!…Beat us up all you want, but this isn’t about us whining, it’s about us not even being able to do the job you want us to do and that is be the people’s questioner here. But, of course, having a respectable debate on this issue with some is impossible. The irony, of course, is that many of you would be just as upset about the lack of access as I am if the occupant of the White House were someone else.
Yep.
