April 30, 2009

The Role Of The Press Is To Challenge Authority
— LauraW

And the best way to challenge authority is to be lavishly feted at friendly 'off the record' meals, of course.

For more than a year, David Bradley, the Atlantic's soft-spoken owner, has hosted these off-the-record dinners at a specially built table in his glass-enclosed office overlooking the Potomac. And the guests, from Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke to Jordan's King Abdullah II, are as A-list as they come.

"It's just a joy for me," Bradley says. "These are reflective, considered conversations, which is hard to do when you're going after headlines for the next day's publication." While the guests seem quite open, says the businessman who bought Atlantic a decade ago, he is new enough to journalism "that I can't tell the difference between genuine candor and deeply rehearsed candor."

Emanuel says he enjoyed the chance to "put aside the adversarial. . . . I tried to be honest and frank and hope they felt that way. They want context, they want thinking. You're not selling, you're presenting."

No, you're definitely selling. Because they're buying. Everything.

Folks, please read the whole thing. It's disgusting.

From slublog:

Remember the days when a conservative reporter showing up and asking a question at the White House was cause for major freakout among the left?

GANNON!

Precisely. ONE single sympathetic question to a Republican President caused a furor.

Now, imagine George W. Bush looking out during a press conference and seeing a sea of Gannons willing to craft creampuff after creampuff for the President to swat out of the park.

And that his appointees meet with these Gannons at luxe private dinners, and establish a private website (like Journolist) where they can discuss their scary-smart ideas with a gaggle of sympathetic Gannons.

These Gannons, in order to preserve their 'special access,' will not commit the atrocity of holding these officials to their word in public.

That's pretty much what's going on, yes?

May I ask what purpose this special access serves if it does not inform the public?

It's much like CNN having special access in Iraq before the war, but only using it to report what their handlers allowed them to see. That's not really access, of course. It's merely some variety of whoredom to power. What good is being a witness if you never testify?

Special access is prized by the press, because they get to feel Very Important, a friend of the elite, a member of the club. They get to hear and treasure tasty little secrets and exclusive details, as long as they can keep their mouths shut.

And granting special access is prized by government elites, because they get to transform annoying reporters into friendly little sockpuppets.

Posted by: LauraW at 06:41 AM | Comments (109)
Post contains 470 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Special access is prized by the press, because they get to feel Very Important, a friend of the elite, a member of the club.

More.  Without access, they aren't qualified to write ad copy for a shoe store, much less manage one.

Stenographers all.

Posted by: toby928 at April 30, 2009 06:46 AM (PD1tk)

2 No, the role of the press in this Republic is to perform their primary role as the propaganda arm of the Obama regime.

Posted by: rplat at April 30, 2009 06:49 AM (G1ArL)

3 I long for the day when all of them go bankrupt.

Posted by: Jollyroger at April 30, 2009 06:51 AM (+tHhv)

4 Look!  My contempt for the press managed to grow larger!  I did not know that was possible. 

Posted by: alexthechick at April 30, 2009 06:51 AM (SHHaV)

5 Preaching to the choir on this one.  It's not like they're going to change behaviour because of anything written/read by the VRWC.  The media is the 5th Chief Directorate of the democrat party.

Posted by: Dang Straights at April 30, 2009 06:53 AM (Haq+B)

6 I really wish there was a way to get the places/people Emanuel has visited.

Posted by: outraged at April 30, 2009 06:54 AM (penCf)

7

I wonder what Eric "the media is right-wing" Alterman would think about this.  These media clowns are petty and pathetic, and their justification for fellating Obama is weak.

In the end, there will be only... Obama acolytes in the media.

Posted by: Kratos (on the back of Gaia, scaling Mt Olympus) at April 30, 2009 06:55 AM (9hSKh)

8

Well, this is, of course, why blogs are so important now.  And why it is important for blogs to WANT to get things right and not just vent.  There is no real analysis by professional journalists anymore, because they want to keept their careers and going against the thugocracy will put that at risk.

As I said earlier:  I am experiencing major contempt fatigue.  I am sure that soon I will start learning to love da bomb.

Posted by: doug at April 30, 2009 06:55 AM (dNitG)

9 I confess, the only thing I've read in the Atlantic in ten years was Mark Bowden's article on Eagle Claw....therefore I don't give a shit since the article confirms what I know to be true. The press are whores.

Posted by: SGT Dan at April 30, 2009 06:57 AM (/KqGF)

10 Not surprising to see their vaunted ideals get swept aside when the 'right' kind of deciders are in charge.

Truth to power -> Power is truth
Comfort the afflicted, Afflict the comfortable -> Comfort the arrogant, and irrigate the comfortable.
Power to the People -> Power to the better People.

Posted by: Chimney Sweep #8 at April 30, 2009 06:57 AM (kIjlp)

11 I got into Journalism to make a difference.

Posted by: Mr. Enchanted at April 30, 2009 07:02 AM (7DB+a)

12 You are making a difference alright Mr. Enchanted, you are keeping Obama's balls lubricated with your saliva. Good job well done.

Posted by: Mr. Pink at April 30, 2009 07:05 AM (NM1Nu)

13 "Remember the days when a conservative reporter showing up and asking a question at the White House was cause for major freakout among the left?

GANNON!"

The guy was a fucking gay prostitute and not even a real journalist for God's sake.

That's what the uproar was about.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 07:06 AM (hOPQH)

14

Can we start filing frivolous lawsuits? 

This is much more a waste of time and resources of our public servant (the POTUS) than anything Gov. Palin has done.

Posted by: connertown at April 30, 2009 07:11 AM (lhJxs)

15 The guy was a fucking gay prostitute and not even a real journalist for God's sake.

Hey, this guy's funny. "Real journalist." That's good stuff!

Posted by: Farmer_Joe at April 30, 2009 07:12 AM (z4es9)

16 What is the difference between a gay prostitute and a journalist thesedays? Well maybe you could argue the gay part but the prostitute part is a no brainer.

Posted by: Mr. Pink at April 30, 2009 07:13 AM (NM1Nu)

17

Prostitutes provide a public service, or something.

Journalists just smoke presidential pole.

Posted by: Iron Maiden at April 30, 2009 07:16 AM (wgLRl)

18 That's what the uproar was about.

HAHAHAHA!!!!

Wow, you just can't make up something funnier than that.

Your brain, it doesn't work right.


Posted by: mesablue at April 30, 2009 07:16 AM (5yNaE)

19 Gannon was one of Bawney Fwank's buttboys?

Posted by: Dang Straights at April 30, 2009 07:17 AM (Haq+B)

20 Asking what is most enchanting about the office of the President, surely that is what makes a "real journalist."

Posted by: Dr. Manhattan at April 30, 2009 07:19 AM (OkrJ4)

21

Laura; surely you know that the ONLY time you have an “opposition” press is when the Republicans are in charge.

 

We haven’t had an honest presss at least since 1968 when the lying sack of liberal shit Walter Chronkite made his famous statement about the Tet Offensive AND that was a Democrap president!

Posted by: Vic at April 30, 2009 07:20 AM (f6os6)

22

The guy was a fucking gay prostitute and not even a real journalist for God's sake.

So is Andrew Sullivan.  What's your point?

Posted by: JackStraw at April 30, 2009 07:23 AM (VW9/y)

23 All your thought should be to coming from us-DeMSM.

Posted by: hutch1200 at April 30, 2009 07:23 AM (9bJJQ)

24 Gannon was one of Bawney Fwank's buttboys?
Posted by: Dang Straights at April 30, 2009

That, is a question I'd love to know the answer to.

Who, obviously someone in the White House due to Gannon's many visits, was partaking anal pleasure with Gannon?

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 07:24 AM (hOPQH)

25 JackStraw at April 30, 2009 12:23 PM

FOR THE WIN!

Posted by: Good Lt. at April 30, 2009 07:25 AM (jH17H)

26 "President obama, Are you worried about a deepthroat in your administration, or do you like you've got that covered, by all the deepthroats in the DeMSM"? 

Posted by: hutch1200 at April 30, 2009 07:26 AM (9bJJQ)

27

The guy was a fucking gay prostitute and not even a real journalist for God's sake.

So is Andrew Sullivan.  What's your point?

Posted by: JackStraw at April 30, 2009

My point is gay hookers who aren't journalists and work for fake News organizations have no business being part of the White House press pool asking the POTUS questions.

Is that clear enough for ya?

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 07:26 AM (hOPQH)

28

Uhmm, HC, no. Not real clear....Oh wait, not taking q's from the #1 rated network (Fox) is OK?

Fuck you. 

Posted by: hutch1200 at April 30, 2009 07:28 AM (9bJJQ)

29

I've talked to two people who watch a ton of tv and are liberals and they had no idea about the AFO flyover.

Not a fuckin clue.

These sick fucks in the media are pathetic.

Posted by: Rev. Dr. E. Buzz Miller at April 30, 2009 07:29 AM (FPYe+)

30 I had always thought that the Pravda journalists were coerced and reported the party line because they HAD to or would be shipped off to a gulag in Siberia. It never occured to me that the press would bend over on purpose. Oh hail great leader. Heil Heil

Posted by: Dagny Tagert at April 30, 2009 07:30 AM (MmE3n)

31 My point is gay hookers who aren't journalists and work for fake News organizations have no business being part of the White House press pool asking the POTUS questions.

Is that clear enough for ya?

But stacking the White House Press pool with folks from HuffPo is all about objectivity, right?

Right?

And why do you hate gays?

Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009 07:31 AM (/R8R8)

32 HATER CLOD!!!!11!!!

Posted by: hutch1200 at April 30, 2009 07:33 AM (9bJJQ)

33 And granting special access is prized by government elites, because they get to transform annoying reporters into friendly little sockpuppets.

Another form of this behavior can be seen in security policies and distribution of need-to-know.  It is an ego boost for some wonks to be in-the-know for shit they don't really need-to-know.  Make them feel wise or something.

Pentagon has used it for years to "manage" Hill staffers and by the services to manage the building.

It really shocks some of them when you refuse proffered access.

Posted by: Jean at April 30, 2009 07:34 AM (L64A6)

34 Brad I think he hates the paying part of teh ghey. Or not getting paid?

Posted by: hutch1200 at April 30, 2009 07:34 AM (9bJJQ)

35  fake News organizations

Like MSNBC? And, who the fuck does Helen Thomas even work for now?  Yet, there she sits in the front row.

Your tunnel vision is just amazing.




Posted by: mesablue at April 30, 2009 07:36 AM (5yNaE)

36

I'd like to get outraged over this but it's so blatant that it's hard to get worked up over. 

Another example, Jennifer Loven.  Not only does she slobber over Obama daily, she is always one of if not the first reporter Obama calls on in his press conferences, just like he did last night.

She also happens to be married to Roger Ballentine, one of the green warriors who stands to make a fortune from Obama's greening of America.  But this is good, not something nefarious like Halliburton/Hitler.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 30, 2009 07:40 AM (VW9/y)

37 And why do you hate gays?
Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009

I've got nothing against gays.

I just believe that gay hookers who aren't journalists and work for fake News organizations have no business being part of the White House press pool asking the POTUS questions.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 07:43 AM (hOPQH)

38 I've been saying it as a joke for a while, and now I'm absolutely serious: If being a prostitute disqualifies you from being a White House correspondent, they can just go ahead and close down the press office right now.

Posted by: Rich Fader at April 30, 2009 07:44 AM (PA/oP)

39 so, is it the gay hooker part, or the fake news organization part that you don't like. Or does it have to be both?

Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009 07:46 AM (/R8R8)

40 .Oh wait, not taking q's from the #1 rated network (Fox) is OK?

Fuck you. 

Posted by: hutch1200 at April 30, 2009

What in the fuck does not taking q's from Fox have to do with  Bush having a gay hooker who wasn't a journalist and worked for a fake News organization  being part of the White House press pool asking the POTUS questions.

And Fuck you too.

Oh, and you are a moron to believe the two events have anything to do with one another.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 07:46 AM (hOPQH)

41 so, is it the gay hooker part, or the fake news organization part that you don't like. Or does it have to be both?
Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009

Good question. I'd think either one would have disqualified him. You know the party of family values and all.

Which is worse I don't know.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 07:49 AM (hOPQH)

42 So, HC, you're saying the content of the question and response is unimportant, only the status of the questioner?

Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009 07:54 AM (/R8R8)

43

I would like to see a list of the attendees at these dinners, and have that list published and widely available on the web.  Then anytime we reference anything one of them says or writes, we should precede their name with an asterisk.

Just like Barry Bonds' achievements will forever be asterisked, the utterances of these "journalists" should be forever marked as suspect by virtue of their unethical conduct.

Posted by: sherlock at April 30, 2009 07:54 AM (cq3pU)

44 who aren't journalists

BWAHAHAHAHA! Stop! You're killing me, over here!

Posted by: Farmer_Joe at April 30, 2009 07:56 AM (z4es9)

45 I would like to see a list of the attendees at these dinners, and have that list published and widely available on the web.  Then anytime we reference anything one of them says or writes, we should precede their name with an asterisk.

How closely do you think it correlates with the membership of "journo-list?"

Posted by: Farmer_Joe at April 30, 2009 07:58 AM (z4es9)

46 So, HC, you're saying the content of the question and response is unimportant, only the status of the questioner?

Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009

What in the fuck are you talking about? The content of the question and the response  might be important, it might not. That has nothing to do with it.

The point is gay hookers who aren't journalists and work for fake News organizations have no business being part of the White House press pool asking the POTUS questions.

Good fucking grief.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 08:01 AM (hOPQH)

47 who aren't journalists

Oh man! Every time I think he can't get any funnier, he does it again!

Posted by: Farmer_Joe at April 30, 2009 08:04 AM (z4es9)

48 I'm glad to see some of you guys n' gals still beating on Hernia Clot. Me, I'm scrolling over as fast as my buff and mighty index finger can flip that wheel.

Posted by: Sort-of-Mad Max at April 30, 2009 08:04 AM (ERJIu)

49 Damn ... this guy really hates gay hookers. Eh ... bad experiences I guess.

Posted by: dumb_blonde at April 30, 2009 08:05 AM (9rdxF)

50 "What do I the most enchanting about the Presidency.....is you Jeff.....it's you!"

Posted by: Kasper Hauser at April 30, 2009 08:06 AM (ZPwZl)

51

How closely do you think it correlates with the membership of "journo-list?"

Okay, maybe we're gonna need a bigger set of special symbols... I assume we haven't found out all of the "special" lists and meetings.  And I think the two lists would match up pretty well.

We often feel powerless to expose these hypocrites, but I think the asterisk idea would be a powerful tool to reinforce the idea that we recognize their perfidy, and aren't about to forget about it.

Posted by: sherlock at April 30, 2009 08:07 AM (cq3pU)

52 Anyone willing to bet that dishonest clod would be singing a completely different tune if Gannon had been slinging tough questions and was "outed."  He'd be crying about how conservatives took work away from a gay man just because of his former profession and they didn't like his questions.

Posted by: buzzion at April 30, 2009 08:09 AM (Lrsi6)

53 so, is it the gay part you object to, or the hooker part? Should we make sure there are no other people with moral failings sitting in on the press conferences? People who have driven drunk- a potentially far more harmful activity? How about people that may have used marijuana or coke?
As for fake news organizations, again, where's your outrage at HuffPo sitting in and asking questions? Or is their guy a "real" journalist?

Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009 08:09 AM (/R8R8)

54 Have any of you seen Michelle's arms?  She is so buff?!?  And Barack's tits???  Enchanting.  I mean how often do you get to marvel at a couple where the woman has better arms and the man a better rack?

Posted by: Honest Clod News Service at April 30, 2009 08:11 AM (VW9/y)

55 so, is it the gay part you object to, or the hooker part?

The hooker part. It's against the law. See Eliot Spitzer.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 08:16 AM (hOPQH)

56

Two very simple questions for honest cloud -

What criteria make a journalist "real"?

What criteria make a news organization "real"?

Posted by: gebrauchshund at April 30, 2009 08:16 AM (ACDor)

57

The point is gay hookers who aren't journalists and work for fake News organizations have no business being part of the White House press pool asking the POTUS questions.

To repeat what Dr. Manhattan said, does that doofus who asked the POTUS what "enchanted" him most about his first hundred days in office have any business being part of the White House press pool?

What is it, exactly, that makes that particular schmuck a "real journalist" ?

It's not exactly like Gannon was the only one in the White House press corps smoking pole for a living, by the look of all the Presidential knob-polishing going on by this lot.

Posted by: Lewis at April 30, 2009 08:17 AM (Y3uPw)

58 Or is their guy a "real" journalist?

BWAHAHAHA! Now Brad's doing it! I'm gonna lose a lung over here!

Posted by: Farmer_Joe at April 30, 2009 08:18 AM (z4es9)

59 56

Two very simple questions for honest cloud -

What criteria make a journalist "real"?

-Hate Republicans, love Democrats

What criteria make a news organization "real"?

-(See above)

Posted by: A TRULY HONEST cloud at April 30, 2009 08:19 AM (voIlD)

60 So, you don't like hookers. One, that puts you well outside the AoS Lifestyle guidelines. Two, I thought the left proclaimed that prostitution was a victimless crime and shouldn't be prosecuted.

And why is it you, and only you, are qualified to pass judgment on who may or may not ask an elected official questions?

Can I ask a question? Can Ace? Again, why are you more upset over who is asking the question than you are about the substance or lack thereof of the question itself and the resultant answer?

Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009 08:20 AM (/R8R8)

61

Two very simple questions for honest cloud -

What criteria make a journalist "real"?

-Hate Republicans, love Democrats

What criteria make a news organization "real"?

-(See above)

Posted by: A TRULY HONEST cloud

Not this. This a fake News organization. And Gannon, working for them, was a fake journalist.

A virtual organization with no physical office space or newsroom, Talon News was owned by a conservative activist group called GOPUSA. Robert Eberle, the president and CEO of GOPUSA, held both titles for Talon News as well.

According to Media Matters, "Talon News apparently consists of little more than (Robert) Eberle, (Jeff) Gannon, and a few volunteers, and is virtually indistinguishable from GOPUSA.com.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 08:23 AM (hOPQH)

62 According to Media Matters...

Heh. Funny troll makes funny.

Posted by: Slublog at April 30, 2009 08:24 AM (8ffW/)

63

Oh, no, Honest Cloud. Attacking my gay friends like that. And I had thought that you were a heap kewl Native American, but you're a hater just like Rush.

;(

Posted by: meeeeghan mccain at April 30, 2009 08:24 AM (MGu62)

64 To amplify Lewis' statement, the guy asking that question was from the NYT.  That "news organization" has been caught out again and again when it comes to lies and editorial bias.  Are they "real?"  Or if you want to spin it the liberal way, how could you possibly believe what id written in the NYT when they are now no more than the mouth piece for some Mexican capitalist?  Are they more real now since taking that $250 million loan or less? 


Besides, anybody asking about the president's most "enchanting" moment was more than likely wearing a sun dress and selling ass on the street not too long ago.

Posted by: sears poncho at April 30, 2009 08:24 AM (uj/0b)

65 Enough with the 'family values' smears crap.

If Republicans were to force deviants from the party we are homophobic.
If we let them stay we are somehow 'hypocritical'.

You just can't smell what you are shoveling can you?

You don't give two craps about family values,  you follow that moral relativistic crap.  I wonder what the Left's moral compass will be pointing at tomorrow?

Posted by: DavidM at April 30, 2009 08:24 AM (R/e5b)

66

At least Jake Tapper is man enough to go after Gibbs, at least until Gibbs takes down Jake Tapper over the Air Farce One controversy. [Hat tip five feet of fury blog.]

Posted by: andycanuck at April 30, 2009 08:26 AM (MGu62)

67

This post is very interesting, as Laura W makes many of the same points that Glenn Greenwald over at Salon makes-

namely, that the Beltway Journalists are alltogether too comfortable with access to power, and protecting themselves, instrad of challenging authority and seeking the truth.


Whether it is the Fox Channel with the Bush Administration or MSNBC with the Obama Administration, the media tend to be more protective of the government officials than interested in telling the truth to the American public.

An example would be the scandal of how the so-called "military analysts" that regularly make the rounds, presented as disinterested experts, are actually financially connected to the military contractors that benefit from the reporting they give. But not one word of this has been spoken by any reporter for any of the networks.

Posted by: ChipD at April 30, 2009 08:28 AM (nWYl8)

68 Can I ask a question? Can Ace? Again, why are you more upset over who is asking the question than you are about the substance or lack thereof of the question itself and the resultant answer?
Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009

The content or lack of content is a completely separate subject. If you'd like to ask about any specific question I'd be happy to answer.

My point here for the fifth time is that gay hookers who are fake journalists and work for fake news organizations shouldn't be in the White House press pool asking the POTUS questions.

It's just that simple.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 08:29 AM (hOPQH)

69 This a fake News organization. And Gannon, working for them, was a fake journalist.

Oh, god! My athsma!!

Posted by: Farmer_Joe at April 30, 2009 08:29 AM (z4es9)

70 If Republicans were to force deviants from the party we are homophobic.
If we let them stay we are somehow 'hypocritical'.

Posted by: DavidM at April 30, 2009

I'll add you to the list of those too fucking stupid to understand my point.

That gay hookers who are fake journalists and work for fake news organizations shouldn't be in the White House press pool asking the POTUS questions.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 08:32 AM (hOPQH)

71

61 According to Media Matters, "Talon News apparently consists of little more than (Robert) Eberle, (Jeff) Gannon, and a few volunteers, and is virtually indistinguishable from GOPUSA.com."

Irrelevent. The number of employees/volunteers of any organization doesn't make that organization "fake," nor does the opinon offered by some left-wing watchdog group (Media Matters) on the ideological make-up of the organization ("indistinguishable from GOPUSA.com") invalidate its credibility.

I once worked for a book publisher which consisted of three (count 'em -- 3) employees. I guess that means we were a "fake" company that churned out a host of "fake" books (including one by a Nobel Prize winner).

 

Posted by: Horseshit Detector Unit at April 30, 2009 08:33 AM (voIlD)

72 So, we can take that HuffPo guy out of the WHPC? Is that what you're saying? Help me here, HC.

What standards does a "journalist" have to meet? Is there a market cap requirement for the parent organization? Does the "journalist" have to have a J-school masters, or will a BA/BS in Communications do?


Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009 08:37 AM (/R8R8)

73 fake journalists and work for fake news organizations

How do you do it, HC? How do you sustain such comic genius for such a long period of time? I must know!

Posted by: Farmer_Joe at April 30, 2009 08:37 AM (z4es9)

74

70 ...gay hookers who are fake journalists and work for fake news organizations shouldn't be in the White House press pool asking the POTUS questions.

You can keep repeating that mantra over and over again in order to get all the therapeutic use out of it that you can -- but until you answer the question of Why not? it's not an end argument in and of itself.

Posted by: Horseshit Detector Unit at April 30, 2009 08:38 AM (voIlD)

75 Gannon
"The guy was a fucking gay prostitute and not even a real journalist for God's sake." -- "honest" cloud above

Barney Frank
The guy was a fucking gay prostitute's lover and not even a real legislator for God's sake.

Posted by: Nom de Blog at April 30, 2009 08:40 AM (fnU+z)

76

The President works for us, the people, anyone can ask him questions.

 

ANYONE

if ya can't figure that out you must be O-tarded

Posted by: Dave at April 30, 2009 08:43 AM (gI0fK)

77 Must be difficult for enchanted journalists to challenge authority when they are so firmly nestled up Barry's rectum.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at April 30, 2009 08:44 AM (1Jaio)

78 Please share wingnuts, why Talon News lost their White House Press credentials.

And why they went out of business immediately after Gannon was exposed as a fraud.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 08:44 AM (hOPQH)

79

honest cloud -

What makes a "real journalist" real, and what makes a fake one fake?

I mean, if I graduated from J-School and  work for the New York Times, but ask the POTUS nothing but softball questions, should I be considered a "real" journalist?

Or are my credentials more important that my actions?

Posted by: Lewis at April 30, 2009 08:45 AM (Y3uPw)

80

The President works for us, the people, anyone can ask him questions.

 ANYONE

if ya can't figure that out you must be O-tarded

Posted by: Dave at April 30, 2009 0

You are one stupid fuck, Dave.

We are talking about the White House Press pool. You don't honestly believe anyone can just walk right in do you?

You couldn't that fucking dumb.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 08:46 AM (hOPQH)

81

You couldn't that fucking dumb.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 01:46 PM (hOPQH)

 

Unlike a genius like you, who crafts such fine sentences.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at April 30, 2009 08:49 AM (1Jaio)

82 He didnt just walk in bugnuts, he was in the press pool. My point is that you dont have to be in your "Sooper Sekret Reportrs Klub" to ask questions.

Posted by: Dave at April 30, 2009 08:50 AM (gI0fK)

83 And why they went out of business immediately after Gannon was exposed as a fraud.

Well, not to concede he was a fraud, but I can tell you that they probably went out of business because they no longer had a unique product to sell. That's kinda how capitalism works...

And it appears you are cool with the White House denying access to news organizations for reasons of its own choosing. What if the White House were to banish the NYT for asking uncomfortable questions? Is that OK? Or does the NYT have to stick to asking about enchantment to maintain access?

Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009 08:50 AM (/R8R8)

84 "You couldn't that fucking dumb." -- honest cloud

Heh.

Posted by: Officer Paddy O'Irony de Blog at April 30, 2009 08:51 AM (fnU+z)

85 Cut honest cloud some slack here. He is confused by his enchantment with Obama's cock and his bedazzlement with Michelle's balls. Confused, I tell you.

Posted by: nikkolai at April 30, 2009 08:51 AM (4EBUu)

86

Honest cloud -

I didn't ask why Gannon or Talon News are considered "fake". I asked what are the criteria an organization or journalist have to meet to be considered "real". Not that I expected an "honest" answer from you anyway.

Posted by: gebrauchshund at April 30, 2009 08:52 AM (ACDor)

87 The Quiet Man is now on my shit list for stealing my joke.
*shakes fist*
Damn you!

Posted by: Nom de Blog at April 30, 2009 08:52 AM (fnU+z)

88

The trolls have taken us off topic, as planned.  All I want is to make sure we "recognize" what journalists are cozy with the administration, in apparent violation of their own code of ethics.  I don't give a rat's ass if some person impersonated a journalist to ask Bush a question... I am upset about the apparently systemic cosiness of today's journalists with the Obama adminstration.  I am not required to be perfectly consistent across all time and all adminstrations in my concerns - this is here and this is now.

I want those asterisks!!

Posted by: sherlock at April 30, 2009 08:53 AM (cq3pU)

89 Cut honest cloud some slack here. He is confused by his enchantment with Obama's cock and his bedazzlement with Michelle's balls. Confused, I tell you.

Wait. Is it not an elaborate comedy routine? Because this constant mention of "real" and "fake" journalists is hilarious however it's intended. I mean, it's like asking people if their dogs are made of "real carbon".

Posted by: Farmer_Joe at April 30, 2009 08:55 AM (z4es9)

90

The Quiet Man is now on my shit list for stealing my joke.
*shakes fist*
Damn you!

Posted by: Nom de Blog at April 30, 2009 01:52 PM (fnU+z)

 

Sorry, but it was such an easy shot at an easy target.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at April 30, 2009 08:56 AM (1Jaio)

91 They shall forever be know as the MST (Main Stream Toadys) to me.

Posted by: Javems at April 30, 2009 08:59 AM (hq71Y)

92 Hey honest you really are a world class fucking idiot:

"41 so, is it the gay hooker part, or the fake news organization part that you don't like. Or does it have to be both?
Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009

HC: Good question. I'd think either one would have disqualified him. You know the party of family values and all."

You brought it up shit-for-brains.  Only an elistist prick like you would criticize who asked a question rather than the question itself.

Posted by: DavidM at April 30, 2009 09:01 AM (R/e5b)

93

"You couldn't that fucking dumb."

Dance, monkey, dance!

Posted by: Edward Van Cullen at April 30, 2009 09:03 AM (f7A+e)

94 "41 so, is it the gay hooker part, or the fake news organization part that you don't like. Or does it have to be both?
Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009

HC: Good question. I'd think either one would have disqualified him. You know the party of family values and all."

You brought it up shit-for-brains.  Only an elistist prick like you would criticize who asked a question rather than the question itself.
Posted by: DavidM at April 30, 2009

What in the fuck are you talking about?

You DavidM, are a complete imbecile.

Posted by: honest cloud at April 30, 2009 09:05 AM (hOPQH)

95 He reads his own words and call me an idiot.

I think he is a bot, no human could be that dense.

Posted by: DavidM at April 30, 2009 09:08 AM (R/e5b)

96

I have to disagree with you Sherlock, the post was about journalists being too cosy with the administration, but that is a subset of the groupthink within the media, and directly related to the Gannon affair.

Gannon was run out of the press pool because of his ideology, it had absolutely nothing to do with being a gay prostitute. Had he asked embarassing questions of Pres. Bush, he would most likely still be in the Whitehouse press pool today, none of the "real" journalists would have ever bothered to look into his background, and if they had learned of his past they would have considered it a non-issue. In fact he would have been supported and protected by his "journalist" colleagues if he had just stayed with the approved program.

The same thing would likely happen now to any small-time journalist who dared to ask Obama a tough question. The focus of the media would become vetting the journalist who went off mission, rather than the substance of any question. 

Posted by: gebrauchshund at April 30, 2009 09:13 AM (ACDor)

97 What in the fuck are you talking about?

What day is it?  Where am I?  What's going on?!?!?!

Posted by: Honestly, I'm Plowed at April 30, 2009 09:16 AM (PMGbu)

98 When I first found out reading this that the press is corruptible you could have knocked me over with a feather. Unbelievable! Where is the trust? Who can you depend on anymore? Glenn Beck? Geraldo? I guess its back to Playboy for me.

Posted by: Jack is Back! at April 30, 2009 09:18 AM (qhHJJ)

99

Yes, DavidM, I think he is a bot, too, no human could be that dense. Maybe you would like to go to the Honest Cloud Golden Showers refillable troll dolls blog. You are always singing in the rain with Honest Cloud Golden Showers.

Posted by: Honest Cloud Golden Showers Inc. bot at April 30, 2009 09:33 AM (MGu62)

100 I'm thinking HC is dense enough that he really does know what the inside of a blackhole looks like...

Posted by: XBradTC at April 30, 2009 09:40 AM (/R8R8)

101 Was Talon News any more fake than Huffington Post is? They ask zero hard questions of Obama or Democrats in general and always spin everything as the worst for Republicans.

Posted by: Dirk at April 30, 2009 09:53 AM (QwbNF)

102 Gannon was run out of the press pool because of his ideology, it had absolutely nothing to do with being a gay prostitute....The same thing would likely happen now to any small-time journalist who dared to ask Obama a tough question. The focus of the media would become vetting the journalist who went off mission, rather than the substance of any question.

"But gay prostitutes are not real journalists..., and Joe the Plumber's first name wasn't Joe so anything Obama admitted to Joe is unimportant, and Miss America has fake boobs so everything she says is wrong" - Dumbshitlefty

Posted by: wooga at April 30, 2009 10:49 AM (2p0e3)

103 The role of the journalist is to defend and promote Holy Liberal Orthodoxy, and to attack and destroy all who question it's tenets.

Posted by: Sam Adams at April 30, 2009 01:04 PM (GkYyh)

104 Miss California got a boob job and the press hates it them.  On January 20, the Executive Branch got a boob job and the press loves 'em.

Posted by: Reiver at April 30, 2009 01:17 PM (BcsKu)

105

My parents taught me all I know.

 

Dad:  You are a fucking moron...

Mother:  You are a cretin and a disgrace to humanity...

Grandfather:  What a queer little pantywaist....

Grandmother:  Stop buggering the pigs....

 

That's why my comments are so unique and brillant.  It was my unique upbringing and loving parents.

 

So, "Do you want fried with your order?"

Posted by: Honest Cloud at April 30, 2009 03:12 PM (0Qynq)

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