This seems to be escalating quickly. Just two weeks ago, as several brewing Obama administration scandals were set to hit the newspapers, White House chief of staff Denis McDonough appeared in the White House press room with a big box of doughnuts to thank the press corps for doing such a bang-up job keeping the president honest. Who knows, then, what tasty treats await a group of liberal columnists and bloggers who were spotted today heading to the West Wing.
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/336939685265936385
The idea of lefty journalists being summoned quietly to the White House for a private briefing would seem unbelievable if it hadn’t happened before. Soon after last year’s election, several MSNBC personalities and “progressive journalists” were spied heading into the West Wing, though they were awfully tight-lipped about the whole thing, both before and after. Rachel Maddow joked that she was there for the “hippie cabal,” so what’s the purpose of today’s meeting?
@arishapiro co-conspirators?
— Sam Youngman (@samyoungman) May 21, 2013
https://twitter.com/GLevitzki/status/336932220893790208
https://twitter.com/instapundit/status/336938907503558662
JournOlist powers activate!
— Melissa Mackenzie (@MelissaTweets) May 21, 2013
House of Cards marathon. “@arishapiro: Spotted: @joshtpm @CapehartJ @ezraklein & other lefty columnists headed to West Wing. POTUS coffee?”
— Andy Cobb (@AndyCobb) May 21, 2013
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/336940662115143680
Must be nice to know who's phones aren't tapped. MT @redsteeze: Obama currently meeting with his sr advisors: @joshtpm @CapehartJ @ezraklein
— Tom (@BoreGuru) May 21, 2013
At least we know that the lefty columnists going into the West Wing haven't conspiratorially met with any government sources.
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) May 21, 2013
@jimgeraghty They're getting the batteries in their bugs replaced.
— Jack (@Mr_Fastbucks) May 21, 2013
Here’s a theory, and we’re not sure if it’s funny or scary.
Theory: @ezraklein, @joshtpm, @CapehartJ aren't attending a spin session. They're candidates to replace @PressSec
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) May 21, 2013
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/336948146741592064
Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren just posted an interesting piece on that very subject.
What is going on with White House Press Secretary Jay Carney? http://t.co/QmGlftZDGr
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) May 21, 2013
[Carney] has the very important job of being the person communicating with the American people on behalf of President Obama. If he is getting thrown under the bus, and being set up by others senior to him, I suggest it is time he throw them under the bus – let us know what is going on and why the evolving stories – because his credibility is tarnished.
Chris “Tingles” Matthews was curiously absent from December’s West Wing love-fest; maybe they’d just installed new carpet or something and were worried about, um, press leaks. So who wasn’t spotted today?
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/336945728427548673
A depressed Oliver Willis sits down with a pallet of Ho-Hos to drown out his sorrow over not being included in the WH meeting.
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) May 21, 2013
Obama and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney managed to alienate a good portion of the White House press corps by leaving them out of that special “deep background” meeting that was by special invitation only. Add the Justice Department snooping on the AP, Fox News’ James Rosen, (maybe) Sharyl Attkisson and who knows who else, and the relationship between President Boyfriend and his fan club can only get rockier.
I wonder if @PressSec will get a question tomorrow about the little pow-wow with left bloggers. What was too good (bad?) for WH Press Corps?
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) May 21, 2013
Attn @whpresscorps: those little bootlickers getting the good briefing right now…how's all that deference working out for you?
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 21, 2013
hey you know who might appreciate a candid, forthright, informative briefing? the @whpresscorps that endures @presssec every damn day.
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) May 21, 2013
Hey @whpresscorps—@presssec feeds you nonsense every day but @ezraklein and @joshtpm are getting the Straight Dope in a VIP briefing.
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) May 21, 2013
Maybe you should be in on the private huddle, too, eh? @whpresscorps
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) May 21, 2013
Hey @whpresscorps— maybe @ezraklein will give you some crumbs, if you're lucky. #evergetthefeelingyouvebeencheated?
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) May 21, 2013
I can't wait to get the inside dope from @capehartJ and @joshtpm, @whpresscorps.
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) May 21, 2013
Remember, @whpresscorps, Obama isn't calling @ezraklein @joshtpm in to tell him the same retarded bullshit you get from @presssec
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) May 21, 2013
I don't want to start any trouble, but the @whpresscorps sort of looks like a bunch of chumps here, with the WH briefing @ezraklein
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) May 21, 2013
maybe the @whpresscorps should sit in for a briefing with @ezraklein and @joshtpm, since they're the ones who have the real info.
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) May 21, 2013
Also curious to find out if the team huddle is on the record, which makes it at least quasi-journalistic, or off-the-record strategizing
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) May 21, 2013
We’ve been dealing with a quasi-journalistic press corps for a long time now. If anyone would like to step up and demand transparency, now is the time.
Keep an eye on these guys' blogs / columns in the coming weeks. You'll get the WH approved narrative. https://t.co/ZMX8YcxUNc
— RBe (@RBPundit) May 21, 2013
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