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Outrageous Friday Irony (Actually, Not So Much)

By Michael Scherer | @michaelscherer | March 19, 2009 | +

The following comes from the official Friday schedule for President Obama, which was just released by the White House.

Later in the afternoon, the President and the First Lady will attend a reception with the National Newspaper Publisher Association in the State Dining Room, where they will be presented the Newsmaker of the Year award. This event is closed press.

Not sure whether to laugh or cry.

UPDATE: Actually, not as outrageous as it seems: I am advised by the White House that exclusive access was granted to the NPPA, a 67-year-old federation of more than 200 black community newspapers, on terms similar to the access granted regularly to lots of media organizations for exclusive interviews. The organization or its members are expected to make a record of the event.

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  • stuartzechman

    That’s too f*cking funny, Michael Scherer.
    .
    That said, I can’t wait for these papers to finally meet their ignominious end, with all the lack of dignity that pompous fruits like Ruth Marcus deserve.

  • carotexas1

    Laugh Michael, thank you so much for this, best post ever.

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  • greenlyfe

    I kinda think most of the problems with the press as of late are problems of over-relying on acess and not doing research. That’s why we get so many stories that are basically oppo-dumps that don’t illuminate the issues. There’s a lot of original and important reporting going on; but a lot of stupid stuff too.

    For example: Some folks in Congress said they knew about the bonus issues but they didn’t get het up about it all ’til this week. No one bothers to wonder why the legislation we’re seeing didn’t come forward earlier. No one is also bothering to wonder why we’ve had three folks step back from being nominated to Treasury or put forth the idea that as we devour Sec. Geithner (and I go back and forth on whether it’s fair or not really) what message we’re sending to folks who might come forward to staff the place.

    TPM has been doing great work on the fraud going on at AIG and the issue of it’s counter-party risk; I don’t see enough of that in the MSM frankly.

    These are the things being distracted by folks chasing down who struck the retroactive bonus seizure stuff from the recovery act (and the valid point that there were concerns a court challenge on retroactive seizures could make the entire stimulus moot).

    Which is my long-winded whine about the MSM, lol.

    You should laugh, ironies should always be met with laughter.

  • gysgt213

    Think-Can I have the chicken salad and hold the chicken?

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    Gunny: Where should I hold the chicken?

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  • michaelscherer

    I actually think now the irony is only skin deep. I just posted an update above. The news organizations at the event are expected to report its contents, which is actually pretty standard, as the White House regularly gives exclusive access to individual news organizations or groups of organizations. It just looks bad in the announcement. Nothing is expected to be off the record.

  • stuartzechman

    Michael Scherer:
    .
    The news organizations at the event are expected to report its contents…
    .
    Expected by whom?
    .
    the White House regularly gives exclusive access
    .
    So…the guests cover the party?
    .
    Nothing is expected…
    .
    Expected by whom?
    .
    …to be off the record.
    .
    Does that mean that everything is on the record?
    .
    It might not be as wrong as it sounds, but it doesn’t sound terribly right, either.
    .
    Thanks for clarifying, Michael Scherer.

  • stuartzechman

    You updated while I was posting, Michael Scherer.
    .
    Thanks for the update.

  • FlownOver

    Did you really say “skin deep?”

  • honeybearkelly

    What?

    You mean this would have surpassed the faux outrage about the special olympics crack?

  • http://hisvorpal.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/asshat-malcolm-strikes-again/ Asshat Malcolm Strikes Again « his vorpal sword

    [...] In our reality, the president will be speaking to the National Newspaper Publishers Association, granting them an exclusive interview. There’s obviously transparency, since the journalists will report on what Obama has to say. [...]

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