Behave! The White House Is Watching (And Video Taping) The Press Corps

I am actually a big fan of “West Wing Week,” the White House’s eternally chirpy and upbeat, behind-the-scenes online video recap of what the press office wants you to know about how President Obama spends his time. It is quick paced, often funny, and the access is fantastic. It’s also propaganda, of course, not news.

In this week’s episode, we learn that Obama loves his wife and daughters, pals around with John Glenn, cares about the economy and was friendly with the British Prime minister. Never mind Shirley Sherrod and all that stuff.

But I post today’s episode mainly because of the last few seconds, in which the White House’s inestimable press wrangler Ben Finkenbinder reveals that West Wing Week is also a weapon that can be used against the press corps if they misbehave. Very funny stuff.

This is an inside joke, so allow me to provide some context: We in the White House press corps are generally an amiable bunch. But that does not mean we are easy to herd in and out of the Oval Office, Air Force One, press vans, burger joints or any of the hundreds of other places the president tends to travel. There can sometimes be some pushing, or some lingering. Finkenbinder, a consumate pro, is charged with keeping us all from our worst instincts, and he does a fine job of it. On more than one occasion, he has protected the White House corps from bullying foreign officials and pushy foreign press on overseas trips.

But in this clip he is making an important point about how the Internet is transforming the experience of news gathering. We in the press are not the only ones with cameras anymore. Just as we watch White House staff to make sure they do not step out of line, the White House staff is now watching us. And if we behave badly, the White House might just put us all in a video on its blog. In other words, Michel Foucault can rejoice from the grave; President Obama has a tracker of his own.

At CPAC, Romney Stresses Conservative Credentials

Three days after a trifecta of losses underlined lingering questions about his ability to win over the Republican Party’s base, Mitt Romney arrived at CPAC to allay skeptics’ fears. Throughout his second bid for the GOP nomination, Romney has made his business bona fides the centerpiece of his candidacy. But on Friday, before a packed room at the annual conservative confab, he sought to emphasize the record he compiled in Massachusetts. “I was a severely conservative governor,” he told the crowd. “I know conservatism, because I have lived conservatism.”

Mired in the Sticky Politics of Health and Faith, Obama Shifts on Contraception

In the face of mounting pressure from Catholic leaders and politicians, the White House on Friday tweaked its position on contraception coverage mandates in the Affordable Care Act. Rather than require large religious institutions like Catholic colleges and hospitals to provide employees with free health insurance coverage for contraception, insurance companies themselves will have to pick up the tab.

kevin

In this week’s episode, we learn that Obama loves his wife and daughters, pals around with John Glenn, cares about the economy and was friendly with the British Prime minister. Never mind Shirley Sherrod and all that stuff.
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You know, leaving aside the fluff about the WNBA and John Glenn, and the White House’s spin on everything, that was actually a better recap of the truly important events of the week than I’ve gotten from anywhere else.
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A breakthrough on the showdown on unemployment benefits. A significant piece of financial reform. The first visit from our most important ally’s new leader. And yes, no Shirley Sherrod.
square1

And if we behave badly, the White House might just put us all in a video on its blog.

Is that a threat or a promise?

Using your average reality show as an indicator, people do not improve their behavior when more cameras are rolling.
Paul-no not that one

That’s a long way to go to name drop Michel Foucault.
newfreedomblog

And if we behave badly, the White House might just put us all in a video on its blog. In other words, Michel Foucault can rejoice from the grave; President Obama has a tracker of his own.

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Wow tell us something we don’t already know.
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What’s the difference if it comes out of your keyboard or is posted on a White House video on it blog?
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After the review of the journolist emails, it is one and the same anyways. Isn’t that right Michael?
http://twitter.com/michaelscherer Michael Scherer

Just wanted to note that I changed the headline to this piece after I decided that my Twitter tease was a better one.
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And Yes Paul, you are right. A long way. But perhaps it would have been worse to travel all that ground and never get there.
nflfoghorn

“In this week’s episode, we learn that Obama beats his wife and daughters, pals around with terrorists, cares less about the economy and blew off the British Prime minister. Never mind groveling Shirley Sherrod and all that stuff.”
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Fixed it for you – Freep/Rusty version
Paul-no not that one

Ha.
http://patricksartor.wordpress.com patricksartor

LOL@NFL
http://patricksartor.wordpress.com patricksartor

Watch the History Channel and , except for the fact that it is in color, it reminds me very, very much of WH released news reels of the 1930s through the 1950s (or whenever they stopped using news reels).
sacredh

We have security monitors at work (spy cameras to us working stiffs). Recently I went in and sat with my back to the camera. My shoulder was moving up and down, my right hand was flying and my head was leaning back. After a couple of minutes I went very still. Then I turned around and held up the can of spray paint that I had been shaking. Technology can be so rewarding.
thomasrial

I saw that video!