At the White House presser on Wednesday, several correspondents questioned the way the Oval Office selected questions from the public for today’s virtual town hall.
President Barack Obama answered pre-selected questions Wednesday afternoon about health care sent in from emails, Facebook and Twitter. CBS’ Chip Reid and columnist Helen Thomas thought this reflected a lack of transparency at the White House.
“It feels like the concept of a town hall, I think, is to have an open public forum. And this sounds like a very tightly controlled audience and list of questions. Why do it that way?” asked Reid.
White House press secretary Richard Gibbs deflected the question, but that only raised the ire of Helen Thomas, UPI’s veteran correspondent who has long been at the top of the White House press corps totem pole.
“We have never had that in the White House,” Thomas said, referring to the degree that press events are pre-scripted in the Obama administration. “I’m amazed, I’m amazed at you people who called for openness and transparency…”
That’s when things got testy, and Gibbs looked very uncomfortable as Reid and Thomas took turns attacking his evasive answers.
“Calling reporters the night before, telling them they’re going to be called on — that’s shocking,” Thomas said, referring to an incident last week when Huffington Post blogger Nico Pitney was given advance warning that he would be called on to ask a question on behalf of the Iranian public.
This video is from C-SPAN, broadcast July 1, 2009.
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:47 am
Helen Thomas is great.
A Patriot Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 am
Indeed!
One of the few in the MSM to call out BOTH the Left and Right false dichotomy!
Wonder what she has to say about 9/11 – I doubt she buys the Official Conspiracy Theory…
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:52 am
I dont understand the point here? If you get 5000 twitter and facebook questions you have filter them in some manner right for the president to answer.
Terry Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:14 am
Agree on the Twitter thing, but they also pre-selected the “live” questions and questioners, Jaan. Billy Mays would be proud.
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:54 am
Brainwashing at its fineist….
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:13 am
If anyone needs preservation in a Futurama style head-jar its Helen Thomas.
Paul (MN) Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:40 am
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:25 am
They should take the questions either sponatneouly and in person, or randomly selected. Not dodge the tough answers and preselect to make themselves look good. Arrogant, self absorbed jerks… Thank God for the lady and the guy sitting with her for having the guts to speak the truth to power. We will NOT lay down for you scum…
meester Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:19 am
I agree with you but “we” need a new word to use instead of “we”. If “we” implies all the people, it isn;t correct, as in you comment “We will NOT lay down for you scum…”
Actually, many people who I had(had) been friends with for years, will willingly lay down for these scum. “We” need a word that distinguishes “we” from “we”.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:24 am
POWWAH to da PEOPLE@! Even a zombie like Helen Thomas knows thought control.
Obama Administration takes its cues from Eric Blair and Karl Marx. Amerika at its finest!
shocked and awed Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 am
Zombie? Why are you calling her a name ? She’s tough and she’s got guts. Is it because she’s old? Who the hell are you, Benjamin Buttons or something? Like labels? Here’s one for you; ASSHOLE.
mn Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:26 am
hes obviously an uninformed guy. Thomas is about the only person in that room worth respecting.
Kim Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 am
Who the hell are you, Benjamin Buttons or something? I love it! thank you for the laugh, and yes, he is a moron, thanks for your post!
Jim Lunsford Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
Thomas, Helen is sharper and gutsier than you or I put together. Though, judging from your comment, you would tip the scale downwards on sharp or gutsy in any pairing. What a douche.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:24 am
Reporters doing their jobs, it has been so long. Pre-selected, “managed news”, news is news report it and let WE THE PEOPLE make up our own minds. I admire Helen and Chip for not backing down from their point. If reporters and citizens cannot ask questions then all we have is a propaganda machine-the reporters put in the position of being enablers. If the government is so dumb that they are afraid of looking stupid, inept due to the nature of the question maybe they have to go back and do more work until they understand the material that they are foisting on the citizens of the United States of America. Transparency? I doubt they know the meaning of the word.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:27 am
ATTICA! ATTICA! ATTICA! Is Obama Admin running this website!?
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:36 am
Finally…someone besides Fox is telling the truth! Good for you Helen and Chip!
you bimbo Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:14 am
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I hope you were joking about Fox “telling the truth”, because if not you are beyond stupid! Seriously, Fox and the truth should not be uttered in the same sentence.
you bimbo Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:15 am
Oh, and Fox News LOVED to rip Helen thomas and smear her when she used to ask Bush people tough questions. Beck,O’Reilly,Hemmer,Hannity ALL lying neocon disinfo peddling scumbags. You are hilarious though.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
It is in vain,sir,to extenuate the matter.Gentlemen may cry”Peace! Peace!”_ _but there is no peace.The war is actually begun!The next gale that sweeps from the north,will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!Our brethren are already in the field!Why stand we here idle?What is it that gentlemen wish?What would they have?Is life so dear,or peace so sweet,as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?Forbid it,Almighty God!I know not what course others may take;but as for me,give me LIBERTY or give me DEATH!
Patrick Henry – March 23,1775
Boston Tea Party Speech
Virginia joining the American Revolution…
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I would say that Helen Thomas has guts for speaking up, however, how often do we hear of her? Ask the average person on the street who she is, and they’ll look at you dumbfounded.
What it comes down to is we have been sold a lable, we were marketed to. This is no different than a Nike Visor to make us look like Tiger Woods or a Tommy Hillfiger shirt. We have marketed Obama, and we are wearing it to be cool now. The problem is, unlike clothes when they go out of style, we can buy new ones and pretend we never were part of “that crowd”. With Obama, like with Bush, we have 4 Years of wearing this brand, and we can’t easily take it to a thrift store or throw it in the garage.
No matter HOW unappealing this presidency gets, 90% of America will stick with their brand to remain “Cool”. And the longer we can keep that brand looking “Cool” the longer we can keep dumb Americans wearing it.
Paul (MN) Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:54 am
No kidding. Sometimes I feel like I’m still in high school and people are playing their stupid games. One clique versus another to be ultra cool. No matter how stupid they are, the only thing that matters is their stupid label, brand, identity.
Then again, we all were very impressionable at that, except some of us grew out of that and some didn’t.
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:51 am
I honestly did not realize that a person or a network such as Fox had to agree with every single thing that a person who is conservative has to say, or disagree with every single thing that a democrat has to say.
I watch CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News, and find different perspectives to issues that avail me the opportunity to make my own opinion. Of course there is bias. I have bias, you have bias, we are all biased.
Personally, I applaud Thomas for her stance, and I honestly do not agree with everything she says….
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Finally somebody who works for the major television network asks a tough question (CHIP REID) and I LOVE HELEN, you go girl. I hope I’m half as sharp at 89!
I think Obama and his arrogant staffers are trying to control the news every day. They spend more time on the air it’s hard to believe they do anything else. It is shocking that Obama spends SO MUCH time on the media and press conferences. He must truly be in love with himself!!!
Why is he allowed to escalate the war in Afganistan with no questions asked?? Where is the left/anti war people when we need them?? I thought NATO was suppose to be handling Afganistan, why do we have to pay for it with or troops and money?
Another question no one in the media seems to ask.
It is shocking!!!!!