'Hi, Mom,' from the White House podium

Not many White House news briefings begin like this:

"Hello, everybody.  Hello to my Mom in the back -- my Mom and my sister, friends."

That was White House Press Secretary Dana Perino this afternoon, beginning her regular midday briefing for reporters with a greeting to her mother, who is visiting Washington during President Bush's final Independence Day in the White House.

It brought applause, whistles -- and Perino's acknowledgment that "I don't usually get that reception around here."

That friendly greeting aside, it was business as usual, as Perino was grilled on an Iraq oil deal pursued by a Bush advisor, the freeing of hostages in Colombia, and, among other topics, whether Bush would attend the opening ceremonies at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. (She hedged on that one, making clear it was a possibility -- cagey, because the sensitive announcement was just hours away, as Washington was shutting down at the start of the holiday.)

Whether it was the plethora of controversial topics welling up around the White House, or the approach of the holiday, the briefing went nearly a half-hour, perhaps twice as long as many in recent weeks as the end of the Bush administration grows nearer.

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo of White House briefing room under construction a year ago: Nicholas Kamm/AFP-Getty Images

Comments

[Robert Laughing]

Proud to serving as the son of a bush stooge? Wow, just like that FEMA guy...where does the 'right' scrape this bottom of the barrel stuff? Like her answer on the insider Hunt, doing private oil deals in iraq and NO one, but NO ONE knows anything. Never did...never will. But don't forget the Dumpocrat Left; too cowardly to challenge bush and his finger puppet master, cheney. WE NEED TO FLUSH ALL INCUMBENTS!!!