Obama White House bars press from press award ceremony

We are not making this up:

Barack Obama was elected commander in chief promising to run the most transparent presidential administration in American history.

This achievement and the overall promise of his historic administration caused the National Newspaper Publishers Assn. to name him "Newsmaker of the Year."

The president is to receive the award from the federation of black community newspapers in a White House ceremony this afternoon.

The Obama White House has closed the press award ceremony to the press.

From the president's official schedule: 

"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."

Maybe they'll let the newspaper people pass the award through the fence.

(UPDATE: The White House notes that while other press were barred from the publishers' event, the association's publishers themselves were admitted and the event treated as an exclusive interview and it expects the association to keep a record of what transpired during it.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Associated Press

Comments

[Pablo Pandero]

Of course it is closed to the press. There is no teleprompter in the state dining room. Can't take a chance that someone in the press might ask him a question.

[JB]

War is peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is strength ...

That's right, press peeps, Barack is just keeping you strong...

[Don L]

The man is complete "transparency" but not the intended or promised variety.

Haven't we read all this stuff in pre-1960 history books somewhere?

[sydneyj]

I guess this is closed because is a "black" event, since it's being given by a federation of black newspapers. Throughout his campaign, you very rarely saw Barack Obama photographed at black events, if he bothered to attend at all, or with prominent African Americans (except for Oprah) because he didn't want to be seen as the "black president." So, this is not surprising.

But, did anybody really believe all the talk about transparency, anyway?

[greg]

This is no surprise, he's probably going to try to wing it without a teleprompter, and he wants to make sure there is no unfriendly coverage of his idiotic remarks. I wonder who he will insult during this event. He's already insulted the Brits, the Brazilians, a singer who he joked about being fat (without so much as a wimper from the ones who jumped all over Laura Ingraham for referring to Meghan McCain as a plus size.) Of course, let us not forget that he has insulted disabled veterans by proposing that they pay for their care at VA hospitals, in an attempt to save $500 million so he can fund health care for illegal aliens.

I'm sure he'll blame all his gaffes on Limbaugh personally.

0bama is the biggest idiot to ever occupy the white house.

[Linda Hill]

Whaaaaat? Which of the junior staffers decided this one?

[Kevin]

How odd.

[Jim]

Wow! A report that treats him like the brazen politician he is. THANK YOU. And, by the way, you should make sure your tax returns are in order for the audit...

[Hankster]

So what's the surprise. Bababama is just another hypocritical, two faced liar like the rest of them. He is just a power hungry 2 bit politician. You didn't really expect him to keep his promises, did you?

[Mike]

Says one thing and does another. Recieving a specifically black award will not help him or the country. We are supposed to be all cured now of racisim. Putting this award out for the public to view will look racist, and whether people know about it or not, it is bad for the white house and for the country. Like with other awards there are no white, or chino awards, there are hispanic awards. They are after bailout money as well, and since Obama doesn't give out pork, I am sure it will not be according to his new dictionary.
Signed one pee o'd american citizen.

[Steve - Ithaca, NY]

Perhaps there's no teleprompter access?

[John]

Must be a Non-Teleprompter event

[Ken]

Who the hell does this guy think he is? Who is he afraid of, by picking and choosing what press has access to him? What a liar! Transparency my -SS!

[j weber]

Transparency? Idiocricy! Hypocrisy!

We will never know the truth with this President.

All words, only words....I think is what he will be known for...

[James]

Maybe they'll let the reporters come in through the back door? Sounds like an outfit run by special olympians to me!

[Brett]

Folks... it's time we face the fact that the Obama is a politician just like the rest of them. McCain was not as well spoken, and frankly -- he lost the election, but it certainly would have been great to benefit from his experience and record of limited wasteful spending during these challenging economic times!

[Ken Jackson]

Did anyone ask why, before we all jump to conclusions? I find news stories to be incorrect or or the details inaccurate more often than than they are correct or accurate primarily because of haste and superficial journalism. I am not concerned with the press being barred from the event but would like to know if (1) the press association giving the award requested it, (2) if the press being present in any substantial number poses a logistical problem or if there are other reasons. If the "News Media" does not get back to reporting news without slants, bias, opinions and ideological leanings, the "News Media" will soon find itself without an audience. Americans are getting sick of the rudeness of media personalities and the ideological trash both cable and broadcast news palm off as "fair and balanced" news by the "best political news team in television". Where is Walter Cronkite when you need him?

[Tommy]

Imagine if BUSH made the SPECIAL OLYMPICS INSULT??!! He would have been called out on EVERY NEWS SHOW!! I don't believe his "waterhead" remark has been reported either. In the West Coast feed, he joked about a dog and said it isn't a waterhead "tripping all over the place". Well waterhead is defined in the Urban Dictionary as "retarded"!! I can't believe the whitewashing from the media on this and the TelePrompTer GAFFE WHEN OBAMA THANKED HIMSELF BECAUSE HE WAS READING A SPEECH DESIGNED FOR SOMEONE ELSE!! BUSH WOULD BE CALLED THE TELEPROMPTER IN CHIEF!! OBAMA AND HIS MEDIA ARE A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITICAL COWARDS!!

[jummy]

Barack Obama is a fascist who hates the Constitution.

[Sorrydog40]

Ha Ha! The press that elected him is now barred from his events. Just desserts for the liberal media that could see no wrong! How fitting! How are you liking that hope and change now?

[tony]

Maybe the White House press secretary is araid Obama will be making special education/ bowling jokes again lol. This administration is a tone deaf joke.

[dennisl59]

The Thought Police (thinkpol in Newspeak) are the secret police of the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four whose job it is to uncover and punish thoughtcrime. The Thought Police use psychology and omnipresent surveillance to find and eliminate members of society who are capable of the mere thought of challenging ruling authority.

This is next. Where is the Alien Invasion when we really need it, eh?

[Philthetruth]

I hope nobody's surprised by yet another edict from our supreme "leader." And if you didn't see this coming you're bigger fool than obama. Libs don't believe in anything real, so how are they supposed to function in the real world?

[Don Nunham]

Did someone say..."Freedom of the press" is now PASSE?...

[FedUp]

Well, at least he's consistent in his hypocrisy.