Washington Post Tweet: Helen Thomas Dies

Look at this screen shot from Twitter:



Dated "Jul 21, 2016," some people on Twitter are confused and rightly so.

Ms. Thomas died three years ago.

To its embarrassment, Twitter links to the Huffington Post story with a 2016 date.



Oh, Twitter.

Helen Thomas: PLAYBOY

Helen Thomas will be in the April issue of Playboy.

Read more.

FOX News: Front Row WH

What's this?

FOX News is getting a seat in the front row of the White House press room?

From AFP:

Fox News has won a front-row seat in the White House press room after the shakeup following the retirement of the longest-serving journalist in the presidential residence, the correspondents association said Monday.

The White House Correspondents Association agreed to move the Associated Press to the front row, center seat, which had been held by Helen Thomas, who retired in June at age 89 after coming under fire for controversial remarks about Israel.

The new arrangement allowed the conservative Fox News to snag the front row seat previously occupied by AP. National Public Radio got the second row seat previously held by Fox, next to Bloomberg News.

"It was a very difficult decision," said the association, which is a self-governing body of the correspondents assigned to the White House.

"The board received requests from Bloomberg and NPR in addition to Fox for relocation to the front row and felt all three made compelling cases. But the board ultimately was persuaded by Fox's length of service and commitment to the White House television pool."

The new seating arrangement gives Fox, with its conservative bent, a coveted front-row seat in the press center where daily press briefings from the presidential spokesman are given.

So FOX beat out NPR.

Even though this was the decision of the White House Correspondents Association, a self-governing body, I'm sure the Obama administration gave the OK for the move. Apparently, someone in the administration understands that its war on FOX News was a mistake. It was worse than a mistake. It was a disgrace.

After the JournoList scandal, I think the lib media realize that they've lost credibility and are justifiably viewed as propagandists for Obama. Thus, they're giving FOX a seat of honor in an act of self-flagellation.

Perhaps the Leftists are beginning to comprehend the reality that Americans increasingly view Obama and his administration as out of touch with our views and FOX is actually more fair and balanced than other news outlets.

Although possible, that's highly likely. They're still living in their elitist bubble.

Rosie O'Donnell: Helen Thomas

Rosie O'Donnell has a 2-hour radio program on Sirius, called Rosie Radio. She blabs about whatever is on her mind, such as Helen Thomas.

Audio (June 8, 2010), from The Radio Equalizer, via Breitbart.



Transcript

ROSIE O'DONNELL: Here's the exact quote of what she said. On Friday she was asked by a guy who had a video camera in her face for any comment on Israel. And she said, 'Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine. Remember these people,' the Palestinians, 'are occupied and it's their land. It's not Germany. It's not Poland.' She was asked where they should go and she answered, 'They should go home. To Poland, to Germany, to America.'

SHOSHANA KRAUS: How could that be construed as hate speech?

O'DONNELL: I don't know.

KRAUS: I don't see any way that that could be called hate speech.

O'DONNELL: Well, how do you construe it as hate speech, Shoshana?

KRAUS: I'm not saying it is hate speech. And I think the question is: Is it hate speech? Because I think some people would think it is. What about, you know, people say, what if it's saying black people should go back to Africa?

O'DONNELL: But black people are not occupying a country, right?

MALE (BOBBY PEARCE?): I think the difference here is that the hate speech comes from the fact that Jews left Poland and Germany because they were being killed.

O'DONNELL: Correct.

MALE: And so, hate is inferred when she says go back there.

KRAUS: Oh, that is absurd.

O'DONNELL: Well, here's the only thing. Right after World War II, when Jews who did survive the Holocaust went back, they were killed there, right? Not millions, but thousands of Jews were killed when they tried to go back and reclaim their businesses and their homes. They were killed by, you know, local people in Poland and in Germany. So, you know, there's that historical reference that is in fact true. But now I think in the year 2010, you know, what she was saying was not go back to the ovens.

KRAUS: Well, they're not there anymore.

O'DONNELL: Correct. What she was saying was, you know, the homeland was originally Palestinian, is what she was saying. And that it's now occupied by Israel, and that Palestinians should be afforded, you know, human and civil rights. That's what I think that she was saying, but I don't know.

KRAUS: And to construe that as hate speech I think....

O'DONNELL: But not only did a lot people do it, she apologized and....

KRAUS: Because it's politically correct. It is politically correct to not speak in that manner. It is politically correct to not have the opinion that she has. So, so, that's what her crime is is by speaking in a manner that was not politically correct. That is the thought police.

Facts and history don't seem to matter much to libs, I guess.
__________________

In addition to O'Donnell, Thomas is getting support from Hezbollah. Read more at NewsBusters.

Jon Stewart and Helen Thomas

Jon Stewart reacts to Helen Thomas' controversial remarks about Jews in Israel.

(Note: Most of this clip is not about Thomas.)

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Leno: Helen Thomas

JAY LENO: Eighty-nine-year-old White House reporter Helen Thomas is retiring. Let me be the first to say, 'Mazel tov.'

Well, do you know about this? She's retiring after making some quite controversial comments about Israel. She said Jews should leave the Middle East and go back to where they came from. The problem is that's where they came from. It's the Middle East, OK? It's in a book. It's called the Bible, and a great movie, too.

Jimmy Fallon: Helen Thomas

JIMMY FALLON: This is big news: Veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas has just resigned after she said Israelis should, quote, get the hell out of Palenstine. Yeah, Thomas hasn't been in this much trouble since she told President Lincoln to stop whining and put a band-aid on it.

Helen Thomas 'Retires'

Helen Thomas "retired" today.

The poor anti-Semitic and hater of Jews ended her alleged "storied" career as a White House correspondent in shame.

There's no way Thomas would have retired if she wasn't strongly urged by Hearst Corporation to do so. She wouldn't have given up her seat in the White House press briefing room as long as she was breathing.

You know that her liberal colleagues are saddened by her departure. They probably think of her as a victim of the New Media.

That's wrong.

No one is to blame but Thomas herself for exposing her "heart-felt" beliefs about the Jews and the Palestinians.

From the Washington Post:

Veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring, effective immediately, in the wake of a controversy over her comments on Israel, according to a report from her employer, Hearst News Service.

Here's the report from Hearst:

HELEN THOMAS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 – Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring, effective immediately.

Her decision came after her controversial comments about Israel and the Palestinians were captured on videotape and widely disseminated on the Internet.

Thomas later issued a statement: ``I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.’’

Thomas will mark her 90th birthday on Aug. 4.

Maybe Thomas should "get the hell out" of the United States and "go home" to celebrate her birthday.

Go back to Lebanon, Helen. Quit occupying the U.S.

...Thomas told a rabbi at a White House event last week that Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" and go back to Germany and Poland.

...Thomas's comments provoked sharp criticism within the close-knit world of White House reporters, and drew a rebuke from the White House podium Monday. With her seat conspicuously empty at the daily briefing, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs assailed Thomas for her words.

"Those remarks were offensive and reprehensible," Gibbs said, noting that Thomas has apologized. Her sentiments "do not reflect certainly most of the people here and certainly not those of the administration."

Thomas, 89, who has covered the White House for decades, canceled a speech over the weekend and was dropped by a speakers' bureau that represented her. The controversy comes at a precarious moment in the Middle East, after an Israeli assault on an aid flotilla that left 11 dead and prompted an international outcry.

The Board of the White House Correspondents Association also issued a statement Monday calling her comment "indefensible."

The full WHCA statement follows:

Helen Thomas' comments were indefensible and the White House Correspondents Association board firmly dissociates itself from them. Many in our profession who have known Helen for years were saddened by the comments, which were especially unfortunate in light of her role as a trail blazer on the White House beat.

While Helen has not been a member of the WHCA for many years, her special status in the briefing room has helped solidify her as the dean of the White House press corps so we feel the need to speak out strongly on this matter.

We want to emphasize that the role of the WHCA is to represent the White House press corps in its dealings with the White House on coverage-related issues. We do not police the speech of our members or colleagues. We are not involved at all in issuing White House credentials, that is the purview of the White House itself.

But the incident does revive the issue of whether it is appropriate for an opinion columnist to have a front row seat in the WH briefing room. That is an issue under the jurisdiction of this board. We are actively seeking input from our association members on this important matter, and we have scheduled a special meeting of the WHCA board on Thursday to decide on the seating issue.

Ed Chen, Bloomberg
David Jackson, USA Today
Caren Bohan, Reuters
Ed Henry, CNN
Julie Mason, DC Examiner
Don Gonyea, National Public Radio
Steve Scully, C-SPAN
Doug Mills, The New York Times

The WHCA was very slow to issue a statement. CYA. Cowards.

All's well that ends well?

I don't think that's true in this case.

Thomas isn't alone in her fierce opposition to Israel. That mindset permeates the lib elite. Her views are shared by some in the media and elected officials as well. We've seen signs that her thinking has made its way to the White House.

Thomas' mistake was that she said out loud and on the record what many of her ilk believe.

In short, there's still a problem.

Helen Thomas, Rabbi David Nessenoff, and the Hearst Corporation

Helen Thomas, a very liberal and anti-Semitic member of the White House press corps, issued a statement to try to quiet the controversy over her response to a question posed by Rabbi David Nessenoff.

When Nessenoff asked Thomas for a comment on Israel, she clearly stated that the Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine." She said "they should go home," to Germany and Poland.

From ALLAHPUNDIT, Hot Air, here's Thomas' apology:

“I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.”

That statement is nothing more than Thomas trying to do damage control and salvage her front row seat at White House press briefings. Of course, she regrets her comments, because she revealed her true opinion and it's not pretty. She already stated her "heart-felt belief."

What are we supposed to think? That Thomas was temporarily insane? Why would we believe that "Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine" doesn't reflect her views? That's absurd.

Nessenoff gave her an opportunity to back off her offensive remarks. Instead of taking it, she went on. "[The Jews] can go home" to Germany and Poland.

Good grief.

Nessenoff discusses his exchange with Thomas, concluding that her apology is too little, too late. It's time for her to leave.

Video.


I agree with Rabbi Nessenoff and Ari Fleischer. This should cost Thomas her job.

Thomas went too far this time. She doesn't deserve the honor of having the access that she does to the White House and the president.

Of course, Thomas has the right to call for the elimination of the Israeli state and for Jews to be expelled from the Middle East. Free speech. However, this has compromised her integrity and credibility as a JOURNALIST.

Thomas' employer, the Hearst Corporation, should pull her as a White House press correspondent.

If Thomas retains her seat in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the West Wing of the White House, and Robert Gibbs recognizes her and allows her to pose questions, it will be the Obama administration's disgrace.

____________________

I find it very troubling that some of Thomas' colleagues are defending her.

[T]here's a sense amongst Thomas' colleagues that little will — or should — be done within the White House Correspondents Association in reaction to this. Much of that is due simply to the high premium placed amongst journalists on one's freedom of speech. Another is out of respect for Thomas' storied career. And, lastly, Thomas turns 90 in just a few months and there is a feeling that she ought to be able to enter the sunset of her life with grace and respect.

Thomas' alleged storied career has been terribly tarnished for years. The notion that because she'll turn 90 in a few months is reason to tolerate her objectionable behavior is ridiculous.

Furthermore, she entered "the sunset of her life" long ago. As far as allowing her to supposedly "enter" that time with "grace and respect," she's made that impossible. Thomas chose to air her stupidity and hate. She lacks grace and respect. A 90th birthday won't give her qualities she doesn't possess.
__________________

From Mediaite, as noted by Simon Owens: Rabbi Who Recorded Helen Thomas Now Suffers From His Own Viral Video Past.

Welcome to the second chapter of the story of Rabbi David Nesenoff. America first got to know this man as the guy who recorded Helen Thomas on his flip-cam saying what many believed to be offensive comments regarding Jews. But just just as a pendulum swings both ways, the nature of viral video swings back to reveal Mr. Nesenoff in what many will surely see as an offensive and stereotypical portrayal of Mexican-Americans in a hackneyed weatherman shtick.

This video was published three months ago, and is just now surfacing, thanks in part to the website Race Wire.

I really don't think there's any comparison to this video of Rabbi Nessenoff and Thomas' remarks. This is an attempt at humor, albeit an unsuccessful attempt.

Although the video is being presented as revealing Nessenoff's stereotypical portrayal of Mexican-Americans, it's hard not to notice that the Mexican-American character is also a priest. Plus, the portrayal of the rabbi relies on stereotypes, too.

It's not the same as Helen Thomas'comments made in all seriousness, calling for the elimination of the Israeli state and the cleansing of Jews from the Middle East.

Helen Thomas: Jews

UPDATE, June 7, 2010: Helen Thomas 'Retires'
_______________

I know Helen Thomas is an old, old woman and she says crazy stuff.

Still, I don't think she deserves a pass just because of her age. She's a member of the White House press corps. She's responsible for what she says.

When Thomas, very proud liberal, says something anti-Semitic, she should be held accountable.

At the White House Jewish Heritage Celebration, May 27, 2010, Thomas called for the elimination of the Israeli state.

Video.


Transcript

RABBI DAVID NESSENOFF: Any comments on Israel....

HELEN THOMAS: Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.

NESSENOFF: Ooh. Any better comments?

THOMAS: Remember, these people are occupied and it's their land. It's not German. It's not Poland.

NESSENOFF: So where should they go? What should they do?

THOMAS: They can go home.

NESSENOFF: Where's their home?

THOMAS: Poland. Germany.

NESSENOFF: So they should just go back to Poland and Germany.

THOMAS: And America, and everywhere else.

I bet Thomas would get along well with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. And Jimmy Carter.
_______________

Here's video of the complete interview:

Obama News Conference (Transcript)

Read the full transcript.
_____________

Why didn't Obama hold this long, long-awaited news conference in prime time?

His team knew it would be an oily mess and Obama wouldn't perform well. Good call.

With teleprompters in place, Obama began his news conference by discussing the oil spill in the Gulf, now bigger than the Exxon Valdez.

He blamed BP for the disaster and said that the U.S. government will hold BP accountable for the damage.

Obama then went on to say that his administration has been completely involved and will continue to be involved in cleaning up BP's mess.

He said he wanted to be clear that BP is operating at his administration's direction. The company can't make a move without the government's approval.

Obama spoke of "appalling" corruption in the industry prior to his election. In other words, blame Bush.

He said for years there has been "a scandalously close relationship" between regulators and the oil companies.

Obama's message on responsibility for the spill can be summed up in three words: Cheney, Cheney, Cheney.

About offshore drilling in the U.S. --

Forget it.

The first question was about the Obama government's slow response to the disaster, giving Obama the opportunity to defend himself.

He said his administration was "singularly focused" on stopping the leak from the moment the crisis began.

What a laugh!

Obama said it must be understood that the crisis has been his "top priority."

I don't buy that. Doing political damage control is Obama's top priority.

There's no question that Obama was on defense. He looked more frightened than cool. I think he realized that he actually was facing media that weren't going to coddle him, though I'm sure some in the media will spin his responses as strong and heroic and refreshing.

His answer to the first question was typically long and rambling, eating up a lot of time.

The second question came from Jake Tapper. He brought up all the help that's been offered from experts around the world from 17 countries, Gov. Jindal's plan, and others - help that the federal government has rejected. Yet Obama claimed his administration has done everything possible to stop the leak. Tapper asked how he could claim that everything possible has been done when that clearly isn't the case.

Obama said the response hasn't been perfect. In retrospect, mistakes were made but everything possible has been done.

Yeah, no.

Chuck Todd asked about all the Katrina comparisons.

Obama said that he'll leave that "up to you guys." Obama continued to push the message/lie that the government has been involved and in charge from Day One of the spill.

He said he's confident history will look back and record that his administration was on top of the crisis.

Steve Thomma, McClatchy, wanted to know if the administration really acted from Day One for a worst case scenario.

Obama repeated that since the crisis he's done all that's needed to be done. The problem was the industry was such a mess prior to the time he assumed office, again shifting blame away from his administration, demonizing Bush and Cheney.

Chip Reid asked about Elizabeth Birnbaum's resignation and whether "other heads should roll." He also asked about the "cozy relationship" and the blame Bush-Cheney line.

Obama said that he tried to clean up the industry but it was such mess due to years of being "cozy" that there was still more to do.

He said he didn't have information yet on why Birnbaum resigned. Very strange. He claimed that he's on top of the situation but he had no idea what that was about? That doesn't make sense.

Julianna Goldman asked about being able to trust information from BP since it was revealed that much more oil has been gushing from the leak than initially reported.

Obama said BP wasn't forthcoming and his administration pushed them to tell the truth.

He said to keep in mind that the lower estimates had no impact on his administration's response.

Helen Thomas was the first to raise an issue other than the catastrophe in the Gulf. She asked Obama: "When are you going to get out of Afghanistan?" She said she didn't want to hear the "Bushism" that if we don't fight them over there we'll have to fight them here.

Obama didn't answer. He said it's a "big, messy process." Shamefully, Obama made no mention of the escalating American death toll in Afghanistan.

Back to the oil spill--

About drilling, Obama said he was wrong about the oil companies having their "act together" when it came to dealing with an accident. "Those assumptions proved to be incorrect."

He said, "You never heard me say the phrase, 'Drill, baby, drill.'"

Obama said the fact that it's necessary to go miles down to get to the oil shows that it's too expensive and risky to do. We need other forms of energy.

What is he talking about? Of course, oil is far below the earth's surface.

Macarena Vidal asked about Obama's plan to send the National Guard to the border. She also asked if he would support the boycott of Arizona.

Obama said again he doesn't approve of the Arizona law.

As far as boycotts, Obama said, "I'm president of the United States. I don't endorse boycotts."

But, Obama said that his administration is examining the law and we need a comprehensive approach to immigration reform.

Obama was all over the place in this news conference, contradicting himself and rambling.

Obama said the National Guard plan was in place before the Arizona law, but the solution isn't troops. Reform is the solution. He repeatedly referred to holding employers accountable.

Last question, from Major Garrett, FOX News:

"Is your boot on the neck of BP?"

Garrett wanted to know if Obama was comfortable with that metaphor. He said that Ken Salazar has been emotional and angry and he probably wouldn't use that language.

Garrett asked about the Joe Sestak scandal. Obama blew it off, saying that a statement will be coming shortly.

"I can assure the public that nothing improper took place."

Obama ended with an obviously prepared message. He said the spill is the last thing he thinks about before going to sleep at night and the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up.

When he was shaving this morning, Malia asked him, "Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?"

That definitely was a planned statement. Did YOU plug the hole yet?

Obama now is prepared to be responsible.

Obama said he takes responsibility for stopping the leak. But don't forget, BP is really responsible and Bush-Cheney are really, really responsible.

"The federal government is fully engaged and I'm fully engaged."

Yes, Obama is fully engaged in political CYA.

Helen Thomas, Robert Gibbs, and Selling Health Care

Helen Thomas isn't happy with the Obama administration and how it's handling health care reform.

Yes, this alleged member of the press lectured White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on what the administration should be doing to succeed in throwing the country into the abyss of a government-run system of rationed care. Thomas complained and argued.

This isn't journalism. It's advocacy.



Good grief.

Was this a White House press briefing? I imagine this is what a Dem conference call with fringe Leftist hacks would be like.

The press. The libs. I guess there's no real difference.

Transcript

ROBERT GIBBS: Helen.

HELEN THOMAS: There's a perception among liberal columnists that you failed -- you've already failed and in selling Medicare reform. You don't clarify your points, you're turning the other cheek for everything the opposition is doing. And you seem very weak in your response. What I'm saying is you're not telling --

GIBBS: Is that a question. (Laughter.)

THOMAS: -- you have neither clarified your point of view or sold it.

GIBBS: Well, Helen --

THOMAS: And you can take one by one: on the euthanasia, on can't pick your own doctor, can't have your own surgery.

GIBBS: Well, Helen, I don't think there's a start and a finish line to this argument. At least if there is, we haven't gotten to the finish line. I think that's why I told these gentlemen that our advice would be to continue talking to your constituents, continuing to talk to them about why it's important that we get health care and health insurance reform, why it's important that we deal with things that aren't --

THOMAS: Well, why is the other side gaining so much? There's going to be a hiatus now where they're going to have a free reign.

GIBBS: Well, Helen, I think the President's had a pretty good week. I think if you look back -- we'll take this week.

So according to Thomas, liberal columnists believe that the Obama administration has failed in selling government-run health care.

Thomas acts as if it's appropriate for her to scold Gibbs for the administration's screw-ups and to advocate for reform.

She talks about Republicans and others against socialized medicine as the opposition and complains that the Obama administration is "turning the other cheek for everything" they do.

Thomas worries about the "hiatus."

And Gibbs just chuckles and smirks.

This is supposed to be a White House press briefing.

It's such a bizarre, embarrassing exchange. Really odd.

I know Thomas is an elderly woman, but she has her lucid moments. Gibbs should not have entertained her little rant.

Actually, Thomas does deserve some points for being honest. At least she's upfront about what she's doing. She doesn't pretend to be fair and balanced, like others in the White House press corps. There's no pretense about objectivity.

She's a lib and very proud of it.

In this situation and overall, Gibbs does an awful job.

Obama News Conference, July 22

Originally, Obama planned to seize the airwaves for the fourth prime time news conference of his presidency at 9:00/8:00 PM CT on Wednesday, July 22.

He's screwing with prime time again. Obama controlled himself in May and June. He managed not to mess with the prime time line-up, but now he obviously feels the need to address the American people, especially since support for his health care plan is dwindling. An informed populace is Obama's enemy.

U.S. President Barack Obama will hold a news conference on July 22, the White House said, taking the unusual step of announcing it on its Twitter page.

The 9 p.m. (0100 GMT Thursday) news conference comes at a time when Obama is trying to drive his healthcare overhaul through a Congress that has raised questions about how to pay for its $1 trillion price tag over 10 years.

It is so lame for the White House to have announced the news conference on its Twitter page.

"You heard it here first...."



Good grief.

On July 20, a change in the plans was announced on the Twitter page.

Update: Primetime presidential news conference @ White House on Weds 7/22 moved to 8PM EDT & will be live @ WhiteHouse.

There was no explanation about the new time.

While the word is out that the time has changed, many media outlets aren't offering any information as to why.

The White House isn't being transparent.

This transparency facade is over. It's done. Chalk it up as another broken promise, another lie.

The reality is the Obama White House couldn't be more opaque.

Apparently, the news conference time was changed to accommodate the networks. They didn't jump at the opportunity to carry an Obama news conference. Yes, it appears that the bloom is off the rose.

Most will carry Obama press conference; time shifted after NBC balked

After some hesitation and a time shift, three major broadcast networks have agreed to carry Barack Obama's latest primetime news conference.

The event was announced Friday afternoon as Obama battles to bolster congressional support for an ambitious health-care overhaul while facing dropping approval ratings.

But broadcasters are struggling with falling approval ratings of their own; Nielsen's audience measurements show viewership in a summertime slump.

The conference will mark the president's fourth primetime press event since he took office six months ago. Such interruptions tend to wreak havoc with network schedules and can cost millions in lost advertising.

CBS, which airs only repeats that evening, agreed early Monday to cover the conference.

But for NBC, Fox and ABC, the decision was tougher. During a summer that's otherwise strewn with repeats, Wednesday includes all of their top-rated reality programs.

Fox declined outright to air the news conference. NBC and ABC fell into line late Monday after the White House shifted the event's time from the previously announced 9 p.m. to the lesser-watched hour of 8 p.m.

The stakes were particularly high for NBC, which airs the most-watched show of the summer, "America's Got Talent," at 9 p.m. This week, the reality hit includes a heavily promoted interview with "Britain's Got Talent" singing sensation Susan Boyle.

Sources said that NBC demonstrated reluctance to carry Obama's news conference live. Faced with the prospect of only one or two major broadcasters -- CBS and ABC -- covering the event, the White House moved its start time to 8 p.m.

In response to a request for comment, a White House representative said, "In speaking with various media outlets, we found that rescheduling for one hour earlier would help us to arrange for as many Americans as possible to hear directly from the President at the press conference."

I guess Obama doesn't have the networks wrapped around his finger anymore.

When Obama even loses the hacks at NBC, he has serious problems.

I wonder if there will be a planted question from the Huffington Post's Nico Pitney again. If there will be, I'm sure the White House will take greater care to cover it up.

Chip Reid and Helen Thomas really ripped Robert Gibbs regarding that little stunt between Pitney and Obama at the June 23 morning news conference. They were right to do so. The White House should not be contacting members of the press and setting up questions.

I hope the press displays some spine Wednesday night and asks Obama some worthwhile questions, none of that New York Times Jeff Zeleny "enchanted" fluff. I hope Major Garrett comes through.

Even if Obama is grilled a bit, the news conference will be a waste. Obama will lie through his teeth about health care.

Obama will toss out his well-rehearsed trash:

“First of all, if you’ve got health insurance, you like your doctors, you like your plan, you can keep your doctor, you can keep your plan. Nobody is talking about taking that away from you.”

Watch the news conference to see the "Lies (And the Lying Liar Who Tells Them)."

Robert Gibbs, Helen Thomas, and Chip Reid (Video)

At Wednesday's press briefing, Robert Gibbs tried to laugh off the fact that the press is calling out the Obama White House for exerting a disturbing control over the questions being asked by the public at town hall meetings and scheduled events.

Gibbs giggled about the planted question from the Huffington Post's Nico Pitney at Obama's June 23 news conference.

Chip Reid and Helen Thomas didn't let up on Gibbs. He just kept giggling, but Reid and Thomas were serious.

Gibbs' laughter wasn't a sign that he was relaxed and confident. He was squirming.

The Obama and his administration is exposed once again as being other than what it claims to be.

Open? Honest? Transparent?

Yeah, right.



Transcript

CHIP REID: At today's town hall meeting, questions coming in on YouTube and Twitter and such -- who decides what questions will be asked?

ROBERT GIBBS: I think a group over at New Media is shuffling through questions. I think if you go on -- I did not do this today, but I think if you go on our Web site you'll see some of those questions. And I think, Chip, at the end of the day, when you -- I think the questions that will be read to the President -- obviously he'll take some questions from the audience there -- I think will be a representative sample of the issues in this debate that we're dealing with.

REID: And the audience is all preselected, right?

GIBBS: No, we usually just generally hand out tickets on a first come, first serve basis.

REID: Well, I think in this case, the people were invited either by the White House or by the university -- I mean, invited by this community college, as it was explained to us.

GIBBS: Well, if the university is --

REID: It just feels very tightly controlled. It feels -- I mean, the concept of a town hall I think is to have a open public forum, and this sounds like a very tightly controlled audience and a list of questions. Why do it that why? Why not open it up to the public?

GIBBS: How about we do this -- how about you can ask me that question tomorrow based on what questions were asked rather than preselecting your question based on something that may or may not come through.

REID: But why pre-select? Why not just open it up for people and allow any question to come in?

GIBBS: Well, Chip, I think if you get on your computer from your e-mail address --

REID: I have. I have.

GIBBS: Have you sent in your question?

REID: I think that would be inappropriate. This is for the public.

GIBBS: I'm sorry, I'm confused -- are you not a member of the public?

REID: Well, I think if you were going to allow questions from the press you'd have us in a prominent position over there and allow us to ask questions -- you haven't done that.

GIBBS: Let's not get into the notion of where you'd be sitting -- (laughter) -- if I let you ask a question, but --

REID: Well out of shouting range.

GIBBS: Well, but you could e-mail.

REID: Would you put my question in there? I don't think so.

GIBBS: Maybe. Have you e-mailed?

REID: I mean, this is a town hall.

GIBBS: It's a little -- if you haven't e-mailed.

REID: This is an open forum for the public to ask questions, but it's not really open.

GIBBS: I couldn't agree more.

REID: But it's not open.

GIBBS: Based on what?

REID: Based on the information that your staff gave us on how the audience and the questions are being selected.

GIBBS: The questions are being selected by people that e-mail on Facebook and Twitter.

REID: Well, they're not deciding what questions actually get in.

GIBBS: Well, Chip, I appreciate, again --

REID: It just feels completely controlled --

GIBBS: I appreciate, again --

REID: -- in a way unlike his town meetings all the campaign and --

GIBBS: I appreciate the pre-selected question on your part.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Will there be dissenting views --

REID: Yes, how about that?

GIBBS: I think that's a very safe bet. But, again, let's -- how about we do this? I promise we will interrupt the AP's tradition of asking the first question. I will let you ask me a question tomorrow as to whether you thought the questions at the town hall meeting that the President conducted at Annandale --

REID: I'm perfectly happy to --

HELEN THOMAS: That's not his point. The point is the control --

REID: Exactly.

THOMAS: -- we have never had that in the White House. And we have had some, but not --

REID: This White House.

GIBBS: Yes, I was going to say, I'll let you amend her question.

THOMAS: I'm amazed -- I'm amazed at you people who call for openness and transparency and --

GIBBS: Helen, you haven't even heard the questions.

REID: It doesn't matter. It's the process.

THOMAS: You have left open --

REID: Even if there's a tough question, it's a question coming from somebody who was invited or was screened, or the question was screened.

THOMAS: It's shocking. It's really shocking.

GIBBS: Chip, let's have this discussion at the conclusion of the town hall meeting. How about that?

REID: Okay.

GIBBS: I think --

THOMAS: No, no, no, we're having it now --

GIBBS: Well, I'd be happy to have it now.

THOMAS: It's a pattern.

GIBBS: Which question did you object to at the town hall meeting, Helen?

THOMAS: It's a pattern. It isn't the question --

GIBBS: What's a pattern?

THOMAS: It's a pattern of controlling the press.

GIBBS: How so? Is there any evidence currently going on that I'm controlling the press -- poorly, I might add. (Laughter.)

THOMAS: Your formal engagements are pre-packaged.

GIBBS: How so?

REID: Well, and controlling the public --

THOMAS: How so? By calling reporters the night before to tell them they're going to be called on. That is shocking.

GIBBS: We had this discussion ad nauseam and --

THOMAS: Of course you would because you don't have any answers.

GIBBS: Well, because I didn't know you were going to ask a question, Helen. Go ahead.

THOMAS: Well, you should have.

REID: Thank you for your support.

GIBBS: That's good. Have you e-mailed your question today?

THOMAS: I don't have to e-mail it. I can tell you right now what I want to ask. (Laughter.)

GIBBS: I don't doubt that at all, Helen. I don't doubt that at all.

Of course, the White House is controlling its town hall meeting participants and their questions.

Obama can't handle it any other way.

It's staged crap.

It makes sense why Obama refused to accept John McCain's invitation to appear together at a series of town hall meetings during the 2008 campaign.

I hope the next time Obama meets the press, reporters are as tough on him as they sometimes are on Gibbs.

It's time for Major Garrett to get some help from his colleagues.

Dennis Miller: Obama News Conference and Miss California

Dennis Miller gives his take on Obama's Day 100 news conference, April 29.



Transcript

DENNIS MILLER: First off, I find it weird that we've come to a point in history where a chick running for Miss USA gets harder questions than the President of the United States.

And I don't know what that Zeleny guy from the Times is thinking with that "enchanted" question. It was like I was watching a Brownie Scout meet the Jonas Brothers, for God's sakes. I guess he's back to the Times Building now, sitting there around the fondue ... putting their bread into the fondue pot, talking about how they made a little sense there, like Sammy Sosa when he hit a home run.

BILL O'REILLY: I think Colmes is there, too.

MILLER: Yeah, yeah. They're all feeling good. They got the Ouija board out. It's a beautiful thing. Now conversely, I, like you, dug the Knoller guy from CBS Radio. And I hope CBS Radio had the good sense to take out some wazoo insurance on that guy 'cause he's about to be gang-audited.

Now my other perceptions were: I missed Ed Schultz tonight. I didn't see him, but I guess that the carpooling schedule dictated that he drive the audience home tonight.

I thought Helen Thomas looked beautiful, although the more I see her the more I think that she's Janet Napolitano before you add water.

I noticed the light bulbs behind Barack Obama were not green.

I like the fact that he gave Bush a little credit; and he might call Bush now that Iraq's heating up again, ask him to come over and put his special touch on it, 'cause Bush kept it tamped down. Looks like Barack's letting it go a little bit.

And I would say this about Barack: I like the cut of his jib. I think he's very smooth. But you know something? If my kid said "uh" that much, I would say, 'Hey! Stop saying "uh" that much.'

Obama News Conference: 13 Questions

On February 9, 2009, Barack Obama held his first prime time news conference.

He took 13 questions.

Question 1 - Associated Press
Question 2 - Reuters
Question 3- CBS
Question 4 - NBC
Question 5 - Bloomberg
Question 6 - ABC
Question 7 - CNN
Question 8 - New York Times
Question 9 - FOX
Question 10 - Washington Post
Question 11 - Helen Thomas
Question 12 - Huffington Post
Question 13 - NPR

During his March 24, 2009, news conference, Obama also took 13 questions.

Question 1 - Associated Press
Question 2 - NBC
Question 3- ABC
Question 4 - CBS
Question 5 - Univision
Question 6 - Stars and Stripes
Question 7 - CNN
Question 8 - FOX
Question 9 - Politico
Question 10 - Ebony
Question 11 - ABC Radio
Question 12 - Washington Times
Question 13 - AFP

I wanted Obama to take a question from a conservative blogger to balance the one he took in February from the Huffington Post, but he didn't.

I wanted Obama to seat a conservative talk radio host in the front row to balance Lefty extremist radio squawker Ed Schultz being seated there last time, but he didn't.

I hoped that Obama would not take a question from lib propagandist Helen Thomas. He didn't! Yippee!

That was the highlight of the hour.

I thought that Thomas should not be seated in the front row. Unfortunately, she was.


(Yes, I've been having fun with Obamicon.)

What else is there to say about Obama's second prime time news conference?

The questions were softballs. The hour was pointless.

I would much rather have been watching American Idol.

I think Obama should give these news conferences a rest and quit screwing with the prime time schedule.
____________

Here's the transcript of the news conference. It's a boring read. ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Obama's News Conference, March 24: Triple-Dog Dare

Barack Obama held his first prime time news conference on February 9, 2009.

It was notable for a number of reasons.

It was a train wreck. He used a teleprompter for his opening statement. When responding to questions, Obama yapped on and on, playing out the clock to reduce the number of questions he would be asked. Repeatedly, he avoided giving answers. He danced around and dodged a lot.

The news conference was also notable because Obama clearly was appealing to the lib media and Leftist wingnuts.

Bill Sammon wrote:

He seated a left-wing radio host in the coveted front row. He called on a liberal blogger from the Huffington Post. He even brought far-left columnist Helen Thomas out of the wilderness and let her ruminate about "so-called terrorists."

Clearly, President Obama was making a point of showing deference to the Left at his first prime-time press conference, which was broadcast to millions from the stately East Room of the White House on Monday.

Longtime members of the White House press corps who are accustomed to sitting in the front row of presidential press conferences were surprised to find their prime real estate occupied by Ed Schultz, a strident liberal who hosts a nationally syndicated radio program originally based in Fargo, N.D., but of late broadcasting from the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.

During last year's presidential campaign, Schultz warmed up the audience for Obama at a Democratic fundraiser in Fargo by denouncing Republican opponent John McCain as a "warmonger." When Obama took the podium, he thanked Schulz and called him "the voice of progressive radio," although the campaign was later pressured into distancing itself from Schultz's inflammatory remarks.

Critics also accused Schultz of carrying water for Obama during the candidate's presidential primary battle against fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton. During one TV appearance, Schultz went after Clinton's husband in order to defend Obama.

"Bill Clinton is lying about Barack Obama's record," he said. "He lied 10 years ago about Monica Lewinsky and he's lying about a very viable candidate and somebody who could really bring change to this country."

On Monday, Schultz was seated next to Thomas, who was once the doyenne of the White House press corps. During President George W. Bush's tenure, Thomas went from correspondent to columnist, thereby losing her front row perch in East Room press conferences. In her speeches, Thomas has branded Bush the "worst president in American history."

On Monday, Obama returned Thomas to the front row and made her one of 13 people given the opportunity to question him.

Given that Obama gave fringe Lefties the spotlight during his first televised prime time news conference, I think he should prove to Americans that he is as fair and balanced as he claims to be. He shouldn't give preferential treatment to the radical Leftists again. He should spread the love around.

Obama took a question from a Huffington Post lib blogger.

This time he should take a question from a conservative blogger.

He seated Lefty extremist radio squawker Ed Schultz in the front row.

This time he should give a conservative talk radio host, like Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity or Mark Levin, that place of honor.

This time Obama should not take a question from lib propagandist Helen Thomas. Thomas should not be seated in the front row.

Obama shouldn't wimp out. He shouldn't avoid reporters likely to ask challenging questions.

Mr. Obama, venture out of your cushy lib comfort zone and engage conservatives. Quit the displays of favoritism to your comrades, the fringe Leftists.

Triple-dog dare.

Ed Schultz, Sam Stein, and the Obama White House

Bill Sammon offers an informative analysis of Barack Obama's appeal to the Left during his press conference last night.

He seated a left-wing radio host in the coveted front row. He called on a liberal blogger from the Huffington Post. He even brought far-left columnist Helen Thomas out of the wilderness and let her ruminate about "so-called terrorists."

Clearly, President Obama was making a point of showing deference to the Left at his first prime-time press conference, which was broadcast to millions from the stately East Room of the White House on Monday.

Longtime members of the White House press corps who are accustomed to sitting in the front row of presidential press conferences were surprised to find their prime real estate occupied by Ed Schulz, a strident liberal who hosts a nationally syndicated radio program originally based in Fargo, N.D., but of late broadcasting from the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.

During last year's presidential campaign, Schultz warmed up the audience for Obama at a Democratic fundraiser in Fargo by denouncing Republican opponent John McCain as a "warmonger." When Obama took the podium, he thanked Schulz and called him "the voice of progressive radio," although the campaign was later pressured into distancing itself from Schultz's inflammatory remarks.

...On Monday, Schultz was seated next to Thomas, who was once the doyenne of the White House press corps. During President George W. Bush's tenure, Thomas went from correspondent to columnist, thereby losing her front row perch in East Room press conferences. In her speeches, Thomas has branded Bush the "worst president in American history."

On Monday, Obama returned Thomas to the front row and made her one of 13 people given the opportunity to question him.

"All right, Helen -- this is my inaugural moment here," Obama said with exaggerated reverence. "I'm really excited."

Thomas asked a rambling question about "maintaining the safe havens in Afghanistan for these so-called terrorists."

Obama also called on Sam Stein of the Huffington Post, a hard-left Web site that has never before been recognized by a president. Stein asked whether Obama would pursue "prosecution of Bush administration officials."

Critics pointed out that Bush never showcased right-wing bloggers or columnists at press conferences. And he certainly never allowed right-wing radio hosts to sit in the front row.

"What if Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh were up front at Bush's press conferences in the East Room?" asks media critic Michael Calderone of Politico.

During Bush's press conferences, reporters aggressively tried to ask numerous follow-up questions. But on Monday night, aside from Thomas and Major Garrett of FOX News, most reporters refrained from asking follow-ups, even when their initial questions went largely unanswered.

Who runs the Democrat Party?

Left-wing radio personalities and bloggers?

Clearly, the self-proclaimed post-partisan Obama is cozying up to the radical Left.

Say hello to change.

More on Ed Schulz, from Politico:

"I end up with a front row seat in the first prime-time press conference, and all of a sudden it's all over the blogosphere," Schultz said.

Schultz called Politico's Jonathan Martin a "punk" and a "nitwit" for asking if it was an assigned seat.

"I have earned that seat," the veteran radio host said on the air.

Schultz claimed that conservative hosts had access to the Oval Office during the Bush years, and that wasn't noted by the press. However, I think it's safe to say that if McCain were elected, and Limbaugh had a spot right up front, the media would call attention to it.

By seating him in the front row, taking a question from the Huffington Post, and calling on Helen Thomas, Schultz said it's evident that the White House is "listening outside the mainstream media."

I disagree with Schultz. I don't think it's evident that the White House is "listening outside the mainstream media."

I think it's evident that the Obama White House is pandering to the Left-wing extremists and the radicals and the nuts.

Obama's News Conference

Oh, my God.

Barack Obama's first prime time news conference as president was an absolute mess.

He didn't have a deer in the headlights look during his opening remarks. Why?

HE DIDN'T LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE CAMERA. I NEVER SAW HIM LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD, NOT ONCE.

I may have missed it, but he wasn't talking to the American people. He was giving us profile shots.

I can't believe how he babbled on and on. His response to the first question must have been close to ten minutes. Historic!

He did pick up speed as he got rolling, but it didn't seem like it because he kept repeating himself and going off on tangents. He was rambling.

I'm sure Lefties are thrilled with Obama's delivery. Finally, an intelligent president. Finally, a president that doesn't butcher the English language.

I thought he was rather Nixonian, with the dour expression, head down and eyes raised. Never looking into the camera, especially during his opening remarks, gave him a shifty sort of look. As I said, he was reminiscent of Nixon. President Bush was so much more relaxed in his press conferences. He could connect.

Obama reminded me of Al Gore during the presidential debates in 2000.

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

At least half of the questions, Obama didn't really answer. He kept talking, talking, talking about the stimulus bill.

Question 1 - Associated Press
Question 2 - Reuters
Question 3- CBS
Question 4 - NBC
Question 5 - Bloomberg
Question 6 - ABC
Question 7 - CNN
Question 8 - New York Times
Question 9 - FOX
Question 10 - Washington Post
Question 11 - Helen Thomas
Question 12 - Huffington Post
Question 13 - NPR

The Huffington Post?

Good Lord!

What? No one from Democratic Underground?

Not exactly fair and balanced.

When Obama said that Iran has done some things that have been "unhelpful," he lost me. I wouldn't classify calling for the annihilation of Israel as "unhelpful."

When he said, "There's no such thing as a free lunch," I was thinking about all the welfare included in the so-called stimulus bill. Oh, yeah. There is such a thing as a free lunch.

Obama said, "My bottom line is: Are we creating 4 million jobs?" Oops! That was a mistake. Earlier in the news conference, Obama said his usual slick line, creating or preserving jobs. The number always varies. Obama and this jobs thing really drives me nuts. He's so vague.

I think Obama was nervous. He seemed very tense at the beginning of the news conference, but he loosened up when he hit the hour mark. He probably saw the finish line in sight.

The line of the night had to be this:

"It is absolutely true that we can't depend on government alone to create jobs or economic growth," he said. "But at this particular moment, with the private sector so weakened by this recession, the federal government is the only entity left with the resources to jolt our economy back into life. It is only government that can break the vicious cycle where lost jobs lead to people spending less money which leads to even more layoffs."

"Only government."

That's Obama. Talk about a power grab.

He ended with "Thank you, guys."

Not ready for prime time.

Helen Thomas Returns to White House