Bloggers Differ on Merits of HuffPo Question

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 23, 2009 7:25 PM CDT

(Newser) – Michael Calderone of Politico suggests that the Huffington Post and the White House got a little too cozy today before President Obama's press conference. "In what appeared to be a coordinated exchange," Obama called on HuffPo reporter Nico Pitney for a question on Iran, and he seemed to have a pretty good idea what it would be, writes Calderone on his blog. HuffPo has been soliciting comments from Iranians, and the White House acknowledged that it invited Pitney to ask a question on their behalf.

Michael Tomasky of the Guardian thinks Calderone is being "kind of snippy and huffy-puffy." He says the question by Pitney, who's been dong a "fantastic job" aggregating info from Iran, was by far the best of the press conference and may in fact signal changing times. "Where's this going? One of these years, the 'press conference' may give way to the 'news conference' (that is, no press involved), in which a president takes questions via social media from the people. All the people everywhere. It's a new world. Again."

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

President Obama smiles as he listens to a question. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

President Obama gestures as he answers a question. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

President Obama listens to a question during the news conference. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

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Nico Pitney of The Huffington Post asks his question. (YouTube)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 20 comments

plstyle

Jun 24, 2009 12:59 PM CDT

Did anybody watch the video? I don't think its a big deal, but it did look like it was rehearsed, and mostly because the reporter was a ding bat in delivery. He must have been thinking, "OMG, OMG, the president is going to call on me.. i hope i don't piss my pants." The guy was a tool and wasn't ready for the spin Obama had put on what ever was supposed to transpire.

cityeyes

Jun 24, 2009 12:53 PM CDT

Wow, misleading headline much? As far as I can tell (at least from the abbreviated Newser story), this info is coming from a blog that accuses Obama of knowing the question ahead of time. Hardly a warrant for the condemning headline. "Blogger accuses Obama of Knowing HuffPo Question Ahead of Time" would have been much more acceptable.

emptycalm

Jun 24, 2009 12:39 PM CDT

He is for letting them figure out their own problems. Sounds good to me. it's a big departure from our interventionist policies.

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