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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009

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House Republican whip makes rare criticism of mighty Rush

Nov 7, 09 9:46 AM CST
feud? what feud?

White House
Warns Dems
to Avoid Fox

Strategist reports intimidating phone call after appearance

Nov 6, 09 4:50 PM CST
opinion

Honor Hero Cop: End
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Time to wrap up the military's 'failed social experiment'

Nov 7, 09 10:15 AM CST
Palin Warns Again of 'Rationed' Care

Abortion mindset could be applied to elderly and disabled, she says

Nov 7, 09 2:12 PM CST
heatlh care push

Obama:
'Let's Finish the Job'

President rallies Democrats as House debates bill

Nov 7, 09 12:34 PM CST
House Passes Landmark
Health Care Reform

Measure passes 220-215, with only one Republican in favor

Nov 7, 09 10:24 PM CST
Break Stuff to Save the Planet: Gore

Former VP endorses civil disobedience against climate change

Nov 6, 09 4:15 PM CST
Health Care Reform Hinges on House Abortion Vote

Stupak amendment blocks private insurers offering procedure

Nov 7, 09 6:05 AM CST
Joe Klein

Tension Builds Between
Hillary, Obama

Clinton a strong secretary, but not yet administration's voice

Nov 5, 09 6:50 PM CST
Man Pops Question
During Gay Marriage
Hearing

See, Kanye, this is an interruption the crowd actually liked

Nov 6, 09 2:15 PM CST
Palin Will
Headline
Gridiron
Dinner

Former Alaska governor accepts invitation to speak at group's winter dinner

Nov 6, 09 5:10 PM CST
House Opens Debate
on Health Care Bill

Final vote is expected sometime tonight

Nov 7, 09 9:11 AM CST
JACK CAFFERTY

Obama Can, Should Lock Congress In Until Health Vote

Constitution would allow it, so let's get a yea or nay

Nov 6, 09 6:24 PM CST

|NEXT STORY »

Helen Thomas: Nixon Didn't Try to Control Press Like This

By John Johnson| Posted Jul 2, 09 4:12 PM CDT|

(Newser) – Helen Thomas has covered a lot of presidents, and she’s not much of a fan of how the current one manages the press. The 89-year-old reporter tells CNS that Obama’s White House tries to stage-manage news conferences and other media events like no other. “Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.”

She cites the recent example of the White House calling a Huffington Post reporter to give him a heads-up that he’d be allowed to ask a question, and CNS carries a transcript of her snippy exchange with press chief Robert Gibbs on the subject. “I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well—for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Helen Thomas, in November. (Getty Images)

Helen Thomas, Bill Plante of CBS and Jennifer Loven of the Associated Press at a briefing in November. (Getty Images)

Helen Thomas asks a question at a White House briefing. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

What the hell do they think we are, puppets? They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them. - Helen Thomas

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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Rupert Murdoch Is Mad but Cute

52 comments

VIEWING:

Jojo
Jul 2, 09 4:22 PM CDT

I'm sure it's hard for someone that is probably 90 years old to imagine (god forbid) CHANGING the way things are done these days, and to have to much news released to the masses WITHOUT relying on a room full of reporters to carry that news to said masses, thus denying them the chance of breaking the news (damn twitter), but poor Helen, let's face reality, you should have retired 30 years ago. What you call over-managing is actually the current administration releasing more information that ever. Things can't stay the way they were in the 50's dear, sorry. Reply

-15

IN RESPONSE:

nick
Jul 2, 09 4:36 PM CDT

Thanks, indeed, for change.I still remember those--seems like many-- years of news conferences where all the reporters rose and tried to out-shout each other in order to be called on by the president for the next question.

IN RESPONSE:

RobN
Jul 2, 09 4:38 PM CDT

Reporters are supposed to be part of the checks and balances on government. Helen may just be the only one left old enough to remember that. The fact that you are apparently happy to accept as fact everything the Administration tells you says way more about you than it says about old Helen trying to uphold some standards.

+16

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Jul 2, 09 5:50 PM CDT

The point of the story was the the white house is dictating what it is going to release by having staged question and answer sessions. They are doing exactly the opposite of what you are saying. Thomas is just the only one who has the balls to say it.

IN RESPONSE:

Claythorn
Jul 2, 09 8:12 PM CDT

No wonder conservatives think we Democrats are communists or worse. I'm all for supporting Obama, but let's be realistic--this much manipulation of the press is creepy, I don't care which party is in office.

+10

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Jul 2, 09 10:05 PM CDT

Your kidding, right?

| 0 minutes ago

kokuaguy
Jul 2, 09 4:23 PM CDT

That's our Helen... you go girl !!! Reply

+13

| 0 minutes ago

RobN
Jul 2, 09 4:33 PM CDT

She should be less concerned with what the White House is trying to do and more concerned with the way her colleagues go along with it. When the President can come right out and joke about having Brian Williams in his back pocket, you've got a problem. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

IndependentThinker
Jul 2, 09 4:59 PM CDT

Glad someone sees the real issue here. Well said RobN

IN RESPONSE:

AnnieChrist
Jul 2, 09 5:13 PM CDT

Did you think there was a problem when john mccain called the press 'my base?'

IN RESPONSE:

RobN
Jul 2, 09 5:34 PM CDT

"Did you think there was a problem when john mccain called the press 'my base?' " Yes, I did. I've got this funny notion that the press shouldn't pick sides, and I don't care which side it is. All administrations want the news presented their way; without an independedent press that's all we're going to get. Personally, I don't even trust the administrations I like.

IN RESPONSE:

riffran
Jul 3, 09 5:12 AM CDT

thumbs up to robn

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Altoecko
Jul 2, 09 4:43 PM CDT

I like Helen, but the presidents that History loves most were the ones that controlled the media the best. FDR, JFK, and Truman all were masters of the media and they are always favored by historians. Lincoln wasn't necessarily a good media controller, but he spoke well. If you control your words wisely, whether through media or speech, you'll be remembered fondly. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

JaneMP
Jul 2, 09 5:06 PM CDT

I really appreciate Helen and what she says--however, she didn't mention that W never had press conferences. That's real control. And town hall meetings were limited to "trusted" Republicans. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

RobN
Jul 2, 09 5:28 PM CDT

Is it really a press conference if the questions are all planted? As for town halls, both sides limit the audiences. Obama just had the big internet town hall meeting on health care; you don't think those questions were carefully chose so he could push his own agenda?

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Jul 2, 09 5:52 PM CDT

W is gone now, let's try and not slam him in every post that we put here. This is the Obama admin controlling the press in their own way. Please don't get into the subject of Town Hall meetings because if you don't think the audiences at the Obama ones are full of his supporters then there is something wrong with you.

IN RESPONSE:

Claythorn
Jul 2, 09 8:17 PM CDT

It's funny that godawgs thinks he can be the thread monitor and admonish people for bringing up W.

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Jul 2, 09 10:27 PM CDT

Bush had plenty of press conferences, where do get "never"?

-2

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Jul 2, 09 10:34 PM CDT

@claythron I didn't admonish anyone. I just said let's try not to bash W in every thread we have here.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

JaneMP
Jul 3, 09 12:01 PM CDT

To Newser: From the first term: A comparison. 10: Number of solo press conferences that Bush has held since beginning his term. His father had managed 61 at this point in his administration, and Bill Clinton 33

| 0 minutes ago

Reader22060479
Jul 2, 09 5:43 PM CDT

Helen I am with you on this. But one thing you got to realize is that TOTUS is only a machine. It can't handle questions that were not fed to it. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Jul 2, 09 5:52 PM CDT

that's funny

IN RESPONSE:

jaguarj
Jul 2, 09 9:33 PM CDT

godawgs..that is a piss poor response...Think of something of substance.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Jul 2, 09 10:34 PM CDT

sorry jaguarj how about a nice STFU? that do it for you?

| 0 minutes ago

AnnieChrist
Jul 2, 09 6:00 PM CDT

RobN "The questions are all planted" And what evidence has been adduced to support that statement? Helen Thomas alleges that a reporter was told ahead of time that they would be allowed to ask a question, which is a non-controversy in that any reporter attending the presser is going in prepared to ask a question. Knowing ahead of time they will definitely be recognized does not constitute a 'planted question.' As for bush's town halls, there were at least two occasions when attendees were escorted out for wearing anti-bush apparel, or because they were known democratic party activists. I've yet to hear of the same actions from Obama. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

RobN
Jul 2, 09 6:05 PM CDT

"I've yet to hear of the same actions from Obama." And you probably won't. I think that's part of Helen's point.

-4

IN RESPONSE:

steveo47829
Jul 2, 09 10:56 PM CDT

great point

-4

| 0 minutes ago

dontlikeyou
Jul 2, 09 6:03 PM CDT

This is further proof of what I have said all along... Obama makes George Bush look like a boy scout in regard to his lies and manipulation of the media. I am glad that there is at least one lefty (Thomas) who is honest enough to tell us the truth. Unlike JoJo's comment above, not all of us prefer a Fascist for president. Yes, Obama is a Fascist, dictator loving control freak. Reply

-3

IN RESPONSE:

Claythorn
Jul 2, 09 8:22 PM CDT

Indeed. Bush wasn't a control freak at all, And I think George is still the record holder for egregious lying. However, I agree with you about the media manipulation. That is pretty scary

-2

IN RESPONSE:

emptycalm
Jul 2, 09 8:52 PM CDT

"Obama makes George Bush look like a boy scout in regard to his lies and manipulation of the media. " Until obama lies to get thousands of americans killed for an unjust and endless war, his lies will in no way compare to how bad Bush's were.

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Jul 2, 09 10:36 PM CDT

emptycalm we are surging in Afghanistan now.....

-3

IN RESPONSE:

emptycalm
Jul 3, 09 1:17 PM CDT

yes godawgs but bush started that war. What else is obama supposed to do? Leave? As much as I think that's a good idea, I'm sure the Govt does not.

IN RESPONSE:

Spydiggity
Jul 3, 09 2:31 PM CDT

@empty...obama is just the next puppet. if that's what he was told to do, he'd do it. these men don't think for themselves. obama is just a new front for a very old dictatorship. we're being herded around like sheep, and until we mass together against the ENTIRE federal government and stop bickering amongst ourselves about the new puppet, we're never going to have real 'change'

| 0 minutes ago

justme
Jul 2, 09 7:31 PM CDT

Obama's political machine is awesome in its ability to get most of the press in line. They had better move fast, however, because I have noticed that even MSNBC and Huffington have have run/ posted negative material. The end of the honeymoon is nearing, especially with the costs of healthcare, further troop increases in Afghanistan and no end yet to the economic slide. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

anchower
Jul 2, 09 11:21 PM CDT

You don't favor sending more troops to Afghanistan? That's where Al Qaeda is. Well, there and Pakistan. And thanks to your boy Bush, Iraq.

IN RESPONSE:

Spydiggity
Jul 3, 09 2:42 PM CDT

please don't use the expression "honeymoon is over" that's such a fox news mantra. and i don't even get the implication behind it. do all marriages end after the honeymoon? it's just a dumb expression.

IN RESPONSE:

PaleRider
Jul 3, 09 9:02 PM CDT

al Qaeda has always been in Iraq, I guess you missed the article last week that interviewed the Iraqi Military Officer that stated that they only left when the US invaded and they will come back when they leave.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Adapt-Overcome
Jul 2, 09 7:42 PM CDT

This is the same Helen Thomas that the Bush Administration had kicked out of the press room. So, maybe she is correct in saying that she's never seen it controled like this because under Bush she wouldn't have been allowed to see how and what he controled in the press room. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Jul 2, 09 10:29 PM CDT

This is a nice piece of fiction. In fact she was given a seat even though she lost the job from the news agency that had credentialled her to be there. She was for a while moved all the way to the second row however till the room was restored.

| 0 minutes ago

Doctor_Zaius
Jul 2, 09 7:48 PM CDT

Jeff Gannon. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Jul 3, 09 11:14 AM CDT

Thank you, Doc. Thought I was going to have to bring that one up. Wonder if Gannon is still doing gay porn and if Rove is the camera guy? Honestly, RobN was on target about the press not picking sides. Once upon a time, they didn't, but then, they were called "liberal" press because they didn't pick sides. Now they all do it. And while I do expect all Presidents to do what they can to manipulate the press, thus their image, it still pisses me off, no matter what the party affiliation. Obama hasn't reached Rove's heights yet in doing it, but that he did it at all pisses me off.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Derni
Jul 2, 09 8:42 PM CDT

All Obama did is what all human beings and socail animals do-you grease my hand I grease yours-until others speak out-if indeed she is right-things will continue the way they are-But I bet you she will get a question-maybe the 1st one at the next live TV press conference with Obama-besides-I sorta like to see the press getting manipulated since they can make or break someones life with stories they release-they always say-I can't give up my sources etc-and this game continues-don't you love it? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

MrsK
Jul 2, 09 9:21 PM CDT

Claythorn: Creepy is right. I've noticed that the O administration is quite good at bullying, as well. Let's see how this "transparent" administration works out for those who voted for him/it. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

DeniseVB
Jul 2, 09 9:23 PM CDT

Helen's right. Bush controlled the media for 8 years, I thought Obama was going to different. Reply

-1

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Jul 2, 09 10:31 PM CDT

Yes you can really tell how Bush controlled the media by all the endless positive press he got, right.

-2

| 0 minutes ago

fancygapva
Jul 2, 09 10:54 PM CDT

I would like for what Helen says to not be true, but she has had more balls than any other reporter for a long, long time in asking hard questions of presidents and speaking truth to power. Bush made her sit at the back of the room and never called on her after the first few months. I support Obama, but do I know who he is? I get 5 emails a day telling me what to support, but nobody in the Obama camp is asking for my input except as they want to use it for their goals. There are things I don't agree with and I can't find anywhere to input that into this administration. I expect Helen feels the same way. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

steveo47829
Jul 2, 09 10:54 PM CDT

what the hell does communism have to do with this? i would say this argument is weak considering the media managed to get Bush elected twice... they weren't really all that big on scrutiny for most of his 1st term or in the run up to either election Reply

| 0 minutes ago

anchower
Jul 2, 09 11:19 PM CDT

If the shit that ends up on the Daily Show is any indication, the White House press corps does ask quite a few damning questions of the administration. That said, Thomas is an American hero (albeit one who was way too soft on Kennedy), and I'm willing to take her at her word. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Dief
Jul 3, 09 6:41 AM CDT

Claythorn's comment kinda' sez it all (7/2; 8:12p)! It's like Helen Thomas has seen the light. This, from a Conservative! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

TerrifiedCitizen
Jul 3, 09 11:03 AM CDT

Public information has always been manipulated; that's why all governments are beginning to crack down on Twitter and the Internet. People from around the globe reporting what's really happening takes real time news out of their hands and minimizes spin and propaganda; it's not nice to fool with the mother land... Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Spydiggity
Jul 3, 09 2:27 PM CDT

these press conferences feel more like infomercials than real Q&A. But, for anyone that gets their news from independent sources, we saw this coming. Too bad ppl are so blinded by the corporate owned media. boycott cnn, fox, msnbc, etc... they'll eventually become so desperate for viewers, they'll be forced to go back to a time when journalism meant something and news was actually news. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

JohnM
Jul 5, 09 3:21 PM CDT

And of course when the bush White house planted a homosexual prostitute to ask prearranged questions it was all right. This is about the traditional old media being replaced by the bloggers, not ethics. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 52 comments »

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House Republican whip makes rare criticism of mighty Rush

feud? what feud?

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opinion

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heatlh care push

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Helen Thomas: Nixon Didn't Try to Control Press Like This

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