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New Media Breaks in, but Tradition Lives On
WASHINGTON - It was a bookend moment.
Hearst White House columnist Helen Thomas poses a question to U.S. President Barack Obama during his first news conference as president in the East Room of the White House in Washington, February 9, 2009. (Reuters/Jim Bourg/United States) President Obama on Monday evening became the 10th American president to call on Helen Thomas at a White House news conference. And he was the first to call on Sam Stein, a reporter for The Huffington Post, whose Internet publication sprung to life during Mr. Obama's candidacy.
For years, Ms. Thomas has held the honorific title as dean of the White House press corps. At 88, she has been questioning presidents since John F. Kennedy.
"All right, Helen, this is my inaugural moment here," Mr. Obama said with a grin as he turned toward Ms. Thomas's seat in the front row of the East Room. "I'm really excited."
Ms. Thomas, now a columnist for Hearst Newspapers, did not return the pleasantry. She plunged directly into her question, wondering if Pakistan was maintaining safe havens in Afghanistan for "these so-called terrorists." She added, did any country in the Middle East have nuclear weapons?
Mr. Obama glided through the questions without making any obvious news. Then, he turned to Mr. Stein, 26, who last month became the White House correspondent for his publication.
"Are you willing to rule out - right here and now - any prosecution of Bush administration officials?" Mr. Stein said, asking whether Mr. Obama intended to endorse an investigation by a so-called Truth and Reconciliation Committee.
As he did with Ms. Thomas, Mr. Obama essentially bypassed the question, saying, "My general orientation is to say let's get it right moving forward."
It was not the answer but the very fact that he took a question from Mr. Stein that created a buzz and signaled yet another shift in the ever-evolving news media landscape.
The White House decided in advance which reporters would be selected. And on Monday night, correspondents for The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, Time and Newsweek were not on the list.
14 Comments so far
Show All"Are you willing to rule out - right here and now - any prosecution of Bush administration officials?" Mr. Stein said, asking whether Mr. Obama intended to endorse an investigation by a so-called Truth and Reconciliation Committee.
As he did with Ms. Thomas, Mr. Obama essentially bypassed the question, saying, "My general orientation is to say let's get it right moving forward."
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Was Mr. Stein allowed a follow-up question? I guess not (that's very Bush-like). If he was it should've been...
Mr. President, you say you're looking forward not back. I assume that means you'll be ordering Eric Holder to launch an investigation into Bush administration torture, wiretapping and lying us into war in Iraq. Because history has shown us that when Presidents choose not to prosecute their predecessor's crimes those same officials inevitably return to government in the future and commit even worse offenses. So this is undoubtedly what you mean by "getting it right moving forward", correct?
Helen (I feel first name basis kindredness) tried to ask a follow up question - saying something like "you didn't answer the question" but he just talked right over her.
And her question was probably the most important one asked...
I think Helen Thomas's epitaph should read "You didn't answer the question".
I'm glad to see Helen instantly dismissing the gladhanding--would expect no less from her of course. Her outrage over the past 8 years has been more than vindicated, but she's right back at it.
As for a HuffPost correspondent, well, swell, but let me know when there's an Amy Goodman in the room asking smart questions about rendition, or a Danny Schecter--a man who really out to have been in the room last night!--grilling the President on matters economic.
Thanks, though, to CommonDreams for running what were hands-down the best exchanges ever, Russell Mokhiber's brazen questions to Ari Fleischer. I used to watch Ari's conferences during those bad old years religiously, depressing as they were (i can still hear him repeating over and over ad nauseam, with such a straight face, "the coalition of the willing..."), but Mokhiber always made me crack up. I love this one:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0519-10.htm
m horan, http://www.nosuppertonight.com
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of
patriots and tyrants. ....Thomas Jefferson
Yup...We have been fooled again.
I watched the entire Presidential news conference; I think he did an excellent job of outlining his proposals and handling the questions from the reporters.
Ms. Thomas was direct and to the point as usual. I hope I am that good when and if I get to her age in life! I was also impressed by the number of women who were able to ask questions; 6 I believe. Great! We need to hear directly more often from the President if we are ever able to recapture our government from the obstructionist and their allies on Wall Street. Great job Mr. President!
DeColores,
Rockerbabe1
Hey Rockerbabe1, did you notice all of the black solidarity going on too - in all of those front-row seats? The "Dream" has arrived ...or has it?
"Alongside the most prominent journalists in America was Tiffany Cross from Black Entertainment Television. Like Miss Edney, she didn't know why she was in first-class while all the television networks - every single one - was exiled to the steerage compartment.
"I really don't know why I'm up here," Miss Cross said with a shy smile.
While most on the front row got to pose a question to President Obama, the two reporters from the black press did not. Nor did any other black-press reporter, for that matter.
"This was like Reagan, when he'd put all the blacks up front," said another prominent but visibly peeved black-press reporter who asked to remain anonymous. "He oughta' be ashamed."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/10/obama-snubs-black-press-shakes-up-seating-routines/
"She plunged directly into her question, wondering if Pakistan was maintaining safe havens in Afghanistan for "these so-called terrorists." She added, did any country in the Middle East have nuclear weapons?"
Isn't that "safe-haven" term getting a little worn? I am not sure how many times it can get used as a pretext for invading a country before even the dullest catch on to the scam.
But to answer your question Ms. Thomas, "did any country in the Middle East have nuclear weapons?". Yes, somewhere between 200 and 250 nuclear weapons exist and shortly these may be in the hands of right-wing fundamentalists controlling Israel, as well you know.
Ray Berthiaume
I was impressed with Obama's style, very open and inclusive. But I was disappointed when he spoke as though Iran actually has a nuclear weapons goal. There is no proof for this whatsoever.
Sanctuary, et al. -
Why is it that some sort of inane protocol still persists which apparently requires the President of the United States, and the American Secretary of State, to play act as though they alone are deaf, dumb, and blind about the mere existence of Israel's nuclear weapons arsenal?
Isn't perpetuating this silly diplomatic posturing (which Helen Thomas's question squarely addressed) still a major stumbling block towards any candid public debate about Iran's nuclear ambitions, the nuclear ambitions of other Muslim states in the region, or the scaling back on tensions in the Middle East in general?
Does any country in the Middle East have nuclear weapons?
Does any country in Europe have a clock called Big Ben?
Does anybody see that elephant over in the corner?
What is the origin of this pathetic, pretentious exercise? Why does this so-called tradition of denying the self-evident continue?
If, like Herman Khan, we can all now think about the unthinkable, then why can't our head of state even talk about it where peace in the Middle East is concerned?
Bill from Saginaw
Is this "transparent" administration getting murkier and murkier by the day or is it just me?
Bush never fooled me but this one's a tough read. So far, I'm not crazy about what I see.
Helen Thomas knows how to cut to the quick with her questions. Her journalistic stealth was spot on before the Iraq war and it still is. We should listen up when Helen speaks.
This was the first time a president has asked a question from someone who works for the Huffington Post. Nice to see. Change! And my God! How different Obama is from the sputtering fool who we just had for the last 8 years. Complete sentences!!! Real English!!! Intelligence!!! No more frat-boy bullshit! This could actually help to stem the tide of idiocy that's been taking over America...
Pan
Read every one of the posts!
So Proud to be an American , so long I was dismayed and numbed.
Am so heartened by the insights of all, especially about Helen , a jewel we will not have forever and cares not for fame but Transparency and truth .
On her questions he paused, he weaved he stepped back and did some misdirection, and kept moving as if he did not hear her plea at the end.
I love this guy he fills me with hope, indeed he listened to the women and others former cast outs and known clever ones .Black people were given a place of Honor in the front ,please see it so there is a difference ! A balancing act with friends and enemys (and CLOSE Dangerous friends) with different adjenda`s and he survived. Minorities have won a champion at the table and we all win as justice for them is justice for us all. We all need a little patience the coalition is fragile but we are soaring albeit a little shaky . Pretty good for the maiden flight.
A Great beginning
Justice and liberty for All