What do you think a Town Hall meeting with the president is? Most people would say that's when anyone can come to an open forum and ask questions, any questions, of the president. Not in BO's world where he wants strict control over what is said and what the state run media reports. Chip Reid and none other than ultra-liberal Helen Thomas (she's 89 years old and has been has covering the White House during every presidency since JFK) called White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs out and put him on the hot seat.
Quote:
Gibbs: "... 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 [Chip Reid] ask me a question tomorrow as to whether you thought the questions at the town hall meeting that the President conducted in Annandale-"
Chip 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-- 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."
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."
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."
Gibbs: "I don't doubt that at all, Helen. I don't doubt that at all."
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To watch the whole exchange, and it's quite entertaining, go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q37kt0ga0OA
Afterwards, Helen Thomas said to CBS that not even Richard Nixon tried to control the press the way President Obama is trying to control the press.
"Nixon didn't try to do that," Thomas said. "They couldn't control (the media). They didn't try. What the hell do they think we are, puppets?" Thomas said. "They're supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them."
LOL you go girl!!!