What is a HuffPo Blogger Doing in the Vaunted 'Helen Thomas Seat'?

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What is a HuffPo Blogger Doing in the Vaunted 'Helen Thomas Seat'?

By Jeff Poor (Bio | Archive)
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 19:45 ET

UPDATE: HuffPo's Jason Linkins offers explanation (see bottom)

Maybe this is the way former Hearst Newspapers columnist and so-called dean of the White House Press Corps Helen Thomas would have wanted it.

Although Thomas' old seat in the White House press briefing room hasn't officially been designated for a particular outlet, and this might be wishful thinking on the part of the Huffington Post's Sam Stein, the White House correspondent for website, took the seat for the July 27 briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Stein's questions from the front row dealt with the possibility of President Barack Obama making recess appointment, in dealing with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and what he deemed the "lethargic pace" of judicial confirmations. Stein then followed up with four additional questions for his piece posted on the Huffington Post later that afternoon.

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The future of Thomas' former seat is still in question, with Fox News Channel, NPR and Bloomberg vying for the spot. It became part of the so-called "JournoList" controversy after it was revealed Michael Scherer of Time magazine, who recently won a seat on the board of directors of the White House Correspondents' Association, but was part of the anti-Fox News thread on the JournoList listserv as Politics Daily's Matt Lewis pointed out.

It's not clear if the Huffington Post is lobbying for a more prominent spot in the briefing room nor why Stein couldn't have asked from another spot in the briefing room.

UPDATE: According Jason Linkins, a reporter for The Huffington Post, it was Stein's turn in the rotation of pool reporters occupying the old Helen Thomas seat. He cited a June 8 Michael Calederone story reporting that the White House Correspondents' Association "may continue giving the seat to that day's rotating pool reporter."

If this is indeed the case, then hopefully we'll see a reporter for an outlet that isn't as favorable toward the Obama administration occupying the seat between now and when the Correspondents' Association makes its decision.

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" Helen Thomas"

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 19:53 ET by Blazer

"
Helen Thomas" and " vaunted seat" should never be used in the same sentence.

Ewwwww.

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "

- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.

" The Cake is a lie."

Predicate first

Wed, 07/28/2010 - 09:23 ET by Great Debater

The real Ben Kenobi would've phrased it as: "A more wretched hive of scum and villainy you will never find. Cautious, we must be."

In any case, I would make the seats a random draw as they walk into the room ... kind of like getting your ticket as you get onto the plane, instead of presenting your ticket.

I'd bet...

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 20:12 ET by unkeeaf

I'd bet my house these scumbags give that spot to Huff Po. It's their style. They don't care about any fallout, they just want to screw the "unbiased" network.

---------------------------------------------

Greatest anti-Obama t-shirt ever worn in public (photo):

http://bit.ly/dtnIX4

This may be the foot in the door...

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 20:29 ET by PrairieSky

I wouldn't be surprised if HuffPo does indeed wind up with this seat...Like they would give it to Fox News? Not a chance in he!!...There is no way Fox will get it...Some lefty outlet will get it...That's a no-brainer.

"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan

I hope they do

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 20:35 ET by Boudin

Just helps open more eyes. It helps identify their elitism, their lack of fair play, there open hostility to everyone who disagrees with them

It might be an eyebrow raiser for some, but...

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 20:44 ET by PrairieSky

most on the Right are already well aware of the Left's hypocrisies, methods and lies, and have zero doubts that this seat will go to some lefty media org of some type, and HuffPo is a distinct possibility.

"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan

Very true Prairie

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 20:56 ET by Boudin

But I have converted folks by simply directing them to Huffpo or Dkos. The anger/hysteria permeates quite well

Well, that's good to hear!

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 21:06 ET by PrairieSky

That's probably the only constructive function that those sites do serve...To open the eyes of those who are uninformed and ignorant of the insanity of the Left. Keep up the good work!

I see that you're new to NB...Welcome aboard!!

"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan

Thank you

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 21:26 ET by Boudin

I am a long time visitor. Great site

Good evening Boudin

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:18 ET by cocodrie

Welcome.
Your name made me hungry.

Jesus Loves You so much He died for you

Boudin and cocodrie*

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:24 ET by cajun2

If jambalaya and gumbo show up as posters, we are gonna have us a fait-do-do!

Welcome boudin!

Bon soire cajun

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:35 ET by cocodrie

Avec les femmes, la musique et beaucoup des ecrevisse.

Jesus Loves You so much He died for you

Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:26 ET by Boudin

Good all day long.

Thanks,

You're welcome...

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 23:03 ET by PrairieSky

Glad you're here!

"The problem is not that people are taxed too little...the problem is that government spends too much." ~President Ronald Reagan

Boudin...

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 21:58 ET by Jer

Allow me--a center/left Dem [and for NB purposes a "lib"]--to extend you a warm welcome also While decidedly not in favor of HuffPo getting the Thomas seat, nevertheless, as my opinion of DKos has diminished in the last year or so, it has correspondingly risen with respect to HuffPo, and I have been going to bat for the website and will continue to do as long as I feel it's warranted.

The comments are now fully moderated, and any offensive content that may temporarily appear is removed as quickly as practicable. Moreover, there are many contrarian commenters who post at HuffPo.

More recently, guest Republican/conservative pundits--e.g. Joe Scarborough [okay, here he is considered a RINO], Tony Blakeley, and (I believe) Pat Buchanan have all posted opinion blogs in the past few months.

Finally, HuffPo has published pro and con advocacy analyses in connection with current hot button issues.

It renains a left/progressive website to be sure, but I find it surprising that folks were "converted" by your directing them to HuffPo. Maybe the question shoud be...converted from what to what?

Jer

Are you suggesting

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:09 ET by Boudin

I was being to harsh? Those guys are nuts, they are in the land of "make believe until we get what Obama wants".

Thanks for the warm greeting Jer

they are in the land of

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:24 ET by Jer

they are in the land of "make believe until we get what Obama wants".

I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. In any event, there has been substantial criticism of Obama at HuffPo for quite some time now.

Jer

Sure sounded like it

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:39 ET by Boudin

At the latest nutroots convention

substantial criticism of Obama at HuffPo

Of course, from the left.

Jer, I noticed you seemed to be pleased about the prospects of another 6 years of Obama on another thread. Would love to hear what you expect will be the end results of said 6 years?

Having already mentioned

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:52 ET by Jer

Having already mentioned HuffPo's left/progressive ideology, I assumed the origin and direction of the criticism to be self-evident.

Also self-evident was the frivolous banter which was taking place in the exchanges about "names" for Obama where I made the "6-year" reference. Whether or not I would be pleased by the prospects of another term is an open question at this point. And unless the economy in general and the jobs picture in partcular improve markedly before 2012, the question is moot to boot.

Jer

Outstanding

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:59 ET by Boudin

We will mark you down for a definite conservative vote for 12',

Don't get carried away by

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 23:23 ET by Jer

Don't get carried away by "irrational exhuberance".

Jer

Tee Jer*

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 23:55 ET by cajun2

Careful Jer, you seem to be surrounded by cajuns tonight!.;)

Well, cajun, that's not so

Wed, 07/28/2010 - 00:02 ET by Jer

Well, cajun, that's not so bad, unless y'all get mad at me. So, I'll be careful.

Jer

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:09 ET by well99

Wow considering I try to post about 6 or 7 months ago and it never made it.It wasnt a attack or no vulgar language.I pointed out where someone was wrong and even went so far as to post links.Never made it.Sometimes those pesky facts scare moderators over there.

well99...

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 22:18 ET by Jer

I tried to post a comment there a few weeks ago for the first time in a year or so, and it didn't make it either. On the other hand, I've seen scores of comments obviously from Republicans/conservatives posted, many of them fairly agressive, so I'm not sure what the problem was with yours.

Jer

Wed, 07/28/2010 - 04:17 ET by well99

I was a member of Huff and Puff before NB and I think I had 5 post make it.As far as compared to the way before I agree they have improved.Still every once in a while I will go over and post but nothing seems to get thru.Maybe some mod doesnt like me..lol

well99...

Wed, 07/28/2010 - 04:48 ET by Jer

Maybe you and me both. I think my post prior to this latest attempt got axed too. Considering how much I've defended them here in the past few months, they ought to put me on the payroll.

Jer