NewsBusters and the Weekly Standard's Mary Katharine Ham are not the only critics of the Obama administration for its failure to transcribe, publish and archive the daily press briefings held by press secretary Robert Gibbs.
A Web site called WhiteHousePressCorps.org is running a graphic at the top of its main page which reads, "Waiting on the official release of the 1/22/2009 Press Briefing transcript for" followed by a ticker counting up from January 22. You can also track them on Twiter @whpresscorps.
The site, which features archives of White House press gaggle and briefing transcripts dating back to February 2006, describes itself as "an independent media watchdog source providing information and commentary on the relationship between the press and the White House" that is not affiliated with the White House Correspondents' Association.
Here's how the guys at WHPC reacted to a carefully excerpted press briefing posted to the WhiteHouse.gov site on Monday:
After 4 days and 4 hours the whitehouse.gov web site finally released transcripts of a press briefing. Well, not exactly, as it turns out.
"Selected responses" to Monday's (1/26/09) Press Briefing at long last appeared on the blog portion of the White House web site in more of an apparent effort to control the narrative than to live up to the promise of open transparency much ballyhooed by the Obama Administration.
And if that weren't bad enough, the blog entry claims that White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' third press conference held today is his "second press briefing." Careless in small things, careless in great things.
So far, a major FAIL by the White House Press Office in providing information to the public in a timely and open manner.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Wed, 01/28/2009 - 18:20 ET by Cool ArrowMaybe the transcribers are busy swapping porn with the NSF.
Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country - Khalil Gibran
Stop criticizing the O-bots
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 18:21 ET by P. AaronStop criticizing the O-bots Army. They know what's best and if those press conferences were important...they would tell you. Right?
If comunism is such a great idea, why didn't they put up a picture window instead of an Iron Curtain?
I don't expect this to change
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 18:31 ET by jeffinsacObama was very careful to hide any statements and positions during his political career, so why should he change now that he is the President?
Just more of his disdain for keeping records of any kind!
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 18:43 ET by Cape ConservativePresent! And that is enough!!!! Move along, now, move along!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
As Alice said, and the Obama Administration concurs . . .
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 18:37 ET by CKA in Red State USA"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"
How Dare You Question The Great and Powerful OzBAMA
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 18:40 ET by CapeCodScottIt's for our own good, we don't need the details, he only has our interests at heart, besides, there are so many words in those transcripts and they are too busy saving the world, providing stimulus through birth control, and other necessary means....PLEASE Show him the door...LITERALLY
www.ScottOnCapeCod.com
"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation"... until they get fed-up enough to finally say something about it!
You didn't REALLY think
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 18:56 ET by Massage_Master07You didn't REALLY think that he would keep his word of transparency, did you? I mean, this is a "man" that wouldn't release his birth certificate OR his education or college records.
IF a republican (conservative) did what he did, the libs in congress AND the drive by main stream media would have a FIELD DAY about this. But since it's Barry Hobama, the WHORE of Soro's Babylon, it's all good.
Wasn't the Obama
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 18:57 ET by QueenMumWasn't the Obama administration going to be more transparent? It appears there was plenty of time to completely overhaul the White House website. Seems to me it can't take this long to provide access to press briefing transcripts. Pres. Bush wasn't afraid to provide these transcripts. This is scary. Those who don't know better will only be exposed to what the Dear Leader wants them to hear via YouTube, White House videos, and carefully scripted press conferences. Press briefings are usually held early in the day when most Americans are busy at work or school. I'd like to see Fox provide full video coverage of these briefings and run them at various times of the day. God knows, the MsM ain't gonna do it.
AND the media is surprised
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 19:26 ET by FastEdthe cowards, who call themselves journalists, should have seen this coming - but, being as smart as they are, they will never understand that socialism needs to control the press, as freedom isn't in the lexicon, and the present admin will "twist" the first amendment by insisting that anything negative of the O-ster is NOT protected speech. This IS going to be a very interesting ride, my 'hope' is that I'll be around for the 'change'.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Oh come on, ya'll cut them some slack
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 21:09 ET by thebutlerdiditI mean, really. Just because they are supposedly the most tech savvy bunch to ever be in the WH, doesn't mean that they were supposed to be able to figure out how the voice mail system worked on the phones. And it was all the Boooosh people's fault, not Government, that caused their web site to be down for a day. They can't use those archaic Windows systems! They are the Mac generation, darn it! I was reading the comments on Hot Air, and all the techie geeks there were laughing their butts off at them. They were giving it to them for not being able to use systems that they claim 98% of all big businesses use. I don't know, I am dumb about that stuff myself, but evidently they weren't impressing the tech smarties. Sounds like they either are over their heads or don't want the full story on the web.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Its not their fault. They are Mac users
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 22:59 ET by R D HelmObviously, they still haven't been able to noodle out their PCs as yet. :-^)
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
of course
Wed, 01/28/2009 - 23:38 ET by FAQsWhat if the truth changes at some point in the future? You can't have all those previous truths printed in the record for all to see. People might get confused as to what is the current truth. No, it's better that transcripts are not provided.
Sorry, no photography allowed...
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 01:04 ET by Army BratIf you want pictures of the President, they are available down the hall at the Ministy of Propagandas office.
I think they're failure to post transcripts is 'cause they don't know how. I understand they were having major problems with e-mail.
I wish that was it, but I think we all know better.
Happy Trails...