John Cook of the gossip website Gawker discovered that the White House press elite partied down with President Obama on ahem, Independence Day: 
Reporters from roughly 30 television networks, newspapers, magazines, and web sites celebrated the Fourth of July with Barack Obama at the White House last weekend. Why didn't you know that? Because they were sworn to secrecy.
We reported yesterday that Politico's Mike Allen was spotted milling about as a guest at the White House's "backyard bash" by the pool reporter, who was allowed into the event for 40 minutes and kept in a pen before being ushered out. When Allen quoted from the pool report in his Playbook column the next day, he deleted a reference to his own name and didn't bother to tell his readers that he was actually at the party.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓Well, he wasn't alone. Gawker has learned that the White House gave tickets to virtually every major news organization that covers the president—the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Time, ABC News, NBC News, CNN, CBS News, and so on, about 30 in all. The reporters were invited to attend on the following condition:
"You are being invited to attend this event as a guest. Blogging, Twittering or otherwise reporting on this event is not permitted. If you feel that you cannot agree to abide by these ground rules, please don't claim a ticket."
That's right: Much of the White House press corps spent the Fourth schmoozing with White House staffers, catching performances by the Foo Fighters and Jimmy Fallon, and watching the fireworks from the most exclusive vantage point in the D.C. metro area, all off the record—not to mention off-the-Facebook and off-the-Twitter.
These are the same people who just a week ago were whining in the press briefing about Obama's malicious and dastardly attempts to "control the press." (Well, not the self-same people—we're not sure if Chip Reid and Helen Thomas, the primary antagonists in that exchange, were in attendance.)
Even if you weren't a fan of Obama (or a fan of picnics, or the Foo Fighters), an ambitious reporter might take the tickets just to get some off-the-record schmoozing in with people they'd like to line up as sources. It would be nice to know which ones who daily pledge to uphold the "people's right to know" attended and accepted the pledges of secrecy.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Like I was wondering
July 9, 2009 - 23:32 ET by bigtimerLike I was wondering elsewhere earlier, was FOX included in this bunch to the BBQ? I have read about this, but FOX is always excluded...it they were, guess they know how to remain mum about it...eh?
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Re Fox
July 10, 2009 - 10:55 ET by slickwillie2001Nothing I've read on this since last night answers the Fox News question. I'd like to know if they were invited and if they went. Anyone?
In case nobody noticed,
July 9, 2009 - 23:52 ET by Captain RepusIn case nobody noticed, this administration (and the MSM) have become trapped in a death spiral. Obammy's ratings are in an uncontrolled plunge as the economy continues to tank and the mindless spending spree has the U.S. targeted to completely implode. The media have their eyes closed as they succle on the mesiah's teats and will go down with him. By the end of summer it will be over.
For the first time in my adult life I am not proud of my country.
Ditto
July 10, 2009 - 00:08 ET by DoktorFrankenVery good observation and surmise. I'm not good at guessing just when Hussein's going to pop but, like you, I believe he is.
I agree
July 10, 2009 - 05:39 ET by ApodicticHowever, I believe that the leeches will fall off the dog just before he exanguanates. They love themselves too much to go "all in."
Should Be No Doubts Now About A State-Run Media
July 10, 2009 - 09:55 ET by Wildcatter1980If anyone was still unsure about this, all doubts should be gone now. The MSM is the state-run media!
--
We already have term limits. They are called elections. We can & should vote out those who do not represent & serve us! - Me
Disgusting
July 10, 2009 - 00:03 ET by WesternGuyAlthough not unexpected, this is nothing short of disgusting.
What's even more disgusting
July 10, 2009 - 00:28 ET by bigtimerWhat's even more disgusting to me are over 30 something Czars we have here that O has named for different purposes, but he owes them all one way or the other, they don't have to be confirmed, they answer to no one but the Prez, we don't even know what we are paying them, let alone all their staff, and we can't forget travel.
Where is the outrage about this from the republicans...I mean in loud noises and huge numbers.
Each day I get angrier and angrier about this.
Seems to me the only one that did get any news with this regarding his complaints was good ol' KKK Byrd.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Where is the outrage
July 10, 2009 - 00:39 ET by Jack Bauerbt -- They don't get it. Or if they do, they don't care as the Democrats stick it to them everyday.
If there's one elected Rep who's commented on Czargate it's passed me by.
Jack,
July 10, 2009 - 13:25 ET by R D HelmBy the time most in this country figure out what this commissar business is really all about (nullifying congress), Obama will have installed himself as diktator for life.
-Dave
"Obama's health care 'reform' plan is to blow up the building in order to fix a leak in the roof." - Herman Cain
Where is the outrage?
July 10, 2009 - 05:37 ET by motherbeltWhere is the outrage? Surely you jest...
They can't even summon a tsk tsk of disapproval!
BTW is anyone surprised that this happened just as Obama's numbers are tanking?
On the other hand, maybe they don't know about it yet!
Nah. It's the 10th already.
Spineless lot.
And what about the pool reporters in the pen?
Are they all willing to shut up about this collusion, in the hope that they will be included in the "favored few" next time?
The more I think about this, the madder I get!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
I think the czars should be renamed
July 10, 2009 - 13:21 ET by ahusseras commissars. It is a much more accurate description. Also repubs are afraid of being Borked, Palined and Rushed. It takes a mighty thick political skin to be on the other side of the annointed one. They need to get organized as it is they are cut out of the herd isolated and annihilated. Without a strong solidified front with clear purpose divide and conquer will win the day.
"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'
"...30 something Czars..."
July 10, 2009 - 07:01 ET by Red Jeep30 something Dictators. Dictator of Energy, Dictator of GM, Dictator of hand washing...etc, unaccountable administration toads.
party down with BO
July 10, 2009 - 00:34 ET by RousseAnd to think if an ordinary journalist said anything remotely kind about George W Bush, he/she would be excoriated by the MSM. How then, should we regard a "journalist" who parties in private with Obama?
9-11-01: "We all became
July 10, 2009 - 01:02 ET by RR GOP9-11-01: "We all became New Yorkers"
11-4-08: "We all became Chicagoans."
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Well, well, well.....isn't
July 10, 2009 - 05:24 ET by motherbeltWell, well, well.....isn't that interesting.
Pledging the press to secrecy???? And they accepted?
Everyone involved should be ashamed.
From the President down.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
See what you get...
July 10, 2009 - 07:03 ET by Red Jeep...when you feed the SRM a hot dog?
Well????
July 10, 2009 - 06:17 ET by BourbeauNow that we know this, where's the FOI request for the visitors log on the evening of this event? Why shouldn't every guest be identified? Of course, since I'm certain all of the WH pressies got an invite, my curiousity is about those that turned down the invitation. You have to love the double standard we get fed daily by the press, and they continue on their merry way as if no one bothers to notice.
To steal a line from George Lucas....
July 10, 2009 - 06:44 ET by c5thenSo this is how the republic dies...
Once the press gives up their duty to investigate and report on government and becomes BFF with that government, they become useless to the people and morph into the "Ministry of Propaganda".
This is precisely the reason that the "old media" is losing customers and people are turning more to the Internet and blogs to get the real news. We are in very real danger of becoming just like Iran and other totalitarian regimes where the State-run media tell lies for the regime and it's only via twitter and facebook and other internet outlets that the truth gets out.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
protected from this
July 10, 2009 - 07:18 ET by CatherwoodMaybe BHO's smoozing, press sycophants were instrumental in protection the Chosen One from comments like this:
The President admitted that he was puzzled by the magnitude of the opposition to
his proposal.
"Look, it's an all volunteer force," Obama complained. "Nobody made these guys go to
war. They had to have known and accepted the risks. Now they whine about bearing the
costs of their choice ? It doesn't compute..."
"I thought these were people who were proud to sacrifice for their country," Obama continued.
"I wasn't asking for blood, just money. With the country facing the worst financial crisis in its
history, I'd have thought that the patriotic thing to do would be to try to help reduce the nation's
deficit. I guess I underestimated the selfishness of some of my fellow Americans."
How could a Commander in Chief say something so arrogant and insensitive and get away with it?
I'm not disputing you, but
July 10, 2009 - 07:28 ET by motherbeltI'm not disputing you, but where did you get those quotes?
That makes my blood boil!
I thought our military were supposedly children who were forced to fight in George Bush's war???
As for selfishness, I wonder how much Mr. Obama is contributing, over and above his standard tax, to get us out of this hole he is digging.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Of course left leaning
July 10, 2009 - 08:57 ET by kgOf course left leaning FactCheck says it is false but left leaning Snopes says it is mixed.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
July 4th, 2009
July 10, 2009 - 10:50 ET by 1611LilacLadyOnly the most loyal of the state run press would agree to censorship. Who says they are the top press??? They're only lowlife scum who are willing to go along with those who want to sell out America and Israel.
Isaiah 5:20a Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil. . . KJV
Was this...
July 10, 2009 - 11:05 ET by StarAZWas this the after-party for the luau? I can't keep up!
Probably plenty
July 10, 2009 - 11:08 ET by StarAZSecrecy, huh? I bet there is plenty we aren't told about the good old Light- and Profit-Bringer.
Was the esteemed writer
July 10, 2009 - 13:26 ET by Roger the ShrubberWas the esteemed writer from Horse & Hound, William Thacker, in attendence?
Just curious
July 10, 2009 - 15:08 ET by orogenyI'm new to Newsbusters and I'm wondering. Was there an equally negative reaction here when President Bush held identical events at the Crawford Ranch every year of his presidency?
oro... Was it a big
July 10, 2009 - 15:13 ET by bigtimeroro...
Was it a big secret?
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Well..
July 10, 2009 - 15:22 ET by orogenyWhat do you mean by "big secret?" The press who attended the Crawford events had to agree not to report on what went on there, just as they did at the Obam events. I'm not sure if the Bush events alowed a pool reporter to attend.
The Crawford event wasn't a
July 10, 2009 - 15:25 ET by bigtimerThe Crawford event wasn't a big secret oro, that is what you posted above...do you have links that say otherwise?
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Once again...
July 10, 2009 - 15:28 ET by orogenyWhat do you mean by "big secret?" The event itself was not a secret, they had a pool reporter who covered in in a general manner. The specific discussions were off-the-record, just as the were at the Bush events.
http://query.nytimes...
BTW
July 10, 2009 - 15:36 ET by orogenyI'm not defending the event itself. All the media who attended were simply demonstrating what kind of whores they really are. Just one more example of how the elite media is in the pocket of whoever is in power. I'm just wondering why you weren't outraged when Bush, McCain, et al did the exact same thing.
The point of Tim's post
July 10, 2009 - 15:38 ET by bigtimerThe point of Tim's post here is that this was a big secret, it wasn't at the Crawford Ranch.
...and by the way, this isn't directed towards you oro, does anybody know yet if anybody from Fox was invited to O's shindig?
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I'm confused...
July 10, 2009 - 15:45 ET by orogenyIf they had a pool reporter who reported on the actual event, how could it be a "big secret?" Anyone who was invited to the event and declined to agree to the of-the-record ground rules would have repiorted on the occurrance of the event as well. The reporters who attended the Bush events had to agree to the same basic rules. Both were parties that everyone knew about but those who attended had to agree not to report on what went on...I'm not clear on what the difference is.
oro
July 10, 2009 - 20:12 ET by TN MomI'm not clear on what the difference is.
Obama campaigned/promised transparency. Robert Gibbs consistently says Obama has the "most transparent administration in history"
As I said...
July 11, 2009 - 11:54 ET by orogenyI'm not defending the Obama administration or the media whores who participated in the event, I think this kind of thing puts the press in a position of bieing "friends" with the officials with whom they should have a generally adversarial relationship. But, if you're outraged over Obama doing this, but didn't give a rat's patoot about it when Bush did it year after year, then it's not a matter of principal, it's just partisan hackery.
secret parties at the Ranch?
July 10, 2009 - 15:18 ET by RousseGeorge Bush held secret parties for the press at his ranch?
Secret??
July 10, 2009 - 15:25 ET by orogenyThey had a pool reporter ther who reported on the event. The event itself wasn't a secret. The discussions during the event were off-the-record for the press attendees...just like the Bush events.
Fox News wasn't mentioned,
July 10, 2009 - 20:12 ET by Radical1979Fox News wasn't mentioned, did they forget to leave a ticket for Bret Baier?
"....catching performances
July 11, 2009 - 16:37 ET by merkava"....catching performances by the Foo Fighters...."
Rock and Roll.
I know he's supposedly the 'coolest President EVAH', but seriously, would Cobain have partied at his house? Get a life, Dave.