OK, this story has GOT to have been written by that satirical website The Onion! Barack Obama is about to be crowned "Newsmaker of the Year" by the National Newspaper Publishers Assn. The ceremony is to take place this afternoon,March 20, at the White House.
And here is the kicker... it's CLOSED to the press!
Seriously! This dude is getting an award from the press and he's closed the ceremony to the press. Where is the outrage? Where is the screaming about how Obama is the most "secretive president" since Bush? Where are comments about the lack of "transparency"? More to the point where are the guffaws about just how ridiculous this move is?
Well, at least Andrew Malcolm over at the L.A.Times covered it and he was as amused by this absurd situation as we are. Kudos to Andrew.
Here is the notation on the president's schedule:
Later in the afternoon, the President and the First Lady will attend a reception with the National Newspaper Publisher Association in the State Dining Room, where they will be presented the Newsmaker of the Year award. This event is closed press.
Well, I guess this is par for the course, at least. After all, Obama had a "bi-partisan" stimulus bill that was closed to one of the parties. So, he's used to doing things that are closed to one group or another.
So much for "transparency," though.



















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Just forget all the "hope he fails" baloney.
March 20, 2009 - 05:41 ET by JWFHe IS a failure.
I was reading tonight that Gordon Brown finally had a chance to pop in one of those DVD's. Sure enough, wrong region disk.
I still don't know how he was able to see that. The U.K. has PAL standards. It should have not been able to recognise the dvd at all.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
That's OK........
March 20, 2009 - 07:10 ET by old croDuh1 will just cut him a government check to go pick up 20 movies he can watch.
Well, it sorta makes sense
March 20, 2009 - 05:48 ET by rockmycarAfter the president's gaffe-tastic Thursday — making fun of the special olympics, comparing AIG execs to suicide bombers, saying the Model T got better gas mileage than today's autos — I can see why he doesn't want the press around.
What's surprising is the press holding an event and not allowing it to be covered by ... the press.
Rock...good points. This is
March 20, 2009 - 11:01 ET by celatorRock...good points. This is more evidence of the organizational chaos, political pratfalls, and really dumb statements Obama has become famous for, even at this early stage. This is what happens when the country elects a professional BSer instead of a leader.
Obama is like the dude who jumped on a horse and rode off in all directions at once. Just pathetic.
The Government cannot give to anybody anything which the government does not first take from somebody else. Dr. Adrian Rogers
Don't know about you guys
March 20, 2009 - 06:14 ET by HeavyChevyDon't know about you guys but I'm loving every minute of this! I know its got to be killing the press not to report on this incident and the loss of blood must be terrible from all the tongue biting.
And the best part? The press can't report on this story without being accused of sacrilege and offending the "Thin one."
Are Jet and Ebony going to be there?
March 20, 2009 - 06:41 ET by ThisnThatRemember the press the Press gave when the "right-wing" press (NY Post and Wash Times) was kicked off Obama's campaign plane? And remember the side-note: that Jet and Ebony were added to the campaign plane? The press were overjoyed at that event; not so much so with this current exclusion, I'll bet.
If Jet and Ebony are at today's ceremony, it really shows the racism in this man. Everything he does has the stink of racism all over it, including returning the Churchill bust on the first day.
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
ThisnThat
March 20, 2009 - 09:01 ET by HeavyChevyIf Jet and Ebony are there I would not see it as a bad thing. This will cause some major grumbling amongst the MSM who thought the were Obama's darling and eventually that grumbling will turn into infighting and that infighting will bring a lot more negative press (no pun intended) against themselves (the MSM) when -not IF- but when that infighting gets out.
IF the NYT, has been barred but Jet has been allowed this will cause some serious animosity, same as if the NYT was allowed and JET was barred. Either way I see this as a plus no matter how you roll the dice.
I don't see this about race I see this about some major egos about to clash and we should sit back and watch the fur fly.
"The president is to
March 20, 2009 - 11:35 ET by ThisnThat"The president is to receive the award from the federation of black community newspapers in a White House ceremony this afternoon"
Someone has to explain to me how that isn't racist. Racist: a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement. Obama's getting this award only because he's black. The award is being presented only by black people. Obama has invited only the black press to be present. What other evidence does one need to see that this event is a racist event, pure and simple?
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
ThisnThat
March 20, 2009 - 12:58 ET by HeavyChevyTake it easy I was not aware that NNPA was an all black organization (Hell I never even heard of them until now!) The name gave me the impression that it was just another liberal organization until I just googled them following you're reply back to me.
I'm not yelling at you --
March 20, 2009 - 16:26 ET by ThisnThatI'm not yelling at you -- just the world! And I also did not know, until today, about that organization. But clearly Obama did, and he sent out a special -- and secretive -- invite. No homies allowed, please, this event is only for the brothers.
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
Does anyone else have a
March 20, 2009 - 06:25 ET by BKeyserDoes anyone else have a vision of Obama, Rahm and Joe dancing around in the Oval Office as Larry, Moe and Curly? A bunch of eye-poking, woo-woo-woo's, nyuk-nyuk-nyuk's, and why-I-oughta's?
I used to think Obama was just a marionette, controlled by the puppet-master Soros. Now I'm thinking the puppet-master is Reagan. I think he's up there laughing his butt off while he makes this Socialist administration look like complete fools at every turn. lol
nyuk nyuk nyuk
March 20, 2009 - 06:32 ET by VT Con Mandon't forget the cast iron frying pan!!!
Hey, you owe the Three Stooges' memory an apology...
March 20, 2009 - 17:16 ET by CKA in Red State USAAt least they could make fun of themselves.
And they had a sense of humor.
And weren't afraid to look like fools and clowns to entertain people.
Obama and his administration do this as accepted practice and think they're brilliant.
Oh please...
March 20, 2009 - 06:30 ET by VT Con Manwho would want to watch this likely breathless drivel fest any way?
All these pressers will probably explode soon, since they are holding back daily, the bombastic idiocy coming out of the Whitehouse.
From Obama, to his cabinet, to his snidely press secretary, there seems to be no end to their arrogant, condescending disdain for the US citizen. Just their "vision" for our future. ie- (insert Karl Marx quote of your choice)
2010 could not come soon enough.
Of Course....
March 20, 2009 - 06:31 ET by actionthe press is not invited. He'll most likely receive the award without his chief advisor-the TELEPROMPTER-present!!! Without it, there'll be too many "-ums" and "-you knows". He'd be total imcompetant.
The US Teleprompter
March 20, 2009 - 06:34 ET by VT Con ManI wonder, what policy the teleprompter will announce today?
From a link I picked up at this site.....
March 20, 2009 - 07:28 ET by old croearlier, sorry, I do not know from whom,
http://barackstelepr...
I asked the following questions to the telepromter, I am curious to know.
I have a few questions that I hope you do not find "automated" in
nature. Do you practice "safe current"? Do you use a "surge protector"?
If so, is the type commercially accessible?
The site is one of the best ways to turn back the socialist and his policies, laugh at them, point out their absurdities and ridicule them, barrage them with sarcasm (which they don't understand) and generally smile in their face and they will react with more outrageous stuff you haven't thought possible.
TOTUS is shy ?
March 20, 2009 - 06:52 ET by 10ksnookerObviously TOTUS is smarting over this. He has a big chance to show he can help the big guy and look what happens.
Open and transparent, good line wasn't it.
It's TROTUS, isn't it? As in . . .
March 20, 2009 - 17:19 ET by CKA in Red State USATeleprompter Reader of the United States.
Or, for short: TRIC, for Teleprompter-Reader-in-Chief.
How about just " T " ?
March 20, 2009 - 17:22 ET by MightyMouthfor twit :-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Is Anyone Really Surprised?
March 20, 2009 - 07:32 ET by dennisl59We, the people, are still waiting for the Video of the Saint Patrick's Day Gaffe at the White House. There's talk about what happened, but that's all talk.
RELEASE THE VIDEO TAPE!!!
Do you really want to see
March 20, 2009 - 07:55 ET by eaglewingz08Do you really want to see the drooling and simulated sex between the media and Obama at this ceremony?
However, on a lighter note, for this Man of the Year, an update on those 25 DVDs that Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton gave to PM Brown a few weeks back.
Remember those 25 DVDs that Mr. Obama gave as heartfelt presents to PM
Brown on his state visit a few weeks ago. Some of us jokingly stated
that Obama gave Brown USA region DVDs unplayable in Britain, whereas
other posters gave Obama the benefit of the doubt and said even Obama
and Hillary weren’t that clueless to give wrong region DVDs to PM Brown
on such a special and important occasion.
Well, the NY Post reports on p.10, on March 20, 2009 that PM Brown
decided to pop one of Pres. Obama’s gift DVDs into the DVD player, when
these words appeared flashing on the screen, “WRONG REGION!” So it looks like
Pres. Obama’s State Department is even more clueless than we believed.
(Well after the State Department’s Russian interpreters couldn’t even
translate ‘reset’ into Russian, I maybe understated our disbelief a
smidgeon).
Coding
March 20, 2009 - 08:07 ET by nadadhimmiObviousely, dvd regional coding is racist. A crude, reactionary response comrade, from the repressive "man". Down with regional coding, free the dvd. Come on, let's all chant in the street: WHAT DO WE WANT?..FREE DVD...WHEN DO WE WANT IT?...NOW!! All hail lord god Barack, our savior and master.
Tele Refused to Attend
March 20, 2009 - 08:39 ET by rightwingidiotBHO's teleprompter, which he affectionaltly refers to simply as "Tele", refused to attend the event. It seems that little Tele thought that HE should be getting the award instead of BHO. And, without little Tele, BHO just can't get through more than 4 minutes without sticking his classsless foot deeply into his piehole.
I mean really, if it wasn't for Tele BHO wouldn't be getting the award. Without him, all of BHO's speaches would just be unformed sentences comprised of ohs, duhs, ums, ders, ers, hmmms and uhhhhhhhs.
As I understand it, Tele and other teleprompters in the WH have now formed a union. Using the basis of the proposed Card Check legislation, Tele was able to muscle the refusing prompters into voting to unionize. This is a huge step forward for teleprompters and should provide the needed support for national teleprompter unionization.
Quoting from an unreported press conference (the media just didn't give a shit so none were there), Tele said, "Hey, this clueless idiot (refering to BHO) can't get through the day without me telling him exactly what to say. We need this union so all White House prompters are on the same page. Non-union prompters might tell him (BHO) to say something stupid or assinine, he does that well enough on his own. Teleprompters unite!"
So with that, the new WH policy, driven by the union, now requires that all BHO speaking events open to the press must be teleprompter prompted. That should put an end to BHO's off-prompter dumbassness.
Gawd! Could we have possibly elected a bigger idiot? And you thought Bush was bad.
I'm sure
March 20, 2009 - 09:50 ET by nolotrippenI'm sure Leno, Letterman, Stewart, SNL, et. al., will be all over this one.
Sorry, wrong president.
Control-Freak Narcissists Can't Buck ANY Dissent or Critcism...
March 20, 2009 - 09:59 ET by Reaganite RepublicanNarcissists need to control the message at all times... and like to be surrounded by sycophants like Robert Gibbs. And even thought the press kisses his posterior, Obama knows he owns them- and even treats them with contempt, hectoring them not to "waste their question" or when they've "got enough pictures"... incredible arrogance and ingratitude.
Obama's almost certainly a pathological narcissist... the most dangerous charismatic leaders are, comes from an insecure childhood (like Barack's).
Indicators include control freakery, grandiose self-importance, feeling "above the law", interpersonally exploitive, inability to handle criticism, lack of empathy, arrogant behavior, surrounds himself with sycophants... sound familiar? -How else to explain his writing a self-absorbed autobiography when he was still a nobody? Same as fellow narcissists Hitler and Stalin- no surprise there.-Obama is a mess- and his insecurities, bad childhood, and irresponsible, far-left-wierdo mother are now all our problem, too.- http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
Reported on Fox
March 20, 2009 - 10:50 ET by Evil_SkippyIt seems the press is invited, but only the Black Press since they're giving the award. Is this the first "Black Only" event?
I don't feel included.
Great minds think alike.....and fools seldom differ
Skippy... I thought the
March 20, 2009 - 10:58 ET by Clear thinkerSkippy...
I thought the exact same thing.
No Taxation Without Representation
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Actions speak louder than words
March 20, 2009 - 10:52 ET by c5thenObama's actions positively SCREAM Socialist tyrant.
The MSM are looking down at their shoes and kicking stones.
This politician has all the earmarks of a Hugo Chavez Jr.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
His actions also scream . . .
March 20, 2009 - 17:21 ET by CKA in Red State USARACIST and COWARD.
I know why the press is
March 20, 2009 - 11:46 ET by Jack BauerI know why the press is barred -- Obama's too busy to go as he's got an important date.
It's okay though -- he's sending his teleprompter (TOTUS) to pick up the award for him
And that important date? He's taking AIRFORCE ONE to Hawaii for a Pickup basketball game with some old school pals. Maybe his ex-supplier.
Warner. Yes, but it's not in the paper..
March 20, 2009 - 12:17 ET by Gary Hall"Well, at least Andrew Malcolm over at the L.A.Times covered it."
Warner. Yea he covered it, however, it's interesting to note that this is only in the on-line blog. It is not in the print edition. That's not to say that it's not receiving a good bit of hits on-line, as Malcolm is rather popular. On the other hand, It's been striking me for some time now, that the LA Times is finding much comfort in allowing many of the "controversal to thier own party and agenda" to be briefly touched on in their on-line blogs - but kept out of the hands of the broad paying audience who sits down to read the news.
Gary
Good point
March 20, 2009 - 21:45 ET by Warner Todd HustonThat's a good point, too.
I've been disgusted with
March 20, 2009 - 21:53 ET by bigtimerI've been disgusted with what I have seen with the msm handling of this so far...which is don't say anything, we are all so PC...and kumbaya.
If any of this situation were reversed, in any way, we would never hear the end if it.
What a picture perfect double-standard this has all been.