President Obama's deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter made an astonishing statement on CNN's State of the Union Sunday.
According to her, the current White House resident giving interviews to Entertainment Tonight and People magazine are "equally important" to doing an actual press conference with the national news media (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):
In the midst of his interview with Cutter, substitute host Jim Acosta said, "Mitt Romney this week had two news conferences. President Obama had zero. As a matter of fact, the President hasn’t had any news conferences for nearly two months. When should we expect one?"
"Well, you know, the President was talking to reporters on the ground in Iowa," Cutter replied. "Do you think that that’s less important than talking to somebody like you?"
Ouch. That's a little backhanded.
She continued, "You know, everywhere the President goes, he’s talking to reporters.He’s traveling the country. We’re running for reelection. Iowa is a critical state. We’re going to spend our time talking to media all over this country."
"Entertainment Tonight, People magazine, he did that as well,” countered Acosta. “Are they more important than the national news media?”
“I don’t think that they’re more important," said Cutter, "but I think they’re equally important. I think that’s where a lot of Americans get their news. And I think the President’s going to continue doing that.”
So, the President going on Entertainment Tonight or being interviewed by People magazine is “equally important” to actually doing a press conference.
I guess this is the real transparency of Hope and Change.
