Jay Carney’s Message To Reporters ‘Screamed At’ By Sources: Toughen Up
At Wednesday’s White House daily briefing, Fox News Chief White House Correspondent Ed Henry asked Press Secretary Jay Carney to respond to a report that a White House official had “screamed and cussed at” CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson, over the unfolding Fast and Furious story. Carney said he didn’t know about that specific conversation, but elaborated in his response that, in general, “hard-bitten journalists” ought to be able to handle “tough conversations” and “an extra decibel or two in a phone conversation.”
Henry related Attkisson’s claim, which she made on Laura Ingraham‘s radio show. ”Sharyl Attkisson, a CBS News reporter, said, a few days ago that a White House official just yelled and screamed at her, she’s been reporting on this for some time, about this whole story,” Henry said.
He then framed his question within Carney’s experience as a journalist. “You were a reporter once, when government officials start yelling at you, sometimes it’s because they’re getting defensive, right?”
“I have no insight into the conversation she may, or may not, have had,” Carney began. ”I know that you guys are all hard-bitten veteran journalists, and probably don’t complain when you have tough conversations with sources sometimes.”
He added, “Again, this is just generally speaking, I don’t know about it.”
Henry, unsatisfied with the response, followed up by asking, “She said this on the record, that she was yelled at and screamed at. Why would the administration be yelling at her about this story?”
“Again, I don’t…I take issue with the report,” Carney said. “I don’t know that it’s true. What I think is that I know you are tough enough to handle an extra decibel or two in a phone conversation. I’m not sure that that happened here, but it’s surprising to me.”
There’s a lot of reading between the lines to be done here, of course. The idea that Carney hasn’t spoken to Eric Schultz about Attkisson’s claim is absurd, but that’s not what Carney said. He obviously didn’t want to engage in a “he said, she said” over a conversation that, apparently, wasn’t taped, but also wanted to defuse the story somewhat.
The issue here, though, isn’t a “tough conversation,” or a couple of decibels. I’ve been reporting on this White House for nearly three years now, and I’ve irritated more than my fair share of press aides, but I’ve never been cursed at by one, at least not to my face. Whether Carney wants to air it out publicly or not, it’s a good bet Schultz won’t be cursing out any other reporters, anytime soon.
Sign up for Mediaite's daily newsletter.
-
Michelle
-
Michelle needs a job.
-
Michelle
-
Concerned Citizen
-
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWVKX2P2QBPQ6FHQHCHVIC2ALQ Fedup in Florida
-
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog
-
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog
-
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog
-
Bourekas
-
Ralph-NY
-
Come on
-
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog
-
Silgary
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EWU74XZCZDTLKLABMUFIXTU74I More
-
SweepTheLeg!!!
-
Anonymous
-
RW
-
Anonymous
-
Silverado
-
Anonymous
-
mac691
-
Silverado
-
Anonymous
-
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lars-Svensen/100001028197161 Lars Svensen
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Silverado
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Tompaineaz
-
Anonymous
-
Gary
-
http://onfollowingchrist.wordpress.com Paul B.
-
George
-
George
-
George
-
Anonymous
-
George
-
Anonymous
-
George
-
novaculus
-
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JIR3DNSBQVINQ6OTOGSTAXISUU Shefali S
-
Anonymous
-
JBD
-
da_trute
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Guest
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HWRGNSZMEVZXQTDGCUC6IR7NTA JohnFLob
-
Floridaswampthing
-
Penny
-
TruDat
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Seth
-
Tom Tucker
-
Tom Tucker
-
David
-
David
-
Tom Tucker
-
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=690550741 Michael A. Leach
-
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=690550741 Michael A. Leach
-
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3TIU5N34A5RQUO5X6O64E7WRJM Andrew Raines
-
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3TIU5N34A5RQUO5X6O64E7WRJM Andrew Raines
-
Anonymous
-
Michelle
-
TruDat
-
Anonymous
-
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XXVLPAUZKA76IIWIJXH2VETWZE Homie Barak
-
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pad-Dar/100002515504977 Pad Dar
-
Watchman
-
VenturaCapitalist
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
Anonymous
-
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VKP7P5KYVIFOJA5IIHLYHFTCQE Steve Mcfadden
-
Anonymous
Explicit Image Of S.E. Cupp (It’s A Fake) In Hustler Magazine Sparks Outrage
Five Outrageous Hustler Lawsuits And The Photos That Brought Them To Court
Al Sharpton Explains His Trayvon Martin Coverage On MSNBC’s PoliticsNation
Day After Clyburn ‘Raping’ Comment, Fox News’ Father Morris Drops The R-Bomb
AP Scoop: Republican’s August Convention In Florida Could Be Hit By A Hurricane
More Online/Print:
















The Uncanniest Cable News Doppelgangers
Explicit Image Of S.E. Cupp (It’s A Fake) In Hustler Magazine Sparks Outrage
Former Daily Show Producer: I Felt Uncomfortable Mocking People Just Because I Disagreed With Them
Who Should Be On Next Season’s Celebrity Apprentice? A Mediaite Wish List
Obama Campaign Spokesman Woefully Unprepared For Anderson Cooper
MSNBC Primetime Makes Zero Mentions Of Trayvon Martin Case After Pro-Zimmerman Evidence Surfaces
Conservative Teen Opens Up About ‘Vile, Vulgar’ Reaction To Her Video On Gay Marriage
Yet Another Survey: Fox News Viewers Worst-Informed, NPR Listeners Best-Informed
Pastor Offers Suggestion For Dealing With ‘Queers’: Stick Them In An Electrified Pen Until They Die Out









RSS