White House Refuses Access To Boston Herald, Calls Out Mitt Romney’s Front Page Op-Ed

by Alex Alvarez | 10:28 am, May 18th, 2011

» 47 comments

The White House Press Office has decided to keep the Boston Herald from reporting on today’s Boston fund raiser for Barack Obama‘s re-election campaign efforts.

Evidently, the White House felt that the paper has demonstrated a bias in its history of reporting on the President. In response to the Herald‘s press request, White House spokesman Matt Lehrich pointed specifically to the paper’s decision to run an op-ed piece by form Massachusetts governor and potential 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney as a front-page story.

Wrote Lehrich:

I tend to consider the degree to which papers have demonstrated to covering the White House regularly and fairly in determining local pool reporters.

My point about the op-ed was not that you ran it but that it was the full front page, which excluded any coverage of the visit of a sitting US President to Boston. I think that raises a fair question about whether the paper is unbiased in its coverage of the President’s visits.

He did add, however, that “we will continue to consider the Herald for local pool duty for future visits” and that local pool duty by the Boston Globe was arranged well before the Romney piece ever ran.

We reached out to our own resident expert on White House reporting, Tommy Christopher, for his take on the White House’s move. While he noted that the White House Press Office can exclude whomever they deem unfit from reporting on their events, he thinks it was a “misstep” on Lehrich’s part to even bring up the Romney op-ed:

Lehrich is right that local pool assignments would have been determined well in advance of this op-ed, which begs the question, “Why even bring it up?”

This is a misstep, pure and simple. Whether he has a valid point about the Herald‘s front page is immaterial. The White House is free to push back against that in a number of ways. Inferring an editorial litmus test for access to the President is counter to the notion of a free press. On the other hand, Lehrich is correct that the “regularity” with which a news organization covers the President is relevant, and he should have stuck to that standard.

A Romney spokesperson weighed in by noting that the “op-ed was about jobs, which apparently is a sensitive subject for the thin-skinned people around the president.” The Herald has also, in the past, featured less than flattering front page coverage of Romney.

h/t Boston Herald

Boston Herald, Mitt Romney, White House

The Lantern of Truth

The current White House is full of petty little people.

The Romney/Ryan White House will never resort to those tactics .
lonestar77

Using this WH’s standard, the Bush admin would’ve been hard pressed to find any pool reporters. They would have created their own media outlet and shut everyone else out…or, they would have done what this WH really wants to do.
http://politicallyincorrectlibertarian.wordpress.com PoliticallyIncorrectLibertarian

Looks like they weren’t kissing Obama’s ass enough. Seriously, what the hell do these people want? We Love Obama Day? Obama’s Great Accomplishment of the Day? Whatever White House, we’ll get our news with or without your help.

Chuck E. Cheese Sued for “Gambling”.
http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/2011/05/chuck-e-cheese-sued-for-gambling.html
brownsound

Tommy Christopher is “White House Reporter” when he’s not writing race-baiting columns. He’s a “columnist” when he’s in racer mode.
Harry Flashman

Interesting that “brownsound” ignores the petty and vindictive White House’s Goebbels-like approach to transparency and takes a shot at Tommy Christopher for not falling into line with them.

The left should take a lesson from Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

lonestar77 said:
Using this WH’s standard, the Bush admin would’ve been hard pressed to find any pool reporters. They would have created their own media outlet and shut everyone else out…or, they would have done what this WH really wants to do.

Bush/Cheney’s 2004 campaign had several private fundraisers to which no press was allowed.
Liberal Tormentor

Ah yes, anyyhing but total and complete devotion to The One is considered treasonous to the regime.
Liberal Tormentor

A Romney spokesperson weighed in by noting that the “op-ed was about jobs, which apparently is a sensitive subject for the thin-skinned people around the president.”

BOOM, winning!
BatBoy

Alex…..in the 2nd paragraph, it reads in part, “…decision to run an op-ed piece by form Massachusetts…”

Change “form” to “former”

PS I make these mistakes all the time…but I blame it on my keyboard. Which…is true…this keyboard cannot spell to save it life. As a matter of fact…I am going to hit submitt…then I am going to get my gun and shoot it….right through the the “Enter” button.
skyfet

The Lantern of Truth said:
The current White House is full of petty little people.

The Romney/Ryan White House will never resort to those tactics .

That only exists in your head.
The Lantern of Truth

Longtime reporters are referring to Obama acting like a monarch , a king .

King Obama .

“Veteran Journalists: Today’s White House Reporters Are Too Timid ”

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/05/17/veteran-journalists-todays-white-house-reporters-are-too-timid
The Lantern of Truth

skyfet said:
That only exists in your head.

To quote that famous Indian saying , ” Even a hawk is an eagle among crows ” .

You , of all people , skyfet , will understand .
BatBoy

The Lantern of Truth said:
“Veteran Journalists: Today’s White House Reporters Are Too Timid ”

Hmmmmmmm Tommy is a White House Reporter …isn’t he…Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
dougx

He’s the only potential Republican candidate that can win blue states. That is what is scaring the Obama admin. Every liberal outfit in the Country was extolling the great virtues of McCain in the last nomination process and wouldn’t admit that Mitt won every debate. I can assure you they are much more afraid of Romney than the other potentials.
TeaPartyPatriot

“White House Refuses Access To Boston Herald, Calls Out Mitt Romney’s Front Page Op-Ed”

….Freedom of the Press in a lunatic-left d-cRAT socialist dictatorship.
mmars

If the press corps doesn’t rally around jilted press folks (San Francisco, Fox news, this example, etc.) then they have failed in one of their primary responsibilities: protecting us from power structures. The press appears to me to be more interested in “the end” than in “the means” . They have really failed the nation. It is no wonder people are scouring the internet for alternative sources of information. Who could possibly believe in an honest broadcast from MSNBC? or even Wolf Blitzer? or especially Glenn Beck?
skyfet

The Lantern of Truth said:
To quote that famous Indian saying , ” Even a hawk is an eagle among crows ” .

You , of all people , skyfet , will understand .

I must have touched a nerve.
The Lantern of Truth

skyfet said:
I must have touched a nerve.

That’s a crisp one , skyfet !

skyfet 1

Lantern 0
lane

Fire that white house spokesperson. It’s one thing to be petty and foolish, another to let the world know it. Very unprofessional, and seriously dumb to insult a big paper in a state that will be up for grabs in 2012. Bizarre.
Dave Richards

Obama is becoming like Nixon. He really has a thin skin.
mmars

lane
Its all about “the end”? an ethical “process” doesn’t matter??? Where are journalistic ethics? Where is the honesty? Who are the professors teaching you guys? The press is supposed to stand aside and use its power monitor government power vs the people. We have such a weak press. They allow the White House to dictate the daily talking points. There is no investigation. No questions. Just “tell me what to say today, mr. president”
roxsteady

Mittens and his people seem unaware that this President’s record on jobs surpasses the GOP’s. Not to worry though Mittens because the only way you’ll ever personally get into the Whitehouse will be with a visator’s pass just like the rest of the rejects in your party. Good for the Whitehouse!
Oregon Conservative

I usually try to add something substantive but this juvenile garbarge deserves a juvenile response.

I hate Obama.

There I said it. I hate that man as President. HATE HATE HATE. Come get me MSNBC, come, call me a racist. Worst. President. Ever.
The Lantern of Truth

roxsteady said:
Mittens

Oh yeah ?

Obamalamadingdong !

Obamayouabadmammajamma !

Obamawearshismamasjammies !
http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

Nixonian…
Liberal Tormentor

BOX of ROX, you seem unaware that the average person now spends 12% of their disposable income on gas! One RNC add feature one American voter pumping $4 gas into his car with a voiceover of Obama saying that under his plan energy prices would necessarily skyrocket and that he didn’t mind $4 a gallon gas, he just wants a gradual increase, and The One is TOAST.
brownsound

Man, that 0bama enemies list grows everyday.
Liberal Tormentor

Liberal Cartoonist Can’t Get Anyone To Publish His Anti-Obama Pieces

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2011/05/18/liberal-cartoonist-cant-get-anyone-publish-his-anti-obama-pieces#ixzz1MjDZY1Ml
CRW

Quite the little hot-house flower our president is. If he got the treatment Bush got, he’d need to add a padded room to the White House.
CRW

Magister said:
Bush/Cheney’s 2004 campaign had several private fundraisers to which no press was allowed.

That’s not the same thing as inviting everyone but the Boston Herald. This is childish, petty, vindictive, petulant, punitive, tyrannical… and a whole lot of other bad adjectives.
Liberal Tormentor

This is childish, petty, vindictive, petulant, punitive, tyrannical

In other words, business as usual for the Chicago thugs.
TucsonTerpFan

When the Obama administration attacks a media outlet as it has done with the Boston Herald, Fox news, some talk show hosts, magazines, etc., these outlets/people should wear this attack as a badge of honor.

Unknowingly, the White House is pointing out to America where we can find both sides or the other side of an issue. The administration’s lack of attacks to the likes of MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, WaPost, NYTimes…and the list goes on…only points out which ones are always in the tank for Obama.

Boston Herald, you should wear your “badge” with honor!
The Lantern of Truth

“What are you afraid of, Mr. President?

I know it must be tough dragging yourself to these glitzy fund-raisers and mingling with rich people who shower you with money and affection. Who needs an unfriendly reporter shouting an unscripted question at you, or checking to see whether any of the guests are getting government contracts?

We all know Obama has an aversion to tough questions. During the campaign, he would refuse to engage with most local media, and reporters who camped out at the rope line got a stern talking-to from a campaign staffer.

But using the White House press pool to possibly punish or reward media based on what the White House considers “fair” coverage? This is taking the control freak thing to new levels.

I’ve been on many press pools and can’t remember getting denied access because of which media outlet I worked for. Even when the Herald was writing critical articles about former Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1988, his campaign never bumped us off the plane or kept us off the pool based on what we wrote. Same goes for President Clinton. You think Gov. Deval Patrick likes having the Herald and other media follow him around all day? No, but it’s part of his job.

But apparently this White House has a different view. It has a special place for perceived “unfair” media — at least 500 feet away. Even at White House press conferences, the president carefully chooses who gets to answer a question.

And before this Boston trip, there were other examples of questionable use of the pool. One reporter at a fund-raiser headlined by Vice President Joe Biden was held in a utility closet for more than an hour to keep him away from the donors. Even worse, he had to listen to Biden speak.

The truth is, most media dread being in the “pool” at fund-raisers. It’s tedious and exhausting and requires a lot of writing about what appetizers the president served. But the pool is important, because it gives all reporters a close-up view of what the president is doing or saying to guests paying thousands of dollars a plate.

Here’s my suggestion to President Obama: Veer off your scripted schedule and come in to Boston to say hello to ordinary voters. And don’t be afraid to let a Herald reporter tag along. We don’t bite.”

http://bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view/2011_0518obama_off_the_deep_end/
tatboy

This is getting Nixonian.
TfT

WOW; this is why most of the media kiss his ass and tell his tales. They want to be included.

This is so bad, so outrageous, you would think that every media outlet would scream, yell, etc. and call the Wh for thier violation of first amendment rights.

But alas, most of the media will call it a mis-step and let it go at that.

just imagine…well, we don’t have to imagine, just look how the media reacts to Palin when she says something or does something regarding the media, they tear apart, but heavy signs is just about all we get from the media.

Cult members one and all.

The empty suit, thin skinned manchild shows us exactly why that is what we think of him.
Tedderman

Gee, funny no one remembers Bush parading across the White House lawn carrying a copy of Bernard Goldberg’s book “Bias” which blasted the so called “liberal media.”
Liberal Tormentor

Teddy, Hate to confuse you with facts, but that book was non-fiction. The media IS liberal. Corrupt and liberal, horrible combo.
hgovernick

CRW said:
Quite the little hot-house flower our president is. If he got the treatment Bush got, he’d need to add a padded room to the White House.

Bush deserved it. That’s the difference.
hgovernick

Liberal Tormentor said:
The media IS liberal. Corrupt and liberal, horrible combo.

You’re either an uneducated idiot, or an outright liar. I imagine you’re both.
Barack Must Go

Barack Obama is such a pussy, a day doesn’t go by without him embarrassing himself and America in the eyes of the world.

This makes us a little bit less safe with each passing day he remains in our White House.
Liberal Tormentor

The liberal media bias is well-documented. It’s you who is an idiot, wrapped in a moron.
JasonMays

PoliticallyIncorrectLibertarian said:
Looks like they weren’t kissing Obama’s ass enough. Seriously, what the hell do these people want? We Love Obama Day? Obama’s Great Accomplishment of the Day? Whatever White House, we’ll get our news with or without your help. Chuck E. Cheese Sued for “Gambling”.http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/2011/05/chuck-e-cheese-sued-for-gambling.html

I know you were being “tongue and cheek” with those comments, but I actually think you were dead on.

Liberals tend to be extremely shallow, stupid, attention seeking nimrods at their very core.

They need constant attention and praise. They are like dogs without all the charm that makes you want to have one as a pet.
JasonMays

“tongue in cheek”
JasonMays

hgovernick said:
Bush deserved it. That’s the difference.

Obama deserves much, much worse than what the Boston Herald gave him.

I’d say a little water boarding is in order for Urkel.
JasonMays

Tedderman said:
Gee, funny no one remembers Bush parading across the White House lawn carrying a copy of Bernard Goldberg’s book “Bias” which blasted the so called “liberal media.”

Who cares if he did?

The media, other than FOX and talk radio, is heavily slanted to the left. If you’re willing to deny that, you’re willing to deny anything and you’re not worth talking to.
hgovernick

Barack Must Go said:
Barack Obama is such a pussy, a day doesn’t go by without him embarrassing himself and America in the eyes of the world.

This makes us a little bit less safe with each passing day he remains in our White House.

Hey dildo, you can wake up now. Obama is the guy who did the job Bush couldn’t do… wake up… bin Laden’s gone now… you can come out from under your bed.
hgovernick

JasonMays said:
Who cares if he did?

The media, other than FOX and talk radio, is heavily slanted to the left. If you’re willing to deny that, you’re willing to deny anything and you’re not worth talking to.

You not worth talking to just based on this post.