AP Photo
Reporters refuse Obama's dismissal from golf course, are sent to the 'shed'
In its latest attempt to shut down media coverage, the White House Saturday dismissed reporters to their Florida hotel by declaring a news "lid" even though President Obama was just beginning his golf game — but the press pool voted to stay.
After a two hour flight, Obama motorcaded to the posh Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City to play a round and also stay.
At that point, the pool reporter, Byron Tau of the Wall Street Journal, wrote in his report to other correspondents, "The White House has called a lid. Pool does not anticipate news or POTUS sightings until tomorrow's departure of Air Force One."
With a lid, the reporters in the "travel pool" would typically return to their hotel. But with Obama still in public golfing, though at a very exclusive club, something could happen. So the pool voted to stay in the area just in case.
Zogby Report Card: Obama won 2015, poised to start strong in '16
Our weekly report card finds President Obama wrapping up 2015 strong, ready to push his final year agenda.
"However, the pool will hold on the grounds of the golf course until the early evening. This was the a result of a democratic vote by the pool to hold as close as possible to POTUS. (The other option was a hotel about 15 miles away.) Despite the lid, pool voted to stay on site.
"Pool is holding in a maintenance shed," Tau reported.
Obama's golf pools are regularly frustrated by never even seeing him. Some previous presidents, notably George H.W. Bush, would allow reporters to watch his play on one or two greens. Sometimes he answered questions.
Obama has golfed at the club before, with Tiger Woods.
The trip will cost taxpayers $843,508 in airfare alone.
Grassley challenges Obama: Fix mental health before targeting guns
The influential chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee moved quickly Thursday to question plans by President Obama to impose gun control next week.
Jim Inhofe on Marco Rubio: He is the 'one that I really do like'
Rubio is often described as an establishment favorite, despite his election in the Tea Party wave of 2010.
