Reporters grilled White House Press Secretary Jay Carney about President Obama’s apparent inconsistency in denying camera access to his surprise visit to the Obama campaign headquarters last night, even though he “love[s]” camera coverage of visits to restaurants, and they faulted the White House for “hid[ing]” Obama’s campaign somewhat.
“Any reason why you kept cameras away from the President visiting his campaign reelection headquarters?” a reporter asked Carney during today’s press briefing. “You guys love when we cover OTRs [off the record events] at delis, at barbeque restaurants,” the reporter pressed when Carney tried to explain the blocked media coverage by saying the campaign visit was “an OTR.”
Another journalist suggested that Obama was “concerned that pictures of this would make it look” like Obama was focused on his campaign, not his governing. He also rejected the idea that the White House is “not hiding the fact that Obama is engaged in some campaign activities,” as Carney claimed.
“[You are hiding it] a little bit,” the reporter told Carney. “You try to minimize it.”
