Where is the love?
Thought President Barack Obama’s prime-time news conference was a bit boring? Well, what happened behind the scenes might have actually been more compelling than the president’s macroeconomic theories.
He called on who?
Many in the White House press corps were outraged at being shunned by the president Tuesday night. Obama passed over Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal reporters, picking on lesser-known reporters from Univision, Stars and Stripes newspaper, and Ebony. Even Ann Compton of ABC Radio conceded to the president that she was shocked to be called on.
Some claimed he was trying to appeal to a broader constituency, but one White House reporter said, nonetheless, “He thumbed his nose at protocol. The regular White House corps is losing their minds.”
But perhaps some rope-swinging will save the day. One photographer told us that although Obama shut out the usual White House pool reporters, he’s been inviting them to bring their kids to play on the new White House swing set.
Teleprompter out, huge flat screen in
Obama has been getting a lot of flak for his dependency on using the side-by-side teleprompters, so last night a huge monitor was set up right in the center, forcing him to look straight into the camera. Our sources said his advisers worry he’s not connecting to the people — looking to his right and left makes him look “shifty.”
Snazzy press passes
Several sources who attended the news conference Tuesday night told us about the fancy four-color passes, similar to the inaugural ones. Supposedly, it was to prevent a repeat experience of his February prime-timer, where two seats in the front row were empty.
Pass the BlackBerry
Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel spent most of the event passing their BlackBerrys back and forth.
A kinder, gentler TelePrompTer.
The BlackBerry brigade listens to to the press conference (or do they?).
(Photos: Carrie Devorah)
