'Transparency' and 'Openness' Obama Style

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17833.html

Media frustration spills into briefing
By MICHAEL CALDERONE


Reporters accused the White House of stifling access to his oath re-do.


A growing media frustration with Barack Obama’s team spilled into the open at Thursday’s briefing, with reporters accusing the White House of stifling access to his oath re-do and giving Obama’s first interview as president to a multi-million dollar inauguration sponsor.

Veteran CBS newsman Bill Plante was one of the most vocal critics, questioning the White House’s handling of Wednesday night’s second swearing in – which was covered by just a four-reporter print pool that didn’t include a news photographer or TV correspondent.

He also asked new press secretary Robert Gibbs why ABC, which paid millions to host the DC Neighborhood Ball, was granted the only inauguration day interview with President Obama – a move he equated to “pay to play.”

 

His elitest attitude may wake some of them up.

The others will, like you, continue to await the next proclamation of their new "messiah" with wide eyed innocence.

 

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/23/obama-spokesmans-debut-marked-by-discord/

Obama press aide gets bashed in debut
Joseph Curl (Contact)
Friday, January 23, 2009

The White House press operation got off to a fumbling and stumbling start Thursday, with the day's opening briefers insisting on being identified only as "senior administration officials," followed swiftly by the new president's spokesman accidently outing one of the secret aides less than two minutes into his first White House briefing.

Although President Obama swept into office pledging transparency and a new air of openness, the press hammered spokesman Robert Gibbs for nearly an hour over a slate of perceived secretive slights that have piled up quickly for the new administration. It wasn't pretty.