Josh(TPM)Marshall shouldn't doubt "Bush looks at the question in adv."

[papau]

Josh Marshall (TPM) said today 4/20, in his blog's "Another follow-up on the White House press conference question":

"As I said before, for the reasons I noted below, I'm sure the Presidential press conferences don't work from presubmitted questions. However, as I noted a couple days ago, that doesn't mean the president's aides, don't give him "must-calls" -- a list of ringer journalists who they know will toss the president a lifeline with some gimme question. Bill Sammon of the Washington Times was one of the 'must-calls' from last week. He served up this ridiculous question: "You have been accused of letting the 9-11 threat mature too far, but not letting the Iraq threat mature far enough. First, could you respond to that general criticism?" For all I know, maybe Sammon gave Scott or Bartlett at look at his question in advance. Who knows? But I really doubt it. <snip>"

Well Josh apparently did not know that the college paper article http://www.dailytrojan.com/main.cfm?include=detail&storyid=656561 was raised with the NYT Public Editor and the exchange of emails posted at http://www.atrios.blogspot.com/

First email To NYT PE: (the college paper article states that) "For each press conference, the White House press secretary asks the reporters for their questions, selects six or seven of the questions to answer and those reporters are the only ones called upon to ask their questions during the press conference." Can you confirm or deny this practice? If it is true, do you feel that the press should inform the public that the press conferences are scripted? This would appear to be a betrayal of the public's trust.

The NYT PE's first response: “I'm fairly certain that two reporters at the press conference asked unscripted questions. Sincerely, Arthur Bovino Office of the Public Edtior”

The 2nd email to the PE NYT: “Thank you for your quick reply. Only two? Was the NYT reporter's question scripted?”

The 2nd PE NYT reply email: “I am uncertain if Ms. Bumiller's question was submitted to the president before-hand. Perhaps you might write to the president if you are unhappy with this system. Sincerely, Arthur Bovino Office of the Public Editor”

Never underestimate the depth of the media corruption as it goes along with the Bush “system”.

[Democat]

1. Is Bush the editor of the New York Times?

Why did they tell people to write to the president to complain about New York Times lack of journalistic ethics?

[papau]

2. Good question - I just wonder if the ABCNote will report this exchange!

I doubt it.

:-)

[papau]

3. And the ABCNote said nothing today about the NYT voluntary Q&A

question submission.

:-)