Why We Should Get Rid of the White House Press Corps

26 Apr 0926 Apr 09 ~ FmH

WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Bara...

…[T]oo often, the White House briefing room is where news goes to die.

Name a major political story broken by a White House correspondent. A thorough debunking of the Bush case for Iraqi WMD? McClatchy Newspapers’ State Department and national security correspondents. Bush’s abuse of signing statements? The Boston Globe‘s legal affairs correspondent. Even Watergate came off The Washington Post‘s Metro desk.

Here are some stories that reporters working the White House beat have produced in the past few months: Pocket squares are back! The president is popular in Europe. Vegetable garden! Joe Biden occasionally says things he probably regrets. Puppy!

It’s not that the reporters covering the president are bad at their jobs. Most are experienced journalists at the top of their game — and they’re wasted at the White House, where scoops are doled out, not uncovered.” Ana Marie Cox (Wonkette) (Washington Post op-ed).

One thought on “Why We Should Get Rid of the White House Press Corps”

Joel says:

27 Apr 09 at 8.27 pm

But keep Helen Thomas!

(The first question goes to Helen Thomas, and every other question becomes a followup for her.)

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