A quick look at how the sausage gets made, or doesn't...

On Tuesday night, The New York Times reported that no reporters would be traveling with First Lady Michelle Obama to China, and that she would be giving no interviews while there. Nicholas Kristof, the Times columnist, called the First Lady's decision "a mistake," and said it "signals weakness or fear of coverage." Several conservative outlets picked up the Times report, including the influential Drudge Report, which linked to a Weekly Standard article about it.

Shortly after noon on Wednesday, I reached out to the First Lady's office to inquire about the decision. A spokesperson for the First Lady responded to my inquiry but declared the response "off the record," meaning I wasn't allowed to use the information therein. When I told the spokesperson that I needed a response I could use, the spokesperson replied with another off-the-record statement regarding the First Lady's trip.

The spokesperson then wrote, "If you need something attributable, you can take this on background from a White House official..."

The statement that followed did not address my original inquiry. Instead, it offered a formulaic explanation about "the power and importance of education" and "reaching people," followed by an explanation that the First Lady would participate in open press events and take questions online and in forums.

By now it was 5 p.m. ET, nearly five hours after my initial inquiry. When I told the spokesperson that I did not see why the quote needed to be anonymous and attributed to "a White House official," the spokesperson said if I needed something on the record I could refer to the First Lady's travel guidance and a transcript of a press call regarding the trip. These documents did not contain an answer to my question regarding why no reporters would be traveling with the First Lady.

Now, I'll leave frustration over Michelle Obama's trip to The New York Times, Nick Krisfof, The Weekly Standard and Drudge Report (a motley crew right there). What I want to know -- and what I've wanted to know since last October -- is why the spokesperson in the First Lady's office didn't want to give me a name I could put on a harmless, formulaic quote?



so why is she going to china?

Probably on Official Communist Business.

To see for herself if Chinese women really do have sideways mounted --------------------------

Hell, Ellen Degenerate could have told her all about that.

About what?

SO she is going to tell them about "the power and importance of education"? Does this mean she wants to convince them to change their current communist indoctrination system to the "common core indoctrination system"?

I don't think the Chinese are willing to LOWER THEIR STANDARDS that much!!

another 'entitled' reporter

got an answer that wasn't controversial enough to lead(if it bleeds it leads),

a formulaic explanation about "the power and importance of education" and "reaching people," followed by an explanation that the First Lady would participate in open press events and take questions online and in forums

so she created controversy about the 'mystery' of who answered her, and the fact they didn't want to be specifically named in her piece,lol

this government is so secretive i can't believe anything they do or say...

just another waste of taxpayers money so mrs. soetoro can be queen...

Will she bow to Xi Jinping or, strap-on those knee-pads? Hope she remembers, NO TEETH!

on a related note...:


Daniel Halper
The Weekly Standard
Thu, 20 Mar 2014 07:51 CDT

Obama dictator

According to a local CBS Arizona affiliate, President Obama and his team have 3 tactics to make sure reporters stick to the 4 minutes the White House has allotted them to interview the leader of the world: a countdown clock, a looming aide, and they have to conduct the interview with the president while standing up.

One CBS anchor called the measures "a little ridiculous."

"We immediately launched into our interview because there was a person standing behind him actually counting down to the four minutes. And by the time he answered my last question, I realized that we had already gone over the four minutes, so that's why I took an opportunity to sort of ask a lighter question afterward because I figured at that point, you know, why not? I have nothing to lose," said the local reporter.

"But what was interesting--a side note--is the reason why we're standing, I was told by one of his staffers, is because he likes to get comfortable when he's sitting and he tends to get very chatty. And so this was another way to keep him--and us--at the four minutes that they were suggesting that we not go over."

Said the local anchor, "Yeah, and it sounds like the pressure is on when some guy is standing behind him with a countdown clock. That's a little ridiculous."

President Obama gave a round of interviews to local affiliates yesterday in the White House. Only the CBS Arizona affiliate revealed the process behind the scenes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMs_BTIOlYM

Before I can criticize the President for this I need to know if the 4 minute time limit was because he had a good excuse like a pending Tee-time with a lobbyist or a $30K/plate dinner date with some political donors.

probably had to get the mrs on a plane for her 50th vacation...

First of all, Mrs. Obama isn't an elected official. She isn't even a government official. So, she doesn't need to tell reporters anything if she doesn't want to.

Second, Lolo Soetoro was President Obama's step-father. President Obama's legal last name has always been Obama.

Anyway, attacking the spouse of a politician because one hates the politician is, IMHO, inappropriate at best.

yea, i don't care...i'm pretty sure your aware of my thoughts on everyone in the white house right now..

You mean,Obama was the Other Step-Pa?

The way she is getting on makes her a legitimate target!

Besides,it is the Taxpayer who is financing the Office Of The First Lady Of The United States!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_First_Lady_of_the_United_States

Excuse me? The 1st.....lady?.... has a position, an office, a staff, and security.

Otherwise, why are students forced to eat shite they are refusing to for school lunches?

However, a vacation to China to beg for more money they have recently quit spending buying our debt, and spitting in the face of taxpayers with her flamboyant lifestyle at our expense (and taking the family, her mother, staff, security, a fleet of vehicles, and probably a warship or two along as well).

One thing tho..... what has China got to do with school lunches and child health in America? And her momma is now an Ambassador to China? Hmmmmm... didn't know that

The USA is a Republic.... we don't have Royals (except in their own minds)!

Well said.

Pure BS...