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Subscribe to RSSThe White House says cameras weren't allowed because the president was playing on a private golf course. Obama was playing with Tiger Woods, an indication of a different second term where Obama isn't as concerned about things that may reflect negatively on him. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
PORT ST LUCIE, Fla. -- President Barack Obama played a round of golf with Tiger Woods on Sunday, but nobody knew about it until a lone tweet from a golf reporter went live. And now, the White House Press Corps Association has lodged a complaint against the administration, bemoaning the transparency afforded to pool reporters.
At 11 a.m. ET, Golf Digest reporter Tim Rosaforte tweeted this from his vantage point at the exclusive Floridian Yacht and Golf Club in Palm City: "The President is arriving at The Floridian range. Awaiting is Tiger Woods and club owner Jim Crane. Historic day in golf. Their first round."
White House reporters, looking to confirm Woods’ presence, immediately made inquiries with the president’s press team, which went unanswered for almost three hours – confirmation came at 1:46 p.m. ET.
The press corps had been anxious to confirm Woods’ presence. The president playing with the world’s most famous golfer -- involved in a 2009 sex scandal -- immediately became a national news story, as opposed to the commander in chief simply having some down-time with friends.
The small group of reporters assigned to cover the president’s every movement, known as the "pool," also requested access to the Floridian grounds to be nearby the president, even though the press’ vantage point was nowhere near the golf course. But the pool was not shuttled to the resort until 4:18 p.m. ET.
White House Press Corps Association president Ed Henry lodged an official complaint with the White House, writing in a statement, “I can say a broad cross section of our members from print, radio, online and TV have today expressed extreme frustration to me about having absolutely no access to the President of the United States this entire weekend. There is a very simple but important principle we will continue to fight for today and in the days ahead: transparency."
The White House responded with a statement from deputy press secretary Josh Earnest: “The press access granted by the White House today is entirely consistent with the press access offered for previous presidential golf outings. It's also consistent with the press access promised to the White House Press Corps prior to arrival in Florida on Friday evening."
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It is good to be king.
Cry some moar...
do you mean cry some. moor
Msnbc
Obama did win,,,
and would you pack up and leave if commenters stopped commenting ?
wipe your tears, press. To much nonsense is elevated to the post of actual news.
this is not a news story.
Sounds fine to me, a liers twosome. Tiger lies to his wife, obama to the Country.
And you lie to us.
I would beleive Mr. jrjones4435 has more credibility than either of them. Ya Jacka$$
Yep - I hate Tiger Woods, but at least he was just screwing half the female population of the country, unlike Oblamo who is screwing the entire country!
Hmmm I wonder what kind of advice Tiger was giving to Obama besides Golf?
I could see the press getting upset if it was Clinton and Tiger. Getting photos of the hard-core stuff those two could generate is news worthy.
So what! There is no story here at all America. So the President played some golf. One hopes the President beat Woods. There are more important issues than this America. Oh. Like job creation!
Anybody on vacation deserves some privacy, even if they're the president. The press should let this drop..
For those of you who only follow their parties line. Mr Obama gave up his right to privacy when he ran for his office. He stated when he ran the first time, his would be the most transparent government in history. BULLS--T!!! Just like those before him he lies almost every time he opens his mouth (like most politicians).
The girls are on vacation in Colorado and Obama is playing Golf in Florida with the taxpayers money, WOW I'm so glad the economy is doing sooo great, that we could afford to elect a goof off to the White House
I would love to have an Obama supporter tell me how many times the Obamas took ski vacations before he became Pres?
Or went to HI for Christmas?
Or vacationed at Martha's Vineyard?
Or been to Africa?
Oh but they will go now that it's paid for by the taxpayers.
I also find it interesting that they never take vacations together, could it be because they can't stand each other?
At least two of the three examples you yourself provided contradict this statement. Duh.
Waaah! They'll get over it...
This kind of BS is exactly why the press corps is so generally despised. They are not standing up for freedom of speech or anything except voyeurism. They should be out there investigating something instead of shoving a camera in someone's face and asking "How did it feel when you saw your child smashed like a bug?" I admire REAL reporters,but these are not they. There are REAL reporters who seek out actual news (sometimes at considerable risk to themselves) and there are these ghouls who take advantage and make a sick joke of the First Amendment because they know people just can't turn away from the sensationalist garbage they provide. The world would be a better place without them.
Freedom of speech - our coveted right, yet resulting in such banal and bigoted press. When cynicism is the standard for reporting, slander becomes truth.
I'm surprised Mrs. Obama allowed him to play with a person such as Tiger Woods! After being involved in such a scandal and disrespecting his wife and children? Shame on Mrs. Obama!
I would love to have an Obama supporter tell me how many times the Obamas took ski vacations before he became Pres?
Or went to HI for Christmas?
Or vacationed at Martha's Vineyard?
Or been to Africa?
Oh but they will go now that it's paid for by the taxpayers.
I also find it interesting that they never take vacations together, could it be because they can't stand each other?
Really strange, the things you find interesting and want to know about.
Just making a point, that they are taking them simply because they are freebies paid by the US taxpayers.
Can't tell me the answers to my questions Mike?
Let 'em squeal.
I was so shocked about this story that I pulled out my copy of the Constitution and was shocked to see that the White house Press Pool was not mentioned in its body or any of the 27 amendments. It’s time to call a convention to fix that oversight.
After all the lies, half-truths, evasions, deceptions, and corruption of the Obama administration THIS is what gets the press to lift their heads off Obama's lap?
I can't believe what I am hearing. Did somebody just complain about something Obama did? Amazing!!
And you guys though he was perfect.
Well, good morning America. Did you wake up and smell the coffee? This guy is not perfect, never was, never will be. He is not the Savior either.
I can't wait to hear all the complaining when the money runs out and you guys and left saying, where did all the money go? The country is heading for disaster and you guys are complaining about not seeing him for two days.
Good grief.
You libitards learned well from Obummer,Making excuses like a pro
The best President of all times golfing with the best golfer of all times probably is news worthy.
When did Reagan golf with Tiger?
Who's Reagan?
Yeah, nice try A hole. Wish he was playing with Phil Mickleson so he could learn about overtaxation or Doctor Carson who spanked that ass last week,
pucker up and try again
Only low-information voters would approve of Obama playing golf on the taxpayers dime and not allow reporters to be there. Not to mention that Obama invited a person who was involved in a 2009 sex scandal. Obama must have few friends if he has to stoop this low.
Of course the information to the press was delayed. The powers that be wanted to wait until the golfers putted out on the 18th green. Can you picture trying to play a round of golf with cartloads of reporters and paparazzi chasing you down the fairways? Somebody'd be sticking a camera in your face while you were lining every putt; every backswing you started would be a signal for some camera(s) to start whirring. Someone would certainly have to shout questions while you were selecting your club, and certainly no presidential excursion is complete without sign-toting protesters.
OMG! This is a bigger scandal that invading Iraq on false premises. Or bigger than outing Valerie Plame or tora bora! Or not giving the troops a job or medical care. Impeach! Impeach!