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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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And after all the stories these White House Press reporters have deliberately kept from the public to make certain the Obama Administration throws them proper treats, and now the official press is sidelined by the Omniscient One, who would've imagined such treatment?
Taking a break from not solving America's problems. Nothing changes does it?
There is nothing more important to Obama than his golf game. So don't mess with it.
The press needs to GET OVER THEMSELVES!
The SOBama's (get it, thats funny) didn't even call William Shatner for the best deal.
Opp's they got better, F'ing Free
Wait a minute so Ed Henry and his co-workers at FOX almost blow a gasket when talking about the President is a celebrity, he is just a panderer, he is always looking for a photo opportunity, blah,blah,blah are now upset because they were not invited to take pictures of the President while he was on his day off. They claim the President is a celebrity and then they act just like paparazzi. And they wonder why a majority of the population don't take them seriously as a news organization.
Tired of all the hypocrites who neither like or voted for
this President, and then stick their nose into his business… GOD BLESS YOU MR. PRESIDENT and TIGER WOODS! Who won?
Are you putting in a few extra dollars, since you are OK with it? If you are OK with it, shouldn't you help pay for it.
I mean, we should be paying for this shouldn't we? Or did we borrow money from China for this vacation golf outing and Michelle's skiing vaca.
shouldn't the press be upset with bo being awol on benghazi?
Who the hell cares anyway. What total pettiness.
you left off the "is a" after "nonna" and the "itch" after the "B"
White House reporters, looking to confirm Woods’ presence, immediately made inquiries with the president’s press team.
White House Press Corps Association president Ed Henry lodged an official complaint.
Now left wing nut jobs, do you see those 2 sentences. All you douche's bags are coming out with is Ed Henry and FOX. The story says reporters looking to confirm. Then Mr. Henry lodged an official complaint.
What are the odds he was elected by his peers (so called) to represent them as a whole. President's are supposed to represent everyone, not just your left wing.
You douche's are trying to turn it into a conspiracy!!!!!!!!!!! Ya Jacka$$e's
Sure Ronny I bet they had to twist his arm also and if you want to know who is making this a conspiracy tune into FOX tonight and let us see how they handle the story.
On a sort of related note: Does the President still play basketball? Golf is a game of skill no argument here but basketball is more physical and athletic, and I do not know any other world leader who plays basketball so it was a good look in my opinion. Also Arne Duncan got robbed 2 years in a row for MVP, Kevin Hart should give him at least one of those trophies.
ATFSR,
related note, you crack me up
So these two half-black guys are shooting a round of golf when suddenly...
Good grief, give the guy a day on the golf course without reporters. It's not like you can't follow him around one of the other fifty seven days he'll be playing golf again this year!
Alas, a telling commentary on the White House Press Corps.
We have a President who thinks he is empowered to murder American Citizens and to do so in secret, and the White House Press Corps lodges a formal complaint (a concept laughable in and of itself unless they see themselves as Unionized employees of the White House, which in fact is how they act these days) over the lack of transparancy of a presidential golf outing.
Hum, what were the reporters afraid of, or had anxiety about? Quote "…The press corps had been anxious to confirm Woods’ presence….". Unquote
Kristen and Ali, I believe you mean eager, not anxious. For you both back to grammar 101.
You mean the president is out playing golf while the GOP still has unanswered questions about Benghazi? Heavens! Why isn't he doing something about the price of gas?
So, the prez can't take a dump without the press watching?
we all watched him take a dump 11-6-12
In the words of Rodney Dangerfield, ronny boy, "I hear there are a lot of comedians out of work these days"
sorry, thought about it afterward and should have put a Ba Dump Dump, Rimshot. (lotta word play here)
Would have sung better
Eternally banal, either way.
Damn the press. Let the Prez enjoy his golf.
The press is getting as bad as many Americans - they want everything handed to them. I little footwork and they would have found out he was playing golf with Tiger...but instead they cry about it.
The best part is that it's not even a newsworthy event to begin with.
Journalism is dead...
So the press feels cheated because they weren't notified. Poor babys!! Can't the two guys just have their privacy? Have a little respect for privacy. It's not like they were doing fisticuffs!!
Fisticuffs? Too bad they weren't. Obarry would look great with a couple of shiners and a jaw wired shut.
OK right wing conspiracy theorists from FOX news. Obama played golf with Tiger Woods because he is a Kenyon born Maoist sympathizer who wanted to let Tiger Woods know of the error of his ways being a black capitalist. That should hold Glenn Beck and Fox for awhile!
Nope. Just another oreo vacation.
Poor Ed Henry. He's become FOX-ized.
how about this UpstateJohn,
In homage to the Great Cleavon Little
"Where da white women at"
"Where da white women be"! Get it right!
okay Punjab, if we're quoting the movie it's "at".
If you are speaking in the vernacular of urban type slang otherwise known as "Ebonics" allow me to translate.
yo yo' wrong ya' know what i'm sayin?
now don be diss'n me no mo, i bust a cap in you ass
you
Rite - On - Brother!
Check it out. Imma tell who cares. Just sayin.
Be careful, Tiger. People have been dying when getting too close to Obama. At the least, you will be playing bogey golf like Obama is with the economy.
Heard on the new this morning that Barry shot "somewhere in the 80s". As a golfer, when a player can't tell you his exact score the actual score card is likely much worst. On the otherhand, why would anyone expect Barry to be able to add or keep score; he math challenged!
Future as a golfer is pretty bleak. What is he to do in 4 years if he doesn't play golf?
I think he needs to work on his math skills and learn how to budget money in these 4 upcoming years.
He is shameful.
Shameful, and a limp wrist golfer!