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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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With so many important events and issues going on in our world, the press is actually WHINING about this? Shame on you! And I would say it no matter who was president. Let's talk about the national budget, environmental issues, jobs, education, or something of moment. Even if he's the president, he doesn't have to have you in his face every waking moment.
bor-ing
The media (mostly liberal) does not want to report on important things....it just wants to have more face time and stories with photos of the President of the Divided States of America.
If you would have told me 20 years ago that a story about two half black men playing golf would have created this kind of story.....I would have laughed it off as silly.....my how times have changed.
Get it right Dion............2 "half black men"!
half-n-half??????????? Being as your in the coffee business
Why is the media having a hissy fit over this simple game btwn Mr. Obama and Tiger Woods? With our legislators off on vacation again, is there no news to cover?
Hint there media types, you have time to cover the words of Mr. Obama during his State of the Union speech and have more indepth questions to ask regarding his JOBS or DEBT REDUCTION policies that won't cost the taxpayers a single dime.
rotorhead1, you are so right, this is a non-story. I don't much like the President, but he is my President. I have no problem with him playing golf w/o the press, I just want to know how he gets to have a vacation w/o the wife and kids?
he is having a vacation without the wife and kids. that's why he is golfing with tiger woods he is looking for advice.
What I find objectionable is that the President is playing golf with a man who ruined his family with his transgressions. I would think Obama would be sensitive to not only his own family with this example, but Tiger's ex-wife and kids. Tiger is the perfect name for this jerk.
Oh look, the king of relationship assessment. I do not condone Tiger's actions, but I'm sure Tiger's wife was pure angel.
Ole Barry gets to the T-Box and takes a big swing...........ball dribbles 10 ft. Looks at Tiger, what up with my swing......Tiger......."you got loft problems"! Ole Barry up again with a big swing and ball hooks into the parking lot......Wud up with da shot Tiger.............Tiger......."Barry, you got loft problems". Barry get pissed and steps up again taking a bid swing an ball fades off into the woods. Barry looking confused; Tiger, Wud up with my swing............Tiger, I keep telling you Barry. you have L O F T problems.......Lack of F...... G Talent!
hahahahahahahahaha
Hey press corps, quit kissing his ass and see how he treats you. Just a thought.
Just imagine for a moment what the press would have done to Bush had he gone golfing with a known party boy and blocked out the press from the event. I suppose though obama is their horse, they got him elected and now they have to stand behind him no matter what. Maybe it's because he's the first black president, they have to make him look good and cut him slack at every turn. It sure seems insulting to African American people tough. Just because his skin is a certain color he gets a pass where others would have been excoriated.
The last bastion of all white males....golf and the POTUS......OH SNAP!
No Dion, actually it's hockey.
Ah, but they have both been infiltrated boys. Even lacrosse. And probably polo.
not water polo. Too soon?
Hmmm, plotting for affirmative action to bring more people of color to the golf courses of America no doubt. Tell El Rushbo that you heard it here first!
New bill coming out of Congress............"Free Golf for all little black boys" (obviously a new set of Taylor Drivers and Callaway Irons included in bill; plus a case of ProV 1s)
That's a filibuster fo sho. Thinking more of like caddy training program. Don't want anyone getting to uppity. Maybe we need some tax breaks for the "newsless" journalists.
So 1 under par is now going to be a chicken not just a birdie. What the hell's an Eagle going to be?????
Squab yo.
Observation -------Have you ever noticed, that generally, the smaller the ball gets the less blacks participate? Big balls take better motor skills; smaller ball take more mental skills.
OH SNAP
okay Punjab in reference to 231.1 , 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
he wanted to be president and he knows what he has to do. this is what the president dose just like all celebrities. ether he goes along with what everybody has to do just like any job of that kind where you are a celebrity or Quit . as simple as that. really transparency another one of that big mouths lying promises. wonder if he learned how to pick up girls from woods.
Idiot's, pretty sure he meant transparency for Government, not his golf game!
I wonder WHY Fux news would want a photo op of Obama and Tiger playing golf?........hmmmmm.....conspiracy!.....GolfGate?
I have to go to Fox if I actually want to see "News".
Doug,
Hahahahahahaaaaaa
Bwahahahahahahaaa
Yeah, because ALL THE OTHER news outlets are wrong......what a tard!
Talk about Sheep!
BTW - It has been scientificaly proven that those viewers who watch mostly Fux news had the LOWEST scores in tests to determine knowledge of current events.......too funny!
dionysus, hard to take you seriously CAT GUY. That's worse than an old maid with cats!!!
ronny,
Shows your ignorance.....dogs will love you even when you beat them.
Cats are like women....you have to stroke them just right and treat them well.
....of course, you probably still live with your parents as no woman would have you......good luck dumbazz!
struck a nerve huh sweet pee. Trust me women have me and have me well.
Just hang tight there in your momma's basement with that bucket of KFC in your lap and your drawers on the floor looking at things you shouldn't be on the internet.
Trust ME ronny....you don't know how to treat a cat you definitely don't know how to treat and keep a women.....methinks thou dost protest too much.....lol.
Punjab,
Little while back you said 2 half black men.
Since your in the coffee business shouldn't it have been half-n-half....Ba Dum Dum, Rimshot, i'll here all week, tip your waiters and waittresses well.
Tip 'em or they will you tube the vid of you demeaning the 47%!
Get used to it. The King has had his coronation and no longer needs the press. even his Liberal scribes.
To even include news from DumbFux as a legitimate source for news is blasphemous in itself!
3 white chuckleheads sitting on a couch while mocking a 102 year old black woman was repulsive!
I said it before, I'll say it again "No one says it better than Feisty!!"
you talking about fistedredhead
"Don't let your wife have access to your clubs. She will use one to smash the back window of your SUV and then wack you in the back of the head as you try to run/walk/stumble away."
Damn, the president could take a sip of bottled water on camera and his put oppositions' panties in a twist!
do they make bottled water in a 40oz.?
Tiger can give Barry some good pointers on how to defend yourself from s pissed off women weilding a 3 Iron. Problem be, Mouchelle about 3 times the size as Tiger's Ex; probably Woop ole Barry side da head no matter how many lessons Tiger give out!
Extra Extra Read All About It US Press upset because Obama didn't tell them he had to go to the Bathroom!
DumbFux News reports: "Obama Doesn't give a Sh!t!"
Chuckie Todd & David Gregory do an hour special on : The Obama Bathroom Scandal; "Is It Good For America ?"
John McCain and Lindsay Graham threaten to Philibuster if Obama wipes more than twice, because once again Obama's defying every principal of the republican party!!
Too funny!
Tell the reporters to man up and shut up. Everyone deserves some privacy now and then.
Given we are broke the president and family should be grounded until such time that the debt clock reverses course and starts going down. If he wants to play golf have Tiger fly to DC at his expense. He wants to run around and give speeches on illegals, gun control it should be on his dime. Bottom line what did he get done on a budget, spending cuts, reducing the debt today? Slacker
ouch
HEY Mr Transparency. GIVE us your COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS. You are as transparent as bovine droppings.
Piss off, piss ant.
Public SERVANT, or Public "PERSONALITY"?
Is this just one more NEW AMERICAN FREEDOM? Bought at the expense of WE THE PEOPLE? Parties have removed our CHOICE, and now these "PUBLIC PERSONALITIES" think they are our MASTERS?
.