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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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So the president played a game of golf? With a private citizen having no connection to government affairs? And the press wasn't invited? Big deal...not.
Uh....how about played more golf than any other president...EVER. My country is in the crapper....but he doesn't care AT ALL
Eisenhower played the most rounds by far you moron and still found time to warn us of the military/industrial complex.
Nope. Not true. Not that that would change your opinion or anything, but nevertheless it's not true at all.
From Golf Digest:
THis is not a list of who played the most golf. It is a list of who the author thinks was the best to worst golfers of the last 18 Presidents.
It doesn't matter whether he's playing golf or doing something else - he still has taken less than HALF the time off that George W. Bush did during the same period. Get over it children - he's allowed vacations!
Ah only 4 years under his belt there wizard..
Come back in 4 years.
ho-lee-cow - learn to read - I said during the same period of time. Now try again!
HEY Mr Transparency. GIVE us your COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS. You are as transparent as bovine droppings.
Seeking Sanity - - - you truly are NUTS, insane, disturbed, brainwashed, Obamanized - - -
truthseeker - why? Because I actually post the TRUTH instead of your drivel? You are nothing but an imbecilic moron of the Republican party!
The Members don't want a bunch of scumbag truth terrorists ruining the grass and the environment. Who gives a crap when the press is locked out? They don't tell the truth when they are there.
I wonder for the life of my why anyone would actually want the media around for anything.
They've become a sound-bite, can't get it right, biased bunch of lazy talking heads. The term journalist is so far from what they actually do it isn't funny.
Does Tiger have his birth certificate? This could be a conspiracy to turn golf into a socialist game. They were implanted by Bin laden to infiltrate golf, changing it from a rich white guy game to an offshoot of basketball. Soon it will be the crips and the bloods- all undocumented playing in the masters. I hear tell they might also let in women and gays. Could you picture it, Nancy Pelosi, Richard Simmons and Jesse Jackson Junior, teeing up?
Just one more Obama conspiracy to destroy America!
Tell them to kiss your a$$ MR. President. It's none of their F*****g business. The president and maybe even Tiger probably had to take a sh!t after lunch also ....why didn't they whine about not reporting that too. WAFJ
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!
In case the press is interested, I'll be going for a walk with my co-worker in about half an hour. We will walk at a brisk pace on a nearby trail. We will probably discuss men, and complain about our bosses. I will work until 5:00pm, with one more fifteen minute break to stretch my legs about 2:00 EST.
Never let it be said I'm not transparent.
OMG that made me laugh! Then next on the agenda is 'what's for dinner?'.
Maybe this president needs to actually follow through on what he says then. He makes the claim he has the most transparent administration.. He sure says a lot of things people want to hear but his track record for following through is not so hot.
Amy, I like your avatar.
Joshua Chamerlain was a truly great figure in American history. The kind of person we should all aspire to be.
Most of the press are mad they couldn't kiss his balls for luck. Of course there are some who just wanted to stroke his putter.
Fox News complains that it has right to stalk the President. First Fox News is not a press organization, but a public relations firm for conservative politburo. Fox News does not report any news, instead it cooks the news in rabbit stew, and serves it as fillet minion, fabricated news, false news, alarmist news, panic news, and twisted sister news and news cast in the mirror image of truth does not qualify for public consumption. Alleged Fox News purports free speech; however that can be dismissed as being a part of the Constitution for Congress not to make such laws to abridge speech. It does not address such free speech that might be countered by far more objectionable means. Remembering also that Congress deserves no respect what so ever.
The public is being disrespected every day by Fox News, by having to hear from Fox, of having to hear from secondary sources as what nonsense Fox News is selling today, this disrespect that public understand as wasting time, hence money, hence delays in the public civic duties and of private business hoping to profit from its efforts.
We now can only look toward for days and days, of phony, foolish, childish made up stories, false accusations, innuendo, planted suspicions, open ended nonsense questions, occult specters and even the nutty possibilities that conservatives want to distract from the conservatives outlets, who need a counter assault to the counter factual news contradicted by a weekend and of talking heads, slap dashers, bobble heads, wagging tongues, sick puppets midget.
Fox News has no credibility, and the public needs to remind them, that delays only make the need act rationally impossible, until impossible becomes the unpleasant reality.
Hint: Fox News has no future, and as for its reporters etc., well.
Why do people complain about Fox News when NBC, NY Times, and CNN all do the same crap but on the other end of the spectrum. In fact there are far more media outlets that are extreme left yet everyone wants to silence Fox News? If you actually read into some of the stories on these other outlets and not just drink the kool-aid you'd realize all reporting media is a problem.
Actually Fox is doing a pretty good job of silencing it's self.
Just shows how Liberals want to protect Freedom of speech unless of course you disagree with them.
"Fox News has no future" Might want to check the ratings before you speak Rich.By the way Henry was sending the letter on BEHALF of the WH press not Fox. Or maybe just hang around until NBC edits video to fit their agenda.
If they disagree with you, silence them. Never allow a dissenting opinion.
Sounds like something Karl Marx would have wrote.
Rich,
Then quit watching Fox,keep watching your Propaganda Machines news,They really need your support. Fox will not miss you.I love how the left hates Fox so bad !! Fox must be doing something right ;) And I don't even watch them but maybe it's time to see what truths being told that has the O lovers all a twittered :)
REALLY????? Secret! Who has to tell you every about what President Obama does. Give a break, leave him alone.
HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY, President Obama! You are doing a great job.
I guess expectations are VERY low if the President is doing a good job... Good thing America sets the bar high!
By setting the bar high is whining about a golf game. You have low expectation Truth123 but then again you're a tea people republican.
When did I comment about the President golfing? And calling me a tea party repub is quite hilarious! I guess you can't be critical of the president unless you are an extremist? I'd rather think for myself than have the government and media think for me.
Yea O,Why don't you take your executive pen and make everyday for the next 4 yrs A holiday for yourself...you've done enough damage :)
How often does the president have a bowel movement? Does he urinate frequently? I think the news media has a responsibility to let us know!
To answer your question, not very often - he's full of s**t!
As I was typing , I was wondering what kind of ass was going to make a comment like that. Thanks for answering.
This has no political ramifications either way so transparency is a non-issue. STFU press core!
Actually, I get my news from other sources including fox. STFU and go hump someone else’s leg loser!
Deflect, deny and defame. Typical right wingnut! You're pathetic! LMAO!!!
Bush administration and the party of NO for the last 4 years. Yet we're getting better every day dispite their efforts to throw America under the bus!
Whoo that had to hurt LeftisFacist.
He's no doubt in the throws of a tizzy fit and can't type right now. Cognitive thinking and the ability to respond to a liberal truth disables LIF every time! :)
Mo and Airborne
Hang on for a little while.I'm sure NBC will edit a video to suit your needs before the day is out.LMAO
Oh look Mo... It's LIF's buddy Brokerback wingnut! Giddy up LIF!!!
Hey airborne
Look on the floor,your crayon broke.
OOPS! Thanks broker! Here, have one of mine, yours aren’t the sharpest in the box! ;)
We disagree on Politics but you do have some humorus post Airborne.Well done!
Morning broker!
Cheers bud!
Who cares! Can you say Fiscal cliff!
How fitting that two lying cheaters are playing golf together!
Pretty judgmental there, bud. Pretty strong adjectives. Good thing you weren't on the plane with the toddler. Hate to have seen that headline.
When he took office as President he gave away any and all rights to privacy! He is a public servant voted into the public arena and needs to act like that accordingly. and 2. He was on my dime ie the American taxpayer.
That's just ridiculous. No one gives away his right to privacy, regardless of his position. I suppose you think we should be able to have a webcam in his bathroom, then? Grow up.
And you're OK with the tea people republican congress taking a nine day vacation on your dime hburk?
Whewww, I didn't know that only the Republicans were taking a nine day break. Here I thought is was all of Congress. Thank you for pointing that out for me. MO.
Seriously? Get a life, journalists. This is a non-story. This wasn't a meeting with a world leader. It was a golf game. Really, no one cares.
What's the big deal - two guys getting together for a round of golf. Privacy is a rare commodity for those two and the media gag order was pretty cool.
But this is the most transparent administration ever! What's the problem. Now ask him, Charmin or quilted Northern?
Obama sucks at golf, why would he want to get his ass kicked by the best?.
Who cares who he plays golf with?...........stay in Washington and DO YOUR JOB..............................
I suppose you think your tea people republican congress should also stay in Washington DC and do their job Maureen?
You assume correctly.....not political affiliation here..........please do not assume I have any association with either party........... which YOU obviously do......................
Maureen,
They think anyone who dare question the mighty o,must be a Republican,TParty or racist,or all three,They can't stand free thinkers.
I thought the first round was the beer served to the cop and the professor after that Cambridge fiasco.
So the Congress and the President can have secret meetings to discuss killing our enemies abroad, expanding the powers to invade the privacy of American's and you're worried about the transparency of the POTUS playing golf? Eye on the ball please...
This is a lame complaint by the media. Seriously lame.
The secret round of golf we all seem to know about, interesting way to keep a secret.