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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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I guess he feels he can do what he wants 2nd term increasing taxes and now cutting out his media. So what did he get done on a budget, spending cuts, or employment last week?
For those Obama supporters that funded a Billion dollar re-election hope you feel your getting your moneys worth -- as for me no ones worth that kind of money over 4 years and should be on the job 7X24X365 for the remaining 4 years and unless the debt in going in a negative direction should have all travel cut outside DC unless it is on his dime.
Yes -- I got my money's worth -- including an engraved invitation to attend the inauguration.
another $120 million flushed down the toilet for that party
Let's see here, the liberal media has a tizzy because a Republican takes a sip of water during a speech, but says nothing when a Democrat flies to Domincan Republic and screws under-aged Hoes.
Now, we have the POTUS playing a around a golf with an adulterer slim ball.
I imagine the POTUS will be attending Dorner funeral next.
"slim" You and the others that can't seem to grasp this. You are trying for "slime" unless your concern is with Tiger's weight? Is that it? You fat-arsed conservatives can't stand it because Tiger looks fit? Is that it?
Case in point, more interested in spelling, than anything else. Gasp,
Let me help you, you are the idiot
Well does this mean the press won't continue to have a boner for Obama anymore? Nah.
More media b.s.
I don't beleive or trust anything from any of them. No wonder our country is going to hell.
No one ever cares about our real problems. Always getting sidetracked with petty b.s.!
WTF people!!
Like taking a sip of water during a speech??
Now there is some liberal deflection and fear
He has to hand in the scorecard before we can see what's on it. You would think the press knows this by now.
This is real important stuff.
And what was Kim Kardashian doing all that time? I heard on good source that GWB let out a really smelly fart on Sunday. And did you see the awful outfit Demi Moore was wearing?
Get a life people. Who gives a rats poop?
How about we find out how the impasse in Congress is going instead. Or why the president cant' hand in a budget his own party will vote to pass. How about how long until North Korea can launch a nuclear tipped missile. But nope, we care more about a round of freaking golf.
Dumb, dumb.
Two half breeds playing a stupid game,,BFD
What a bunch of brats.
Golf sucks ands does the people playing it,,
Spelling, grammar and punctuation errors make this posting unintelligible.
Poor poparazzi, they just can't stand it when someone of importance meets with someone else of noteriety for a non-official anything.
What is the President supposed to be tied to his desk going nowhere or doing nothing but work, work, work? If Congress will get off their collective duffs and send him something of substance to sign maybe he'll be more inclined to spend more time at the desk, although even then it would not be necessary to skip a little recreation to keep fit, and relax from being the most powerful person on the planet.
What's the story?
Wife and kids out of town. Gives the Press the "non-transparent" slip. Goes to hook up with Tiger.
How could anyone see anything wrong with that?
With Tiger?? Lap-Dance time for those two
Hope they both realized that they are not totally black! At Tiger knows he is not- Obama is another story.
Racist idiot.
Perhaps the President was getting a private lesson from Woods, and he wanted to keep it private.
Spin control, trajectory management, and the ability to escape from any lie.
Well done MJ
"most transparent administration" does not equate to 100% transparent. Nor should it.
Who cares what Right Wing bloggers and others think. What’s important here is that we are witnessing the death throws of the Republican Party. They are kicking and screaming but to no avail. Thus, coming soon is the inevitable end of the Republican Party and its cohorts, the Tea Party and Right Wing base. GOP = Grim Ornery Pricks = Grimy Old Politicians = Gross Old Partisans = Groping Oily Palms, etc, etc. Whatever their true title - they are history. They have already destroyed millions of families and businesses, created world chaos and destroyed our reputation abroad. Revolt against these antiquated slobs and the Right Wing "Puritanical" Tea Party and their supporters. Prosecute their corruption; their treason and honor and protect our Constitution. Honor "Separation of Church and State" - there will be no "Christian Fundamentalist" government in America. These Fundamentalist want to use tax dollars to fund "Christian" schools, forcing the decay of publican education, hence, forcing public schools to completely crumble, thus forcing ordinary kids to either go without any education or attend "Religious" schools and "Religious teachings" like "Creationism" and the "Bible". Time the launch a revolution against Republicanism and "Religionism" - both are political, religious, moral and patriotic frauds. I welcome the demise of both and their political and religious narcissism! They have inflicted enough damage on the United States of America - and the world.
Hussein's Lap Dog press is "upset" over a round of golf. They are Not Upset about $12 TRILLION Debt. $4.00 Gas. Rising Health Care Costs. Rising Utility Costs. Rising Food Prices. High Unemployment. Rising Food Stamp Use. Drones potentially Killing AMericans. Phony Gun Control Issues and BENGHAZI Deaths. But they "draw the line" about Hussein's round of golf with a Serial Adulterer. Send a Few Drones to CNN, Mess-NBC, A-Bomination-C and CBS and get Rid of these Pathetic Hypocrits.
If you believe the deficit or the national debt have had an effect on you, wait until the sequester kicks in.
At least half of which dept was launched by Bush-Cheney and their dingnut supporters. Then they crashed our economy and now are bitching that Obama has to spend to get things running again. That's why Republicans are trying to make the rest of us pay for their screw-ups, fraud, incompetence and corruption. It appears the most of these Right Wing supporters had their faces in Bush's and Cheney's laps.....and still do...
wait until the sequester kicks in.
Your guy proposed it........
You do realize the complaint was filed by Fox, right? You did read that, right? Hello?
Waaaaaa.....we didn't know Obama was playing golf with Tiger. Freaking babies.
Do they really have to have their noses buried up Obama's @ss 24-7? REALLY?
I hope Obama learned something from Tiger besides golf. Woods completely shocked the Obama administration dnd the elite media during the 2009 coronation speech. His entire speech lavished praise for the troops. Obama was not even mentioned once.
Hysterical... the Press Corps is mostly Liberal and were a key instrument for Obama's re-election.. would have thought they would at least be given a place as the "gallery"and the "hot" reporters driving the beverage cart.
Guess they are beginning to see that they are disposable and have been used. When their use is no longer essential, they are cast off to the parking lot.
Even funnier are the Libs in the comments. They attack the press to give Obama his game with Woods. They lose sight of the fact that Obama would be in Chicago right now without them.
The "KEY" element to Obama's reelection was the vote of the majority of Americans who did NOT want their Social Security, Medicare, Veterans benefits, public school system, Pell Grants, environmental protection laws, minimum wage and fair pay laws, collective bargaining rights, consumer rights, women's rights...etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum; taken away from them by a bunch of greedy, uncaring, wealth serving, treacherous old white guy GOP shills.
WE THE PEOPLE. did NOT...and WILL NOT, cede our rights to an elected representative government, to a minority group of small, evil, hate filled, greed driven men. even if they DO control one of the houses of Congress. And if there is one certainty it is that they will lose that control in the very next election (2014). Because the REAL owners of America are it's people, the voting majority. We know them for what they are and for who and what they truly serve. Their days are numbered and that number is not a large one.
the whole country falling apart and our "trusted" leader is off playing golf with another scumbag.....
(Note: if I were obama's wife - I would be VERY worried about the advice her husband received.)
So much for transparency for the man we are paying to lead our country.
Take the bibles the religion out of the GOP,see an empty loser and useless sheep led tomthe slaughter
nothing left of the GOP?
Oh no, does that mean he might order a drone strike on my car as I head home from work tonight? Am I the last GOP man standing?
The press is reporting that the press is upset?! Do they want to follow him to the bathroom as well?
Oh, and Tiger Woods was not involved in a "sex scandal".
Well, he screwed around on his wife, and she left him... what does he have to do for it to qualify as sex... bend the mistresses over his car in public with cameras rolling?