CNN

i read these posts and just sit here and shake my head at you people. Especially funny are the people that proclaim they voted for Obama.

Still drinking the Kool aid. Wonder when it's gonna hit home for people.

if you haven't figured it out, i will give you just 1 example. GE owns NBC. NBC is one of the pro Obama networks. (well heck – they almost all are – and when they are not – he just complains about it) GE would like money for their wind turbines and clean energy initiatives. They are just sitting there, salivating at how much money they are going to make if this cap and trade energy bill goes through.

Obama better push for the energy bill. He owes them after all.

Anyone who says the media is not in the tank for Obama is just delusional... even Obama has joked about being in bed with media. Its a shame that only a few networks and media outlets are actually doing their job and holding him accountable. Huff Post is doing such a disservice to the people by being WH PR.

The obvious point missed by Kurtz and Milbank is that NIco Pitney is the ONLY guy among them doing a thorough job, combing through thousands of e-mails and Tweets each day from Iranians. Note that his question was a question from an Iranian, not from a Washington journalist blowhard.

There's a big difference between telling a blogger he might be called on at a news conference and having that blogger working overtime to get a good question from Iranian sources.

I'm not sure Obama did such a good job of answering it. But Kurtz and Milbank are letting their jealousy show, and they've been trumped by a harder-working reporter.

For Republicans whining about people complaining about comments against Obama, do you think that if there were any, any thing positive coming from the right people would be commenting? It has been nothing but whining, complaining, bi!ching and moaning from the right. There is nothing, nada President Obama can do to please you people. You all have never given him a chance. THAT is what Obama supporters are commenting on. Get over yourselves. If Republicans/conservatives had not left this country in the shape it is in, President Obama wouldn't have so much to clean up. Hmmm...George Bush took office with a country doing reasonably well. Plentiful jobs, relative peace and prosperity, respect from other countries...That allowed him to vacation no sooner than he went to Washington. I'm sure President Obama would have loved to have a similar situation. Instead he is left with cleaning up a mess and the people responsible not taking responsibility for the mess they made.

"3) This administration does not intimidate journalists or ignore some who will potentially ask difficult questions"

Hmmmm....trying to think when Obama was actually really asked a difficult question. Nope, can't think of one....

MM in Arizona: The only thing that this president knows how to do is read what is fed to him from a teleprompter.

The "machine" is in full swing.

Next time lets get Perez Hilton in there. That would be sure to make the MSM mad. Go Obama. It was his press conferance and he can run it any way he deems fit. If he wants to "plant" someone in there to make sure a certain question is asked to get a point across then so be it. Republicans grow up and quit your whinning.

"Gee, I wonder if everyone felt the same way about this subject when the Limbaugh and Fox News Networks lived in the Bush WhiteHouse? WHen Cheney made his monthly appearances on Limbaugh's show for back scratching? When FoxNews always had the inside on questions and answers and feeds from the Bush WhiteHouse. Give me a break with the hypocritical reactions here, folks"

The obvious difference, Dave, is Fox News being ONE cable network, vs ABC, CBS, NBC, NY Times, PBS, and virtually the rest of the establishment mass media being in Obama's pocket.

Why is this surprising to anyone? Obama isn't smart enough to answer any real questions. This man is so fake he makes me want to vomit.

It is refreshing to have a president who holds press conferences. Bush couldn't hold one for the first year of his presidency and then when he did, he knew the questions before hand. And then there was the Jeff Gannon affair. And when bush had town halls the people were all vetted to make sure they were not against the president.

We are so fortunate to have this articulate, thinking president who is doing his best to get us out of the horrible mess that cheney/bush got us into. I am thankful every day that the nightmare of the last eight years is over.

An we are surprised by this? Um...NO. It's good to see that some journalists actually have ethics after all and realize how dangerous it is when the media and the administration are working in cohorts with eachother. It is not healthy or safe for the news media and the administration to have a close relationship. I want the news people to ask tough questions. I want the administration (either party) to be scrutinized. I want them to AFRAID of the news media. I do not want either party in the white house to feel like they can say or do anything and feel secure it will not be questioned. If Obama does not want to answer the tough questions then too bad. When the news media turns on this president he has been so used to being pampered it's going to hit him like a ton of bricks. And it WILL happen....

It's a shame that the press is scared to ask the President real questions where you can get a real answer and not have our President beat around the bush and not even answer.

People wake up before it is too late.

it's called DICTATOR he wants to run every company and now he will tell us what to ask him. what bs

Katiec got it correct

I attended some of those speeches by Bush, you could not get in with out a ticket, and the only way you got a ticket was from a republican

this might be a problem if we hadn't just experienced Bush/Cheney

ck June 28th, 2009 3:02 pm ET
WAKE UP AMERICA!
Obama has begun the process of media censorship. Once that happens, God help us all.

He has begun the process? what about the Democratic primaries and the election? Media was in this for a long time now. They just don't know what they have agreed with.

Yes, certain networks and organizations are on Obama's side and support his agenda no matter how questionable. That's a given.

I am finding it interesting how democracy and order around the world is starting to crumble... now that the leading authoritative democratic nation in the world is backpedaling....

While I can't speculate on whether the President "knew" or "expected" the question, I find this to be a hollow, non-story.

"Planting" questions has regularly been suggested over several Administrations. Yes, it is somewhat manipulative, but it is also a means for the speaker to drive home a point – one I may or may not agree with.

But to make this into some sort of surreptitious plot comes off as more disingenous than the practice being slammed.

I read CNN reguraly but it is not the only means of information. I am on the computer at work so the news cycle is fast on the internet so huffington post seems to report more front line news and has news before it hits the TV cycle. Of course Huffingpost is in the bed with the White house they are a liberal site, They are going to push his agenda. Just like fox did Bush.

Normally I would agree that this should not happen. But this is something off a special case. This was a question directly from the people of Iran and the answer was to the people of Iran. The situation right now warrants this breach of protocol.

When will you people learn, Obama is clueless. He is as good as his teleprompter. The truth is slowly leaking out. The man is an empty suit and we all have been fooled by his puppets and by the MSM.

it is all,the presses fdault for falling in love with this man.
They should have broken Wright during the 1st primary and it would have derailed Obama from the start but they new about wright and did nothing.
It is too late to start blamiming one media outlet for not doing their job when it was ALL of them including CNN

Pleeeeeeze !!!!!! The Media is so DEEP in the tank for Obama, I'm surprised they don't all have the "bends".
Of course Obama chose Pitney for a set-up question, and Pitney dutifully obliged. Don't be surprised if Pitney somehow is the White House spokesman in a year or so. That's the way the game is played folks
The bigger problem is, the Media with the exception of Fox News is in partnership with a deeper, darker, and more sinister aspect of what is happening with the unholy alliance. It's called a one Party Government or shall I call it what it is. DICTATORSHIP !!!! When Congress can pass legislation without even knowing or reading the contents, we have surely lost our Republic and the principles for which our Founding Fathers risked so much to provide us with.

Can you say "state-run media?"

katiec June 28th, 2009 1:10 pm ET

Every press conference was scripted by Bush. He answered all reporters questions with notes on his podium.
The crowds at this speeches were hand picked, Bush supporters.
If Huffington Post supports the president good. We need at least one media out there to weigh against the bias shown by CNN and others.
______________________________________________________

This is without a doubt, the most ignorant, uninformed post I have read on here in months.

Are you stupid enough to think that only ONE media outlet supports Obama? The man received 3 times the media coverage during the primaries that McCain had. Every time he farts, it's national news. Every idea he has is great. Every goal is a step forward for America. While the man has tripled the deficit, he is still the savior.....and you lady....are a retard.

Is this news. This guy can't speak without a teleprompter in his face. Do you think he is going to field a question that his team hasn't already gotten him an answer for?

And to all of you idiots that say things like Fox news. Wake up. That is 1 network. Every other one is in bed with Obama, so shut up.

Obama promised change. Here is your change. He promised to create millions of jobs. Instead, his administration is responsiblie for the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs within GM and Chrysler alone. That is within dealership shutdowns, factory closures and personnel changes. When unemployment was at 5% Bush was an idiot. Now, unemployment is at 10%, but hey, it could be worse. Obama is digging us out of Bush's mess? No, he is creating more mess. Now the question is, who digs us out of Obama's mess?

This is just another instance where Obama and Bush are identical in their political ideology. Both only allow "yes" men/women to be a part of their team. Both control the input and output. Both also professed to be a "uniter, not a divider" and the political divisions in the U.S. only continue to widen.

That Dana guy is such a dweeb. I've never seen such a pathetic, whining journalist. I will never believe anything else he reports.

REPUBLICONS have created an atomosphere of hate, that's why I hate them. Colin Powell is the only Republican in the entire GOP that I have any respect for. Somebody help me out, are there any other Republicans out there that are worthy of respect? Anyone? Bueller???

Why is this news? Blah, blah, blah.....

it WAS a planted question....the media is still kissing Obama's butt, but it won't last as unemployment continues to grow....and as Obama is mocked by Iran and N. Korea....

Sorry, but this is the only place left "open" to comment on Graham's comments:

Lindsey Graham is just another pink-faced, yellow-bellied HYPOCRITE who only remains in power due to the overwhelming majority of white-trash redneck voters in SC (the same ones with the Confederate flags in their front yards and the plastic Jesuses on their mantles). Same reason why Sanford and Barbour stay in office. No decent individuals would ever vote for these scumbags, only the under-educated ,backward thinking religious zealot Neo-cons, sort of like Ahmadinejad's followers. Which also explains why Sanford didn't want any stimulus money to go toward SC education, he wouldn't want to educate his base and lose power.

At least some of you I hope understand why this wouldn't be a good thing, right? If the White House is planting the questions, we don't have a free media. I have no problem with credentialed blog reporters getting a chance to ask questions, just don't script them.

How utterly ridiculous. Just because our last administration couldn't define honesty with the help of a dictionary, doesn't mean that this one is the same way. Presidents and their press secretaries often get heads-ups from members of the press about questions they intend to ask. It is the press secretary's job to craft the presidents message and, no doubt, suggest that he take a question from a specific reporter if he knows that reporter will ask a question that will focus the press conference on an issue the president needs or wants to discuss.

(1) At least this President has press conferences

(2) This President knows how to speak English and formulate intelligent sentences

(3) This administration does not intimidate journalists or ignore some who will potentially ask difficult questions

(4) If this was staged, perhaps it was on purpose so that a message could be sent to both the Iranian people and the Iranian leadership ... like this has never been done before.

Why should anyone be surprised at the White house planting questions and orchestrating the press conference? All Obama has ever done is read speeches written by others off a teleprompter. Obama is an empty suit

I think this happens all the time, Obama has plants in his town hall meetings. He can't get along without his teleprompter so he knows what questions are coming. It is pretty obvious during his many campaign speeches the audience is carefully chosen and their seating is also selected in advance. Michelle Obama did the same thing, she asked the staff to seat white people behind her. Pathetic!!!!

Gee, who da thunk that the entire 'journalist' world is in bed with his holiness the Big O?

Does anyone else smell the jealousy and desperation? Just change the W in Washington Post to W for WHINY!

Now this is news reporting.....people decrying that Obama got asked a question by a plant. Nowhere here do I see either the actual question that got asked, nor do I see the answer Obama supposedly gave. So.....the news/controversy is apparently not over the substance of actual question or the actual answer–because I assume one of these "crack" reporters would be doing just that were that the case –just that the question was asked by someone not usually called on ?

This is the best CNN can do today? What a waste of webspace....

What baloney. Has ANYBODY bother to check how Obama answered this particular question (which was basically what would it take for Obama to accept Ahmadinejad as the ruler of Iran; IRC, he also asked something about whether O would call him President Ahmadinejad)? Obama said it didn't matter what he did - the issue wasn't how we responded but how the Iranian people responded. If this was a set up hoping for a homerun, I'd say Obama got about a single at best.

I'm thrilled that the President has chosen to call on "Blogging" machines.......I don't recall Bush ever doing the same......As for Dana Milbank and others, I agree with the person who said that it boils down to jealousy.......They're all still playing checkers and pin the tail on the donkey........President Obama is still playing chess.....He's a skillful player......I almost understand the Republicans' frustrations, but I'm devoid of empathy......

At his next press conference President Obama should call on only 'bloggers' for questions and then that would really make the MSM cry in their hankies

It is just so funny reading what you liberal Democrats have to say about Republicans and the press.

If any one writes anything negative about your lord Obama then you just cry out about them being biased.

However, when we see real first hand bias that Obama gives to these nut job people at the unintelligent Huffington post you liberals ignore it.

I don’t care about who Obama is in bed with are how many made up questions they give him in order to make him look good or intelligent.

With Obama the saying holds true “you can put lipstick on a pig and Obama is still a pig“!

Of course the question was completely staged. The exchange between Pitney and Obama was so contrived that only two fakes like Pitney and Obama could actually think that anybody would buy it.

OK, Pres Obama, the ball is in your court.

What is the truth to this matter?

I voted for you, and if you want me to vote for you again, get this straightened out and soon!

I bet if President Obama has called Ed Henry from CNN the night before that he will be allowed to ask a question, he would have said, "NO Mr. President. That's not fair to my colleagues from other network."

The entire media including CNN (except FOX) was, is and will be in bed with Obama (recall the Saturday night live skit). Now that Huffington Post was the new love all the other dates are complaining foul.

Jealousy and Hypocrisy at its worst.

The "story" sounds like children playing in a school yard. Don't Kutz and Milbank have anything better to do?

Isn't Dana Milbank the guy that wrote an article about something Obama said, and only used part of the quote, changing the whole meaning. And isn't he also the guy dropped by MSNBC because of said article and change in context of Obama's statement. So who cares what he is whining about now. If he's one of the voices of main stream media, I'll stick with the bloggers.

Gee these news guys are sure getting their shorts in a bunch. I guess they have had so many planted questions, so much favoritism with bush and his administration they look at all others with suspisicions. they know how it was done and they figure everyone is doing it.

Dana Milbank? The person who once asked Obama how he thought he looked in a bathing suit? Okay, next story.

I always find it funny that people bring up Fox News when talking about bias in the media. People need to learn that Hannity and O'Reilly are commentators not anchors. A commentator is supposed to be biased. On every other network, the actual anchors, who are supposed to be unbiased, all lean to the left. Even if Fox News does have a slight lean to the right, it's more than justified considering every other news channel is Obama's mouthpiece.

daniel–you, obviously, don't watch Fox news or you would be noticing that they do not favor republicans–they always show 2 sides–the only news network who does that.

Barry's a phoney! You wanted a good looking empty suit built by the media, you got it.

So what is the big deal. "W" used to plant questions at his so-called "town hall" meetings all the time. There were also times when the press corps was told to submit questions in advance and "W" would call on those whose questions he wanted to answer.

The press let "W" get away with war, lying and torture. They press never informed the public or asked the hard questions. If new media can do a better job, then by all means let them submit some questions. The current "news" media, and sorry CNN your are part of the problem, is mostly "entertainment".

Three days of Micheal Jackson songs is not what I call news. Nor is Palin's whinning about bad jokes. Why doesn't the media teach us about health care reform and bank bailouts? This is the stuff that effects our lives... not MJ and Palin.

IMO Obama is filthy scum – I expect that he is rigging his press conferences. Assume that everything that comes out of his mouth is LIES and you will be correct 90% of the time.

what is so irritating–is that Obama considers most Americans fools and thinks no one is smart enough to catch on to his kindergarten tricks. The liberals simply don't care..the arrogance of the man (Obama) is appalling.

Sounds like petty jealousy to me. Grow up and do some journalism instead of the gossip and fighting.

talk about John King who is in bed with the GOP. John King is a disgrace. Shame on u John King, your stupid show suck. Why don't Kurtz talk about John King and Lou who is in bed with the Gop. PLs Kurtz give me a break... Will you?

Next time they should call on a Mad Magazine or Marvel Comic Books reporter...... These BIG newspaper and TV Reporters always think they need to be the only ones called on.....I think it's great President Obama given everybody a chance....and how rediculous on the question being hand picked beforehand...arggggggggggggggghhhh!!!!

I honestly don't understand what the problem is. Let's forget for a moment what katiec points out, that the Bush Administration was infamous for using planted questions. If Obama was doing the same, I would want to know about it. I'm happy that we have a President who frequently calls press conferences, and it sounds like here he is making a point of reaching out to the so-called new media.

I saw the conference and didn't see a scripted setup. Obviously the President would be aware of the nature of the question given the way that Pitney publicly solicited questions from Iranians, and as PItney said, Obama really didn't answer the (poorly selected) question. It really does sound like jealousy on the part of the MSM - and I can't believe I just used that abbreviation, either.

of course they are planted! Every thing the clown n chief has done has been a pre rehearsed act! You dolts in the media are just to busy kissing I mean licking the presidents backside to report the news

The newspaper and TV reporters are ticked off because someone from outside their sycophantic group got to ask a real question posed by real people, instead of another meaningless fluffy feel-good bowl of pablum.

They need to go out and relearn their alleged profession, preferably somewhere far from DC, before they do any more complaining about who is qualified to ask questions at a press conference *that they aren't in charge of*.

Can it Milbank! People like you created this situation when you tell lies and half-truths to the American people. We are watching.

Gee, I wonder if everyone felt the same way about this subject when the Limbaugh and Fox News Networks lived in the Bush WhiteHouse? WHen Cheney made his monthly appearances on Limbaugh's show for back scratching? When FoxNews always had the inside on questions and answers and feeds from the Bush WhiteHouse. Give me a break with the hypocritical reactions here, folks

Oh, please. This is such a non-story.

Every president since Truman has had better relationships with some White House reporters than others. Nixon, Johnson, Reagan, Bushes 1 & 2, Clinton ALL would have their staff let one reporter or another know ahead of time that the Prez would be calling on them.

It simply appears that the old-line reporters are miffed that the new, young bucks (the bloggers) are getting the same access that the old guard considered their turf.

Get used to it Old Guys! This is the way it is and it's not news.

And Jeff Gannon, the GOP-plant at Bush press conferences, was what then?!?!?!

obama is more like a celibrity on BET rather than a sitting potus. as of today, looking forward to seeing him voted out of office.

Excuse me? Jeff Gannon (i.e. James Gucker)!

If the Obama White House arranged for a question in advance, it certainly wouldn't be unprecedented, would it? Anything illegal about it? In this case, it sounds as if the President blew off the question so, if it was orchestrated, the orchestra was off-key. If this is all the GOP has, things must be going well for the Obama Administration.

the real scandal on today's episode was how many mistakes Howard Kurtz made, saying Brazil for Argentina, Rio de Janeiro for Buenos Aires, and twice getting dates balled up in his Michael Jackson reporting. Do your homework, Howard.

But Dana came off looking really unctious and yes, jealous. It's a new world, Dana. Live with it.

Was there a plant questioner in the audience for President Obama. Maybe. Well, if it was okay for Bush, It's okay for President Obama. I seem to remember President Obama handing one insistent reporter his head when he accused the president of not answering a question he had just answered. Will these people never get enough of messing with this man?

Sounds like pure Obama orchestrating the media. I wonder when the media will call off their love affair with him?

Either way, not important. The question was a tough, honest question.

Why is Reliable Sources and CNN whinning?? Because Ed Henry did not get to ask one of his supremely silly questions this time around? give me a break...

A president one-quarter as in control as Obama claims to be would not find it necessary to stage questions during a White House Press briefing. It is a sign of weakness and a lack of confidence in his own abilities that President Obama did this. If Bush had done it, everyone saying it's no big deal would have been screaming otherwise, and they would have been right.

Just one more example of the dis-honesty of our current president.

President Obama is turning ou to be a con just like President Bush. The majority of people are getting tired of his routine. Looks like we have to get somebody else in 2012.

Dana Milbank is a hypocritrical hack, whose time has come and gone. Like others in the Beltway media crowd, he is simply jealous that someone who doesn't "belong to the club" had an opportunity to ask a better question than Milbank could have ever thought up.

Unfortunately, the Post fired Froomkin instead of this idiot.

A slobbering media love affair is what todays media has with BHO. The man has not been asked one hard question, because if he so much as thinks you are not down 100% with his policies, he kicks you off of the airplane! Remember that one?
Katiec: if all you can do is compare to Bush, then start comparing spending, unemployment rates, home values, etc.

Do the GOP, their sympathizers, and apologists have nothing else to whine about today? Obama dodged the question for crying out loud!!!!! What is the issue here!?

Is it possible Obama and Gibbs are sick and tired of getting stupid questions and perhaps, just by chance, they wanted to get a thoughtful question about a real issue? Just maybe? I've watched press conferences on C-Span and it would probably be more interesting to see school children ask Sasha and Malia questions about Bo or the garden. Jeeze....

cnn is in bed with the GOP?!? Has anybody told the dems about this? All this time they thought CNN was getting stuck late at work!

I see little regard for the truth in most of our so called "FREE MEDIA". Most of what we read is mostly opinion or enhance in the way the so called " newsperson" leans it is pathetic.

It would be absolutely wonderful if ALL the media would resor to only reporting the FACTS, THE TRUTH, NOT THE TRUTH AS SOME ONE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.

Murdock has said it was fine to SLANT THE NEWS-Slanted news is NOT NEWS, IT IS a reporters or owners opinion-PERIOD.

You could not pay me to watch fox opinionated network and I quit reading the wall street journal, but the stock qoutes and a three or four of the commentaries.

I can't believe this is even a big deal.

The simple fact that the Huffington Post has a place at the press conference tells you all you need to know about what has become of the media today. It is a mean spirited, one sided, liberal house organ for this administration. The president is a hypocrite when he says FOX News is trying to hurt his administration, and then orchestrates a press conference question with the Huffington Post.

What scares me is his popularity is so high why does he have to stage the questions.Most people think he can do no wrong. So why is he staging the questions.

The only thing I'm mad at the Obama whitehouse for is that it has not prosecuted every single member of the Republican party and 90% of the media for treason and had you all shot. That's right shot for treason. Filthy fascists.

Some in the media, like Fox "News", use a business model of half-truths or even outright misinformation as the only way to serve a certain segment of the viewership that does not care about facts, and Obama has every right to ignore and make fun of them until they start acting like real journalists. Obama is at his best when he is facing tough questions anyway, so I think that calling this guy ahead of time was more about supporting that particular news outlet than getting a softball question – only okay to do if you are trying to encourage good journalism, but not if you are trying to get more favorable or softer coverage.

obama sucks big time

I think I am dumber after reading about this.

Duh....!

This President thinks the American people are to stupid to catch on.

How is this news? Of course the media's in bed with Obama....Newsweek, Time, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, NY Times, etc.......This fawning love affair, as someone else pointed out above, has been acknowledged by some (Time editor after the campaign), and even made fun of by SNL. Softball questions and puff pieces. And the only retort by libs on here is " yeah, so, blah....FOX NEWS!!" 1 cable network vs all of the others listed above. Ok.

obama is a sorry sunami waiting to happen

Dana needs to stop wasting our time with his fussing. What a twit. By the way, who does John King's makeup - please cut down on the hair mousse. The man looks too much like a mannequin .

Dana needs to stop wasting our time with his fussing. What a twit. By the way, who does John King's makeup - please cut down on the hair mousse. The man looks too muck like a mannequin .

Why not just make a list and number the excuses:

1. Fox News
2. Republicans
3. Previous Administration
4. Dick Chaney

Count me among the Republicans who hope that Obama and his policies succeed; for the good of the country and me.

This is an exceptionaly media-savvy administration but they just got their fingers burned. I expect that everyone makes mistakes. I also expect bright people to admit those mistakes and move on.

You Kool-Aid drinkers can challenge this all you want, but that the question was planted is already a known fact confirmed by the person who asked it.

So, not only are Obama''s legenday speaking skills questionable by virtue of the fact that he only speaks well when using a well-rehearsed speech on a tele-prompter. Now, the questions are going to be known in advance so even answers can be written on a teleprompter. This guy is an empty suit who is beginning to look more like the Manchurian candidate every day.

Makes you wonder who the real President is at this point.

What about Joe the plumber asking Obama about higher taxes for small business? This was a GOP planted question.Obama can handle questions from the media with no problem. Could Bush or Palin? NOT

The news media is biased? This is news? I have to start my day with a German and a UK newspaper just to find out what the real news is. Then you triangulate off of the rest of you guys. It's only entertainment these days. I only hope the next president our news media elects is a little more middle of the road.

At least this president holds more than one or two press conferences a year. He also makes sure to call on people from the hard right media (HRM).

HRM = Fox News, Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, etc., etc...

MSM = facts don't fit your fear mongering, money grubbing game.

NY Time subscription year-over-year, -12%.
NY Post subscription year-over-year, -20%

It seems the right wing echo chamber is ringing flat these days.

More "change" that BHO promised. What's BHOs' problem? Is his head so big and his ego so out of control that he just can't for one minute humble himself and let himself be honest like he used to be? Who cares what the media thinks? If your heart is in the right place then playing games with the media would be totally unnecessary. The only person who thinks that BHO has to wave a magic wand around and instantly fix our problems is BHO.

Well the teleprompter needs to have the answer. So most of the journos there were planted and the answers already fed into the teleprompter for Mr. President to read.

Big surprise, tell me something new. I did not vote for the guy so don't blame me.

Of course Obama wants to orchestrate and answer to a question. Mr. Hollywood loves to look good on camera. This guy spends more time on tv and throws enough parties to make any socialist proud!

Of course Obama wants to orchestrate and answer to a question. Mr. Hollywood loves to look good on camera. This guy spends more time on tv and throws enough parties to make the any socialist proud!

Obama is a creation just like Bob Roberts. He has never been quite real.

@ Trina: The difference, dear, is that FOX NEWS AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE NOT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!

Now be a good girl and stop playing with daddy's computer. I'm sure there is a jump rope outside just waiting to be skipped.

Jeez maybe this will get some traction or maybe they can dig up some other crap.
Like Drudge, Rush and Coulter are objective and concerned about America.
Don't you get it Bush and his cronies took a country with a budget surplus, with respect around the world and eviserated it.
This is a distraction I don't buy it. These greedy, selfish scum will stop at nothing to get back in power.

Bush is gone...why do half the posts mention him?

Why are people attacking the question instead of answering it?

Does anyone REALLY belive CNN is pulling for the GOP?

I have a feeling that many of our presit\dents supporters don't care what he dose... they will support him no matter what. My question is why???

Again CNN leads the pack in creating the news....

oh pleeeese never talk about another media as long as we have FOX news out there beating president obama down with every show they produce. i can't stomach glen beck or hannity and most of the time o'rily because they just pick snip-its of what the dems are working on or pieces of obama's speech and destroy the whole point of view to their one sided sick viewpoints. FOX is the disgrace and shame on america for listening to one sided politics.

A rigged press conference. so much for transparency. next thing they will be rigging the staggering unemployment numbers.Give trillions of dollars to the crooks and still noone is working

LOL Liberal Stooge Reporters fighting amongst themselves as to who gets to be Obama's favorite lap dog. This is proof neither print nor internet news have any integrity. And the only way your sheep can defend is to once again say "but Bush did it" and offer no proof.

Stop carrying the water for these fools.

This administration is so REHEARSED/SCRIPTED!!!

Does the name Jeff Gannon sound familiar?
How about a "news" agency so involved with politically with the President that he taps their lead anchor to be the White House Press Secretary? Tony Snow.

The Republicans have made false "news coverage" an art form. Now the corporate press wants to review politics and media bias. What a joke. If there was any real concern Fox would be out of the business of lies and deception.

So the night before a press conference, the WH notifies a correspondent they have been selected to ask a question. Instead of giving them the chance to prepare their best possible question, wingnuts would rather they were caught unaware and unprepared?

"Boxers or briefs", that's all they want isn't it?

2 words for you Daniel. And you have a nice day.

God Bless you Billy Mays...we'll miss you.
Congree should observe a moment of silence for him

President Obama has been trying to control the press since before he was elected. Why does his latest ploy surprise anyone...especially the press?

To quote Richard Cheney: "So?"

Everybody who've seen any episode of "The West Wing" knows how these things work. It's not unethical to lead and leak so that some things get the attentiion they so richly deserve without the WH seeming to push them. And by the way: the modern press corps at the WH, with all the cameras and so on, was Roosevelts invention to boost his popularity. Would anybody today call the "fireside chats" of that president the "media being in bed" with him?

Where was the outrage from the traditional media when the bush white house planted a freaking gay prostitute in the media to ask mudslinging questions about how much Democrats hate America?

Americans wanted a Talking Head president, now we have a Talking Head president.

CNN is late getting to this story. Obama is all about orchestration, which is his choice, but the press should absolutely NOT be going along with it like this.

John King, his wife, Dana Bash, Candy Crowley, and Wolf are just a few at CNN that should all be over at the GOP's Fox Noise!

The purpose of asking the questions and answering them , is to let the rest of us understand what we are in doubt with.
Not every American must get the chance of asking. Few (reporters) do and the rest benefit by listening.

Of course they are, the people at the huffington post are not reporting, they are actively supporting the protesters and causing harm to most of them by giving them false hope.

There is a difference between reporting like the BBC, CNN, ABC and the activism of the huffington post and if you post on their website anything contrary to their activism, your post would never show.

Who cares...the real news is knowing what flavor ice cream he had last night. I need to know because I'm about to go shopping. I will be so sad if I buy vanilla and find out he had strawberry.

Milbank is just pissed b/c he got owned by a an up and coming TRUE journalist who reports actual news....not about bathing suit attire. I hope to hear more from Nico Pitney and less from the whiner Milbank. Now tell me again why Amanda Carpenter was there?

Of course they did. Obama has not had an honest press conference or allow questions from true jounalist – EVER. The man is corrupt, dishonest, a fraud and a liar.

1) not news
2) biased headline
3) cnn= faux news

please, please, is it too much to ask you people to report on something newsworthy?

Oh, call the cops! The White House telling people they'll ask them questions! As opposed to Bush who gave scripted questions to his audience? And that too was also only in the very unlikely event that Bush even took questions!

And Dana Milbank is in bed with the Republicans and always has been – so taking his source is "unreliable".

After 8 years of Bush planting fake journalists in the press corps, after his staff producing fake news to be aired on TV stations, I think this is still a step up from government controlled media. It's not perfect, but it's definitely an improvement.

oh you mean like Fox News being an agent for GOP and pretending to be a news channel?

How is this even news and who cares?

I'm not sure about being in bed with the White House, more likely in bed with the occupants.

jt says:

"Why is 'State of the Union', 'Reliable Sources', Wolf Blitzer, and
Campbell Brown in bed with the GOP?"

Are you watching the same program as the rest of us?

Fox News is the only fair and balanced news network. Of course if your a Democrat and hate the truth about what is going on in America, you will disagree. However, Democrats have proven themselves over and over to be idiots who can't think for themselves as they vote for anyone the media tells them to vote for. Case in point: Obama.

He spends more of your money and taxes you more, but Democrats are still idiots and support his "policies." Obama has made some good decisions though. Of course, all of those decisions were already made by Bush and he just continued with the same policies.

Pitney have some question from Iranians and Knowing President Obama he would want to send a shout out to those suffering in Iran so what's wrong with that.

Some reporters are such a whinnies babies
Jealousy is sprouting out from their nose
Get over it crybabies (Including John King who is in bed with GOP)

Programmed BOTS just love to throw in the "BUSH" name. Bush is gone. Time to RE- program all these BOTS!

The major networks are just mad now that Huffington Post is considered a mainstream news outlet.

Why doesn't Obama start acting presidential and stop trying to
coddle the news media? He seems more comfortable running
for president than being one. The people expect a leader living
in the White House. Instead, we've got a campaigner running
for re-election. Hold off, Barrack. 2012 is three years away. The
public is getting too much of you.

It is almost laughable to read all these diehard Obama worshippers that CNN is in the tank with the GOP....I watch CNN every day most of the day and they are in the tank as much for Obama as everyone else is. My goodness, since when has it it come down from above that thou shalt not speak any negativity re Obama? Some of you people need to get back to reality or get a life beyond being critical of anything not 100% positive about him. You talk about republicans being negative – they have nothing on some of you who I believe must think Obama walks on water the way you worship or try to protect his every move.

Well, now that's an easy question, it's a big YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is CNN and Reliable Sources in bed with the GOP is the more realistic question.

Mr. Howard "The Truth Hurts!" Kurtz And Dana "The Lame One!" Milbank. Mr. Kurtz Is A Pathetic Hypocite, And Dana Millbank Is A Jerk. All Reliable Sources And CNN Seem To Do These Days Is Whyne About MSNBC And Ride Fox News Channels Coattails (Or Talking Points). Unless You Have Substatial Proof That The Huffington Post Is Getting Special Favors From The White House, Than I Suggest That You Take Your Grade School Journalism And Get Your Facts Straight.

So, Obama kicked Brian Williams out of his bed and now Nico's taken his place?

The bickering and jealousy that goes on in the Press Corps... so petty and unprofessional.

Why would anyone believe that this is anything other than business as usual for control freak Obama?

The news media needs to quit whining and report the news. So gee whiz they called on someone else. Get over it and move on.

Easy to believe, considering how anti-White HP has become.

WAKE UP AMERICA!

Obama has begun the process of media censorship. Once that happens, God help us all.

CNN already censors the news. Look how quick the "Permalink" goes up when the majority of posts criticize Obama.

His popularity is nose diving, but CNN and the other biased news outlets refuse to report it.

If it weren't so scarey it would be comical.

I would also add ABC, CBS and NBC.

i'll call the show UN- reliable sources; because they had the nerve to sit around the table and discuss the topic of talk-radio and their responsibility. and stating that they didn't think that rush, sharon hannity, and bill o.really wasn't copeable for the murders of the DR. in church or the black guard at the museum. if you listen to these folks[red state radio] and their daily rant against the GOV"T, now that the democrats run the show. it is these 3 right wing zealot radio main stays have been responsible before of people going to syngouges and other places shooting and killing people . saying that they don't like liberals...... after listening to the crap these people talk about on a daily basis even this ms.cox of air america chimed in saying that these folks don't shoulder no blame. she like the rest of YOU people speak w/ fork tougue. all fakes just sticking up for one another.

News flash..politics makes strange bedfollows..is it really a suprise to anyone that the media is becoming irrelevant..they all stink

CNN and Fox News are run by the same people that Obama has been fighting against from the first day he announced his run for the presidency. They represent the 'good ole boys' who have been controlling everything sice the days of Rome, and resent the fact that they are loosing power and control of the world. They are fighting in vain, though, because the genie is already out of the bottle and the world will never be the same again. It is especially pleasing to know that the "good ole boys" will no longer control things.

Clearly shows that they are giving Barack set questions.
The guy is dirty and a liar, he just still has everyone fooled.
Wait and you will see, this guy will go down in history as the worst president of the US of all time.
He will be the man who brought down the US as a free and capitalistic society.
He will bring on socialism as we have never seen and single handedly break the country.
God Save us all.

Well, well, well. CNN finally has some bi-partisan news reporting! Obama is as corrupt as it gets. If he continues down his socialistic path, he may be hanging out with the former president of Honduras in Costa Rica. I find it awful funny that Obama speaks up immediately when his socialistic comrade gets ousted calling on for democracy to be respected, but it took him DAYS to even comment on Iran. Gotta love our Commander in Chief!

Stupid,stupid ; how do you think Obama got elected? The fawning press!

Who cares, it's about the economy and not about a bunch of cry babies who don't get their way. Get over it.

It makes sense to allow a blogger/reporter that has had contact with people in Iran ask a question posed by Iranians. Nico has done some exceptional reporting on the situation in Iran – much better than what I've seen from the biggies in the msm.

Stop trying to make an issue out of nothing.

Good Lord, could it be? Do you think? If Obama farted in bed at night, Michelle would say PU, ABC would say what smells, CNN would say "not me" and George Soros would say quiet down there!

Mainstream has been mad for a long time not that bloggers and Internet reporters have been out reporting them AND are now allowed at these Press conferences.

The funny thing is that mainstream doesn't realize it has lost a lot of credibility because of FIX News, CNN and WSJ.

They act like they are really reporting the news without bias! Hah! Even WE know better.

Huffington Post, CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC are all in bed with the Whitehouse. One question that I am still waiting to be answered....Why are my taxes going up since I am middle income making less than $250,000? Obama has lied to the country.

Somebody is jealous and we all know who.

where is Fox news when they sing swan song for GOP........???

They don't call on 'traditional media' because 'traditional media' asks terrible questions about what Obama thinks of some governor's affair. Or what Obama thinks about Manny Ramirez being suspended from MLB. Or what Obama thinks on the American Idol finale.

When I go to CNN.com and one headline is about a 'school zone' sign being misprinted as a 'sochol zone', or 'Dog eats bag of pot, gets high' then that's about the end. Fox News, CNN, MSNBC need to be embarrassed that they cover that sort of stuff all the time.

Michael Jackson made some great music, had some terrible moments, but five days of this stuff is too much. At least the Iran coverage was actually relevant and important. The events in Iran are the sort of thing CNN was made for.

This sounds like sour grapes over Nico Pitney's nationally recognized coverage of the trouble in Iran. Howard, jealous much?

Did nobody else notice that the question from the Huffington Post was the most adversarial, challenging question of the entire press conference?

Can you say "State-Run-Media" ?

Glad to see that some journalists still have some standards.

Questions have been "planted" in White House news conferences for decades. Chances are just about every politician who ever held a news conference has done something similar. What is important is the answers given by the President, not who asks a question.

manhandler.......watch john king, cambell brown, lou dobbs or wolf blitzer if you think cnn panders to President Obama....and then if you really want to hear Bad News Obama 24 hours a day watch fox news. They have dedicated their entire station to bashing the Democractic Party.

So just because you claim Bush did it, Obama can do it. Remember the outrage when it was discovered that Bush did this at one talk. The liberals, CNN, Huff Post, hate filled Daily Kos, ignorant radical Keith Olberman and others were livid, why aren't they livid now? Its because its a Dem doing it and in the minds of liberals/dems they can do whatever the hell they want and its OK. Pathetic display by liberals/dems who whined and cried when Bush did it but are conveniently silent now.

BOO HOO! Come On now repubs.... did you forget about bush already? all his town meetings were fixed with people before hand and they didnt even ask questions half the time they just made comments about how great of a job he was doing! funny how the repubs forget everything so quickly...Cheney going on Fox to get his point across first.... give me a break you hypocrates! Republican short term memory is INSULTING TO THE HUMAN RACE! ENOUGHT! PRINT IS GOING AWAY! GET OVER IT!

Reliable Sources: Is the Huffington Post in bed with the WH?

No but Dana and her sweetie John K are in bed with the GOP. The Huffington Press is hiking on the Appalachian Trail

Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck ~ must be a duck!

Sounds like they sure are and it is quite DISGUSTING! There is nothing unbiased about providing and/or screening questions beforehand. This is not the government I want for my country!!!!!

Of course they are in bed with him. So is CNN and especially MSNBC. In fact, all the press conferences are staged. Everything Obama does is staged. Making speeches is his only real talent.

Yes, W's events were also staged. I don't know why they even bother having these phony "events". Nothing is ever learned from them.

Here we go again. Another article in the "mainstream" media criticizing President Obama, in which the pretense is about an "open media" and "transparency," but the subtext is obvious–racism, pure and simple.

Frankly, the media owe it to this country to move us forward, not push us back. Therefore, they should be supportive of our leader and His policies. This constant questioning is so transparent to anyone with half a brain, and these "negative nellies" should find a new line of work. They're not acting in service to our President, and they're not acting in service to us. At least Mr. Pitney has displayed that he IS in service to our President–and therefore our country–and is evolved enough as a person not to engage in racist pettiness.

It seems to have beyond just sleeping together...

This sounds like a response from imature teens or pre-teens on the playground. The sad part is that it is coming from "legimate" journalists.

Our times need mature investigation!!!!

Are these "journalists" serious? I worked for a major metropolitan newspaper in the 1970s and we always told beforehand when our Washington Bureau chief was going to get tossed a question.

With the bias in journalism that started to blossom in the 70's I have learned to listen too and read both sides so I can make my own judgements. It is too bad most on the fringes only listen to one side. Even during the Viet Nam War you could tell the bias of the media including Water Cronkite, the news was not just facts like it should be.

I don't know if Obama WH is in bed with Huffington Post journalists. I see many articles on that site that are at odds with much of what Obama is doing. They have a better handle on unbiased reporting than the MSM.

President Obama chose to solicit a question about Iran - not a specific question, just one that he knew would be about Iran - from one of the only American media voices who was actually COVERING Iran in a serious, credible way.

What's wrong with that?

In case you didn't notice, one of the things Obama accomplished by doing this - and the thing he was probably most interested in accomplishing - was to send a clear message to the Iranian people: "We see you. We hear you. We know"

Don't get your knickers in a knot, Dana Milbank. Sometimes it's not ABOUT you.

Nico Pitney was encouraged to ask a question because of his intense and excellent coverage of the Iran election fallout and because of his connection with bloggers and civilian reporters in Tehran. The White House should be commended for seeking questions from people who are the most knowledgeable.

Dana Millbank is hardly a representative of serious journalism, whether it's the legacy style in which he wallows or Nico Pitney's blogging faction. Pitney out shined the entire MSM in his coverage of Iran in recent weeks and deserved to have his question aired in Obama's presser.

Just another Obama Nation stunt.................Some day (soon) you idiot liberals who voted for him will see the real side of the chosen one.

Assuming his handlers let you, of course.

The Presbo isn't capable of an original thought. God help us though, because he's running the country.

Two more words – Jeff Gannon.

Dana is mad because Obama doesn't call on him for hard hitting questions like about Sanford....quit whining..now you know why print is going out of biz

This isn't exactly news is it? I thought this was well known during the primaries. Even CNN. Doesn't anybody remember the debates. Even SNL was making fun of it. Give me something I don't already know.

I am a daily reader of several newspapers and a fan of (some) cable news, but good God, what a bunch of crybabies. This kind of hypocritical whining is why "traditional" media is foundering: having lost the edge to their Internet-based competitors, print and broadcast journalists' response is carp about a blogger getting a question. As if Kurtz, Milibank (who I like) and his ilk haven't enjoyed countless cocktail parties, dinners and informally choreographed exchanges with the politicians they cover. Here's a solution, Kurtz, et al: start asking hard-hitting, relevant questions for a change – imagine how much substance you could have covered in the time you spent complaining about Pitney (one of the best sources for hard news out of Iran in the last 2 weeks) getting a single question on a substantive issue. Sheesh.

If they are, then John King is in bed with the GOP toewrestlers.

Two words for conservatives with their panties in a bunch: Fox News. 'Nuff said. Have a nice day.

Why is 'State of the Union', 'Reliable Sources', Wolf Blitzer, and
Campbell Brown in bed with the GOP?

no comments folks??? you'd think cnn and huffpo had the same readers....

ONLY the Huffingon Post??? I submit they are not the only ones! It a pretty big bed!

YES THEY ARE! I removed them from my favorites and opted out of their NewsLetter – When Huffington was on Larry King last week and said, "the President is doing a good job with Iran AND how can we be sure the Iran protest pictures/film we are watching are not pro the election results".

** The above is in quotes – but I don't think that was her exact wording – but the intent was the same – there was also a comment that the internet and twitter weren't reliable sources for news.......... She's not in bed with the WH – she's wearing knee pads for them.

CNN is just as guilty of bias in their approach to this man and his cohorts in Congress, as are most of the rest of the MSM. I've never seen anything like it in my lifetime and it is a dangerous situation. The press is supposed to keep a skeptical and critical eye on those in power in this country and most of our media have failed miserably and their actions are a disgrace to the idea of journalism. When an overpowering proportion of the media in any country sides with the powers that be, their reporting becomes nothing but propaganda and any dissent is stifled. Is this what we want for this country?

Huffin and Puffin in bed with the Elephant & Castle.

Why is CNN and Reliable Sources in bed with the GOP is the more realistic question.

So what??

It sure seems like they are in bed.........the questions is who is using who?

Of course they are. Just like DRUDGE is in bed with the Republicans and Fox News. Next subject.

Every press conference was scripted by Bush. He answered all reporters questions with notes on his podium.
The crowds at this speeches were hand picked, Bush supporters.
If Huffington Post supports the president good. We need at least one media out there to weigh against the bias shown by CNN and others.

Dana Milbank continues to be a loser with little regard for the truth,