Obama Pays Friendly Visit To White House Reporters

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: White House

(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Obama made an unannounced visit to the White House press room Thursday, engaging in some friendly banter that centered more on basketball and Blackberrys than Guantanamo and the global economic collapse.

Some highlights:

Asked if he had played basketball yet on the White House ground, he said, "I have not tried the basketball court. It's been too cold." He mentioned, though, that "we installed a new backboard on the tennis court … so we'll be able to play full court."

Mr. Obama walked through the briefing room and into the back where various news agencies have their booths, desks or cubbyholes. "Right now I want to say hello and introduce myself. to you," he said and proceeded to walk around shaking hands and introducing himself reporters who had not covered his campaign. "We'll try to have a relationship that's respectful," he said.

He walked through the break room and saw the contents of the vending machines – lots of potato chips and chocolate bars and commented, "We're thinking that maybe you might have some healthier snacks though guys."

(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

When he saw Fox News and CNN booths next to each other in the basement of the press room, he jokingly likened it to the goal for Israel and the Palestinians – saying the two cable news networks were "living side by side in peace and security."

He added that he's very proud of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs for the way he handled his first White House press briefing today, saying "I'm very proud of him today – gave him a fist bump."

He said of the press room, "It's nice – but it's confining," and asked reporters about the history of the press room: when it was renovated, and how it's determined which news organizations get which work space. A reporter joked about whether Mr. Obama had seen the hot tub yet. He played along, saying he hadn't.

Asked about his Blackberry – Mr. Obama has fought to keep the device for limited use during his presidency despite security and disclosure concerns – he said, "I won the fight but I don't think it's actually up and running yet."

(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

When a reporter tried to ask him a serious question about his nomination of a former lobbyist to be deputy defense secretary, Mr. Obama didn't want to get serious. "I can't come in and shake hands if I'm gonna get grilled every time," he said. He promised to hold a press conference soon, but didn't commit to a date.

He promised to come back and answer substantive questions.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by vincan-2009 January 24, 2009 1:02 AM EST: President Obama is the nicest man ever to be president other than Bill Clinton. He makes it a point to meet people, to shake their hand and to be gracious to them. That is a lot more than I can say for Bush or his sad administration. President Obama will be an honest leader with genuine concern for the country. Not act as though the government is a company run for and by corporate interests like the Bush bunch.; Reply to this comment


by jimshere789 January 23, 2009 12:24 PM EST: I thought the transperncy was going to be honesty ? I suppose that all of the '' lobbyist'' being contolled was politics as usual. It seems to be the old DC mentallity, '' as long as i get what i want, to hell with what i said to get ellected'' ! I guess the lobbyist are starting to be put on the '' inside '', hhmmmm! Here we go again with the same old double standard.; Reply to this comment


by opedanderson January 23, 2009 11:01 AM EST: Matthews said yesterday that he wouldn''t report on Blog "Stuff" on his show......hmmmm....I seem to remember several references to Palin''s family situation (especially rumors about who is the real mother of Trig) several times.....

He continues to tread water in the Obama tank!; Reply to this comment


by dumdnc January 23, 2009 10:34 AM EST: lapwalk-there hasn''t been any question on how the media will cover this guy. What with chris mathews (shiver up his leg)coming out and saying he will do everything in his power to make this guys administration a success.
Now, they don''t even try to report, they just gush.; Reply to this comment


by irmcvet971 January 23, 2009 8:44 AM EST: Funny how you guys didn''''t report Barky''''s irritation at being asked why he nominated a lobbist. Just the slobbering love and leg tingles the other reporters experienced when in the Messiah''''s presence. Yep, i guess that''''s fair and objective reporting.

Posted by LapWalk at 02:17 AM : Jan 23, 2009

There is a time and place for EVERYTHING! That was the point and it was well made. The days of the REICH are gone...isn''t it time you accepted it?; Reply to this comment


by irmcvet971 January 23, 2009 8:43 AM EST: It is ABSOLUTELY amazing how much of MY America has returned in just TWO short days!; Reply to this comment


by ballpen1 January 23, 2009 8:01 AM EST: Posted by LapWalk at 02:14 AM : Jan 23, 2009

The thing is, with a person smiling so much any drop in that smile looks like more then it is. I think you should watch for that twitch up his jawbone, that''s when your''re in trouble.; Reply to this comment


by ballpen1 January 23, 2009 7:56 AM EST: That fist bump thing is going to be currency around the White House. Like Ceasar tugging his mens earlobe when he wanted to honour them. I just hope it never turns into "Heckuva job"...; Reply to this comment


by andor3 January 23, 2009 5:48 AM EST: LapWalk: "Funny how you guys did not report ... irritation at being asked why he nominated a lobbist."

Funny is why you are commenting on an article without bothering to read it. That was reported. Right there in the print. It was an inappropriate question, and the President handled it with grace and appropriate response.; Reply to this comment


by lapwalk January 23, 2009 5:17 AM EST: Funny how you guys didn''t report Barky''s irritation at being asked why he nominated a lobbist. Just the slobbering love and leg tingles the other reporters experienced when in the Messiah''s presence. Yep, i guess that''s fair and objective reporting.; Reply to this comment