CBS' Chip Reid, Gibbs Spar Over "Town Hall"
CBS News White House Correspondent Chip Reid – along with columnist Helen Thomas – got into a contentious back-and-forth with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs at Gibbs' daily briefing yesterday.
The topic? The questions being asked at yesterday's health care "online town hall," which were submitted by the public but selected by the White House. Reid also brought up the fact that the audience was selected by the White House and the college where the event was held.
"It just feels very tightly controlled," Reid said. "It feels -- I mean, the concept of a town hall I think is to have a open public forum, and this sounds like a very tightly controlled audience and a list of questions. Why do it that way? Why not open it up to the public?"
"How about we do this -- how about you can ask me that question tomorrow based on what questions were asked rather than preselecting your question based on something that may or may not come through," Gibbs replied.
"This is a town hall," Reid said later. "This is an open forum for the public to ask questions, but it's not really open."
Responded Gibbs: "Based on what?"
"Based on the information that your staff gave us on how the audience and the questions are being selected," Reid responded.
"The questions are being selected by people that e-mail on Facebook and Twitter," Gibbs said.
Replied Reid: "Well, they're not deciding what questions actually get in."
Watch the entire exchange, which includes Thomas' complaint that "I'm amazed at you people who call for openness and transparency," above.
The topic? The questions being asked at yesterday's health care "online town hall," which were submitted by the public but selected by the White House. Reid also brought up the fact that the audience was selected by the White House and the college where the event was held.
"It just feels very tightly controlled," Reid said. "It feels -- I mean, the concept of a town hall I think is to have a open public forum, and this sounds like a very tightly controlled audience and a list of questions. Why do it that way? Why not open it up to the public?"
"How about we do this -- how about you can ask me that question tomorrow based on what questions were asked rather than preselecting your question based on something that may or may not come through," Gibbs replied.
"This is a town hall," Reid said later. "This is an open forum for the public to ask questions, but it's not really open."
Responded Gibbs: "Based on what?"
"Based on the information that your staff gave us on how the audience and the questions are being selected," Reid responded.
"The questions are being selected by people that e-mail on Facebook and Twitter," Gibbs said.
Replied Reid: "Well, they're not deciding what questions actually get in."
Watch the entire exchange, which includes Thomas' complaint that "I'm amazed at you people who call for openness and transparency," above.
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See all 69 CommentsThank you for waking up the white house press meeting with your boldness and you pro public concern in regard to set up town hall meetings. You have a perfect "partner in crime" sitting next to you, KUDOS to you & Helen Thomas.
I was equally impressed with your defending VP Cheney level of non-respect by the White House.
I may even start watching CBS again, let me stipulate, only when you are on.
Thank you again,
ps
thank you Helen also..
Also note no other reporter chimed in!!!!
I watched the press briefing today and didn?t even hear a question from Chip Reid let alone the first question. I wonder if that's Gibbs? way of admitting the obvious; that all the people and questions at the town hall were pre-selected.
your new fans in Sugar Land, Texas
your new fans in Sugar Land, Texas
A New Fan in Atlanta
Helen Thomas and CBS's Chip Reid!!!
Is the press finally beginning to awaken from their Obama campaign stupor? A biased press is a problem - a silenced press is alarming. Where is the transparency we were promised? The control the White House has been exercising is beginning to make McCarthyism look like child's play.
Start to realize that Dem's and Repub's are just part of the same game. Neither cares about you, just your vote and your control.
Slaves gave 100% to thier masters, and they knew they were slaves. We give 50% (from one form of taxation or another) to the masters and we think that we are fre. The slaves that think they are free are easier to keep in line.
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See all 69 Comments