The Briefing And The Gaggle: Worth It?
When The New York Times reported last month that President Bush authorized NSA surveillance and wiretapping of Americans without first obtaining a warrant the story was an inevitable topic for reporters at that day’s press briefing. As Romenesko noted that day, however, it came as “no surprise” that White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan would not discuss the story:
Q: The New York Times -- they sat on a very important story about possible breach of our Constitution for a full year, and they reached an agreement, I guess, with somebody in the White House. I'm wondering if you could give us a tick tock about how the White House reached --This is but one example of the exchanges that seem de riguer for the White House press briefings and the morning gaggle, which begs the question, what is the point? How effective is the gaggle and the press briefing as a venue for the exchange of information between the White House and reporters?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I've already said that I'm not going to get into discussing any matters relating to ongoing intelligence activities. And that means not getting confirming or denying such reports.
Author Thomas Friedman on Obama's Afghanistan plan and the war on terror.
