White House said “Q One more question just about the idea that it seems as though you’re playing favorites with media outlets by excluding some from this conversation.
MR. SPICER: You’re my favorite. (Laughter.)
Q No, that’s not what I’m asking. But do you have a response to that, though, given that that is a concern to some that want to see press have access to you, all out?
MR. SPICER: No, I think that — right — I think that we have shown an abundance of accessibility. We’ve brought more reporters into this process. And the idea that every time that every single person can’t get their question answered or fit in a room that we’re excluding people — we’ve actually gone above and beyond with making ourselves, our team and our briefing room, more accessible than probably any prior administration. So I think you can take that to the bank. When you look at —
Q But why not those other outlets today?
MR. SPICER: Because, Cecilia, there’s 3,000 people that are credentialed to come in here.
Q But there are six outlets that want to be in here right now. The New York Times —
MR. SPICER: No, there’s not. Actually, that is false. To say that there are six — maybe six that reached out to you, but that is not —
Q Well, but —
MR. SPICER: No, no, hold on —
Q — listed in the White House Correspondents’ Association’s response to this.
MR. SPICER: I understand that. There are way more than six that wanted to come in. We started with the pool and then we expanded it. So I get it. But why — I can ask — there are plenty that want to come in at all times for every event. We do what we can to be accessible. And if there’s a problem with that, I understand it. But we do what we can to accommodate the press. I think we’ve gone above and beyond when it comes to accessibility and openness and getting folks to — our officials, our team. And so, respectfully, I disagree with the premise of the question.
Thank you.
END
2:18 P.M. EST”
ZING ZING ZING
The CNN face must be “beat” red.