[Virginia Ridgerunner]

The Boston Herald responds:

Obama off the deep end

What are you afraid of, Mr. President?

I know it must be tough dragging yourself to these glitzy fund-raisers and mingling with rich people who shower you with money and affection. Who needs an unfriendly reporter shouting an unscripted question at you, or checking to see whether any of the guests are getting government contracts?

We all know Obama has an aversion to tough questions. During the campaign, he would refuse to engage with most local media, and reporters who camped out at the rope line got a stern talking-to from a campaign staffer.

But using the White House press pool to possibly punish or reward media based on what the White House considers “fair” coverage? This is taking the control freak thing to new levels.

(Excerpted)

[Jimmy Valentine]

Did we somehow elect Vladimir Putin as President?

[ClearCase_guy]

The First Amendment guarantees that Democrat presidents will always get positive press coverage. The Boston Herald is, apparently, in violation of the First Amendment.

[Bluebird Singing]

obama is such a little “man”.

boo hoo

[cranked]

A presidential lemon law would have had this AnnointedIdiot removed a long time ago.... =.=

[Just A Reader]

Serious question - did Bush refuse access to any reporters or news groups?

I honestly don’t remember ever reading that he did.

[Zakeet]

Of course, if Bush would have done this, the MSM would have totally understood, and would have immediately granted him a complete and unconditional pass.

[xtinct]

Obambi is afraid of the reader comment section of each news bit.

the chickensh*t-n-chief is running scared...

[1010RD]

Obama has all the paranoia of a Nixon and the judgement of a Jimmy Carter.

[jacknhoo]

Most everyone knows Obama is a coward and unpresidential. This action simply enforces everyone’s understanding of that truth.

[BrewingFrog]

Like so many things that the Narcissist In Chief does, the Media as a whole simply allow to pass without comment. Sure, the Hearald is squawking right now, but in a few months they’ll be back to toeing the line for the ‘rats across the board, as they always do.

I long for the day that the gutless Republicans treat the Media in the same way as the ‘rats. And when they squawk about it indignantly, tell them, “Well, you didn’t seem to care when the last administration did this. We have an established precedent to do this. Why are you angry now?”

[NonValueAdded]

It is also important to understand the context of the Boston press where the Globe (fish wrap and lead paper) is decidedly liberal. It's not like Obama is not getting positive press in the Bay State. And they are punishing the reporter for an editorial / publisher decision.

I suggest "big, bad president so ready to make a "gutsy call" can't face a reporter with tough questions? wimpy call!!!"

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Dictators don't like freedom of the press.

[canuck_conservative]

Obama now playing games with median that refuse to kiss his ass?

As usual, he has made the wrong choice.

This will come back to bite him.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

WOW!

The Obama admin is a complete mess. They act like partisan hacks. It took them how long to NOT attack Fox News and try to ban them? (The only reason they stopped was because other media outlets spoke up)

[GOPsterinMA]

*Howie Carr/Herald PING*

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

"White House spokesman Matt Lehrich "

White House spokesman Matt Lehrich will be blamed and publically said to have MISSPOKE and thrown under the bus. OR is the Obama WH such a mess that they will back this? Jealous of a Romney Op Ed? How petty and childish they're partisan hackery IS SHOWING AGAIN!

[ohioWfan]

“I tend to consider the degree to which papers have demonstrated to covering the White House regularly and fairly in determining local pool reporters,”

If President Bush had done that, there would be no more than one or two journalists at his press events.

Obama is a thin skinned tyrant-punk.

[doug from upland]

In Feb. 2002, I attended a town hall meeting in Ontario, CA and got to ask an “unscripted” question. No one asked me what I was going to ask.

[Chaguito]

Fascism (dictionary.com): a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism <check>, regimenting all industry <check> , commerce <check>, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism cult of personality and often racism <check>.

We got us a mini-version with aspirations to be a maxi.

[American Quilter]

Excellent response by the Herald! His Majesty the President-King does not wish to be annoyed by the peasants, and the more people realize it, the better.