Posted on 04/27/2006 9:45:08 PM PDT by Tut
CALL THE WAAAH-MBULANCEM
By Michelle Malkin · April 27, 2006 08:08 PM
***updated with reader feedback***
Transcript of the hissy fit White House press corps reporters had earlier today about TVs being tuned to Fox News (sent by reader John...by way of Hotline):
Q It's come to my attention that there's been requests -- this is a serious question -- to turn these TVs onto a station other than Fox, and that those have been denied. My question would be, is there a White House policy that all government TVs have to be tuned to Fox?
MR. McCLELLAN: Never heard of any such thing. My TVs are on four different channels at all times.
Q Because you have four different TVs. But every time I've ever been --
MR. McCLELLAN: Every TV in the White House also has channels every -- has a split screen, where they can --
Q Well, they always seem to be tuned to Fox, and there's been requests, and these are paid for by taxpayer dollars. And my understanding is that you guys have to watch Fox on Air Force One. Is that true?
MR. McCLELLAN: First time I've ever heard of it. First time you've brought it to my attention, meaning the first time the press corps has brought it to my attention. In fact, I've watched other channels on here.
Q There's one --
MR. McCLELLAN: Hang on, Jim, come on. I've watched other channels on here, so I don't know where you're hearing that. But it's the first time anyone in the press has raised that question with me.
Q You've watched other channels other than Fox?
MR. McCLELLAN: On here, yes, sure.
Q I've never seen -- they're always turned to Fox, which a lot of people consider a Republican-leaning network.
Q Scott, is it one -- on the airplane, is it one for all? I mean, if it's tuned for Fox here, is it Fox everywhere?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that certain areas may be interconnected, but I'll have to double-check which.
Q Is yours off, wherever you are?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the conference room, or the senior staff office, the staff office, they're different TVs, and you can switch to different channels. I'm not sure if some of these in the back are connected to some of the others that are watching right here, right now. It doesn't look like it to me. I've never known anyone that's raised a complaint about a request from back here to watch a different channel.
Q I'm officially raising it and officially complaining about it.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm going to go see if we can change the channel for you. Have you called up?
Q I was the Fox victim, and I was told -- the quote was, "No," when I asked for CNN.
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know who you talked to, so -- it didn't come to my attention. You don't know who you talked to either?
Q Well, the magic people at the other end off the phone.
MR. McCLELLAN: The magic people at the other end of the phone. Well, I'll see if this cabin is --
Q I was told, "We don't watch CNN here, you can only watch Fox."
MR. McCLELLAN: As I said, it's hard to respond to something when I don't know who it is you talked to.
Q I used the phone back here.
MR. McCLELLAN: I find this all quite amusing, to tell you the truth. I mean, there are a lot of people on this plane that do watch that channel.
Q I've never been told, no. They're such nice guys up there.
MR. McCLELLAN: First time you brought it to my attention. I'll go see what we can do on it.
* * * * *
MR. McCLELLAN: We just called up. They're going to be changing it, at your all's request, to the channel that you requested, which is CNN -- from the press corps.
Q Thanks, Scott.
END 11:39 A.M. EDT
Oh, not so amazing. You should see what they post about stuff on a website! *G*
So, I didn't see where it said who it was doing the questioning. I'd sure like to know. This goes a bit beyond the ridiculous. I'd like to drop this "professional" a friendly email...
Give them their CNN. .....but only Lou Dobbs' show.
Why did they cave?
Should have agreed to meet their request and put it on Cartoon Network or Lifetime.
Why are my tax dollars being used to fly this cry baby around?
I would say this was from the Onion, but because nothing is beneath a dummycrat this is believable.
Did this really happen? It seems as if it would have to be satire, but I also wouldn't put such behavior past the WH press corps.
What Scott should have said is:
"So, what you are saying is that you - the supposed objective and impartial press corp - you would prefer a left-leaning network to a right-leaning one? Is that it? Because many people consider CNN to be a Democratic Network. This is a Republican administration. We're not necessarily supposed to be impartial, but you are. BUT, if you are saying that you're not, then we'll get that changed for you right away."
McClellan is leaving, thank God.
Please see post #10.
When somebody puts a ball on a tee and invites you to take a baseball bat and knock it into next week, you don't just stand there and play with yourself. This exchange is exactly why I have never been able to stomach a McClellan press briefing.
Q I've never seen -- they're always turned to Fox, which a lot of people consider a Republican-leaning network.
And the problem with that is what?
Maybe some cartoons or a children's movie for the next flight?
He should have said they have it on because it is the highest rated. He should have also called them on the Republican-leaning statement by pointing out that most people think of CNN as liberal, Democrat-leaning.
the problem is, it (FOX) does not quite lean to Commieland enough....
Michelle Malkin funny Ping.
Oops, sorry, we can't do that. It seems to be stuck on the Best Of O'Reilly marathon....
It was Jim VandeHei from the Washington Post.
This seriesly happened?!
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