Post by: Otherguy Overby on April 27, 2006, 04:12:59 PM
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/005090.htm
Quote
Transcript of the hissy fit White House press corps reporters had earlier today about TVs being tuned to Fox News:
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
One might think there's something more important to for the nation's news media to argue about.
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
Post by: The Rabbi on April 27, 2006, 04:33:57 PM
Quote from: Otherguy Overby
One might think there's something more important to for the nation's news media to argue about.
If they focus on petty stuff like that it will keep them out of trouble.
Post by: K Frame on April 27, 2006, 04:55:58 PM
Post by: crt360 on April 27, 2006, 05:24:00 PM
Post by: garrettwc on April 27, 2006, 05:46:26 PM
Point #2 - the idea that they are now going to have to come to Tony Snow must be driving them absolutely batty.
Post by: auschip on April 27, 2006, 06:03:40 PM
him: "Blah, Blah, Blah, we don't want to watch Fox news."
me: "Then don't watch."
him: "No, I mean I want to watch CNN, not Fox."
me: "People in Hell want ice water."
him: "It isn't fair."
me: "Did you really just say that? Seriously, is this the battle you want to fight? Do you honestly want to draw your line in the sand over Fox Vs. CNN?"
him: "Umm, yes I think so."
me: "Fine, no more TVs period. I will tell them to turn all the non-staff TVs off."
him: Wait, I meant ..."
me: "Nope, I don't want to offend you any longer. There, done. Now, what else can I fix for you?"
Something tells me, I will never be haunting the hallowed halls of politics.
Post by: Sylvilagus Aquaticus on April 27, 2006, 07:19:16 PM
That'll teach 'em.
Break the dang knobs off, too.Put on closed captioning. In French...and Spanish. See about getting Braille pads hooked to the feed as well.
No reporter left behind!
At least when they're screeching over the TV they aren't poking their eyes out or pulling little sister's hair.
Regards,
Rabbit.
Post by: tyme on April 27, 2006, 08:01:40 PM
If the TVs are on, I second Rabbit's suggestion of C-SPAN, and those custom TV modifications.
Post by: Antibubba on April 28, 2006, 03:43:59 AM
Quote
Good god, maybe they should have changed it ot the Lifetime Network.
Close! They should put it "Oxygen". Sounds like this guy isn't getting enough.
Post by: Otherguy Overby on April 28, 2006, 04:53:47 AM
It's way past time for some rope around those skinny turkey necks.
Post by: Stand_watie on April 28, 2006, 07:27:02 AM
Quote from: tyme
I'm confused. Aren't those idiots supposed to be creating the news, not watching it?
If the TVs are on, I second Rabbit's suggestion of C-SPAN, and those custom TV modifications.
Sadly, far too many of them think that your unintentional (I think?) pun is true, that they're supposed to be "creating" news by raising a ruckus at the press conferences, rather than reporting what the press secretary has to say and asking him reasonable questions about the happenings of the executive branch. I can't wait until they start shouting "boxer's or briefs, boxers or briefs!" If the TVs are on, I second Rabbit's suggestion of C-SPAN, and those custom TV modifications.
[edited for poor taste]
Post by: Ron on April 28, 2006, 01:56:31 PM
Post by: seeker_two on April 29, 2006, 01:41:47 PM
Post by: Otherguy Overby on April 29, 2006, 03:25:42 PM
For me, the best part of the current Bush administration is that it is not a JF Kerry administration. I'm really hoping Snow can do a little bit of good.
Post by: roo_ster on May 01, 2006, 04:42:28 AM
Quote
I really do think Tony is a lot smarter than most of the press corps
Not just Tony.From observing the press over the years, I have come to four conclusions:
1. Journalists know little and understand less...at least when they write/speak on the few topics I have experise. If thye are such complete schmoes on those topics, I wonder how ignorant they are on topics I have little knowledge of.
2. Journalists are lazy, herd-following, hacks. Usually, one guy in the NYT or WaPo writes something, and the rest run with it. "Staaaaaaaay with the flaaaaaahk!"
3. Little actual reportage is done by reporters. For example, most of the "important hair" contingent of reporters in Iraq never leave their hotel and trust in subcontracted (outsourced?) locals.
4. It almost goes without saying that journalists are biased to the left.
Post by: grampster on May 01, 2006, 05:07:01 AM
I love those collages he puts together where a particular phrase or word is used over and over by various reporters.
Post by: doczinn on May 01, 2006, 07:21:07 PM
Quote
I love those collages he puts together where a particular phrase or word is used over and over by various reporters.
Kinda eye-opening.
Post by: Winston Smith on May 01, 2006, 08:21:50 PM
Post by: Iain on May 02, 2006, 02:00:32 AM
Quote from: Blackburn
What's weird is how most conservative types talk about the "liberal media", and the liberal-lefty-du types talk about the "media refusing to look for the truth / conspiring with the bushpuppets" and the libertarian types see the media as being at tool of encroachment and blissful ignorance in soundbite chunks toward statism.
Yep. I've been saying for ages that it seems that everyone with any strong political opinions seems to think that the vast majority of the media is out to get them in some way. It is interesting how you can go to different web forums and see mirror-image talking points.
Post by: richyoung on May 02, 2006, 06:01:33 AM
Quote from: Iain
Quote from: Blackburn
What's weird is how most conservative types talk about the "liberal media", and the liberal-lefty-du types talk about the "media refusing to look for the truth / conspiring with the bushpuppets" and the libertarian types see the media as being at tool of encroachment and blissful ignorance in soundbite chunks toward statism.
Yep. I've been saying for ages that it seems that everyone with any strong political opinions seems to think that the vast majority of the media is out to get them in some way. It is interesting how you can go to different web forums and see mirror-image talking points.