A Quick Look At Washington Press Conferences: When Good Events Go Bad
Mark Leibovich in the Washington Post today (I'm still referring to Friday at this point) gives up and writes not about the Howard Dean/Harry Reid joint press conference, but about how screwed up the whole thing was. Here's an example:
About 60 reporters and cameramen attempted to shove their way into an office equipped to handle about 20. The resulting spectacle offered yet another distillation of why so many people believe that politicians and the media deserve each other.The madness began at 10:30 a.m. when the media horde was invited to enter Reid's office. Photographers poured in first, equipment slamming into the sides of a narrow doorway and -- in one case -- the temple of a female staffer. Reporters were invited in next, but roughly 20 reporters were unable to crowd in and were left to shout objections through the bottleneck. "You can't start yet," one yelled from the back. "The reporters aren't in."
I know some of you have a sneaking suspicion that Fox News reporters may not be as polite and charming as they seem on air. Well, you'll be disappointed to read this:
After several seconds, a booming voice cut through the noise. It belonged to Brian Wilson, a Fox News correspondent who was standing in the middle of the crowd. He asked Dean "if people are focused on the other things that you've said about hating Republicans, about Republicans being dishonest and then this latest comment about the Republican Party is full of white Christians. You say you hate Republicans -- does that mean you also'' hate white Christians?Dean didn't respond and Reid talked about having a "positive agenda." Wilson was so insistent that at one point, Durbin asked, "Does he run the press conference?"
Maybe he's just bitter that Pet Sounds hasn't gotten the same respect as Sgt. Pepper. Anyway, I found the article worth reading. It's an interesting look at what really goes on at these press events.