White House Correspondents' Association's snarky response to NYT's pulling out of annual dinner

[DeepModem Mom]

Editor&Publisher: WHCA Officials Defend Dinner In Wake Of 'NY Times' Pullout
By Joe Strupp
Published: April 30, 2007

NEW YORK The New York Times' decision to no longer participate in the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, first revealed by Frank Rich in his Sunday column, drew support from other Times staffers, but some disagreement from WHCA officials.

New York Times spokeswoman Catherine Mathis confirmed Monday that the newspaper had decided not to participate in the event, but gave no reason for the decision. She said the paper also would not attend future Gridiron Club dinners, while some sources at the paper said the policy could extend to other similar events....

***

Ann Compton, incoming WHCA president, said she had not seen Rich's column, but said the Times would not be missed at the dinner. "The New York Times has never been a major player in there, they only buy two tables," Compton said of the event, which usually includes some 250 tables with 10 people each. "We had checks in hand that we had to return that would have filled 42 more tables. I hope they will still be members of the association."

Ron Hutcheson, a former WHCA president and current McClatchy White House correspondent, defended the dinner, saying accusations of conflict are largely unfounded. "It is driven by a misperception, largely in the blogosphere, that because we are civil to each other, we forget what our role is, which is ridiculous," Hutcheson said. "Especially in these times, we need civility. The whole reason you get a guest like Karl Rove is to get what you can from Karl Rove."

But Rich, who said in his column that the dinner "illustrates how easily a propaganda-driven White House can enlist the Washington news media....," defended his views again Monday. "I don't feel that reporters should be used in presidential publicity stunts," he told E&P. "This is used by the president of the United States as a political event."...

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003578295

[AndyA]

1. "I don't feel that reporters should be used in presidential publicity stunts,"

And yet that's exactly what's been happening, ever since * took office. One staged PR event after another.

One ignored fact after another.

The reporters and media, by and large, are mere puppets for Bushco.

[Bitwit1234]

2. Well it goes to show that the NYT has some character doesn't it.

they ones who protest the pullout are the ones who have their head the furtherest up republican butt.

[aquart]

3. Uh, McClatchy? They are the only ones doing honest reporting.

Certainly NOT the Times.

[endarkenment]

7. Odd that.

McClatchy was the only source of good honest reporting prior to the war. The NYT was exhibit one regarding the stenography of propaganda. And yet here they are in exactly the opposite roles.

[Missy Vixen]

4. The NYT sees the handwriting on the wall

They didn't feature the crew from FDL on their front page because it was a slow news day. The powers that be have now seen the future, and it scares the hell out of them. They're actually going to have to do some reporting, get their facts straight, and try to overcome the nightmare of Judy Miller before they are deemed irrelevant and no longer have a voice.

Period.

Julie

[old guy]

8. Handwriting on the wall

I think you may well be onto something here, at least we can hope.

[yardwork]

5. The entertainment is no good anymore

Nobody's allowed to make fun of bushco at the dinner now. It's no fun anymore.

[endarkenment]

6. Yeah you forgot what your role is.

"It is driven by a misperception, largely in the blogosphere, that because we are civil to each other, we forget what our role is, which is ridiculous".

No, what is ridiculous, well it would be ridiculous if it were not for all the dead people, is the complete amnesia by the white house press corpse regarding the role with respect to the administration, as evidenced by their stenography of total bullshit regarding the pre and post Iraq War Blunder.

[Stephanie]

9. No, Ron. What we need, especially in these times is INTEGRITY

And I'm glad the NYT is beginning to understand that. Maybe I'll re-subscribe.