# Arranged questions @ White House press conference **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 24, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855 "2009-06-24T17:59:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/1 "2009-06-24T17:59:08Z")
From the Washington Post: > [@](#): > > After the obligatory first question from the Associated Press, Obama treated the overflowing White House briefing room to a surprise. “I know Nico Pitney is here from the Huffington Post,” he announced. > > Obama knew this because White House aides had called Pitney the day before to invite him, and they had escorted him into the room. They told him the president was likely to call on him, with the understanding that he would ask a question about Iran that had been submitted online by an Iranian. “I know that there may actually be questions from people in Iran who are communicating through the Internet,” Obama went on. “Do you have a question?” > . > . > . > During the eight years of the Bush administration, liberal outlets such as the Huffington Post often accused the White House of planting questioners in news conferences to ask preplanned questions. But here was Obama fielding a preplanned question asked by a planted questioner – from the Huffington Post. I’m not sure I see the problem. As long as the press conference isn’t _dominated_ by such tactics, it seems to me the use of a scripted Q&A can be useful for getting a particular message out. Where’s the beef? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/2 "2009-06-24T18:03:36Z")
I don’t see the problem, either. Sounds like they were very open and up-front about it being an arranged question. I think the objections to Bush doing this was that they were trying to pass them off as coming from independent journalists. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/3 "2009-06-24T18:07:06Z")
I have a lot of issues with the White House Press Corps that covers this and previous administrations. One guy brought in specifically to forward a question from someone in Iran is not one of my problems. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/4 "2009-06-24T18:07:24Z")
Agreed with **Miller**. If they’re up-front with what’s happening, it’s not a problem. If they’re sneaky about it, they need to cut it out. And as **Bricker** said, it needs to not be the main kind of question at the conference, and journalists who don’t play along, who ask difficult questions, need to be called on also. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/5 "2009-06-24T18:11:08Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think the objections to Bush doing this was that they were trying to pass them off as coming from independent journalists. I thought so, too. This comes off as a particularly lame _tu quoque_ from Milbank. Glenn Greenwald also addressed this issue today. He felt the press was irritated that Obama was taking a question from an actual Iranian person and not from reporters presuming to speak for the Iranian people. And I think he may be on to something. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/6 "2009-06-24T18:11:34Z")
Another agreement with Miller. It doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/7 "2009-06-24T18:24:51Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Glenn Greenwald also addressed this issue today. He felt the press was irritated that Obama was taking a question from an actual Iranian person and not from reporters presuming to speak for the Iranian people. And I think he may be on to something. I’d be wary of attributing motive like that. I think I would tend to agree with this thread so far in general, but I can see how this could be seen as a bit smelly (certainly, that’s my emotive reaction). ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/8 "2009-06-24T18:32:27Z")
Just to jump on the agreement bandwagon here, it doesn’t sound like the actual question was arranged, just the source of the question. It could have been friendly or hostile to the administration (anywhere from "Why has your administration handled this situation so well… to “Isn’t what Iran doing basically a war crime and why haven’t you invaded yet?”). However, since Huffington Post is the one choosing the question, I guess the administration could assume it wouldn’t be too hostile. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/9 "2009-06-24T18:35:23Z")
[A tempest in a teapot](http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/445637): > [@](#): > > So the complaints of several Washington reporters are not only odd, but hard to take at face value. It is particularly rich for reporters to protest that the White House told Pitney he might be tapped for a question. Every day, a few top White House correspondents have special access in press briefings, while many reporters are never called on (seating charts are powerful). And many Washington reporters routinely, secretly grant the White House blind quotes and restrictive ground rules in exchange for access. By contrast, Pitney transparently told readers about his dealings with the White House, in real time, on his blog. The public would be better served if all media outlets took that tack, publishing any arrangements, restrictions or ground rules along with every article or interview. (Readers would be interested – media criticism and scrutiny tends to draw traffic across the spectrum.) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/10 "2009-06-24T18:35:29Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I don’t see the problem, either. Sounds like they were very open and up-front about it being an arranged question. I think the objections to Bush doing this was that they were trying to pass them off as coming from independent journalists. Actually, I’m not sure I follow this assumption. Unless you mean, “Done so transparently that it amounted to an admission…” I don’t see anywhere that the White House acknowledged up-front that this was a set-up. And frankly I don’t think that’s relevant to the issue, unless the arranged questions substitute entirely for the real questions. The very next question the president took after the planted one was from a Fox reporter, so we can safely assume he’s not dodging reporters with semi-hostile stances. The tone of the WaPo column seems a bit disgruntled at the event, and I don’t see why. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/11 "2009-06-24T18:37:30Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > [A tempest in a teapot](http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/445637): Well, this answers **Miller** ’s point quite nicely. Even if the White House didn’t disclose the arrangement, it’s harmless error, so to speak, since the reporter involved did so. It just amuses me that the mainstream media is up in arms about the event (in a low key but obvious way). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/12 "2009-06-24T18:38:28Z")
The thing is, though, apart from things like normal stagecraft and managing access, I never saw any reasonable assertion that Bush was scripting things overmuch. That didn’t mean, of course, that he didn’t get criticized for what he did do - and criticized too for some things that were made up on the spot. I’m not concerned with this single item in a press conference - a far bigger concern for me is ABC News essentially turning over all of their news programs plus an hour of primetime to the White House today so that they can roll out a health care message. Rebuttal time will be controlled by the network alone, and balance will be determined by them. This is scripting, and anyone who griped about minor instances of Bush doing it by going to a town hall meeting instead of a press conference ought to marvel at this massive “news” push, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/13 "2009-06-24T18:40:26Z")
One fact overlooked in most of the discussion is that the question asked was not a good one for Obama. It was a tough question that he answered fairly poorly. **Bricker** , in what way was the question “scripted”? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/14 "2009-06-24T18:42:36Z")
I think I’d be a little pissed if the question itself was pre-arranged, or if it came from a source that was so obviously in the bag for Obama that it might as well have been. But it appears that just the source of the question was known in advance, and indeed, the question was actually a fairly difficult one for Obama to answer. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/15 "2009-06-24T18:44:48Z")
I have a problem with it. I mean, in this specific case, it’s probably not a big deal, but it’s not the job of the press to “help the president get a specific message out”. When members of the press agree to participate in this sort of thing, it strips them of their independence and their credibility. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/16 "2009-06-24T18:48:51Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I have a problem with it. I mean, in this specific case, it’s probably not a big deal, but it’s not the job of the press to “help the president get a specific message out”. How did the press participate in helping Obama get his message out? This sounds like almost the exact opposite. Edit: That’s ignoring that everybody uses the press to “get their message out,” of course. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/17 "2009-06-24T18:50:15Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > One fact overlooked in most of the discussion is that the question asked was not a good one for Obama. It was a tough question that he answered fairly poorly. > > **Bricker** , in what way was the question “scripted”? The reporter was briefed in advance that he’d be called. The President knew he’d be getting a question from the reporter ostensibly from an Iraqi “in the streets” person. Given that the usual practice is for reporters to make up questions on their own and ask them when called upon, I don’t think it’s a stretch to call it “scripted.” I just don’t think that’s a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/18 "2009-06-24T18:51:51Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I think I’d be a little pissed if the question itself was pre-arranged, or if it came from a source that was so obviously in the bag for Obama that it might as well have been. But it appears that just the source of the question was known in advance, and indeed, the question was actually a fairly difficult one for Obama to answer. Um… Huffington Post isn’t “…so obviously in the bag for Obama?” Really? You see them as neutral on him? I don’t agree. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/19 "2009-06-24T18:52:49Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The reporter was briefed in advance that he’d be called. The President knew he’d be getting a question from the reporter ostensibly from an Iraqi “in the streets” person. > > Given that the usual practice is for reporters to make up questions on their own and ask them when called upon, I don’t think it’s a stretch to call it “scripted.” I think “scripted” has a different connotation here. For one thing it implies Obama knew what he was going to be asked. The reporter did agree to participate, but we don’t know who approached who in this situation. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855/20 "2009-06-24T18:53:37Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The reporter was briefed in advance that he’d be called. The President knew he’d be getting a question from the reporter ostensibly from an Iraqi “in the streets” person. > > Given that the usual practice is for reporters to make up questions on their own and ask them when called upon, I don’t think it’s a stretch to call it “scripted.” > > I just don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think most people would assume “scripted” means the question was known in advance. The WH always chooses who gets to asks questions in the pressroom, I don’t really see the difference if the person isn’t physically there but asks through an intermediary, so long as this is made clear that this is what’s happening. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855.md?page=2)