Why are there no biz reporters at the White House?
Hal Morris, writing on his GrumpyEditor.com blog, wonders why business journalists are not in attendance at the White House when the president discusses the economy.
Morris writes, “President Barack Obama’s remarks about the economy at Friday’s news conference illustrates that more business writers should be in attendance asking questions, suggests Grumpy Editor.
“After the president mentioned, ‘We’ve created 4.3 million jobs over the last 27 months, over 800,000 just this year alone. The private sector is doing fine,’ not one news person in attendance raised an eyebrow — or hand seeking amplification.
“Later on Friday, after questions were raised outside the White House, Obama adjusted his ‘private sector is doing fine’ line by saying: ‘It is absolutely clear that the economy is not doing fine.’
“As for the jobs statistics, the president’s aides came up with the 4.3 million figure based on the February, 2010, low point for the private sector.
“That ignored job losses in his first year at the White House.
“The latest employment report — for May — showed the economy added only 69,000 jobs.
“Despite all this, some news folks backed the president’s presentation.”
Read more here.
