Obama Snubs New York Times, Breaks Pre-Inauguration Tradition

Although New York Times columnists David Brooks and Bill Kristol sat down with Barack Obama last night, the paper's White House team still hasn't had the opportunity to do so since Election Day.

Unlike recent White House occupants--such as George W. Bush and Bill Clinton--Obama has yet to provide The Times with the sort of free-wheeling, pre-Inauguration interview the paper's come to expect. And there's little expectation it will happen before Tuesday.

"We would certainly like it to happen," said Times political editor Dick Stevenson, "but the days are running short at this point."

Stevenson said that although The Times has put in multiple requests to the Obama team, and "pointed out the historical precedent for this," they've had no luck securing a sit-down.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[partyofone]

The New York Times should interview HIllary, who was their choice for president.

[rock2casbah]

How is this "historic" because the last 2 Presidents happen to sit down with them pre-injauguration? Two presidents does not a precedence make. Peddle that line elsewhere.

PE Obama must have literally thousands of requests for exclusive interviews. How would he possibly even begin to get through this transition work done to accept them all individually? To accept one in general opens the flooodgates of the others saying why not us?

[larry278]

It might sell ads on the front page. As of June 1, 2009, the NYT becomes the BRONX SHOPPER.

[pfrogger]

they'll fit their niche nicely
the facade of journalism from that "new" source is laughable
R.I.P. Times

[Knowitall]

The notion that Barack Obama is snubbing anybody, or hiding from questioning is the most laugable accusation I've heard in a long time. Obama's picture is on every publication on the newstand. 1,000's upon 1,000s of lines are written about him everyday. Seems like to me this article drew somewhat lukewarm "complaints" from the NYT, since they probably don't know what they could do on Obama that would be different than 100's of other articles. Obama doesn't have to chase news articles (ala Palin), they write about him even when he's trying to hide. (when his Grandma died, and on vacation)

This is a just one of the non-stories that proves the point I just made above.

[ObserverinVancouver]

Given the snarky pettiness of NYT's coverage of PE Obama, it is hardly surprising that he's found that he has other priorities. This, after all, is the paper that investigated the drug use he described in his book, Dreams from my Father, and very subtly hinted that the drug use may have been an invention. Imagine the scoop - "Presidential candidate didn't use as many drugs as he claimed." Obviously when they started investigating for this story they must have been hoping for just the opposite of what they found. But they couldn't bear to shrug it off as another story that didn't pan out and instead ran the garbage they did. And how about the Ayers story (there's no there there folks) that gave Sarah Palin the opportunity for her paling around with terrorists slime? Hard to feel sorry for NYT.

[thepoliticalcat]

Let's see, I have a pair of miniature violins lying around here somewhere. My heart just breaks for the NYT (NOT!). The media have become the worst spectacle, spouters of propaganda, liars and connivers at crimes, and the NYT is no exception. They can bloody well wait in line like everyone else.

[pfrogger]

second that
didn't the Times hold of the story about illegal and unconstitutional wiretaps until after Bush won 2004
nice journalistic integrity
to the Times: suck it, suck it long, suck it hard

[toocoldout]

The NY Times did everything in their power to elect Hillary and even recently trashed Caroline who supported him. Of course he's not rushing to talk to them.

[SammyD]

good choice this time leave the losers behind

[AParan]

just seen that uve said pretty much the same thing pashn8pa. agree 100%

[Kiabell04]

Geez, he's only human, he can't be in fifty-million places all at once. Geez, stop crying like a bunch of spoiled babies. More than likely the NYT isonly whining because they want to cash in on the popularity of Obama to save their BANKRUPT paper.

[Tenley]

Whatever will the NYT do if its reporters have to hustle like everyone else in D.C. instead of waltz into exclusives?

[HC4BO]

I got snubbed by Obama ...

That One refused to come to my residence for the sit down I have come to expect because I voted for him ...

(:rollseyes:) ...

[edwarvir]

You endorsed Hillary and Mccain so go
talk to them, The President will get to you
as soon as he can.

[Tulka2]

Good point. Forgive the Clinton endorsment though. She was the home state Senator. Still, you are right. What makes it sort of painful for the "NYT" is that they are feeling increasingly irrelivent. There are predictions the "nwespaper of record" will go under by May. I don't like it.

[sweetwhine]

"NYT are feeling increasingly irrelevant" So true. They have gotten too big for their britches.

[pfrogger]

feeling increasingly irrelevant?
they ARE irrelevant for anyone with half a brain, lacks traumatic brain injury, can actually do fact checking to determine that the Times has become a joke at journalism and followed in the footsteps of the anti-fact (or fact-lite if you will) of today's "news" culture
R.I.P. you useless and anti-factual gossip rag

[bannorhill]

First Bush.

Now Obama.

The NYTimes must be too bias when those political opposites both decide to snub them.

[pashn8npa]

Whats the matter Mike can't find anything to write about over at Politico so you have to cry about the NY times crying about not getting an interview? whats up with that?

[PoliticalAmazon]

The NYTimes recently published an article that said Obama may very well be a one-term president.

So why is the NYTimes interested in interviewing him?

There are lots of newspapers Obama hasn't given a "freewheeling" interview with. If I thought Obama was pulling a Bush Jr or McCain and limiting access only to those who print nothing but praise about him, I would be upset. But clearly this isn't the case.

[ErnestineBass]

You may want to re-read that comment of yours, dear.

[aweissnet]

Wow, this just really confused me. Which point are you attempting to make?