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

[ChiGuy]

Pushing the "historical precedent" angle was a last gasp effort.
Sorry, NYT. You'll have to be more creative than that to sell papers.

[mountainweb]

Welcome to the new world, the New York Times is no longer the newspaper at the top of the heap, or even a newspaper with a decent reputation(hey, they did their part to kill journalism). The vast number of TV news channels and the internet have become the "go to" source of information. Time they sucked it up and realized where they stand in the new world.

[SailFree]

Oh, no, a Sister Souljah moment. One predicts, however, that like an abused woman, the NYT will come back for more.

[schicklett3]

To the NY Times:
Poor you!

[SPQR1052]

Take a "walk" NY TIMES. Good riddance.
The Old Grey Mare ain't what she used to be.
The ole girl is on her knees.

[SailFree]

The vicious pit-chihuahuas turn on one of their own...how sad!

[Coinyer101]

good. he doesn't need them. we have the internets. that's a good way to cut out the 'middle man' journalists who do nothing but parse and twist e1's words.

[gurukalehuru]

The New York Times is no longer the newspaper of record, or even a newspaper with a decent reputation. They knowingly published false information in the run-up to the Iraq war, and they have never apologized for it.
The heck with them.

[DennyCrane]

Good. The NYT gave us people like Jason Blair, Judy Miller, and now Bill Kristol. After all the cheerleading they did for the Iraq War, they deserve nothing from this president.

[KeysDan]

Other than a private dinner with Kristol, and his neocon pals.

[brooklyncitizen]

Good...NYT­imes may actually be inspired to work at reporting and do real journalism during the next 4 years.

[macbabe]

why? they already predict Os failure and Hill to step up in 4 years... i d i o t s!!

[Kaye08]

Did Clinton or Bush have to have their entire cabinet named before Inauguration day and have a plan for a financial meltdown as big as this one and a national security plan in place on day one for the problems we are faced with around the globe? I think The NYT is being selfish in their whining about no interview. I, personally, this PE Obama and his cabinet have more important things to do right now!

[rasit]

If the people in NYT office already do not know this, someone ought to tell them that PE Obama has lot more IMPORTANT things to attend to, than help NYT keep its tradition.­...

Especially, couple of days after Jeff Zeleny's prediction that President Obama will be a one term President.­....

Bush and Cheney are NOT busy, NYT may want to interview them......

[Motorinstructor]

It's time to start new traditions!

[rasit]

And it is called CHANGE!!!

[bygollymissmolly]

Too bad so sad for the NYT. So they are not giving the privileged position of the first sit down interview with Obama. Obama is under no obligation to give them preferential treatment.

[Changeizgood]

NYT = FOX NEWS IN PRINT.

Get your interviews from the rest of the right wingknutz that have your ear.

Besides, isn't NYT a corporation of Rupert Murdoom?

[aznurse]

So he's not doing something that George W and Clinton did? That's a problem?
2 presidents make a tradition?
Odd.

[Bettysdad]

"Obama has yet to provide The Times with the sort of free-wheeling, pre-Inauguration interview the paper's come to expect. "

And a newspaper's expectations must be met because...­?