David Gregory: "Obama Team Would Like To Have A Measure Of Control Over The Press"

David Gregory has settled in as the new host of NBC's Meet the Press, Sunday's most-watched public affairs program. As the Obama administration takes charge, Gregory talks to B&C Programming Editor Marisa Guthrie about the Washington press corps' Obama honeymoon and the administration's transparency pledge.

Q: How has the Obama administration handled the Washington press corps so far?

A: I think there's actually a lot they've tried to learn from the Bush team with regard to managing the press and being very disciplined. The Bush approach was to see the press as a special interest, in some ways to be dismissed. The Obama team would like to have a measure of control over the press and a little bit of distance.

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Comments

[mick7191]

Kind of in the vein of the previous administration. The media in this country does nothing for the people. Probably the last strong reporting was Woodward and Bernstein during Watergate. That and a certain consensual sex act that was committed in the Oval Office. That's it. We live in a world where a CIA agent's cover can be compromised and the media ignores it. The press has proven the can be controlled. So be it.

[legoh]

David Gregory is a Tool! End of story.

[sonoffestus]

Gregory.......journalist.........HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[speakingtruth2power]

The press has the stink of the beltway swamp on them and notoriously enabled the era of BushCo.

Keith and Rachel are a refreshing change and expose the truth more often than they give opinions.

[wm1066]

The fact that the Obama team will actually talk to the press(as opposed to giving them talking points) confounds gregory. He didn't mind when the last Administration shut him down but NOW he will act like he has a spine to the Obama Administration, What a hypocrite!

[springsm]

Maybe this is good. The Obama camp won't be the bush camp, but until these "journalists" of the "press" grow up and do a better job, somebody should watch over them. And I would distance myself too, from the likes of Ed Henry, David Gregory and the others who think the only way to stardom is to ask dumb and very rude questions and then make up the facts and answers. And then whine about it. There is not much to admire in the "Press". I think the Press thinks of itself as a much loftier vocation that it has been for some time now.

[Ares1]

I was a fan of David Gregory early on but he has come around as being a tool for the right in recent times.

[cloudminder]

David Gregory's wife ran Fannie Mae when it was taken over by the feds

how is he the arbiter of who is or isn't in the tank and what is fair journalism

the stench of hypocrisy is very thick indeed

[nunzia]

Oh yeah.
David Gregory, intrepid journalist.
Isn't he the one who danced with Rove?
Yuk.

[runnerin1]

As opposed to the Bush team wanting total control of the media.

[moda31]

david gregory has been yammering about how the obama press operation is the second coming of the bush press shop any chance he gets (though he never complained about the bush folks); he's been on a one man mission to push this meme and gin up even greater media resentment of the obama folks before they even get set up. he's out declaring that the media must not let it happen all while pretending that he held the bush admin's feet to the fire (in between raps with rove i'm sure); his mental gymnastics has really been something to behold.

[TomSut]

Count me as NOT a fan of Gregory. He pains me as he promotes "gotcha" journalism and does nothing to try and further public understanding of issues. For the last two weeks I've watched this mess. I turned off George S. when he and Charles blew the Presidential debate last year. I think I'll now have to turn back to his "This Week" and turn off MTP... David Gregory is not cutting it. MTP better watch this one closely... I don't see how he can last against more formidable competition. How 'bout letting Rachel Maddow pinch hit for a week? Now there's a thoughtful one who promotes understanding...

[Ozarks]

Gregory is a republican sycophant. His "1600 whatever" show on MSNBC tanked. He is pitiful on Meet the Press and it is tanking. He is going to be gone in short order.

[northstar11]

you have my BS meter spinning out of control.

you are implying that no one has controlled the message for the past eight horrific years .
i am sure you recall media compliance and aquiecense with the neo con agenda.

i dont see or hear you calling for impeachment for torture or contitutional violations or treasonous acts mr gregory. why are you so silent on these issues? much easier to pick on the dems than challenge you right wing masters???

you are sounding like you are flapping your gums

[Lyndependent]

The first press conference was a circus! Over 120 reporters and cameramen cramed into a room built for 40 reporters. Why not have 1 camera, 1 mic and a shared feed to all interested parties?

The 40 'seats' could easily be allotted, so no one feels 'left out'...

As for Gregory? He doesn't do his homework on those he interviews... He just has one 'gotcha' question after another... He wants to pick a fight, and make people squirm... You notice, he hasn't had any real players on there yet. Tim Russert, he's not.

I used to think Chuckie T would be a good moderator, but he lost my vote after hearing some of his stupid questions to Gibbs.