Press Corps Standing For Obama And Not Bush Video Debunked

A YouTube clip purporting to demonstrate -- through press room etiquette -- that the White House Press Corps has a greater level of fundamental respect for President Barack Obama than his predecessor has been making its way around the internet. In the video, the viewer is offered a side-by-side comparison between Obama's interruption of last week's press briefing to announce David Souter's retirement and another instance in which President George W. Bush entered the briefing room. In the former, the press corps stand up. In the later they remain seated. Here, you can watch for yourself:

I was inclined to be skeptical of this claim, since a single moment between Bush and the press corps in an eight year Presidency does not paint an accurate picture of their relationship. As it turns out, the comparison is pretty unfair, and you can take the word of someone who should know -- CBS News' Mark Knoller:

It's a long-standing practice for reporters to rise when the president enters the East Room for a news conference, but that hasn't been the case in the briefing room.

I checked with two colleagues who served as senior wire service reporters during the Bush Presidency and who, in matters of press protocol, the rest of us followed.

"The briefing room is always a more informal place," says Steve Holland of Reuters.

But the principal reason reporters remained in their seats, he said, was not to block the shot of TV cameramen and still photographers in the back of the room who were trying to make a picture of the president's walk-in.

Of the spontaneous display of standing up last week, Knoller insists that it was "a sign of respect for the president, but not one of disrespect for his predecessor," adding, "It was President Obama's first time at the briefing room lectern since taking office and for some new members of the White House Press, it was their first time seeing a president enter the room as well."

[hat tip: Jake Tapper]

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Comments

[MRb1000]

If you never work in a position to notice earn respect, you would not understand what you are observing. This is an example for all to learn. Those who served in the military understand earn respect. President Obama has achieved this respect very early. So stop being a hater. He has natural leadership traits. Hey, get over it and move on!

HE IS A COMMANDER AND CHIEF!

IT IS ABOUT TIME WE HAD ONE THAT DEMANDS RESPECT FOR THE OFFICE!

I BET YOU WILL NOT SEE A SHOE THROWN AT HIM IN ANY COUNTRY!

[Haitiana4Obama]

Exactly, President Obama deserves our respect, once Bush began to show disrespect toward to office of the Presidency he lost all respect.

[Politisizer]

You here all this noise from the righ.twi.ng crac.kpots about who got more 'respect'...

Ok so journalists all rose for Obama - for G W Bush they take off their shoes ffs !

[Politisizer]

Bah ruined it with a spelling mistake.. hear not here ofc.

[pfranklin400]

what press? the press is a joke. With GW Bush they asked accusatory questions, and with OBama the clown they ask questions like "what has been the most humbling part of being the President".

The press is a joke. 2 years from now when Obama bankrupts this country the press will blame G Bush.

[totalliberal]

Two years from now? Sheesh your ta.rd did it way before President Obama walked into that room.

[Gidster]

So the whole fight two wars on credit, while cutting taxes to business and the wealthy so that the deficit is doubled thing that happened during the last administration doesn't count?

The Bush administration invaded a country on lies, outed an undercover CIA operative, shredded the Bill of Rights and tortured POWs, whish he deemed were not actually POWs, because then you can't torture them, and botched completely the governmental response to Katrina's aftermath!

He had a lot to answer for

[Lemmy]

Those puppies in the press get on thier back hoping Obama will scratch their bellies.

[DesertRat09]

I don't get it. I watched the video expecting it to show that the Bush video had been faked and the press really did stand. Instead, it shows exactly the clip running around, then gives a somewhat lame excuse for the difference in treatment.

Personally, I could care less who the press stands or sits for. My biggest question is why was this article written? It told me nothing.

[Foreground]

Because, since the beginning of the election season, there have been accusations from Obama's presidential rivals (an admirably bipartisan effort, really), to paint the "liberal" mainstream media as being in Obama's pocket, despite the fact that press spent untold manhours focusing on the easily debunkable scandals that said rivals manufactured, while rarely ever giving more than a cursory glance at the parallel, and often much worse, *real* scandals that dogged those rivals.

[RachelMc]

yeah thats what i saw too...

[IndependentBadger]

A free, independent press bows to noone. If a journalist does a waltz, or farts the bill of rights, or tap dances, that is their own business. The president is just a person. When we stop treating him like a king, we will begin honoring the constitution.

Enough already with this nonsense. Hey, look! Over there! Michelle went sleeveless again!

[Crissy Patters]

At least the corp stopped talking when Bush walked in. lol
The reasoning was explained by someone who knows the system, however, I personally believe Pres. Obama is very deserving of the respect.

[IndependentBadger]

Oh, please. Like he's frickin' ARAGORN.

The American media deserves AT LEAST as much deference from the executive.

Presidents should bow when journalists enter the room, and shouldn't get to pick who asks questions.

Our democracy can tolerate no less. Our democracy shouldn't take a back seat to Miss Manners Etiquette for the Bum-Kissery of the Potentates.

[patwal]

So why should Pres Obama not get to pick who asks the questions when all the other Presidents did? Remember when former Presidents would always call on Helen Thomas for the first question - until Bush decided to banish her from the White House Press corps.

Of course the one difference between Pres Obama and Pres Bush was that George Bush basically used to call on pretty much the same people all the time in the MSM, whereas Pres Obama calls on a wider range of press people, including those from the non-traditional media.

[anastomosis]

My, my, who pulled your little one?

[TomTheAlmostUgly]

"The American media deserves AT LEAST as much deference from the executive."

Obviously it really bothers you that Obama doesn't let Fox News ask "have you quit beating your wife" type questions.

Why should the president defer to those overpaid courtiers? They softballed Bushie for eight years. Helen Thomas is the only person in the room who deserves to even _look_ at Obama, much less speak to him.

[boston2008]

Is any one really mad about this? not really. That was the worst administration in the history of the united states... STARTING WITH: 9/11-IGNORED WARNINGS FROM GOV'T INTEL. - LIED ABOUT WMD'S IN IRAQ AND WITH THAT ALMOST BANKRUPT THE COUNTRY - THE DOLLAR LOST IT'S VALUE UNDER THAT ADM. - CATRINA - STOLE THE ELECTION IN 2000 & 2004 - BANKRUPT THE ECONOMY - ISOLATED THE U.S. FROM THE WORLD... man, no one is mad about this video ONLY RIGHT WING NUTS.

[Renee27]

That is why I watch C-SPAN

[GOPBossLimbaugh]

The Press Room is usually an informal setting. Journalists do not usually stand up therefore when the POTUS comes in.
When Obama walked in, it was a complete and total surprise and they mostly stood up due to reflex.
When Bush walked in, they knew he was coming plus the there were extra camera men brought in there for the occasion whom the journalists did not want to block.

That said, is it not shamefully petty of those conservatives to try to find something to complain about here?

[Yarrr]

Let's be honest, no one respected Bush. Not even his voters.

[nowarpleez]

Bush was a boob. Obama deserves to be respected.

[AERO]

Respect is a two way street. You have to give it to get it.

[just4shiggles]

You can't demand respect, you have to earn it.

[Solja]

The Bush White House spokespeople were all snippy, short, nasty liars. The press wasn't treated respectfully by them, in my opinion. They were too busy trying to hide stuff so the press was very annoying to them, and it showed. This White House is much more friendly and respectful to the press.

[force fed up]

Well what do you know... Liberals acting like Neocons, clipping videos to bolster lies. But geeeee... everyone fighting me on this site claims that Liberals are so much better then those corrupt neocons...

pffft...

[sjones66]

what are you smoking? this "clipped" version was made by whining righties. who else? and of course, it follows their sop. All whine, no fact.

[force fed up]

Pot. And I don't care... You're helping prove my point.

[force fed up]

Also... why on earth would rightwingers want to create a video that showed Bush got less respect then Obama? Who's High? I know I am, but at least I still have the ability to think logically.