Obama: We admit our mistakes

[sabra]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/11/obama_well_admit_our_mistakes.html

President-elect Barack Obama apologized to McClatchy reporter Steve Thomma at today's press conference for his staff placing the reporter in the "Cubs," not "White Sox" section of the press seating area. Thomma, a White Sox fan, noted the indignity of it all in the pool report he wrote for the benefit of other reporters not in place to observe the scene.

The light moment gave Obama a chance to make a point that some might interpret as a slap at some other administration. The Bush Administration perhaps?

PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA: All right. We've got -- I'm going to call on Steve Thomma. Where's Steve?

And the reason I'm going to call on Steve: I understand that as a lifelong White Sox fan, you were placed in the Cubs section yesterday, and I want to apologize for that. It -- I -- this is also part of the new way of doing business. When we make mistakes we admit them. So.

Thomma: Well, thank you, sir. That's the change we need --

PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA: That's the -- (laughs) --

Thomma: on behalf of White Sox fans. (Laughing.)


Our colleague John McCormick explained the whole Cubs, White Sox thing. Here's an excerpt from his piece.


There's always a media pecking order at a presidential news conference, but on Monday, aides to President-elect Barack Obama introduced a new twist to the seating chart.

Reporters were assigned seats in one of two sections, one to Obama's left, designated the "Cubs" section, and the other to his right, designated " White Sox." Team assignments appeared to be arbitrary.

Obama is a die-hard White Sox fan, but when it came time to take questions, he didn't favor reporters on that side. Instead, his seemingly random selections were pre-determined by aides.

Still, the seating chart didn't sit well with some reporters who have their own Chicago baseball roots. Here's the take from Steve Thomma, a reporter for the McClatchy Newspapers chain who filed a report as a member of the press pool following Obama on Monday.

[bdamomma]

1. Take that Bushie boy!

what a smackdown that was.

[Occam Bandage]

2. How utterly offensive to all White Sox fans. Yet another Obackstab!!!

:P

[Alter Ego]

3. This is awesome.

Reminds me of the "I'm sorry for messing up your game" call he gave that kid back in NH.

[rosesaylavee]

4. Man, a President who can joke.

And be playful.

How will we ever adjust?

[no_hypocrisy]

5. And I can see Fox with "And we'll be here first to report Obama's mistakes,

whether or not he wants to admit them".

[louis-t]

6. repugs see this as a sign of weakness.

They will be laughing and pointing if that happens.

[Tatiana]

7. As a White Sox fan, I cannot imagine being seated in a "Cubs" section.

Our disdain for them, especially those bleacher bums is legendary.

Good call by the Prez-elect!