Gridiron singed by Obama no-show

[question everything]

Gridiron singed by Obama no-show
Anne Schroeder Mullins Anne Schroeder Mullins

No offense intended, says the Obama White House. None taken, say the esteemed leaders of the Gridiron Club. Still, in Washington, a slap does not have to be officially labeled as such for its sound to echo — and its sting to be felt. And make no mistake: President Barack Obama deciding that he is too busy to attend the Gridiron’s annual banquet later this month is a slap. He’s the first president since Grover Cleveland to skip the white-tie-and-tails affair in his first year in office.

The official line from the Gridiron Club — a society of Washington reporters, columnists, and bureau chiefs — is, “We understand.” But some Gridiron veterans make clear they don’t understand. Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page said, “People feel uncommonly saddened, miffed and burned.

(snip)

Beyond bruised feelings among the pundit class, Obama’s snub is a revealing cultural moment. Gridiron has for decades been an inner sanctum of Washington’s political press corps. The club’s mostly aging members were considered highly prestigious because they said so — and because they had the ability to summon the capital’s political elite to a spring frolic of skits and songs. But if a young and glamorous president decides he can afford to blow off an august and tradition-bound institution, one has to at least entertain the possibility that this institution may not be quite as august as its members assumed.

The rejection was heightened by the that’s-the-night-I-wash-my-hair explanation the Gridiron got from Obama. At first, Gridiron members heard through back channels that the Obama family would be in Chicago during the Obama daughters’ spring break from school. Then, on Friday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said at his daily briefing that the family would actually be in Camp David on March 21, the night of the dinner. That’s not exactly out of town by presidential standards — in fact, it is about a 20-minute helicopter ride if Obama had decided the event were important enough.

(snip)

It’s not like the Gridiron is being left with a bunch of political B-listers. In addition to Biden, most members of the Cabinet are planning to attend, along with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, according to one member.

(snip)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090316/pl_politico/20036

=====

Is this the gathering where Colbert gave such a great "keynote address?"

[Beartracks]

1. Colbert's appearance wasn't the Gridiron...

It was the 2006 White House Correspondents Association Dinner. OMG, that was a great appearance:

"I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message, that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound—with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world!"

Colbert is genius.

:rofl:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

2. No. But I think this is where Bush gave his "Those WMDs have to be around here somewhere!" speech

And the "press" laughed and laughed.

[FrenchieCat]

5. But, but, but....today, they were Outraged Populists!

Watta a difference one election makes.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

6. It wasn't the Gridiron that he did that...but it WAS at the Gridiron that he sang this little ditty.

I spend my days clearing brush

I clear my head of all the fuss

Oh, like the fuss you made over Harriet and Brownie

Down the lane, I look out

Here comes Scooter

Finally free of the prosecutor

It’s good to touch the brown, brown grass of home.

I awake and look around me

At the oval walls that surround me

And I realize I was only dreaming

There’s Condi and Dick, my old compadre

Talking to me about some oil-rich Saudi

But soon, I’ll touch the brown, brown grass of home

Yes you’re all gonna miss me

The way you used to quiz me

But soon I’ll touch the brown, brown grass of home

Dick Cheney strolling with documents he’s been withholding

It’s good to touch the brown, brown grass of home

Yes you’re all gonna miss me

The way you used to diss me

But soon I’ll touch the brown, brown grass of home.


http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/bushs-surprise-serenade-hits-youtube/

Yuk Yuk Yuk....

[FrenchieCat]

3. Good. Let them be without the one

who they are dumping on day in, day out.

It's not like him showing up would stop what they are bent on doing,
they would just suspend it for one day.

I hate the media.

You should have labeled your post...."He's just not that into you!" :rofl:

[Fleshdancer]

4. How DARE Obama spend time with his family when his daughters are on Spring Break!

That family man has some nerve!

:rofl:

Seriously though, if it's that big of a deal (which it really isn't) then just change the stupid date and be done with it.

[Clio the Leo]

7. Not to mention the merits of NOT wearing a white tie and tails given the current economic mess.

That gives the press one less thing to whine about ..... well, maybe not one less but "President snubs old white men in tuxes, spends time with family" plays MUCH better than "President dons white tie and tails to hob nob with DC elites."

[BlooInBloo]

8. Obama to Villagers: You're only as "august" as *I* say you are!

:rofl:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_03/017311.php

" Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page said, "People feel uncommonly saddened, miffed and burned.

"I don't think he understands the implications of not coming to the club in the first year. It's not your ordinary state dinner. I think it would be helpful for him and his relations with the Washington establishment to come to the club."

Beyond bruised feelings among the pundit class, Obama's snub is a revealing cultural moment.

Gridiron has for decades been an inner sanctum of Washington's political press corps. The club's mostly aging members were considered highly prestigious because they said so -- and because they had the ability to summon the capital's political elite to a spring frolic of skits and songs.

But if a young and glamorous president decides he can afford to blow off an august and tradition-bound institution, one has to at least entertain the possibility that this institution may not be quite as august as its members assumed."

[Merlot]

9. I am SO glad he's not doing this

It looks bad, everyone in formal attire having their little jokes while we are sinking financially.

I hated it every time gw* did it. Hated seeing the clips, and smug insiders.

These little things add up. Good move on Obamas part.

[Uzybone]

10. The back-scratchers and gossip mongerers are pissed

Fuck em.

[FrenchieCat]

11. If it wasn't that, it would be something else.

If you notice, they haven't been too kind lately.

Next, they'll be setting their sights on Michelle, I guess.

But I don't think she's all that into them either.

[ddeclue]

12. Perhaps the press ought to be less concerned about rubbing elbows with the rich and famous

and spend more time doing ACTUAl research and journalism.

So many of these guys are totally afraid to report a story for fear they'll get cut out of the glitz and the glamor and end up being totally co-opted by the very weasels they should be exposing!

[Teaser]

13. Good. Fuck'em.

They are the pigs who enabled Bush for the last 8 years. Fuck em.

Twice.

[CreekDog]

14. screw them

Obama has made himself available to the media in numerous ways.

But he don't have to go to some high priced dinner to be fair to the press.

[firedupdem]

15. I am so happy he is not attending. These people aren't

journalists! They are full of shit. Laughing at the poor state of affairs in this country. Very good President Obama. Spend some time with your family or watching a ball game. Fuck these bums.

[monmouth]

16. I'm so glad POTUS has subtly told them to go to hell, and I really hope

VP Biden gets his snark going top speed.

[City Lights]

17. The mediawhores got their feewings huwt!

Cry me a river. :eyes:

:nopity:

[olegramps]

18. Screw that pack of assholes.

There isn't one damn reporter in the whole lot that is worth a damn. They gave Bush a pass and allowed this country to be taken to war on lies. Lies that they gladly repeated over and over in the run up to war. Nothing more than a pack of spineless sell-outs, just like the two draft dodging bastards, Bush and Cheney, that they protected. The only person who had any "balls" was Helen Thomas who called them a pack of "lap dogs." They were such cowards that rather than coming to her defense they threw her under the bus when the Bush administration black balled her.

Screw them and whore they rode in on.

[Jennicut]

19. They want their asses kissed and are all sad now. Good.

I would rather our President spend time with his family then smooze with that bunch of a-holes.