It was a condition, The Des Moines Register was told, set by the White House, according to Editor Rick Green, who used his blog to write about the telephone call yesterday morning with President Obama.
Earlier this month, GOP nominee Mitt Romney spoke to the Register's editorial board in a bid for the paper's endorsement -- but his remarks were, appropriately, on the record.
Iowa is one of 12 battleground states playing an outsized role in the presidential election on Nov. 6. Obama is leading in the state, according to USA Today's Poll Tracker, which uses poll results compiled by Real Clear Politics.
Green said Obama's refusal to speak on the record would not be a factor in the paper's endorsement, which is set to be disclosed at 7 p.m. local time on Saturday.
Four years ago, the Register endorsed Obama over Republican John McCain.
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Iowa is one of 12 battleground states playing an outsized role in the presidential election on Nov. 6. Obama is leading in the state, according to USA Today's Poll Tracker, which uses poll results compiled by Real Clear Politics.
Green said Obama's refusal to speak on the record would not be a factor in the paper's endorsement, which is set to be disclosed at 7 p.m. local time on Saturday.
Four years ago, the Register endorsed Obama over Republican John McCain.
A stupid request stupidly accepted. Rick's unveiling of the covert exchange is anything but heroic. His after-the-fact disclosure serves nobody but himself. Ya can't blame the Prez for asking, but you can certainly turn thumbs down on the Register for letting it happen. Even the smallest of GCI's papers would know better than that.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually a supporter of Rick, but that is shameful. Obama was allowed to say what he wanted. Yet by not telling the voters anything, Obama doesn't get the scrutiny that his comments would DESERVE. I am so frustrated at how Obama gets to make his own rules.... and how the mainstream media gives him a pass on EVERYTHING. The Register should be embarrassed. The paper did not serve its readers.
ReplyDeleteIf Rick and the Register want to tell us how to vote (via endorsements) We, the voters, deserve all the information. And, of course, we won't get that due to the "off the record" conversation.
ReplyDelete"Trust us -- we had a great off-the-record conversation" isn't gonna cut it!
This is a disgrace and an insult to hard wording journalists worldwide. It's either on the record or nothing.
ReplyDeleteInsane and idiotic.
ReplyDeleteWhat was so freakin' important, "national security" had to be invoked?
Res ipsa. Pray for the USA and the working class.
I guess the Des Moines Register
ReplyDeletewants it's revenue to go even further in the tank.
Disgraceful and amateurish.
ReplyDeletePoynter: Obama & FOIA
ReplyDeletehttp://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/156227/obama-administrations-foia-record-worse-than-bushs/
" .. New York Times Public Editor Margaret Sullivan noted the discrepancy between President Obama’s UN speech Tuesday praising the First Amendment and his administration’s crackdown on whistle-blowers .."
Who cares who the DUH Moines Register endorses?
ReplyDeleteIt’s simple…
ReplyDeleteWhite House: “We’d like to talk with your newspaper but it has to be off the record.”
Newspaper: “NO and we’ll be sure to share with our readers what you’re attempting to do.”
Frankly, if this nation’s media outlets ever hope to regain credibility with readers, then they need to take the protections they have under the Constitution seriously, including asking tough questions, even those that interviewees don't want to hear.
Unfortunately, govt officials have been increasingly allowed to set a growing array of ground rules, including what is even discussed. This current administration seems to have set a new level, having been allowed to get away with it for too long including here.
So much for Gannet having balls.
The the DMR did is reprehensible, but, as alluded to in another post, who cares who these newspapers are endorsing? Is anybody going to vote based on who they endorse? I highly doubt it, especially this late in the game.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm sure everyone's waiting with bated breath for 7 p.m. Saturday to come when we can all hear who the DM Register will endorse. I can't stand the anticipation!
ReplyDelete1:01/1:04 If Obama is willing to take 30 minutes out of an excruciatingly busy schedule, you can bet the president of the United States thinks the paper's opinion matters.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNo reasonable person believes Jim thinks Mr. Obama is above the DMR or FOIA.
ReplyDeleteBy featuring the stories in GB, Jim added to the pressure on Mr. Obama to quit playing silly games and "get real."
1:43 And at the risk of stating the obvious, Romney has an equally excruciatingly busy schedule.
ReplyDeleteYou don't get it, this was the strategy all along. Ask to be off the record, knowing that the paper would mention that fact, then releasing the entire transcript instead of letting the editors cherry pick what they wanted to include from the conversation. Now Twitter is ablaze with an otherwise non-story! Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteSo you're saying Laura Hollingsworth and Rick Green were played like a fiddle by the Democratic party? Gannett was put in a very bad position and a very bad light by allowing this to happen. I've been reading about it on AOL and other news feeds this morning and nobody has said one good thing about the way this all went down. Way to go, Laura and Rick. Between this and the blue balls memo, Gannett is well on its way to self destruction.
ReplyDeleteWhose transcript, the DMR's or the WH's? Were they prepared or off the cuff remarks?
ReplyDeleteTo someone on the outside, it sounds like DMR was just so star-struck that the president wanted a private audience they slobbered over themselves making it happen.
After the poor debate showing four years ago and the more recent elimination of the national political reporter position, DMR should just get off the national stage and handle the high drama of corn futures.
Amateurs (DMR) + Obama's staff = huge, bizarre and weird mess.
ReplyDeleteA lot of newsrooms podcast candidate interviews. It is called "free advertising" for all involved. Romney certainly understood that game.
DMR jumped the shark when G A N N E T T bought them.
ReplyDeleteWith 'journalist' like the DMR it is no wonder that the general public is being ill served by Gannett and other newspapers.
ReplyDeleteJournalist are now ranked down there
with attorneys in the trust area.
The feeble circulation will continue to fall due to incompetence in being 'impartial'
in the news presentations.
Did anyone expect otherwise from these two self-serving Gannett puppets?
ReplyDeleteRick Green lending a perfect example of the Peter Principle.
ReplyDeleteTrusting Rick green? Suggest it be done with great caution. Not just the President of the united states but everyone who works at the register or those who read it. his disrespectful and public display of such with the "off the record" PR stunt is child like high school journalism antics. Is he ready for prime time? You decide This seems a good example of an unethical judgement lapse Rick green worked for bob dickey in palm springs and bob dickey continues to greatly influence Rick greens actions. You can be certain in my opinion that the register will be endorsing Romney. But the sad reality is that it doesn't mean much anymore what the register editorials say as the register has lost its audience reach and has lost its way. Rick green is bob dickeys puppet and is a slash and burn manager rather than a leader. Green has ended the registers tradition of legendary editors. Green is in over his head. Disappointing.
ReplyDelete