Posted on 02/16/2018 10:02:07 AM PST by Kaslin
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is constantly hammered by "Gotcha!" questions from reporters in the briefing room. This was dramatically underlined when the story broke about former White House staff secretary Rob Porter being accused of domestic violence by two ex-wives, one of whom even brandished a picture with a black eye.
By the time it was over, Sanders had one, too. It didn't look good, and nothing Sanders said from the lectern was going to be good enough. The same outlets that couldn't muster more than one question regarding former President Bill Clinton's alleged rape of Juanita Broaddrick seem to ask 27 questions a day about Porter.
So we wondered: How much would reporters like it if Sanders were to question them as aggressively as they question her? We know the Trump haters erupted when Sanders merely asked reporters to share what they were thankful for alongside their questions as Thanksgiving approached. Imagine an exchange like this:
NBC reporter Peter Alexander: "Sarah, how could you possibly not know about these charges, and how could Porter be praised as a good man? And why can't you offer us more transparency on the vetting process?"
Sanders: "OK, let me ask you: How could you at NBC possibly not know about the accusations of Matt Lauer aggressively propositioning women, even having a button under his desk that he could press to lock the door behind female employees? He worked at the top of NBC News for two decades, and nobody knew these women were suffering?"
Alexander: "Stop distracting. That's none of your business. We're a private company. We're not accountable to the public like you."
Sanders: "Why don't you try that defense at a Comcast shareholders meeting? 'We don't have to be vigilant about our female employees. We're a private company.' And while you're demanding transparency, how transparent was NBC in letting everyone know how it investigated Lauer's misdeeds? How transparent was NBC in investigating Brian Williams' lying on talk shows about all his amazing adventures in war zones? Next question."
Jim Acosta, CNN: "Hold on! Aren't you and the president putting democracy in danger when you try to undermine the respectability of the press corps?"
Sanders: "Jim, should we revisit the respectability of CNN? Your network accepted Saddam Hussein's claim that we bombed a baby-formula factory in Iraq. Your network's founder, Ted Turner, went to North Korea and then told Wolf Blitzer he didn't see any brutality, just thin people riding bicycles. Are you serving democracy with this kind of journalism?"
Acosta: "That's not fair. That happened long before I got here."
Sanders: "OK, Jim, how about the fact that your network let Hillary Clinton have some town-hall questions in advance of a presidential debate so she could ace the test? Or that three reporters had to resign from your network for spreading 'fake news' about Anthony Scaramucci having a secret meeting with the Russians? Your 'Facts First' apple is looking wormy and bruised."
This would probably drive the media further around the bend than they already are. But this is why Trump backers think it's smart for the president to avoid 27-question press beatings. Trump backers remember when CNN senior White House correspondent Jeff Zeleny, then a New York Times reporter, asked President Obama at the 100-day mark of his presidency, "What has ... Enchanted you the most from serving in this office?"
We didn't invent that quote. Reporters will angrily deny there's a dramatic double standard in what they call "holding public servants accountable." Not even they believe it.
Excellent comeback about “vetting” and Matt Lauer!
if only
Actually, she smacks them around pretty good
Using a rubber hose, she leaves no visible marks, but they know they have been smacked effectively
One wonders if she has something in her office with notches carved on it
This is why the press presses so hard on the President (and office) being so “Presidential”. They always want you on the defensive. You are not supposed to have teeth.
The tweets! Oh those unpresidential tweets. Stop fighting back
She is the best press secretary I’ve seen in my 65 years.
Perhaps a couple of Mr Clean looking types, without the smile, ask a stupid question, they gently grab and hold the offender.
With a second stupid question, they might become excited.
Thank you Sarah!
I dream of Sarah using their own style and attitude against them, going full Alinski. They would become jumping, hissing rats (true selves).
With only a tiny taste of it, look at their reaction - eyes roll, faces grimace, the room groans and chatters, and a couple of them begin sputtering a defense.
Enemedia
She needs to pull out a SuperSoaker and shoot the first reporter who goes further than a question and follow up. For the rest of the press conference, everyone would be moving away from anyone with a question. The left would cry about gun violence and that it’s not funny, but it would be...
Let the press keep it up...if the economy booms they look like fools..people are catching on...
Plus only a few million people even pay attention...news junkies
The average working family with kids has no idea what is even going on..
They have no time for it..
Her parents have got to be SO proud of her.....she is quite amazing
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