Helen Thomas:Tony Snow "Mastering How To Give a Karate Chop & Still Smile"

[kpete]

Questions for Helen Thomas
Corps Issues

By DEBORAH SOLOMON
Published: May 28, 2006
Q: In your new book, "Watchdogs of Democracy?" you contend that each of the nine U.S. presidents you have covered, starting with John F. Kennedy, has slyly manipulated the media to suit his own ends. If so, what keeps you returning to the daily press briefings at the White House?

I want to stay au courant!

As a former wire-service reporter, and now as a columnist for Hearst Newspapers, do you feel that any real information comes out of the daily press briefings these days?

Sometimes. Inadvertently. I'm teasing. Once in a while you do get a story. But most of the time you learn how the administration spins and vamps to avoid telling you what is really going on. Even then, that's a story.

Do you think Tony Snow, the new White House press secretary, is likely to be more forthcoming than his predecessor, Scott McClellan?

No. I don't think he is going to give us more information. I think he is a little smoother and slicker and he is trying to master how to give you a karate chop and still smile.

......................

How would you define the difference between a probing question and a rude one?

I don't think there are any rude questions. I don't even like reporters to say thank you.

much more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/magazine/28wwln_q4.html?ex=1306468800&en=4de6edb31a398bb2&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[msongs]

1. WH press conference = a pimp with his prostitutes nt

[LizW]

2. "I don't think there are any rude questions."

I love that. :D

[acmavm]

3. Then he better quit that crying shit if he wants to be a tough guy lying

POS bush** front man.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. "I don't even like reporters to say thank you." Damned straight !

They are NOT doing the reporters a favor. They are facing the public, in the proxy form of the press. That is part of their duty as an elected official.