Reporter reprimanded for raising hand at White House briefing

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Reporter reprimanded for raising hand at White House briefing
Eric Brewer
Published: Thursday May 22, 2008

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Raw_reporter_reprimanded_for_raising_hand_0522.html

Yesterday at the White House press briefing, Dana Perino asked me to lower my hand when I raised it to ask a question. I've been attending White House briefings for over three years—first for the group blog BTC News, and since this January for RAW STORY—and I've never before seen a press secretary ask a reporter to put his or her hand down.

At the time, I thought she was winding down her answer to a question posed by April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks regarding the Secret Service's investigation into a "noose incident" at one of its training facilities. Dana's response to April had begun like this:

"Well, as you just said, the Secret Service is investigating the incident and as you just said also, they have not completed that investigation, so I'm not going to get ahead of them and I'll let them do that."

Since the White House has a policy of not commenting on ongoing investigations, I thought she was about to move on, so at that point I raised my hand. I was sitting in Helen Thomas's seat (Helen was absent) in the middle of the front row, so I was face to face with Dana. Although a couple of other reporters in the front row raised their hand at the same time, Dana singled me out for criticism, interrupting her answer to complain:

"Can you please put your hand down for a second so I can concentrate on April."

I complied, but continued to raise it, at appropriate times, throughout the rest of the briefing, during which Dana ignored me completely.

[nichomachus]

1. Well, that's what you get

for not following the script. These are not press conferences. These are theatrical performances and it would be appreciated if the extras who have not been assigned lines would not interfere.

[wryter2000]

2. Awww

Is the job getting to the lying sack of cute?

[BlueJazz]

3. Fine....We'll let Dana Perino be the first ones, in this Administration, to visit their destiny...

[aquart]

8. It lacks the basket of heads.

[MessiahRp]

4. The guy was sitting in Helen Thomas' seat

It's only natural that the Bushies would ignore anyone sitting there.

Rp

[Bozita]

5. ... and was representing Raw Story.

[Bunny]

6. Is she really unable to concentrate on her answer to one reporter because another

one had his/her hand in the air?? She's *really* that unable to multi-task? Por Dana - that's just sad.

[stillcool]

7. she obiously can't ad lib...

following the script is a bitch if you get interrupted...look at Bill O'Reilly.

[VP505]

9. The arrogance of

the shit stains squatting in the peoples White House never ceases to amaze, god I can't wait for their reign of terror to end so that the whole place can be disenfected...