Debunking another bit of right wing poutrage. Reporters don't stand for president in briefing room.

[jefferson_dem]

The right wing echo chamber, led by matt sludge, has been all a'tizzy over this the past few days. To no surprise, it was all trumped up poutrage.

Here's the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VAfJyzN3ak

When Reporters Rise For The President
Posted by Mark Knoller | Comment On This Post

(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)Some people noticed that many reporters rose from their seats last Friday when President Obama unexpectedly entered the White House briefing room, but the same courtesy was not always extended in the past when President Bush would make an appearance.

Comparison videos were even posted on YouTube.

It’s a long-standing practice for reporters to rise when the president enters the East Room for a news conference, but that hasn’t been the case in the briefing room.

I checked with two colleagues who served as senior wire service reporters during the Bush Presidency and who, in matters of press protocol, the rest of us followed.

“The briefing room is always a more informal place,” says Steve Holland of Reuters.

But the principal reason reporters remained in their seats, he said, was not to block the shot of TV cameramen and still photographers in the back of the room who were trying to make a picture of the president’s walk-in.

No disrespect was intended for President Bush and to the best of my knowledge none was taken.

In addition, it only takes about three steps for the president to reach the lectern from the press room door. He’d be ready to begin and many reporters would barely be out of their seats, which used to be further complicated by swivel desks that had to be shifted out of the way.

When some reporters stood up for President Obama last Friday, they forgot about the needs of their colleagues in the back of the room as well as the less formal atmosphere of the briefing room. Certainly it was a sign of respect for the president, but not one of disrespect for his predecessor.

<SNIP>

http://www.cbsnews.com/track/rss/blogs/2009/05/04/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4990853.shtml?CMP=OTC-RSSFeed&source=RSS&attr=PoliticalHotsheet_4990853

[baldguy]

1. The President is not a king.

No matter what George Bush believed.

[tularetom]

2. You have to stand for the Pres? who does he think he is, Judge Judy?

[Swede Atlanta]

3. Hmmmmmmm.

For one I think if this was in fact a "surprise", reporters may have been caught off guard and simply stood out of respect for the office when Obama entered. I guess it is also possible that some in the press feel that this President is worthy of respect - a president who has had 3 primetime news conferences in 3 months and much more access to the media as well as a president who genuinely seems to enjoy his sessions with the press. Bush hated being in front of the press and I'm sure the members of the press sensed that.

[blueclown]

4. Add this to the list of manufactured right-wing scandals.

Where are we on the list? I've lost count... I'd say around #121

[Johnyawl]

5. What fucking hypocrites...

...if this was reversed - if the videos showed the reporters standing for bush, and not standing for Obama - they would be trumpeting that 24/7 as evidence of how much more they loved and respected bush.