July 4th fireworks come early as Robert Gibbs and reporters clash over attempts to control the media

July 3, 8:21 AMPolitical Buzz ExaminerRyan Witt

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A testy exchange took place between President Obama's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and two prominent members of the media on July 1st.  Chip Reid and Helen Thomas of CBS confronted Gibbs regarding the degree to which the Obama administration has pre-packaged public events so as to avoid tough questions.  Anyone who truly believes the media is all brainwashed by Obama should watch the video below as it reveals not all media members are on board the Obama bandwagon.  Reid and Thomas alluded to the fact that only certain members of the public are invited to town hall meetings and questions are may be getting pre-screened from the press.

I have no doubt that the Administration is doing some manipulating of the media and public to ensure the President is not too often confronted with hard questions.  After all, I imagine if a Press Secretary truly let every question come through all the time he would not have his job very long after the first public embarrassment that surely would follow.  However, it appears the Obama administration may have gone too far in trying to stage and control things so that no tough questions are asked at any time of the President.  You know things are getting bad when Helen Thomas starts comparing your administration to the Nixon years.

I have no desire to see President Obama get bombarded with twenty attack type questions from conservatives at every town hall and press conference.  Having said that, the administration must allow a bit more freedom for the press and public to be able to ask a few tough questions at least at these public events.  The administration would gain some credibility if it were able to show it was not afraid to take on the tough questions from the public.

For the somewhat awkward but also entertaining video of the confrontation between Gibbs, Thomas, and Reid click the video clip below.