Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Does the White House Only Love Good Journalism When It's Not About Them?

    Does the White House Only Love Good Journalism When It's Not About Them?

    In a briefly interesting moment in an otherwise ho-hum press briefing, the Obama administration was called out on its double standard of praising journalists who take down other governments, while simultaneously stifling them here at home.

    RELATED: Is the Quest for Objectivity Ruining Journalism?


    Press Secretary Jay Carney opened his daily briefing yesterday by saying a few words about the sacrifices of journalists who have given their lives covering the civil war in Syria. When it came time for his question, ABC News' Jake Tapper saw an opening to question the White House's own approach to protecting journalists, albeit in a much less dangerous context. Tapper asked, why, if the administration is so supportive of good journalism, they keep suing whistle blowers for violating the Espionage Act?

    RELATED: What Lies Behind Murdoch's Move to Block Google?


    As you might expect, Carney's answer was not very instructive, but Tapper pressed the point again by asking, "So the truth should come out abroad; it shouldn’t come out here?" A good question that hits directly at the hypocrisy found in most governments — the idea that openness is always a good thing, except when it isn't. It's not just a question of good journalism either, when revolutionaries occupying Egyptian squares are praised and supported while college kids in California get pepper-sprayed in the face. It certainly feels like a double standard that benefits the U.S. government at the expense of everyone else.

    RELATED: Journalists Grade Themselves on Health-Care Coverage


    video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

    RELATED: New York Times Columnist's 'Magic Underwear' Apology Isn't Good Enough For All


    No matter what Carney think of "aggressive journalism" it's a good bet that he's growing a little weary of seeing it come from Jake Tapper. Here's some of the phrases that seem to frequently appear in sentences featuring the name "Jake Tapper" and "Jay Carney"

    • "Get Into It"
    • "Grills"
    • "Testy Exchange"
    • "Vs."
    • "Challenges"
    • "Flummoxes"
     

    50 comments

    • leo  •  3 mths ago
      There is no good journalism when the WH is part of any story
    • Paul  •  Kansas City, Missouri  •  3 mths ago
      Obama like the black kid that just got fired. Your firing me because I'm black. Supervisor: no I hired you because your black I fired you because your usless.
      • save us 3 mths ago
        I can't wait until we fire him in November!
      • rcdubs 3 mths ago
        So I bet you don't think this seems racist at all.
      • Athena 3 mths ago
        Of course it's racist, Rc. What's your point?
    • Obama Bin Lying  •  3 mths ago
      This is why Obama has Websites that allow you to rat on people. He would Make George Orwell Proud.

      The truth is what Dear Leader tells you it is
    • pedro  •  3 mths ago
      The last 4 gov. from chicago are in jail. Where is Obama from?
    • Starstreamtracker  •  3 mths ago
      Obama has the Pisstream Media exactly where he wants them. In his back pocket.
    • hadenoughyet  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      But the liberal media that is controlled by the dems only says what they want you to hear.
    • whitey  •  York, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      Why would a wanna be dictator want the people to know the truth? They might realize the emporer wears no clothes.
    • Mojac  •  3 mths ago
      You seldom hear any questions that are probing at these briefings. A sure sign that a willing press is doing their part.
    • hadenoughyet  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      Most politicians from Chicago are one step from prison or in it.
    • Chaucer  •  Lansing, Michigan  •  3 mths ago
      I'd say the Obama administration is the least transparent ever and the worshiping media gives him a pass every day.
    • JohnRalph  •  3 mths ago
      Obama only loves golfing, extravagant vacations, rocking with celebrities at the White House and feasting on Italian White Alba truffles, Kobe steak, blue lobsters while washing it down with a bottle of Rothschild’s Chateau Lafite 1869...out of a brown paper bag...Chicago style.
      While we must eat our peas... and learn to appreciate it dammit.
      • Kenneth 3 mths ago
        That just goes to show what an idiot we have in the white house. ODUMBO the IDIOT
    • GodBlessAmerica2  •  Little Rock, Arkansas  •  3 mths ago
      I'd say, the answer is yes.
    • sj  •  3 mths ago
      The Obama administration and the truth are mutually exclusive....
    • T-Rex  •  3 mths ago
      Are you really asking this question when the answer is such an obviousl "hell yes"??
    • DWF  •  St Louis, Missouri  •  3 mths ago
      Obama only wants you the hear what he wants you to hear. For example of something he should not of spoke of. Seal team Six, he should of said covert operation. When he said seal team six and started to tell how they did it was very stupid. Now seal team six and their family and friends are at risk, and are targets. Of course he was campaigning and wanted to make himself look good, but to me he totally screwed it up.
      • Thomas 3 mths ago
        Who's Seal Team Six? I thought Obama killed Bin Laden the way he brings it up all the time.
      • concerned 3 mths ago
        I don't recall his mentioning anyone but himself and OBL in his speech announcing the event.
    • Frank  •  3 mths ago
      Any Journalism you see on T.V. was bought and paid for along time ago. All of them are 100% controlled by the Politicians, and the Military Industrial Complex. They will force feed you lies as the truth. Don't be a sheep. Be brave enough to seek out the truth for yourselves.
      • william 3 mths ago
        Yea.... only watch fox news, it's fair and balanced.
    • sokeijarhead  •  Okinawa-shi, Japan  •  3 mths ago
      At least Tapper tries to ask somewhat hard questions! I think the other pool reporters clear their questions with the regime before the morning briefing to ensure they say the right thing! Or maybe the regime gives them the question to ask before hand! Like Media Matters does!
    • Kenneth  •  Crivitz, Wisconsin  •  3 mths ago
      They should put this IDIOT in a clown suit. All hes good at is lying to the people. I think the idiot is useless. Like having a screen door on a submarine
    • TotallyTropical1  •  3 mths ago
      What is the Difference Between Obama and a Lie.......?

      ......I'm Waiting!
    • Bill  •  3 mths ago
      Jake Tapper will soon be working for Fox, he seems to be the only honest broker from ABC, they lose the good journalists..
    [ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
    [ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]
    Add your ideas and help make it happen. Join the conversation.
    Should Bill and Donna take on more risk to boost their business?
    How Josh's comment on a Remake America video laid the groundwork for something bigger.
    Loading...