THEY'RE JACKALS FIRST, LIBERALS A DISTANT SECOND:

Obama flashes irritation in press room visit (JONATHAN MARTIN & CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN, 1/22/09, Politico)

President Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night, but got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question.

Asked how he could reconcile a strict ban on lobbyists in his administration with a Deputy Defense Secretary nominee who lobbied for Raytheon, Obama interrupted with a knowing smile on his face.

"Ahh, see," he said, "I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can't end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I'm going to get grilled every time I come down here."

Press's affair with Obama hits bumps (Jennifer Harper, January 23, 2009 , Washington Times)

Already, the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse refused to distribute official White House photos of Mr. Obama on his first day in the Oval Office, deeming the images nothing more than "visual press releases." Stung perhaps, the press office almost immediately granted photographers more time than usual with Mr. Obama as he signed an executive order Thursday.

Journalists also are weighing in on the new White House press office - "disorderly," according to Major Garrett of Fox News - as well as the initial appearance of press secretary Robert Gibbs.

Washington Post political writer Chris Cillizza compared the event to "Wrestlemania" while CNN correspondent Ed Henry cited "tough questions."

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 22, 2009 10:38 PM