Americablog: "Most transparent White House ever" censors reporters at DADT event

[Bluebear]

by John Aravosis

I posted a video earlier today that I took outside the White House of six military veterans handcuffing themselves to the White House gates to protest the President's inaction on "Don't Ask Don't Tell." In it, you'll see members of the mainstream media, from various big name publications and networks, being told to stop covering a DADT protest in front of the White House because, remarkably, "the park was closed."

Which begs the question: Why did the White House do this?

For safety reasons? I don't think so. Last time GetEqual staged a handcuffing at the White House there was a crowd of 200 or so people chanting. Rather than scare them off, the security let them stay there a good hour, eventually moving them across the street to the same location we were at today when we were kicked out. This time, there were only a handful of protesters, and 100 or so tourists and businesspeople, and reporters. For some reason, this crowd was perceived as more of a threat than the previous crowd, so they shut down the park and kicked out the media. The only variable that was different, other than the fact that there were far fewer protesters, is that this time we had lots of media.

So the question remains: Did the Obama White House censor the media today in order to try to kill a story about Don't Ask Don't Tell? It looks as though they did. By the time the reporters were finally let in, security had already taken 3 of the handcuffed vets away. Mission accomplished.

Oh, and someone raised the question in the comments as to whether the White House or the police did this. Same thing. We know from the last protest that the White House is intimately aware of what is taking place. There is simply no way that they weren't in the loop on what was done to the media today. And in any case, when reporters are forced to leave the Obama White House, forced to stop covering a political event, the Obama White House is responsible, period.

http://gay.americablog.com/2010/04/most-transparent-white-house-ever.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ncteechur]

2. While they may in fact be true, there are no real facts to support the suppositions in the article.

The police officer told folks the park was closed but didn't he tell that to everyone there, not just reporters?

[Bluebear]

3. Mm-hmm.

Right.

[FreeState]

4. Lafayette Park is open 24 hours a day every day of the year

http://www.visitingdc.com/neighbor/lafayette-park-washington_dc.htm

Open: Every day
Admission: Free
Hours: 24 Hours


-----

So to me it does seem odd that it "closed" for just long enough to keep the press from covering this.

[Bluebear]

5. There's no real facts to support this!!!1

Oh, other than your link...

[Starry Messenger]

6. Nicely done sir.

I tip my hat! :thumbsup:

[Luminous Animal]

7. + 1. Facts are stubborn things.

[QC]

8. YUO NEVER REALLY LOVED THE PRESIDENT TO START WITH!1!!!!!!1111!!

:cry:

[Bluebear]

13. --

:)

[HipChick]

10. I have to dispute that...I was there sunday and it was closed off..

Park was closed off, police/security was stationed around..there was no getting in..the pedestrian walk way
in front of the White house was closed off too..I was able to walk through there in the morning...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8173373

If the media was out in the park, are they WH press? what no WH press passes?..the park is where tourist do pic taking

[Arkana]

9. And Obama twirled his long handlebar mustache and said "Nyah ha ha! My eeeeeevil plan is working!"

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

18. I think that was Rahm.

[Robb]

11. Moose out front should'a told ya.

[Bluebear]

12. ---

:spank:

:)

[Stinky The Clown]

14. . . . .

[amborin]

15. transparent, except where it's glaringly NOT

[bullwinkle428]

16. Countdown to a familiar voice yelling "Aravosis is teh tea-bagger!"

:evilgrin:

[laughingliberal]

17. K & R nt