How removed from what is important are some – a large number, actually – members of the White House press corps become? How focused are they on what, they think, could take Donald Trump down instead of on the issues that mean something to our country?
With a major tip of my imaginary hat to John Hinderaker at powerlineblog.com, (whose analysis of this insanity can be found by clicking here), let me show you Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ opening statement at yesterday’s briefing…and the questions that were then asked:
Press Secretary Sanders’ statement:
Today in the Rose Garden, President Trump continued the tradition of celebrating the National Day of Prayer. The President also signed an executive order to ensure that all faith-based communities have strong advocates throughout his administration. …
In that same light, President Trump extends his thoughts and prayers to the nine victims and their families of yesterday’s military plane crash in Savannah, Georgia. …
As you all know, President Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA, Gina Haspel, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee next week.
In her 33 years at the agency, Acting Director Haspel has held senior positions around the globe, overseeing covert operations and counterterrorism efforts to protect the homeland.
She’s one of the most qualified, most capable individuals ever nominated to lead the CIA. …
With planning and preparations underway for the summit with North Korea, and with Secretary Pompeo now engaged from the State Department, Republicans and Democrats should come together and confirm Gina Haspel as the Director of the CIA.
Today, we also mark World Press Freedom Day. This comes after a recent suicide bombing in Afghanistan claiming the lives of at least 10 journalists.
And what were most of the press corps’ questions about? Well, here is a sampling:
Q Can you explain why the President, when he spoke — when he answered questions from reporters a few weeks ago about the $130,000 payment from Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels, why the President was not truthful with the American people and with the people in this room?
Q He started paying back Michael Cohen back in February of last year. I mean, the reimbursement was happening long before the President was asked about this.
Q But I’m saying, I mean, how could he not have known? He was paying him back. He was paying him back —
Q Just to follow up on that — the President did talk about monthly retainers in his tweet, and then Rudy Giuliani said that the President only knew about this 10 days to 2 weeks ago. How can you only be aware of something 10 days to 2 weeks ago, but at the same time be in the process of paying monthly retainers that apparently covered this reimbursement to Michael Cohen?
Q If I could just follow up on — you said, on March 7th, “There was no knowledge of any payments from the President, and he’s denied all of these allegations.” Were you lying to us at the time, or were you in the dark?
Q So is the administration — is the President, is he pleased with the job that Mayor Giuliani is doing right now? It seems as if he has opened the President up to some sort of criminal liability as it relates to federal election campaign violations.
Q And just to clarify, when did you specifically know that the President repaid Mr. Cohen for the $130,000? You personally.
Q But the point of Jonathan’s question earlier — when you say, before, that you gave the best information you had at the time, and —
MS. SANDERS: And I continue to do that today.
Q — but it turns out not to be correct, or accurate, are you then trying to limit the liability that you may encounter by not dealing with any of those questions now, and pushing them all off because you say it’s ongoing litigation?
Q Let me ask you something that the Mayor said last night, not related to the questions you’ve gotten so far. He said, he — being the President — “fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn’t a target of the investigation.” Is that the White House position now, explaining why James Comey was fired?
Q He said it’s a completely tainted investigation. Do you agree with that?
Q And did the President know that Mr. Giuliani would specifically be talking about these payments on Hannity last night? Was he aware of the time and the message —
Q Was the President concerned when he learned the reporting that Michael Cohen’s phones were wiretapped several days before the raid?
Q Sarah, did the President file a fraudulent personal financial disclosure last year when he filed a report that did not include a loan from Michael Cohen or any company affiliated with him? I mean, if there was no loan, then what would he have been reimbursing?
Q So a couple of quick questions. Does the President believe he’s above the law?
Q Thank you. And then does he prefer to sit down with Kim Jong-un versus Bob Mueller?
That’s it, folks. That’s what the press corpse (I added that last “e” on purpose) are asking about. A possible liaison with a porn actress from 12 years ago that no one, other than maybe gossip column junkies, gives a damn about and a year-long “investigation” that, so far, has produced nothing.
Mr. Hinderaker titles his blog “OUR DERANGED WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS”.
Based on the idiocy you just read, it is hard to argue against his point.
So, no one asked about the low unemployment? 3.9% is very impressive. I wonder how the president might feel about it and how he thinks we got here? Oh well it was just a silly question. What does the stripper think about the 3.9%?