Obama Gives the Press the Slip (Again)
WHOA: "You’ve got a lot of golf courses here, don’t you?"

This dude is cracking:

Last night, the White House sent the press corps — which by agreement stays close to the president in order to report on any incident — back to Toronto, leaving the president 150 miles behind. In the wee hours of this morning, the crew of a dozen or so reporters and photographers in the press corps got back on a bus and returned to Muskoka for the day’s events.

It is highly unusual for the president to shun his permanent media detail that way, particularly at a high-profile event in a remote location. One White House aide speculated that it was due to scarce accommodations in Muskoka — which is a resort area. But Mr. Obama, who’s been quite vocal in his disdain for the press at times, has blown off his press corps in the past. ... This is a far more significant offense than that one, and is likely to draw another complaint.

I'm not sure what a White House aide's speculation is worth, but I'm certain it's somewhat less than the crud on the bottom of my hiking boots. Here's why: it would be exceptionally easy to just tell the press corps up front that, because of some snafu, there just isn't enough accommodation for them. They'll piss and moan, but they'll get over it quick.

No, this was something else. The White House wanted some alone-time. Now, I don't know if that was the President's call or somebody else's, but there really is nothing the President should be up to at a G8 meeting or G20 conference that requires the press be sent away.

WHOA Update: President Kick Ass's first words upon arriving for the G8? "You’ve got a lot of golf courses here, don’t you?"

When U.S. President Barack Obama stepped off his helicopter in Huntsville on Friday, the first thing he said was, “You’ve got a lot of golf courses here, don’t you?” Industry Minister Tony Clement told the National Post in an exclusive interview.

Not even trying to hide it.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 07:00 PM

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