President Obama invited several members of the media — notably, the more liberal members — for an off-the-record, behind-the-scenes chance to chat about Obamacare, in what some are describing as a Hail Mary attempt to do some much-needed damage control.
Fox News’ Ed Henry tweeted the announcement: “MSNBC hosts relocated to West Wing today: @WeGotEd @Lawrence @ezraklein arrived for apparent meet w/President (Fox’s @TheJuanWilliams too).”
He was referring to a private chat with Mr. Obama that included Ed Schultz and Lawrence O’Donnell, from MSNBC, Ezra Klein of The Washington Post and Juan Williams, of Fox News.
Mr. Williams refused to confirm the meeting, Breitbart.com reported. But he said, of the White House: The administration is in “full fight mode over the Affordable Healthcare Act right now. They feel as if they had a major systems failure, a major management failure, and they’re trying to get back on track.” Mr. Williams also said that Mr. Obama’s broken vow of Americans’ being able to keep their health care plans was the biggest public relations disaster.
“There is frustration,” he said, Breitbart.com reported. “That’s clear from everybody who I was talking to this morning at the White House.”
The White House has on previous occasions brought in select members of the press for behind-the-scenes chats on various controversial policy issues. In October, Mr. Obama staged such a gathering for members of the conservative media, including Charles Krauthammer, from The Washington Post; Paul Gigot, from the Wall Street Journal’s editorial pages; Robert Costa, from the National Review; and others. Mr. Obama also held other private meetings with select reporters and writers to talk about Syria and Benghazi, Breitbart.com reported.
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Health Care Reform
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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