Fans of the cable show “Breaking Bad” might enjoy the White House’s chemistry-class explanation Wednesday for why it bars reporters from covering President Obama’s question-and-answer sessions with wealthy Democratic campaign donors.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest cited the “Heisenberg principle” as a reason to keep reporters from observing donors’ interaction with Mr. Obama. It’s a theory of quantum mechanics that says human observation changes the behavior of atomic particles.
“I think it’s the Heisenberg principle — the fact that someone observing something necessarily changes what is actually being observed,” Mr. Earnest told reporters. “That’s at play in a dynamic like this when you have a relatively small group of individuals who are seeking to have a conversation with the president of the United States.”
He added, “The goal of those Q&A sessions is to foster a more candid and open dialogue where you have donors expressing their views.”
In “Breaking Bad,” the central character is a chemistry teacher-turned-methamphetamine kingpin who refers to himself as “Heisenberg.” Werner Heisenberg is the German physicist who originated the principle, formally known as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.
The White House press corps seemed uncertain about Mr. Earnest’s explanation, pointing out that Mr. Obama has promised to run “the most transparent administration” in history.
Mr. Earnest said the White House tries to balance the interests of the media by allowing reporters to cover the president’s remarks at the beginning of these intimate fundraisers, often held at the homes of wealthy donors who contribute as much as $32,000 per person to hear Mr. Obama speak.
The press secretary said the White House wants to foster the “ability of donors to have a frank and conversation with the president in a relatively private setting.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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