The same media that has protected President Barack Obama throughout his presidency is now complaining that his administration stonewalls the press, Media Research Center's Tim Graham said on
Newsmax TV's "America's Forum."
Graham discussed a July 8 letter to the president signed by nearly 40 leading journalism organizations, including the
Society of Professional Journalists, the American Society of News Editors and the Investigative Reporters and Editors, in which the authors addressed "politically driven suppression of news and information about federal agencies" from the Obama administration.
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"Under this administration, even non-defense agencies have asserted in writing their power to prohibit contact with journalists without surveillance," the journalists charged.
"Meanwhile, agency personnel are free speak to others — lobbyists, special-interest representatives, people with money — without these controls and without public oversight."
Graham noted that former New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson said in her experience this was "the worst president ever, the worst White House ever in terms of being transparent."
"Why on earth would a media that spent the last five and a half years praising this guy to the heavens would they have to be worried about access to this administration?" Graham asked. "And it just tells you how Barack Obama and his team want to tell the press exactly what to do and at what time they're supposed to do it."
Newly anointed White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told
CNN on Sunday that he is trying to "help the President live up to his commitment to be the most transparent president in history."
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