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Times to Boycott White House Press Dinner

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TOO RICH Frank dinner discussion
Is the clubby relationship between the capitol's press corps and its politicians on its way out?

The New York Times, so often the news organization from which all others take their cues, has decided to end its participation in the White House Cor-
respondents' Association's annual dinner. Word of the pullout came down through a casual mention in Frank Rich's opinion column. Noting how often the gala has served as a tool of presidential image-management, Rich wrote, "After last weekend's correspondents' dinner, The Times decided to end its participation in such events." (A spokeswoman for the paper confirms the new policy.)

Now the onus is on other news outlets to decide whether they will follow the Times's lead or risk being pilloried as sycophantic Beltway shills. It's unlikely that ABC, for one, will pull out, as ABC News Radio's Ann Compton is WHCA's incoming president and thus in charge of next year's dinner. Spokespersons for Time, Newsweek, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the Chicago Tribune did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Then again, it is Sunday.

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• Isn't It Rich?

By Jeff Bercovici   04/29/07 1:35 PM
File Under: Frank Rich
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It's about damn time. The NYT is the logical leader to make this change. Hat's off to them. Over the next few years, I hope the event goes away.

Posted by: goinglikesixty on April 29, 2007 2:14 PM

I'm sure their "principles" will change and they will be just thrilled to participate if the Democrats get back in the White House. Just partisan politics by the NY times as usual.

Posted by: kerboo on April 30, 2007 12:47 AM

Kerboo, you do know that Bush has been in office for six years already, right?

Posted by: Moon Over My Hammy on April 30, 2007 9:37 AM

Moon-you do know that each year the Times have been getting angrier and less tolerant of anyone who disagrees with them-right?

Posted by: kerboo on April 30, 2007 11:42 AM

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How brave of them. Just when the S.S. Bush is beginning to sink further into an ocean of scandal they decide it's time to stop acting like their press agents. What troopers!

Posted by: John W on April 30, 2007 2:10 PM

Who gives two rats behinds what the New York Slimes does? They are hardly on the forefront of the news business anymore. . .Frank Rich=JaysonBlair=Maureen Dowd. . .let's all just make it up as well go along and report it as the news.

I say the White House, any White House Corespondent's dinnner (Dem or Repub) will fair much better WITHOUT them present.

Posted by: Hermione on April 30, 2007 9:41 PM