Supporting the Free Press is critical in ANY democracy.   Recently, the Obama administration has transgressed their so-called campaign promise for more Openness and Transparency to structure their fake Town Hall meetings and pre-screened Questions.  The White House Press Corps, and most reporters, prefer an open and spontaneous forum for their questions.  This traditional give and take is critical because the White House Press Corps is a world stage.  The world's media sees that the spontaneous questioning of the President is an inherent right under a Free Press.  If viewers believe that the Press is being manipulated like in the arranged Town Hall meetings and the prescreened Questions, then they have to deem it as scripted as a Hollywood TV show...and with that little substance.   This is not an issue of either Democrat or Republican, but right and wrong.   Even Helen Thomas notes (see below) that "Nixon didn’t try to do that."   Gibbs insists that Chip Reid should email his questions (which may or may not be chosen)

Liberal reporter Helen Thomas roasted the incompetent and flailing Robert Gibbs who could not even comprehend their questions.  Both Chip Reid (CBS) and Helen Thomas were pressing Gibbs about the method or process of the Question Asked of the president.   Apparently, Gibbs was so confused, stupid or willing to stonewall on behalf of the OhBama Administration to address the issue.   He could not differentiate between the type of queston asked and the prescreening of Reporters Questions.  He kept insisting that the press see what Questions are asked to see if they cover the issues.   He can't different between the Question and the controlled Process.

CNS.com had a discussion with Helen Thomas where she said that, "Nixon didn’t try to do that. They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.
What the hell do they think we are, puppets? They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.”

Here's the YouTube Video Exchange with a transcription below.

CNS also said that Thomas discussed the prearranged Huffington Post writer:

Thomas said she was especially concerned about the arrangement between the Obama Administration and a writer from the liberal Huffington Post Web site. The writer was invited by the White House to President Obama’s press conference last week on the understanding that he would ask Obama a question about Iran from among questions that had been sent to him by people in Iran.

“When you call the reporter the night before you know damn well what they are going to ask to control you,” Thomas said.

“I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well--for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.”

Gibbs: “… But, again, let's--How about we do this?  I promise we will interrupt the AP's tradition of asking the first question.  I will let you [Chip Reid] ask me a question tomorrow as to whether you thought the questions at the town hall meeting that the President conducted in Annandale—“

Chip Reid: “I'm perfectly happy to—”

Helen Thomas: “That's not his point.  The point is the control--”

Reid: “Exactly.”

Thomas: “We have never had that in the White House.  And we have had some, but not-- This White House.”

Gibbs: “Yes, I was going to say, I'll let you amend her question.”

Thomas: “I'm amazed.  I'm amazed at you people who call for openness and transparency and—”

Gibbs: “Helen, you haven't even heard the questions.”

Reid: “It doesn't matter.  It's the process.”

Thomas: “You have left open—”

Reid: “Even if there's a tough question, it's a question coming from somebody who was invited or was screened, or the question was screened.”

Thomas: “It's shocking.  It's really shocking.”

Gibbs: “Chip, let's have this discussion at the conclusion of the town hall meeting.  How about that?”

Reid: “Okay.”

Gibbs: “I think—“

Thomas: “No, no, no, we're having it now--”

Gibbs: “Well, I'd be happy to have it now.”

Thomas: “It's a pattern.”

Gibbs: “Which question did you object to at the town hall meeting, Helen?”

Thomas: “It's a pattern.  It isn't the question—”

Gibbs: “What's a pattern?”

Thomas: “It's a pattern of controlling the press.”

Gibbs: “How so?  Is there any evidence currently going on that I'm controlling the press--poorly, I might add.”

Thomas: “Your formal engagements are pre-packaged.”

Gibbs: “How so?”

Reid: “Well, and controlling the public—”

Thomas: “How so?  By calling reporters the night before to tell them they're going to be called on.  That is shocking.”

Gibbs: “We had this discussion ad nauseam and—”

Thomas: “Of course you would, because you don't have any answers.”

Gibbs: “Well, because I didn't know you were going to ask a question, Helen.
Go ahead.”

Thomas: “Well, you should have.”

Reporter: Thank you for your support.

Gibbs: “That's good.  Have you e-mailed your question today?”

Thomas: “I don't have to e-mail it.  I can tell you right now what I want to ask.”

Gibbs: “I don't doubt that at all, Helen.  I don't doubt that at all.”

Thomas, 89, has covered the White House during every presidency since John F. Kennedy’s.