FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President Obama has set a dubious record - going longer than President Bush in avoiding a formal news conference with reporters.
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It's been more than 215 days since the president's last prime-time, nationally televised press conference. George W. Bush's longest stretch was 214 days. I wonder why he doesn't want to answer reporters' questions.
Maybe it's because at his last prime-time news conference in July, Mr. Obama stepped in it, big time. That's when he said the Cambridge police "acted stupidly" in the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Gates. That comment turned into a media storm.
Since then it's been all about staying on message. Earlier this month - the president took questions from reporters in a mini-presser after showing up unannounced - on a snow day - at the daily briefing. He took a handful of questions for about 30 minutes. Not the same as a full-fledged, announced-ahead-of-time, prime time news conference carried live on all the networks.
One White House reporter tells the Washington Times the president seems "a little snakebit on the whole presser thing," and other reporters have said they're frustrated at not being able to "hold the president's feet to the fire."
The White House argues they've done more interviews with more reporters at this point in the president's term than any of his predecessors.
And that's true - the president is all over the media - doing interviews with the network anchors, "60 Minutes," Oprah, print reporters, etc. ...but that's not the same as standing before the nation's Washington press corps and making yourself accountable.
Here’s my question to you: Why is President Obama ducking the press?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Tony in Tampa writes:
It may not be obvious now, but I suppose that statistics will show a few months from now, what I, as a government inspector, am seeing in the field, namely, that businesses are starting to re-hire. Everywhere I have been for the past 90 days, the owners are saying that business is picking-up again steadily. That's my report, without prejudice from Florida.
Curtis in Kansas writes:
I couldn't be happier to be a Kansas transplant from California for the last 8 years. Sure, I missed the housing bubble, but I missed the crash too - so it's all good. The recession is not over in Wichita, but it does seem to be improving. Our housing prices don't skyrocket, but they don't plummet either. We'll be all right.
David in San Diego writes:
Yes, we are doing great. Thanks for asking.
Anna in Itasca, Illinois writes:
The recession is over for Wall Street bankers and CEOs of the big companies that send jobs offshore, charge more for their products and then post huge profits. For us, the end is not in sight.
Meg in Ohio writes:
Jack, Ohio is in bad shape economically. I don't see any end here. Some houses in my neighborhood have been for sale for years, up to 3 in some cases. We're in for a long haul in the Buckeye state.
Bill writes:
Jack, The recession is only over for those who live in the state of denial.
Dan in New Orleans writes:
The recession is still upon us here, Jack, in the state of Louisiana. However, the blazing occupation of the WHODAT Nation is an emotional bailout, and a stimulus offer that cannot be refused. A needed takeover, just short of militant!