Many of you have perused the front page entry linking to Robert Gibbs' briefing today with the White House press corps.
Of particular interest to me was this choice nugget (provided courtesy of soms):
QUESTION: Does the White House believe that this is the obligation of journalists to call out lies and warn the public of dangers ahead?
In the spirit of this question, and shamelessly aping my own comment, I would like to suggest a few other questions the press corps might ask, in the event that they find themselves confused:
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of firemen to put out a fire when someone calls 911?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of the police to arrest criminals when they apprehend them in the act of wrongdoing?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of doctors to recommend a course of treatment to their patients?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of the priest to hear confession and deliver mass?
Does the WH believe that is is the obligation of the butcher to prepare meat for display behind the counter for customer passers-by?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of bakers to provide bread and baked goods for sale to the public?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of the fucking candle-stick maker to make fucking candles?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of their local fast food emporium to provide inexpensive burgers, soft drinks, and fries in a timely fashion?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of their neighborhood watering hole to provide them with libations and cameraderie after a hard day at the office?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of musicians to produce pleasing sounds through their musical instruments?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of painters to apply colored fluids to canvas so as to produce pleasing images?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of photographers to expose chemically-treated film for short bursts of time, so as to result in the production of a pleasing likeness of whatever the camera was pointed at?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of birds to fly?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of fish to swim?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of snakes to slither?
Does the WH believe that it is the obligation of rabbits to copulate?
In short:
Could the White House please tell us journalists what our job description involves? Because speaking just for myself...
...I HAVEN'T THE FOGGIEST NOTION.