The White House Takes On Politico

It's not just Fox News that's become subject of White House derision. The following is an excerpt from a joke e-mail that is circulating among White House staffers.  It's a response, of sorts, to the analytical essay that Politico editor-in-chief John Harris wrote about the "seven stories that Barack Obama doesn't want told."  It's fairly caustic -- and, truth be told, the White House maintains good relationships with Politico reporters and has been known to try to agenda-set by dishing out a few tips to the publication. But make no mistake: many on the White House senior staff dislike Politico's brand of journalism, and they do not like the effect that Politico's metabolism has on the rest of the press corps, including this (i.e., my own) corner of it. Still, don't read too much into this. There's been plenty of back-and-forth between the White and the Politico, and the White House accepts the role -- which is often substantial -- that Politico plays in the newsgathering process.

7 narratives politico is fighting in their efforts to get an interview with the President

1.       They are more interested in readers than accuracy

2.       Its okay to be wrong everyonce in a while, if your are the first to break the news

3.       More interested in gossip than news

4.       A spouter of the worst sort of insider conventional wisdom

5.       Their analysis about obama has been wrong more than any one

6.       Click ... period

7.       More obsessed with personality than policy