I kid thee not: The people whose 'access' the Washington Post was selling had no idea they were on the auction block. Seriously.
Follow me past the jump for more.
Check this out:
In a phone interview, Brauchli said he only learned of the flier and the plan described in it on Wednesday night, when he got a call from Politico seeking comment. "The business side got somewhat carried away in the description of what we would be doing, and put that in the flyer.'' Somewhat? An "appalled'' Brauchli went on to say that "the newsroom will not participate in this dinner or any other event structured like this.'' He declined to comment on Weymouth's involvement in putting out the flier or her understanding of the event, and she has not responded to an email seeking comment.
"It's unfortunate that this was printed and distributed,'' Brauchli said. "That somebody thought this was possible reflects an inadequate understanding of what we do.'' Asked how the newsroom had responded to the story, he said, "The newsroom, like me, was astonished this was considered.''
Obama officials offered up for auction seem to have been similarly unaware of the plan, according to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. At Thursday's White House briefing, Gibbs was asked whether anyone from the White House had been "invited to attend these Washington Post salons that were reported this morning? And what is the White House's official policy on members of the administration doing things like this, regardless of who sponsors them?'' Gibbs responded, "Right. Well, I don't know if anybody here was. I think some people in the administration writ large may have been invited. I do not believe, based on what I've been able to check, that anybody has accepted the invitations. Obviously, the counsel would have to review an invitation like this, and I think it would likely exceed what the counsel would be -- the -- what the -- the -- what -- the salon that The Washington Post is offering would likely exceed what the counsel would feel in this case would be appropriate.''
So, the Post was offering access it didn't even have?
Sure looks like it.
And these clowns have the nerve to attack Obama for having Nico Pitney come to a press briefing?