Time to meet the press, Mr. POTUS
President Biden, I have a message for you. I hope you see this, or at least I hope someone on your staff sees it and delivers the crux of what I am asking to you.
You need to meet with the media, Mr. President. I mean, it’s time for you to stage a formal press conference. In the White House, where your predecessors have met with the media.
Now, I understand that you are inclined to answer questions when reporters fire them at you at the end of your prepared remarks. Your immediate predecessor made a habit of it and managed to make a lot of news when he would blab and blather to the media about this and/or that issue. I am not asking you to do that, necessarily, Mr. President. I am asking only that you make yourself available to the media representatives who cover you regularly.
I make this request as a former full-time journalist. I am a part-timer these days. I work for a weekly newspaper in North Texas and also write for a public radio station down the road a bit. My heart, though, remains with the media reps who toil in the White House and seek to report out what is on your mind and in your heart.
First, though, they need to hear from you. They are entitled to ask you tough questions and you are obligated to answer them. Oh, yes, there are some questions to answer. They deal with the spending bill you want Congress to approve, with the Democrats’ poor showing in Virginia’s election, with the budding arms race with China, with climate change, our pledge to defend Taiwan in case China attacks the island nation.
The media have treated you fairly during the first year of the presidency, sir. I believe they would do so in a formal press briefing.
C’mon, Mr. President. Talk to us through the media. We need to hear from you.