This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/24/obama-des-moines-register-interview-published
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| White House consents to make Obama off-the-record interview public | White House consents to make Obama off-the-record interview public |
| (8 days later) | |
| Every campaign fights for control over media coverage. But campaigns depend on the media to get their messages out. A quid pro quo develops. Campaigns trade access for coverage. What's strange is when a campaign asks for coverage but wants the access part to be invisible. Case in point: asking for a newspaper endorsement based on an off-the-record conversation. | Every campaign fights for control over media coverage. But campaigns depend on the media to get their messages out. A quid pro quo develops. Campaigns trade access for coverage. What's strange is when a campaign asks for coverage but wants the access part to be invisible. Case in point: asking for a newspaper endorsement based on an off-the-record conversation. |
| President Obama agreed to speak with the Des Moines Register this week about the election and why the paper should endorse him. But then the White House made the conversation off the record. | President Obama agreed to speak with the Des Moines Register this week about the election and why the paper should endorse him. But then the White House made the conversation off the record. |
| The story might have ended there, with the Register editors deciding to endorse without ever releasing the nature of their conversation with the president. | The story might have ended there, with the Register editors deciding to endorse without ever releasing the nature of their conversation with the president. |
| But Register editor Rick Green wrote a blog post Tuesday evening about the strange stipulation: | But Register editor Rick Green wrote a blog post Tuesday evening about the strange stipulation: |
| The conference call lasted nearly 30 minutes and was an incredibly informative exchange of questions, answers and an insightful glimpse into the president's vision for a second term. He made a genuine and passionate case for our endorsement and for reelection. [...] | The conference call lasted nearly 30 minutes and was an incredibly informative exchange of questions, answers and an insightful glimpse into the president's vision for a second term. He made a genuine and passionate case for our endorsement and for reelection. [...] |
| Unfortunately, what we discussed was off-the-record. It was a condition, we were told, set by the White House. | Unfortunately, what we discussed was off-the-record. It was a condition, we were told, set by the White House. |
| Green's post caught the attention of Register readers and other media outlets. Speculation cropped up that the president had said something the White House did not want to be released. Questions about the off-the-record condition threatened to eclipse whatever impact an endorsement might have. There was the uncomfortable fact that Governor Romney had conducted an extensive, hour-long interview with the paper that he allowed to be filmed. | Green's post caught the attention of Register readers and other media outlets. Speculation cropped up that the president had said something the White House did not want to be released. Questions about the off-the-record condition threatened to eclipse whatever impact an endorsement might have. There was the uncomfortable fact that Governor Romney had conducted an extensive, hour-long interview with the paper that he allowed to be filmed. |
| The White House then suddenly reversed course, conceding to the newspaper's request to release details of the conversation. The paper published the transcript of the conversation online today. | The White House then suddenly reversed course, conceding to the newspaper's request to release details of the conversation. The paper published the transcript of the conversation online today. |
| The bombshell in the transcript? No bombshell. Obama said a couple things slightly differently than he has said them before. The Huffington Post highlighted this passage about the Latino vote: | The bombshell in the transcript? No bombshell. Obama said a couple things slightly differently than he has said them before. The Huffington Post highlighted this passage about the Latino vote: |
| Since this is off the record, I will just be very blunt," Obama said on a call Tuesday with the Register's publisher and editor, which was originally meant to be off the record. "Should I win a second term, a big reason I will win a second term is because the Republican nominee and the Republican Party have so alienated the fastest-growing demographic group in the country, the Latino community. | Since this is off the record, I will just be very blunt," Obama said on a call Tuesday with the Register's publisher and editor, which was originally meant to be off the record. "Should I win a second term, a big reason I will win a second term is because the Republican nominee and the Republican Party have so alienated the fastest-growing demographic group in the country, the Latino community. |
| The Register will make its endorsement Saturday night. | The Register will make its endorsement Saturday night. |
| In 2008 the Register endorsed Obama, writing, "Obama has earned the Register's endorsement for the presidency because of his steadfastness in the face of uncertainty, his clear-eyed vision for a more just America and his potential for rallying the country to do great things." | In 2008 the Register endorsed Obama, writing, "Obama has earned the Register's endorsement for the presidency because of his steadfastness in the face of uncertainty, his clear-eyed vision for a more just America and his potential for rallying the country to do great things." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |