Politics

Jay Carney lectures WH press corps on the meaning of ‘context’ [VIDEO]

Grae Stafford Freelance Photographer
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At the White House briefing on Monday, President Barack Obama’s press secretary, Jay Carney, took time out to give some helpful advice on the standards of reporting that he expects in his briefing room.

When asked about the White House’s allegation that the president’s remarks that the private sector economy in the United States is “doing fine” were taken out of context, and if the White House “or people who speak for President Obama” would not, in the future, “take some unflattering statement by Gov. Romney and use it out of context,” Jay Carney quipped, “That’s a rather remarkable question.”

“Certainly, we believe that you all ought to do your jobs and report on context, and we think that’s important generally,” he said. “You’re asking me to speculate about what someone might say in the future and the context of it and I simply can’t do that, but if your asking me if we are for good reporting filled with context, the answer is yes.”

When pressed again for an answer, he responded with a wry smile: “Again, I would say our general position is we’re for truthful, factual, accurate reporting that’s done in context.”

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Grae Stafford