This would make sense if the press corps were courtiers.

There is something about following the leader, too. You can stand during the applause at the worst possible concert or play, and everyone will follow suit. No one wants to appear disrespectful by staying seated.

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Those looking for evidence of bias will have to look elsewhere.
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On the contrary; the evidence of cherry-picking and bias in the wingers reporting is overwhelming.

Bush is fortunate that the White House press corps didn't moon him on his last visit.

When Bush came to Baghdad, everybody stood. OK, it wasn't until after I threw my shoes at him, and the standing ovation was more for me than for him, but you know...

So let me get this straight. Obama, so mentally incompetent as to need teleprompters whenever he speaks, got elected only because of a rock star treatment by the press. He is now continuing the biased treatment because reporters happened to stand during a surprise appearance at a briefing?

Meanwhile, Bush is a misunderstood genius, who was constantly attacked by the media and made to look like a fool. Any reporter that questioned the reasoning for war was unpatriotic and aiding the terrorists.

And once people are made aware of this vast leftwing conspiracy, the world will right itself, and vote Republican again.

BWWHWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAAAA

America's new #1 manufacturing product: outrage. Brought to you by the same people who supported the War in Iraq, torture, and Supreme Court nominee, Harriet Miers.

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WOW! Now THAT'S news!! About news about news about news.

Chew it again, Repukelickins!!!

Beter than thinking about how you f**ked the country up, hm?

Here's yer news: Junk food for babies. And guns for tweens.

Good thing, right, NRA?
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When Bush was pres every day some new slime came bubbling to the surface. Now that Obama is pres the repubs do everything they can to keep their legacy of idiocy going. It's a nebver ending amazement as to how they can keep this nonsense going.

Sorry meant never-ending. I guess I'm so perplexed by the constant stream of repub bullshit that comes from people who claim to be adults.

Time for some outrage. OUTRAGE! OUTRAGED OUTRAGE! Crazed, over the top, par for the republican course outrage. What a bunch of circus clowns. We should start sending them materiel like this just so they can flip the fuck out every single day. It is very amusing.

The clip is evidence, they say, of the press showing more respect and deference for the current president than his predecessor.

Petty. This garbage goes all the way back to 1960, when the Nixon campaign complained that the press corps was in love with Kennedy. Nixon's people would go out of their way to nurse the smallest grievances: the Nixon campaign served cold meals; the Kennedys served hot ones, so the press liked the Kennedys better.

The GOP thrives on outrage. It's all they've got these days. But it's nothing new. Nixon's hatred of the press led to his eventual downfall, and Republicans obviously learned nothing from it.

If Obama wasn't a commie Monarchist, this story would have legs. Think about it, or not!

Those who look to be slighted will be slighted by the littlest things until delusion sets in - then all human encounters are suspect! What little minds these Obama detractors seem to have. I would HOPE they could stop from saying NOPE so often! -Kevo

Petty. This garbage goes all the way back to 1960, when the Nixon campaign complained that the press corps was in love with Kennedy. Nixon's people would go out of their way to nurse the smallest grievances: the Nixon campaign served cold meals; the Kennedys served hot ones, so the press liked the Kennedys better.

I was thinking of Nixon and his people's whining, too. For some reason, the GOP doesn't seem to have twigged that all this caterwauling about grade-school stuff made Nixon seem even less likable or respect-worthy to the vast majority of Americans who have more important things on their minds.

So keep it up, Republicans. You lose more credibility and stature with the electorate every day.

Standing, schmanding. What really counts is what comes out of the mouths of the press in the form of a question for the president. Let's see that comparison and see who gets more "deference".

Can't they just waste time on far more important matters, such as the amount of fuel consumed in travelling by caravan to order Meat (Horrors) in a place which has the word "Hell" in the title? Please, a little priority is required in nonsensical matters. Geez, Shrub would have used his 10 Speed Tricycle and ordered Vegan, eh?

With this bunch of redneck conservatives you have to wonder if they are not more upset that the press corps stood up for a black man. I don't think they even consider Pres. Obama the President of the United States. They know perfectly well that the vast majority of the time the press stood as Bush entered any room.

Danp, I refuse to give a standing ovation unless I really mean it. Here in MN, it has become practically mandatory to stand at the end of a performance. Yes, I am often times one of the few not standing, but I won't do it.

As for the 'outrage' over the press standing or not standing, meh. The conservatives have shot their outrage wad and are now just dribbling.

I refuse to give a standing ovation unless I really mean it. Here in MN, it has become practically mandatory to stand at the end of a performance. Yes, I am often times one of the few not standing, but I won't do it.

Absolutely with you on this. Standing ovations were intended to recognize the most exceptional performances; now they've become standard, and there's no distinct way for the audience to honor truly stellar work. My butt stays in the seat unless the performance warrants a standing ovation.

This is reminiscent of when Bush first took office and the GOP complained that the press was referring to him as "Bush" without the title "President," insisting that the press ALWAYS referred to Clinton as "President Clinton" ubiquitously.

That didn't have any legs either, but it is keeping with the conservative tradition of arrogance and elitism that everything and anything that isn't deferential to them is an intentional slight and a reason to be outraged.

Oh for the days of nobility and serfs, whine the red-staters . . . in which, of course, they would be the nobility . . .

Bwahahahahahahahha!

asiangrrlMN and shortstop,

But Danp has a point about the possibility of "chain reaction" and following the leader -- ie, one person stands up and the rest follow, for whatever reason (maybe I should have? Don't want to look ignorant)

I remember taking my -- then 6yr old -- son to a concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic. This was the first time he ever attended a live concert by a truly talented pianist so, at the end, he shot out of his seat like a rocket (also, probably, relieved, after an hour of sitting quietly) and started clapping. I couldn't let him be the lonely centre of attention, so stood up in solidarity. After a few seconds, others began to stand up also and, eventually, about half the audience was standing.

It was only later, as we were leaving, that someone -- a stranger -- said to me: "We *never* stand up for Soviet oppressors. Tell your son"

"We *never* stand up for Soviet oppressors."

Must be the first time in history that a people has been oppressed through the striking of piano keys by a musician.

Some folks need to lighten up.

Sometimes a piano tune is just a piano tune.

Actually, I'd prefer to believe that the press really did refuse to stand for Bush. What did he ever do to earn respect, anyway?

Of course, I don't believe the press is really that principled.