Tuesday's Morning Joe panel fired back at comments President Obama made Monday evening at the Syracuse University 2016 Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Journalism, where he blamed the media for the tone of the election.
"While fairness is the hallmark of good journalism, false equivalency all too often these days can be a fatal flaw," Obama said. "A job well done is about more than just handing someone a microphone. It would be better served if billions of dollars in free media came with certain accountability, especially when politicians issue unworkable plans or make promises they can't keep. And there are reporters here who know they can't keep them. I know that's a shocking concept."
Host Joe Scarborough was the first to shoot back at Obama's comments highlighting that the president has not done a lengthy sit-down interview with the Washington Post in seven and half years but would gladly take the time to be interviewed by YouTube stars, some that have become famous for splashing around in a bathtub filled with milk and cereal.
"(He) hasn't sat down with the Washington Post in seven and a half years but we really should hold ourselves to a higher standard," Scarborough said sarcastically.
The White House press corps also took issue with Obama's comments and took to Twitter where they voiced their dissatisfaction with the president's relationship with the press.
"You are supposed to push those in power for more evidence and more access," says Pres Obama, even though his WH doesn't always provide it.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 29, 2016
After this barnburner from Obama on the responsibilities of robust press coverage, i’m eager to see the spike in On Record WH briefings
— Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) March 29, 2016
Politico co-founder Jim Vandehei said that one of the biggest critiques you hear from investigative reporters is that there is a lack of transparency in the Freedom of Information Act process, even after a promise that Obama had publicly made to be the most transparent administration in history.
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson said that while Obama lectures the media on how to cover Donald Trump, the media really is writing stories about how the numbers in Trump's plans to do not add up. Robinson added that the real frustration is that voters keep voting Trump, wondering how the media supposed to do anything about that.