Following the White House’s draconian move to ban audio and video recordings during press briefings and gaggles, CNN sent in a courtroom sketch artist to document Friday’s daily press briefing.
The White House has been prohibiting cameras at some press briefings, so we sent a sketch artist https://t.co/FuKv8RjYD2 pic.twitter.com/pCPzMZas5G
— CNN (@CNN) June 23, 2017
John Hodgman, known for his role as a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” slammed CNN’s decision to kowtow to the White House’s absurd policies.
stupid. turn the cameras on. get thrown out. do it again the next time. and again. THAT is the story. not your dumb, cowardly life hack. https://t.co/NWdctut6MV
— John Hodgman (@hodgman) June 23, 2017
CNN’s decision to send in Bill Hennessy, the sketch artist, was met with mixed reviews. While some praised the network for attempting, albeit perhaps tepidly, to circumvent White House rules, others criticized them for their soft stance on this extreme and un-American obstruction of transparency.
Dear @CNN, I don't want to see drawings by your sketch artist. I want to see you refuse to turn off your cameras when ordered by Trump & Co.
— Peter Gleick (@PeterGleick) June 23, 2017
@CNN stop being cute. Drop the sketch artist, turn on your cameras. When they throw you out, do the same thing the next day. Be the hero.
— jToycen (@jdtoycen) June 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/owillis/status/878339959173791744
CNN’s move, while cute, effectively legitimizes the White House’s wholly inappropriate attempt to bypass any and all accountability. By eliminating the press’s ability to broadcast the White House’s positions on government matters, it will be exceedingly difficult to then hold them responsible. The only answer, then, is to fight back.
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