Should a columnist accept an offer of an off-the-record lunch with the president?

[Mr. X]

'Let Me Stop You Right There': Tom Friedman Roasted for 'Embarrassing' Column About Off-the-Record Lunch with Biden

 

[Mr. X]

When should a reporter seek or accept an offer of an off-the-record lunch or dinner, like with a coach?

 

[DanOregon]

That this White House figured Friedman would be any help to them on anything, makes me realize this White House still thinks its the '90s.

 

[Mr. X]

That this White House figured Friedman would be any help to them on anything, makes me realize this White House still thinks its the '90s.

What media figures can help this White House?

 

[DanOregon]

Sad to say, Joe Rogan, Howard Stern, Barkley, Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Clarkson.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

It's happened a million times.

Maybe very few of them wrote a stupid column about it.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

You're the President of the United States. You can have lunch with ANYONE in the country if you so desire. The finest minds, the greatest wits, the best conversationalists. And you pick one of the nation's most prominent crashing bores? A man who's famous for dull? I know Biden is an old and a middlebrow normie, but this is sad.

 

[The Big Ragu]

You're the President of the United States. You can have lunch with ANYONE in the country if you so desire. The finest minds, the greatest wits, the best conversationalists. And you pick one of the nation's most prominent crashing bores? A man who's famous for dull? I know Biden is an old and a middlebrow normie, but this is sad.

The NY Times has 8.4 million subscribers, most of whom vote, most of whom likely voted for Biden last time, and many of whom are wavering on him right now if you believe opinion polls. The lunch wasn't going to hurt Biden, and it could only possibly help. Having lunch with Friedman wasn't about Friedman. It was about the people who read Friedman's paper.

 

[Azrael]

It's happened a million times.

Maybe very few of them wrote a stupid column about it.

Exactly. A columnist having lunch on background with a president or a coach or a fire chief or shortstop isn't an ethical breach.

That Friedman couldn't keep his mouth shut about an off-the-record luncheon is pretty poor manners, however.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The NY Times has 8.4 million subscribers, most of whom vote, most of whom likely voted for Biden last time, and many of whom are wavering on him right now if you believe opinion polls. The lunch wasn't going to hurt Biden, and it could only possibly help. Having lunch with Friedman wasn't about Friedman. It was about the people who read Friedman's paper.

BUT, if Biden wanted to influence readers, he should've gone on the record. All this column was was Friedman telling readers what HE, Tom Friedman thinks and that HE, Tom Friedman, is important enough to have lunch with the President. Biden is like a very minor character in this piece.

 

[wicked]

Joe Paterno used to talk to reporters on background the night before every home game, apparently with some adult beverage in hand. No word on whether that's when Jerry Sandusky did his horrible deeds. So this is not new. The Biden White House has been through this rodeo; these guys knew that this would not stay off the record.

 

[DanOregon]

I get the impression that the "strategy" for the Dems this cycle is to be outraged about things Republicans say and hope that spurs turnout. Rather than say, come up with reasons to vote for Democrats.