A reporter who aired his grievances about White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre not calling enough reporters in the room overshadowed the presence of the “Ted Lasso” cast Monday as they went to the White House to talk about to talk about mental health.
The reporter interrupted Pierre as he was about to speak in the crowded conference room and introduce the cast and actor Jason Sudeikis when she remarked, “Karine, before — before you begin. Please call everyone from across the room, please.
“They treated me and some other people in the briefing room unfairly and I say this is the United States,” the spokesman said. Not China, that. Simon Ateba, the White House correspondent for Today News Africa, lamented that it wasn’t Russia.
“By doing what you are doing, you shame the First Amendment. For seven months. You have not contacted me. You ignore my messages. I say this is not appropriate. That’s wrong,” he explained.
“No, not at all. No. We’re not doing that at all. We’re not going to do that. We won’t do that. That’s not what we’re doing,” said Jean-Pierre.
Ateba was rebuked by other reporters in the briefing room, who shouted “Decorum,” “Be respectful,” and “You’re being rude.”
Are you prepared? Are we doing right? asked the spokesman.
It’s not about doing the right thing, Ateba added. I contend that it is necessary to uphold the First Amendment.
