Why does the White House have a press secretary?

Why do they even have this position still? Stephanie Grisham has been in this job since July 1, 2019 and has yet do a single briefing. That's four and a half months now of having no work to do pertaining to the position she's in. Is it still a job simply because previous White Houses had it as a job?

It is 50 years ago that President Nixon ordered an indoor swimming pool be removed from the White House and a Press Briefing Room be built instead where the indoor pool was. For 50 years now the press has had access to our presidents and has been able to get frequent briefings and updates, ask questions and get replies on many details that are important for the people to know about. This has not been the case with this presidency. Access to the president is very controlled and it is rare, if not nearly impossible, for the press to get their questions answered. Not only by the president, but even by the staff whose job that is.

So why even have this position? What does Stephanie Grisham do? Did people even know who she was when I said the name?

Would people even know who this person in the photo is if I didn't write her name out first?



How is it possible the person in the most public and visible position in the White House is a complete unknown?

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against her. I don't like her or dislike her. I just don't know anything about her and have never seen her do her job.

Has anyone?

a reply to: Oraculi

Maybe she's like the White House's appendix and just a vestigial organ waiting to be filled up with puss.

Why on Earth would a Press Secretary go in front of hostile MSM Mob hoodlums like before ? 😃

Now "they" face Trump himself with all the helicopter engines !! 😃

originally posted by: xuenchen
Why on Earth would a Press Secretary go in front of hostile MSM Mob hoodlums like before ? 😃

Now "they" face Trump himself with all the helicopter engines !! 😃

That's just the thing. The press doesn't get to "face" anyone. Not the president, and not the person who accepted that as a job. That's her job.

We are in some difficult times, but it may become clear again some time that being able to ask questions is integral to the way free press works. Getting lawyer approved written statements is no comparison to being able to ask a question, face to face.

a reply to: Oraculi


Your sob stories about everything Trump should tell you your answer.
This is the new normal so get used to it.
Never in 50 years has the press been so disrespectful to the office of the president and the president himself.
Try to keep up.

Newsprint is all but dead and tv journalism is actually just infotainment. A press secretary, press corps and press conferences are just leftovers from a different timeframe. But Trump ones use the press to his advantage by doing things to make them talk about him. That gives him both name recognition and exposure...fame, plain and simple. By making journalists hated, their negative stories carry no weight. The press cannot hurt Trump by talking about him.

A “No Trump” policy is the only thing to beat him. But they risk viewers with such a gamble and would have to actually work to fill the time will more important stories. A No Trump Network would make a killing, but no one wants to roll those dice.

Why does the White House have a press secretary?

Think Mouth of Sauron

Point 1. Nixon had the pool removed because that's where JFK swam naked with beautiful young women. Nixon was just jealous and, of course, had nowhere near the libido that Kennedy had.

Point 2. The so-called "press corps" is now composed of an unruly mob of idiots who think they can dictate policy through the crafty use of "Gotcha" questions that serve only to elevate these journalists in their own minds. It's not worth it for the President to engage at this low a level.

originally posted by: Ahabstar
Newsprint is all but dead and tv journalism is actually just infotainment. A press secretary, press corps and press conferences are just leftovers from a different timeframe. But Trump ones use the press to his advantage by doing things to make them talk about him. That gives him both name recognition and exposure...fame, plain and simple. By making journalists hated, their negative stories carry no weight. The press cannot hurt Trump by talking about him.

A “No Trump” policy is the only thing to beat him. But they risk viewers with such a gamble and would have to actually work to fill the time will more important stories. A No Trump Network would make a killing, but no one wants to roll those dice.

You're saying bad press is better than no press?

But does that still hold true when you're actively being investigated for committing crimes? The national sentiment on this topic tells us there is such a thing as bad press.

Anyway, would it not be nice to get some human touch to this administration? Some face to face? Anybody remember that?

Communication face to face? Shaking hands? Looking at someone in the eye and knowing if they're lying to you.

It seems this admin avoids face to face communication at all costs. Why?

a reply to: Oraculi

Well have you contacted the White House and your Congress People ? 😃

a reply to: Oraculi

Did you ever watch the White House Press briefings?

the questions, attitude and leading sound bites from reporters was disgusting.

they didn't care about any kind of fact or reality - I'm surprised the Trump admin continued with them as long as they did.

Trump gives unprecedented access to reporters with his adhoc q&a sessions.

Also, you realize the Press Sec does more than just briefings, right?

originally posted by: Oraculi
It seems this admin avoids face to face communication at all costs. Why?

quite the opposite.
This admin allows unprecedented times to questions the president.
The past few administrations would allow carefully choreographed settings, with specific questions. About as dishonest as you can get.

Trump walks down to the press at the gate every morning and tells them what is going on, from the day before, and the current days events....EVERY MORNING....THERE is your daily briefing-it is THAT simple....DIRECT....The MSM doesn't show you this daily conversation-only if he "slips up" (according to them)

The Press is mad too because their coffee and donuts are not as enjoyable out doors 😃

a reply to: xuenchen
Yes, the light has a way of clarifying the "covfefe"
LOL!!

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: Oraculi

Maybe she's like the White House's appendix and just a vestigial organ waiting to be filled up with puss.

That's the best thing I've read all day.

If was a press sec. I would get very tired of trying to explain trumps ignorant tweets and lies. That's why they don't last long in this WH.

Pardon my tangent, but, if we're wondering about useless government jobs/departments - what about the G.A.O.?

originally posted by: Oraculi

originally posted by: xuenchen
Why on Earth would a Press Secretary go in front of hostile MSM Mob hoodlums like before ? 😃

Now "they" face Trump himself with all the helicopter engines !! 😃

That's just the thing. The press doesn't get to "face" anyone. Not the president, and not the person who accepted that as a job. That's her job.

We are in some difficult times, but it may become clear again some time that being able to ask questions is integral to the way free press works. Getting lawyer approved written statements is no comparison to being able to ask a question, face to face.

The President has the tendency to wither under the slightest bit of unfavorable questioning. So keeping up the appearance he’s a strong, capable man is paramount to maintaining control over his followers.

Just look at what happened to Donald Trump Jr recently. Show the slightest sign of weakness, and it’s like blood in the water for these people. If we keep going one day we’ll reach a point where Trump isn’t even Trump enough for his followers. They’re trying to hold that off for as long as possible.

a reply to: Oraculi

Why does the White House have a press secretary?

To take notes?