Reporters Might Not Get Their Christmas Picture With Obama

The Gate Crasher incident continues to reverberate around social Washington:

For reporters covering President Obama, there’s only one party in town that matters: The White House Holiday Party. It’s a rare opportunity to walk around parts of the White House and meet the president and first lady. In the past, the highlight of the event has been the chance to get your picture taken with the president in the receiving line.

This year, however, the White House seems to be doing things a little differently. The invites went out late – and didn’t include journalists who have been invited in the past. And those who have been invited seem likely to be denied the traditional receiving-line photo.

At a party last week for Democratic political types and some donors, former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers watched Obama speak briefly behind a podium, welcoming party-goers to White House. Then, she looked on as Obama worked the room for a few minutes, shaking hands and posing for candid pictures — not taken by the White House photographer — before leaving the party.

But the party she attended did not have a receiving line, where the photos of the president and guest would normally be taken. And if that format is followed for the upcoming media parties, journalists won’t get their formal presidential pictures either.

It’s not exactly the end of the world. The central worry for average Americans during this holiday season is having the means to buy presents for their loved ones amid a still uncertain economy; meanwhile reporters are fretting about being denied a few seconds of standing next to the Obamas.

But for the White House to do away with the formal line is no small matter to those who work this beat every day: many guests feel it’s the main reason to attend, no matter who’s in office.

“It’s always been a big deal,” said Myers, who served as press secretary to former President Bill Clinton. “It’s exhausting [for the president] but it’s the one time when reporters feel like they’re treated like human beings and not just some guy behind the rope line. It’s the one time they can actually say hello.”

So now the celebrities are upset and reporters are upset. Obama just lost 75% of his base.