White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of one of the most powerful clubs in America.

White House Continues Trend of Referencing Mean Girls

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Once again, it seems like the White House made a Mean Girls reference.

The 2004 comedy staring Lindsay Lohan, who we’re aware is something of a Washington sparklie, is ripe for referencing inside the Beltway. In a tweet sent out by the official White House account, Bo is the culprit in this recent attempt to reference the lack of fetch ever happening. But who’s the real culprit?

Mean Girls has been a subtle staple inside the Obama media team since the 2012 re-election campaign. A gif here, a(n unofficial) quickmeme template there and a random Ann Coulter reference that makes us think she’s never seen the film. But Mean Girls is essential when dissecting Washington, especially in gif form. Could this be a sign of DoJ fighting the American Airlines/U.S. Airways merger? Proof of Cronut coming to D.C.? Or worse–nothing at all except a brief tweet on a Tuesday?

No word when the administration will start using The Canyons as a talking point.

Washington Women in Technology Network Welcome Bloomberg's Jonathan Alter

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Jonathan Alter, author of the first 2012 campaign book “The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies,” came to the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. to meet with the Washington Women in Technology Network.

Alter went into stories not reported as in-depth outside of Washington. He discussed how the Romney campaign rejected strategies from a top Republican digital expert. He went in depth into anecdotes about both campaigns; their competing digital strategies and offered to have readers call him out on events–like he was on Friday by Fox’s Roger Ailes in Politico.

Speaking to a luncheon co-hosted by Hilary Rosen, Becky Fischer-Martin, Constance Milstein, Holly Page and Kim Kinglsey. Guests included Facebook’s Marne Levine and Sarah Feinberg, Regina Hopper, Kelley McCormick, Emily Goodin, Stephanie Green and Kim Kingsley.

The full interview below:

You can see more photos from Monday’s luncheon here:

Obama to Nominate Dan Tangherlini to Admin of GSA

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A little more than a year later and President Barack Obama annoucned today his plan to nominate Acting Director Dan Tangherlini as the Administrator of the General Services Administration.

Having served in his current role since last April, Tangherlini is a former CFO from the Department of Treasury, a D.C. City Administrator and Deputy Mayor under former Mayor Adrian Fenty from ’06 to ’09. In a statement released today, the president said “As Acting Director, Dan helped restore the trust of the American people in the General Services Administration by making the agency more efficient, accountable and transparent. I want to thank Dan for his leadership over the past year and for agreeing to continue serving in the Administration.”

Which is well and good since Tangherlini is known for slashing spending at GSA after the previous Administrator was admonished for a Las Vegas trip. His other claim to fame involves the oversight to sell off the J. Edgar Hoover building in Downtown Washington. But it isn’t that hard for Tangherlini, who is a local favorite when it comes to dealing with D.C. Proper Government and Federal Government.

Fingers crossed he can figure out a way to keep Washington from losing track of what’s structurally important: more Bike Shares and dogs and cats on Amtrak.

Photos: White House Easter Egg Roll 2013

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As spring blossoms in Washington–not that the lack of Cherry Blossoms help–we come to look upon the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Held for the fifth year under President Obama, the Easter Egg Roll was presented this year in part with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Get Up And Move campaign.

“Today we’re going to have more than 30,000 people who will pass through this yard in celebration of nutrition and health and activity,” she said. “And we could not do this if it were not for all of our wonderful volunteers, our staff, all of the terrific performers and athletes who have taken time out of their lives and their busy days to make this important. So we need to give all of them a round of applause for all their hard work.”

The annual basketball and tennis outing was not as easy for POTUS. Per the Pool:

“POTUS stepped to free throw line and kids were asked to stand on opposite sides, depending on whether they think he would sink it. Most kids moved in one direction, but one boy went to the “miss” side.

“Oh, man,” a stunned POTUS said, hands on hips. The boy didn’t budge. And three others joined.

In sharp form, POTUS released the ball. It bounced off the rim and circled it — miss.

“Come on. Come on. Did you see that?” Obama said.

It got worse. A little while later, after playing tennis, Obama started to take shots amid the kids and pros.

Miss. Miss. Off the rim. Miss. Miss. Off the rim. Airball. He moved closer to the net.

But time and again, he missed. Of 22 shots POTUS took, he made two. (22 was general consensus of poolers)[.]”

At least reading went a little better for Obama than the pick-up game.

Obama and Kerry Inadvertently Have Soccer-Themed Day

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Sport Zone: Football
The other kind of football has returned to Washington. On a completely seperate-but-interesting moment saw the Obama administration have to deal with sports while the rest of D.C. attend the Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8.

Flanked by 2012 MLS Champions Los Angeles Galaxy and recent Stanley Cup champions Los Angeles Kings, the Chicago native proved Washingtonians can at least play nice with rivals as long as it is sports related.
“So I’m going to be a good sport — these guys pointed out that they beat my Blackhawks last night. I will also say that, given this season how rare it is to beat the Blackhawks, I want to congratulate them for that as well,” said President Obama. The President then received duel Galaxy/Kings jerseys–number 44 of course–and ball from recent Galaxy re-signer Landon Donovan.

Meanwhile, proven that he can’t be outclassed so quickly, Secretary of State John Kerry headbutted a soccer ball. Then he continued his audition for Dave Letterman’s Stupid Human Tricks and made our day a little brighter. In actuality this is day two of John Kerry’s meetings with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. The soccer shots came when Kerry was introduced to Zahra Mahmoodi, the captain of the Afghanistan National Soccer Team, and a group of female entrepreneurs from Afghanistan.

While no such thing like an Intermural Capitol Hill Soccer Association exists–unlike say this awkwardly named Washington association— this seems like a great way to kick off the league.

Biden Abroad Leaves White House Pool Wanting

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While most of Washington slept, Vice President Joe Biden was off in Rome amusing the White House Press Pool.

The first dispatches from Rome came in at 3:06 a.m. eastern time:

“Gorgeous Rome morning, a few stray clouds, no coat necessary despite a slight chill — after the rain of the past couple of days. Pool/staff drove to VP’s Rome digs. It’s the Villa Richardson — the official residence of the US Ambassador to the Holy See (a post that is currently vacant). Pool is having coffee in the basement kitchen.”

It only grew from there:

“Arrived St Peter’s 8:08 am local. Did not see VP but am told only he and delegation allowed to walk past uniformed Swiss guards through the basilica of St Peter. Staff/press escorted around.”

The mystery of where Veep Biden was would become an ongoing issue for the Pool:

“Are told VP Biden will have a front row seat in the official delegation section (right side of the altar when looking at the basilica). But have yet to spot him.”

“Press area is a Tower of Babel — Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and others your pooler cannot identify.”

Even during the service, the Pool had to merely assume Biden was in attendance:

“The VP is sitting on an aisle seat and his sister Valerie is sitting next to him, according to the VP’s office. We cannot spot him from our bird’s-eye perch.”

and finally:
“Took off about 1:40 pm Rome time. Landed Ramstein Air Base in Germany at 3:10 pm local. Refueling stop. It’s raining. No VP encounter on this short leg. Should note that VP ended up more in the middle of the delegations at the mass. Previous pool suggested he might end up at the front.”

Biden is on his way back to the United States and will next be speaking in New York at the Irish America Hall of Fame luncheon on Thursday. The Press Corps will undoubtedly have an easier time keeping track of him in the Big Apple.

Obama Nominated Thomas Perez for Secretary of Labor

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Earlier today President Barack Obama announced Thomas Perez as his nomination for secretary of labor. Perez currently serves in the Civil Rights devision of the Department of Justice and would be following up in the role that Hilda Solis left in January.

“Like so many Americans, Tom knows what it’s like to climb the ladder of opportunity. He is the son of Dominican immigrants. He helped pay his way through college as a garbage collector and working at a warehouse. He went on to become the first lawyer in his family. So his story reminds us of this country’s promise, that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what your last name is — you can make it if you try,” said President Obama. The remarks were delievered earlier today from the East Room in the White House. Per the White House Pool report attendees including Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, NAACP President Richard Trumka, Al Sharpton, Valerie Jarrett, Gene Sperling and Executive Director of Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Hector Sanchez.
New York Times did the round-up of labor leaders, including the Teamsters’ own Jimmy Hoffa Jr. and AFL-CIO, and their opinions of Perez.

“And Tom has made protecting that promise — for everybody — the cause of his life. As a civil rights attorney, an aide to Senator Ted Kennedy, a member of the Montgomery, Maryland County Council, Tom fought for a level playing field where hard work and responsibility are rewarded and working families can get ahead,” said Obama. “Now, while he’s tackled plenty of tough issues, Tom has also spent a career as a consensus-builder. He’s worked with CEOs, he’s worked with labor leaders. He’s worked at federal, state, and local government levels. And throughout, he understands that our economy works best when the middle class and those working to get into the middle class have the security they need on the job, a democratic voice in the workplace, everybody playing by the same set of rules.”

There is no current date set for Perez’ Senate hearings or any opposition, so far, to his nomination. Perez gave selected remarks after Obama’s praise, summing it up like so:

“As you well know, our nation still faces critical economic challenges, and the Department’s mission is as important as ever. I am confident that together with our partners in organized labor, the business community, grassroots communities, Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike, we can keep making progress for all working families.”

Obama Announces Additional Nominations for State Dept, Heritage Abroad

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Earlier this morning President Barack Obama announced the next three individuals for positions in the administration. “It gives me great confidence that such dedicated and capable individuals have agreed to join this Administration to serve the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come,” said President Obama.

They include Ambassador Deborah K. Jones, currently Scholar-in-Resident at the Middle East Institute, for Ambassador to Libya; Ambassador James Knight, currently Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, for Ambassador to the Republlic of Chad. And Lesley Weiss, currently Director of Community Services and Cultural Affairs for NCSJ, to be Member and Chair for the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad.

Both Jones and Knight will require nominations to be approved in upcoming Congressional sessions while Weiss will be appointed at an upcoming date.

The Donald Denied Reopening White House Tours, Obama May Anyway

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Not even The Donald can reopen The White House tours shuttered by the sequester. Or to be more accurate, The White House said “No thanks” when the notable centerpiece of NBC’s The Apprentice took to his new beloved medium of Fox News to take on the administration.

In the ultimate act of media ourobouros, Politico quoted White House Senior Adviser Dan Pfeiffer on CNN earlier after Trump commented on a Tweet from Newt Gingrich. So much back and forth between the news mediums makes our head spin as pundits go from Twitter to TV to Politico and back again. So why exactly can’t it work? Pfeiffer explained earlier:

“It doesn’t work that way; we can’t have private individuals paying the Secret Service — so that’s not how it works. This is about a very tough budget cut that the Secret Service has to take because of the sequester. It’s why we should have avoided the sequester to begin with.”

Already Yellowstone announced a late opening–by a week–that has caused tourists and small businesses to grumble about experiencing the Great Outdoors. Meanwhile this morning President Obama may review the suspended tours for school trips and students according to Post Politics. From his interview with ABC News:

“I’m always amused when people on the one hand say the sequester doesn’t mean anything and the administration’s exaggerating its effects and then whatever the specific effects are, they yell and scream and say, ‘Why are you doing that?’ Well, there are consequences to Congress not having come up with a more sensible way to reduce the deficit.”

Sequester Goes Too Far With White House Tour Cancelation

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Starting March 9th, the sequester will take one of Washington’s few government benefits: the Official White House Tour.

Talking Points Memo confirmed, re-confirmed and then followed up with the White House phone reservation system:

What does The Daily Caller’s related article have to say about this? (“RELATED: Bob Woodward claims President Barack Obama lied repeatedly about sequester trigger”).

With hours to go before Washingtion is buried under the Snowquester who knows what terrible non-important fallout we’ll experience?