Shown the Door at the White House

WASHINGTON - First let me say that I'm sorry for falling behind in my blog duties. I won't go three weeks without a post again. Second, I assure you that topics in the future will be about something other than Mark Plotkin -- but this story is just too good not to tell.

There are lots of accounts of this story swirling around, so let me tell you exactly how WTOP's political commentator wound up being escorted off the White House grounds.

It was your typical White House event. The Ballou Senior High School Marching Band was being honored by First Lady Laura Bush.

In the front row, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, Council Chair Vince Gray, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and School Chancellor Michele Rhee. The rest of the room was filled by the band members and the president's mother, Barbara Bush.

The First Lady gave a brief speech. That's when Plotkin literally sprung into action. He called across the East Room, "Mrs. Bush, Mrs. Bush"

He caught her attention; she stopped, smiled and listened.

In typical Plotkin style, he blurted out the following question:

"Mrs. Bush, do you agree with those who say and believe that members of the Ballou High School band should not grow up to become members of the House of Representatives?"

About half way through the question, Mrs. Bush realized this was not a friendly softball being lobbed from the peanut gallery, but a real question with an agenda from the press gallery.

Mrs. Bush looked down and walked to her seat without a word. The smile was gone.

At that moment, White House staff formed a human wall between the press and the First Lady and pointed to the door.

One White House staffer told Plotkin he was out of line because the event was "about the kids."

"My question WAS about the kids," Plotkin fired back.

As we left the East Room, Plotkin ran into White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten. Bolten wasted no time telling Plotkin he had been disrespectful.

As we stood in the horseshoe driveway of the White House, Sally McDonough from Mrs. Bush's press office hurried over to us.

"Next time you have a question for the First Lady you can call me and request an interview."

"Great," he said. "I'll call tomorrow and we'll set it up."

"I said you could request an interview."

Plotkin smiled.

Then McDonough asked Plotkin for his name and employer, which she wrote in her notebook.

"Thanks, I'll walk you out."

She escorted Plotkin to the gate.

In fairness, Plotkin was ready to leave, but she made sure he knew it was time to go.

No doubt Plotkin will have trouble getting White House credentials in the future; they've probably already added him to the do-not-fly list.

And the White House staff weren't the only ones who thought Plotkin crossed a line.

Several reporters characterized his actions as rude. A top adviser to Mayor Fenty says he should not have asked the question, and was disrespectful to the First Lady.

Fenty disagrees with his adviser.

"That's not the position of the administration, I don't know who in my administration would have said otherwise, but it's the right of a reporter, it's actually your job."

Fenty said he had a brief chat with President Bush before the public ceremony, but he chose not to bring up voting rights.

"It was a short conversation about the Ballou kids," the mayor said.

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton didn't think Plotkin was disrespectful either.

In fact, knowing Plotkin as she does she wasn't surprised at all.

But this story is as much about the decline of the press corps as it is about one reporter being shown the door.

What has the 4th estate become when we attended a government press event that includes a press release, lights, microphones and all the accommodations needed for the press, yet it is somehow rude for us to ask a question?

A complacent spoon-fed press is not what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they left us the gift of the First Amendment.

So good for Plotkin and shame on the rest of us who sit by and watch.