VIDEO! Here is YouTube video and transcript by Helen Thomas and Chip Reid dissing Robert Gibbs and even the Huffington Post!

Helen Thomas and Chip Reid claim Robert Gibbs and Co. are trying to control the media down to who gets to ask questions and when. Thomas calls it the worse since the Nixon era.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

At a press conference this week, Helen Thomas and CBS’s Chip Reid went at it with Gibbs who they claim are manufacturing their public relations with hand held media puppets. Thomas says exhibit A is Huffington Post.Thomas slammed:

“We have never had that in the White House. I’m amazed that you people … call for openness and transparency.”

Thomas sat down with CSN News and said Obama is manufacturing his own press and doesn’t care if you like it or not. Thomas tells CSN:

“What the hell do they think we are, puppets?. They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.”

Further explains CSN:

Thomas said she was especially concerned about the arrangement between the Obama Administration and a writer from the liberal Huffington Post Web site. The writer was invited by the White House to President Obama’s press conference last week on the understanding that he would ask Obama a question about Iran from among questions that had been sent to him by people in Iran.

“When you call the reporter the night before you know damn well what they are going to ask to control you,” Thomas said. “I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well–for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.”

Below is a transcript of the press conference exchange.

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HELEN THOMAS: We have never had that in the White House. We have had some control [inaudible]. I’m amazed that you people who call for openness and transparency…

ROBERT GIBBS: You haven’t even heard the questions.

CHIP REID: It doesn’t matter. It’s the process. Even if there’s a tough question, it’s a question coming from somebody who was invited and who was screened or the question was screened.

GIBBS: Chip, Chip, lets have this discussion at the conclusion of the town hall meetings.

THOMAS: No, no, no, we’re having it now.

GIBBS: Well, I’d be happy to have it now.

THOMAS: It’s a pattern.

GIBBS: Which questions do you object to at the town hall meeting?

THOMAS: It’s a pattern.

GIBBS: What’s a pattern?

THOMAS: It’s a pattern of controlling the press.

GIBBS: How so? Is there any evidence going on that I’m currently controlling the press? Poorly, I might add.

THOMAS: Your formal engagements are prepackaged.

GIBBS: How so?

REID: Well, and controlling the public.

THOMAS: How so? By calling reporters the night before to tell them they’re going to be called on. That is shocking.

GIBBS: We’ve had this discussion ad nauseum, and uh…

THOMAS: Of course you would, because you don’t have any answers.

GIBBS: Uh, well, because I didn’t know you were going to ask a question, Helen.

THOMAS: Well you should have.

GIBBS: Have you emailed your question today?

THOMAS: I don’t have to email. I can tell you right now what I want to say.

GIBBS: I don’t doubt that at all, Helen.

REID: Actually, could you pass along a question from all of us to the president: Is he going to support a tax increase on the middle class?