Helen Thomas is getting so OLD! I don't like the way that was conducted, and it was taken out of context. There are definitely questions that should be answered, but I'm not sure this is as big a deal as is being presented. - Sheryl

So much for openness and transparency - Seek Ground from email

Sheryl: BS. The previous administration was excoriated for supposedly letting in only Bush supporters. This administration is taking it to a whole new level; not only are they controlling who the audience is, they are controlling the questions they ask! Obama knows the questions and is scripted when he gives the response. He's not answering legitimate questions from real news people. If that's not a big deal to you, then I suggest you might as well move to Iran. - Dawn

The really sick thing about this is how unnecessary it is!! The reason Bush used town halls was because the press was so hostile to him. The press, outside of Fox news, has been slobbering all over themselves, giving Obama great, positive coverage. So for them to be so hyper-controlling - more so than anything other administration ever - makes you wonder what the heck they are so afraid of. - Dawn

Coming from the other side, as an Obama supporter, I have to agree that the Obama administration's policy of requesting questions in advance and giving him a list of reporters approved to call on is concerning. It has bothered me for awhile. Even if a bigger deal is being made of it than should be, as Sheryl said, it does give the appearance of attempting to control the media. - Trish R

Helen Thomas is right. If a town hall script has to be composed in advance--due away with the theater of pretending it's a meeting. - Rob Michael (Atmos Trio)

And it's not just dealing with the press. Remember the outrage about the Bush administration "cooking the books" in favor of going to war by playing on fear and false facts? The current administration rammed through the largest tax increase in the history of our country via the "cap and trade" bill. And they did it by using global warming as the threat, while Obama's own EPA purposely shelved an "inconvenient" report by a scientist who has worked for the EPA for 38 years. His boss said in an email that it wouldn't be passed on because "the administrator and the administration has decided to move forward on endangerment, and your comments do not help the legal or policy case for this decision." He went on to say that this report would have "a very negative impact on our office." IOW, dissent is not tolerated! You'd better tell this administration what they want to hear, or else. - Dawn

Dawn: I think you misunderstand what I said. I don't think transparency is unimportant. I do think the conversation never got off the ground properly and I found the whole video a little ridiculous. It was far too disjointed and all it did was point to the lack of transparency. But neither side was very well spoken or really in these circumstances got an opportunity to speak in a way that made a point other than that no one at that level gives any thought to anything other than their own agenda. You show me anyone at this level who gets it right all the time and I'll tell you I disagree. I'm a bit jaded about politics. I don't trust it, and do not believe they have my back or anyone else's other than their buddies. Sorry if that didn't come out well and sorry if you are offended by it. Part of what I always thought was good about the US was the ability to have an opinion and state it. My opinion stands. I think it's not nearly as big a deal as it's being portrayed as. How many times do these sorts of interactions take place that we never get to be privy to? That someone pointed it out and it was broadcast doesn't make it more important than some of the other atrocities that exist. - Sheryl