MSNBC contributor David Axelrod criticized CBS News’ Bob Schieffer this morning, taking issue with the “Face the Nation” host’s stance on the Obama administration’s handling of the press and the DOJ investigations of the media.
Schieffer criticized the administration’s communications policy on “Face the Nation” this week, noting the show has to go through the White House press office to arrange on-camera interviews with anyone “from the lowest-level worker to a top White House official.”
“So I am glad the President has asked the Attorney General to review whether his investigations into leaks is having a chilling effect on journalists,” Schieffer said. “But it shouldn’t stop there. The president needs to rethink his entire communications policy, top to bottom. It is hurting his credibility and shortchanging the public.”
On “Morning Joe” this morning, Axelrod said while “the notion of naming a journalist as a co-conspirator for receiving information is something I find disturbing,” it should be separate from the issue of press access.
“The notion that the public should be concerned or disturbed, or that the taxpayer’s being cheated because Bob can’t book the guests he wants, I’m unsympathetic to that,” Axelrod said. Watch: