White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs wasted no time in pointing out that the press corps was decked out in their “Sunday best” for the debut of the new seating arrangements in the James S. Brady Briefing Room. With the President traveling in Atlanta, GA on Monday there was no daily briefing back in Washington, DC. But on Tuesday it was back to business.
“Church is full today,” joked Gibbs. “That’s good to see.” Here’s the briefing from C-SPAN.
Most eyes were on the Associated Press who now occupy the front row, center seat once warmed by Helen Thomas – but there were several changes made by the White House Correspondents Association and a whole new seating chart – one that may require a booster seat as Gibbs pointed out to America Urban Radio Networks’ April Ryan who could barely see the podium from her spot behind NPR reporter Ari Shaprio.
“Ms. Ryan, you’re going to have to ask that gentleman in front of you to sit down a little,” joked Gibbs. “He’s a little on the tall side.”
Ryan moved up from the fourth row to the middle of the third row next to Politico, which also moved up from fourth to third row. That put Ryan directly behind NPR, one of the contenders for the Thomas perch. NPR was given Fox’s old seat in the second row, directly behind the newly ensconced AP. Fox moved up to the first row in the old AP seat. Got it?
WHC Insider News Media AP, April Ryan, Ari Shapiro, Fox, Helen Thomas, NPR, Robert Gibbs, WHCA, White House Correspondents Association, White House press corps
- WHC Garden Brunch honorary co-chair & Founder of CURE Epilepsy
Susan Axelrod with Wendy Williams
CREDIT: WHC Insider
Wendy Williams walked into the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch with a smile on her face. If the talk show host were harboring any bad feelings about whom she would potentially be dining with that evening, it sure didn’t show.
Williams was escorted to the brunch by American Urban Radio Network‘s White House correspondent April Ryan and was to be seated at the network’s table at the annual WHCA Dinner later that evening. Except Williams didn’t go to the dinner.
According to the NY Daily News, the American Urban Radio Network also invited former “Celebrity Apprentice” contestant Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth to the dinner without realizing the two women have had an ongoing tiff since 2008.
Welcome to Washington, Wendy!
WHC Insider WHCD 2010 Guests April Ryan, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, Wendy Williams, WHC Garden Brunch, WHCA Dinner
