Heading Back to the Reservation

The strategy is obvious.  The White House battled back on the tri-headed scandal monster early in the week with two contentious press briefings Tuesday and Wednesday followed by a give-in on the Benghazi emails (with no chance to pepper anyone with questions about them Thursday or Friday) and a mild mea culpa on Benghazi Friday to the one mainstream journalist who has been doing her job. 

Meanwhile they've continued their shocked face over the IRS Tea Bag Targeting Program, insisting that they didn't know anything until we did, followed by a dramatic mock firing of two people who simply took retirement.  The AP phone dragnet story has gone relatively silent now.

So here we are on Saturday morning and the love is returning...

The tensions continued with Mr. Carney’s defense of the White House in the investigation over whether the I.R.S. inappropriately targeted conservative groups for special scrutiny and his push back on questions relating to the the seizure of telephone records of Associated Press journalists, over which the press relentlessly grilled him. “I don’t take it personally,” he said of the tough questions lobbed by his former peers.

..from the New York Times;

As the Obama administration grapples with a series of recent controversies within its ranks, political observers in Washington have begun to calculate their potential political impacts. But while many Republicans believe the scandals could prove a boon to the party's prospects in the 2014 midterm elections, they it's equally important not to "overreach" on the issue -- and risk having their efforts blow up in their face.

..from CBS; and

Despite Democratic fears, predictions of the demise of President Barack Obama's agenda appear exaggerated after a week of cascading controversies, political triage by the administration and party leaders in Congress and lack of evidence to date of wrongdoing close to the Oval Office.

..from none other than an AP reporter.  Yes, the same AP targeted by the Justice Department.  And wait, lest anyone be left to think CBS is the network of Sharyl Attkisson, here's another for good measure..

I was told there was going to be a cover-up. After reading the 100 pages of emails related to the Benghazi media talking points, I'm hard-pressed to find evidence for the most damning accusations against the president and his staff. If they were involved, they were once again leading from behind.

And don't forget CBS' Mark Knoller, who on Wednesday actually asked his former colleague Carney how he was faring under the controversy.

Anyone on the right who thought the press had finally seen some kind of a light and turned the corner should understand that these guys like Jay Carney. A lot. That's why they don't go very hard on him and now feel bad for putting him through a mild ringer.

They like Obama--they all voted for him because they agree with his worldview. They don't like controversy about him. They are journalists yes, but only on stories that run outside their true beliefs. Most didn't get into journalism to report facts accurately, they got into it to save the planet and expose evil, which is of course on the right. 

So it appears that last week was a little lovers' spat.  The White House recognized it and took the rest of the week off so their old friends could cool down hoping all will be well come Monday.  It's not over yet, we will see if some of them can put their personal feelings aside and fairly report on what might be the most egregious misuse of power in the history of the nation, but barring more revelations it's clear the press is ready to dismiss the side shows, forgive their leader, and crown him the comeback kid.  Perhaps the only question is whether this administration can put aside their arrogance long enough to let it happen.