The New Plan to Protect Treasury Secretary Geithner from Embarrassment

It appears the Treasury has adopted a new strategy to protect Tim Geithner from fumbling and bumbling on television, radio, etc.: Regularly ban television cameras, tape recorders, and the like, from Geithner press conferences. Going back to an age even before fireside chats.

Of late, including tomorrow when Geithner discuses bringing the insiders in to "help" stabilize the financial system, it will be "pen and pad" for reporters only.

The Treasury's announcement re tomorrow's press conference said:

Last month, the Administration unveiled a Financial Stability Plan to stabilize the financial system and ensure that it works with economic recovery, not against it, by providing the liquidity and credit consumers and businesses need to grow and thrive.

Of course, also last month, the Treasury allowed cameras and other recording devices which clearly revealed Geithner looking like a high school student who didn't finish is homework and was called on in class.

The solution: Geithner will read remarks prepared by someone else, and then take a few questions where the public won't get to hear the hesitations of the Treasury Secretary as he answers the questions.

Or, as the Treasury release puts it:

WHO: Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner
WHAT: Pen and Pad Press Briefing on the Administration’s Comprehensive Efforts to Increase Lending and Stabilize the Financial System

As if to make sure everyone gets this, the Treasury announcement then says again, in bold:

Please note that this is a pen and pad briefing only; no cameras or recording devices for broadcast purposes will be allowed.

The Treasury is literally bringing on board a new set of crooks, and to explain how these crooks will operate, in the 21st Century reporters are told to bring a Bic pen or a Number 2 pencil.

For my discussion of this latest trillion dollar give away, see here and here.