Cat got your tongue?

Word comes down that the President will "filter" questions at his Virginia town-hall meeting. That prompted this from the folks at The Weekly Standard:

Both White Houses are entitled to hold such events, which are inherently and sensibly orchestrated to benefit each executive. The press is right to note that fact while reporting them. Odd that the Times chose to do that only for the Bush administration, huh?

Well, no not really. The media in general and the Times in particular wanted nothing to do with President Bush. For the last 6 years of his Presidency they were unambiguously critical, offering no support even for long-held Democrat and liberal positions during the 2005 Social Security Reform debate.

I don't know about you but I read enough screeds to last a lifetime in the Bush years about the imbecile-in-chief who couldn't handle a 'live' question. Fast-forward 5 years and there is no substantive difference between the former President's handling of town-hall events and his predecessor's. Aside from the media's unambiguous support for everything the predecessor does.