Mussolini Was A Newspaper Man, You Know

Dig how the Washington Post was selling access to Obama Administration officials.

“Bring your organization’s CEO or executive director literally to the table,” one of his (Charles Pelton, the Post executive who came up with the idea) fliers advised.

“Interact with key Obama Administration and Congressional leaders . . . Spirited? Yes. Confrontational? No. The relaxed setting in the home of Katharine Weymouth assures it.”

The cost? $25,000 to “sponsor” one event (Maximum of two sponsors per “intimate and exclusive” event). Or get a bulk deal on all eleven: only $250,000 for the lot.

The WaPo is being raked over the coals for this, but I think that's misguided. Consider this question: How was it possible that they could offer up the Obama Administration officals in the first place? Or how about this equation:

CEO gives $$$ to the WaPo => the WaPo gives ??? to the Obama Administration.

We all know what was in it for the CEO and for the WaPo. What was in it for Obama's crew?

Il Duce got his start as a member of the press.