JONATHAN MARTIN &CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN,Politico
President Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night,but got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question.
Asked how he could reconcile a strict ban on lobbyists in his administration with a Deputy Defense Secretary nominee who lobbied for Raytheon,Obama interrupted with a knowing smile on his face.
“Ahh,see,”he said,“I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can’t end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I’m going to get grilled every time I come down here.”
Pressed further by the Politico reporter about his Pentagon nominee,William J. Lynn III,Obama turned more serious,putting his hand on the reporter’s shoulder and staring him in the eye.