Most people know Hillary is protected...duh!
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By T. BECKET ADAMS • 7/13/16 4:38 PM


For all the unpleasantness between Donald Trump and the press, it's not much friendlier on the other side of the aisle. (AP Photo)

Hillary Clinton's attack on Donald Trump's treatment of the press backfired badly Wednesday, as it only reminded journalists of her own prickly relationship with media.

"Trump has banished members of the press who have criticized him. Is there any doubt he would do the same as president?" Clinton said on her social media feed.

That only invited a slew of tweets criticizing Clinton for almost never taking questions from the press.

"Ok, but Hillary hasn't had a press conference for nearly a year," said Newday's John Asbury.

Mediaite's Alex Griswold wrote, "Hillary hasn't given a press conference in seven months. Is there any doubt she would do the same as president?"

"To be fair, at least he acknowledges we exist," quipped the Guardian's Ben Jacobs.

Trump does have a contentious relationship with many in media, and he regularly threatens reporters and entire newsrooms with banishment and legal action.

In June, he announced his campaign would deny press credentials to Washington Post reporters in retaliation for how their newsroom has covered his presidential bid, although he gave them a 30-minute exclusive interview this week.

In May, the Trump campaign added the Huffington Post to its supposed no-fly list. In March, the Trump campaign barred reporter Ben Schreckinger from a primary election event in Florida. And in January, Trump's team denied BuzzFeed's McKay Coppins entry to an event in Des Moines, Iowa.

But for all the unpleasantness between Trump and the press, it's not much friendlier on the other side of the aisle.

Clinton and her team keep close tabs on reporters at campaign events, regularly exchanging notes about their whereabouts, and she has not held a press conference since December 2015.

Her reluctance to speak with members of the press has become so glaring, in fact, that the Washington Post launched a widget this month to track how many days it has been since her last presser.

A year ago, Clinton campaign staffers wrangled a group of journalists into a roped-off pen during a Fourth of July Parade. This wasn't even a first time for a Clinton.

These events no doubt fueled media anger with Clinton after she tweeted at Trump.

"Hillary has a perfectly fair and evenhanded policy of banning all press from her press conferences," said Business Insider's Josh Barro.

Chris Cillizza ✔ @TheFix
Not good. But not being accessible to the press is also pretty darn bad. https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/s...76435968757760 …
11:21 AM - 13 Jul 2016

Aaron Sankin ✔ @ASankin
At least Trump holds press conferences. https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/s...76435968757760 …
10:41 AM - 13 Jul 2016

Eli Lake ✔ @EliLake
He might even rope them off like cattle at a routine campaign event. https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/s...76435968757760 …
10:36 AM - 13 Jul 2016

Justin Green ✔ @JGreenDC
You haven't given a press conference in 2016 https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/s...76435968757760 …
10:33 AM - 13 Jul 2016

Politico's Eric Geller said, "You haven't held a press conference in like 500 years. You literally corralled reporters to keep them away from you."

"You should talk about this in your next press conference. You know, your first one of 2016," Autonomous' Steve Krakauer said in response to Clinton's remark.

National Review's Charles C.W. Cooke noted, "Once again, these candidates can't criticize each other effectively. Hillary has hidden from the press for 7 months."

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pr...rticle/2596407