Times Reporters Whine About Shinseki Access

Big deal reporters and columnists such as Joe Klein from Time and Nicholas Kristoff from The New York Times can’t get face time with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, New York Times reporter James Dao wrote in a more-than-1,000-word whine that the Gray Lady for some odd reason decided to run.

Dao blasts Shinseki for not talking to Kristoff for a column on suicide – even though the Secretary’s office said it was not aware of the interview request. Dao then quotes Klein saying Shinseki “should answer the phone when Nick Kristoff calls.”

This is the kind of sheer arrogance that makes reporters almost as well loved as members of Congress.

Dao then quotes Paul Rieckhoff, executive director and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America – identified in the screed as one of Shinseki’s more outspoken critics – who complained Shinseki has not been outspoken enough on key issues and did not use Twitter. How much you Tweet, see, is the new baseline for leadership.

Shinseki told Dao that he did not consider holding press conferences a prerequisite for his job, has traveled to 49 out of 50 states and during those trips met with local media outlets and veterans groups.

I think this goes to the heart of the Dao’s beef – Shinseki has not paid enough attention to a DC/NY press corps that views itself as more important than the people and the institutions it covers.

I landed an interview with Shinseki in Raleigh, N.C., where he was dedicating a memorial to Duke University war dead, including my Marine Corps company commander.

Shinseki, who has a Masters from Duke, did give me an interview – but only after he talked to every vet waiting in line to see him. That’s the way it should be in the VA – vets first.

A note to Rieckhoff:  Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America never – I repeat never – has responded to my queries on numerous topics with an interview or a statement. I guess that is because I am Not the New York Times.