Get first row seat at Clinton's press meeting<\/p>\n
By Endy Bayuni<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Attending a press briefing by a U.S. president
\nis a quite an experience for non-American journalists not
\naccustomed to the White House tradition.<\/p>\n
But here's a tip if you want your questions answered by the
\npresident of America if you ever get the chance to attend one of
\nhis news conferences: Get a front row seat, or shout your
\nquestion.<\/p>\n
A number of Indonesian journalists on Monday were privileged
\nenough to be invited, courtesy of the American embassy, to attend
\na press briefing by Clinton at the residence of Ambassador Robert
\nL. Barry in Menteng.<\/p>\n
From the experience, one concluded that Clinton barely looked
\nbeyond the first row when he took questions from journalists. But
\nhe listens.<\/p>\n
We were guests among the White House pool of journalists,
\nwhose task it is to relay what America's boss has to say to the
\nAmerican public and the rest of the world.<\/p>\n
The briefing was held in the back garden of the ambassador's
\nresidence. The first two rows of seats arranged were already
\nspoken for when we arrived. They were reserved for the White
\nHouse journalists.<\/p>\n
Clinton started off by reading from his notes about the result
\nof his meeting earlier in the day with Australian, Japanese,
\nSouth Korean and Chinese leaders. The focus was on the U.S.-North
\nKorea treaty and how Clinton ensured the support of the four
\nleaders on the issue. He also went into great detail about the
\nAPEC forum, what it meant to the United States.<\/p>\n
The White House journalists must have known when the question
\nand answer session began, for they raised their hands immediately
\nClinton began winding up his opening remarks.<\/p>\n
Clinton too appeared to be familiar with some of the
\njournalists, addressing them by first name. There was Gary, the
\nfirst questioner, and then there was also Rita. Others he simply
\npointed to and invited a question. But they all had one thing in
\ncommon. All were first rowers.<\/p>\n
Familiar topics<\/p>\n
They also asked questions on familiar topics in the
\ninternational media, such as the Korean peninsula, human rights,
\nEast Timor, APEC, Bosnia and some on their domestic agenda such
\nas the American economy and the prospect of ratification of the
\nWTO in view of the Democratic party routing by the Republicans.<\/p>\n
A number of journalists in the second and third rows, who were
\nby now familiar with the game of raising their hands when Clinton
\nwas finishing his sentence to accept the next question,
\nconsistently failed to attract the president's attention.<\/p>\n
Even as the President's timekeeper announced there would be
\none last question, Clinton still picked a first rower. And it was
\nall over within the 20 minutes allocated for the briefing.<\/p>\n
But as the President was walking away from the podium after
\nthe last question, a voice came from a second rower: \"Mr.
\nPresident, can you take one question from Indonesian
\njournalists?\"<\/p>\n
He quickly turned back and said \"Yes, I think I owe you one. I
\nwas looking for someone to raise their hands. Go ahead, I'll give
\nyou one.\"<\/p>\n
The voice came from Anni Bertha Simamora, Indonesia's most
\nknowledgeable diplomatic correspondent, who asked about the
\nAmerican arms sales policy to developing countries.<\/p>\n
Unlike the previous familiar questions from familiar faces,
\nthis one took a little while to digest as the President took a
\nfew seconds to respond to it.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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