West Wing Props

The Washington Times reports that so few reporters showed up for yesterday’s Q&A with President Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai that the White House resorted to interns as seat-fillers.

Since the President typically only only takes four questions at the press avails–two from wires and two from foreign press–most domestic reporters don’t bother showing up. They can, after all, read the transcript later. As one reporter told the WT, there’s no need for them to be “props”–hence the White House resorted to real props to make the image good for the cameras: “So you had all these fresh young faces — pretty blonde girls, and guys who haven’t shaved — nodding their approval as the president speaks.”

Indeed, a quick gander at the White House photo of the avail shows some, um, new additions to the White House press corps…

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