White House press corps too friendly?

Here's a question worth thinking about: Is the White House press corps too friendly with the Obama Administration for which they must cover?

You gotta wonder after this morning's press briefing in which White House spokesman Robert Gibbs was asked why the president hasn't held a full press conference in six months.

Gibbs' answer sounded weird to me.

He seemed to poke fun at the question by saying that when the president held more regular press conferences, the White House press corps told him (Gibbs) that those conferences were "over-exposing" the president.

Now, it was a banter kind of exchange from Gibbs and it didn't get a follow-up question. But, unless it happened privately, it also didn't elicit a protest from a single member of the White House press corps.

It should. Because if the White House is saying that the press corps is helping them by giving them media advice, then that's inappropriate and any self-respecting reporters should challenge it.

If it is true, then that is also inappropriate and the news organizations that are supposed to be the watchdogs for the people might want to check the bark and bite of their reporters.

It's a small thing and perhaps I'm making too much of it. But it sure sounded weird.