NO FREE LUNCH FOR THE FREE PRESS - AT 7:29 A.M. ET:  Apparently, bailing out newspapers isn't yet on the Obama agenda.  From The Politico:

Asked in his Monday briefing if the White House would consider bailing out the newspaper business, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters the government may not have the power to reverse the industry’s decline.

“I don’t know what, in all honesty, government can do about it,” Gibbs said in response to a question about the Boston Globe’s financial struggles.

Noting that it's a "bit of a tricky area to get into," given the relationship between the White House and the media, Gibbs said President Barack Obama “believes there has to be a strong free press" and expressed "concern and sadness" over the state of the industry.

COMMENT:  Of course he's expressing concern and sadness.  It's the industry that put him in the White House.

But breathe easier, at least for now.  We won't soon have the Daily Obaman, Michelle Obama, editor, on our doorstep, paid for by our tax dollars.  A small step forward.

May 5, 2009