Extraordinary

I am uncertain if Ms. Bumiller’s question was submitted to the president before-hand. Perhaps you might write to the president if you are unhappy with this system.
Sincerely,
Arthur Bovino
Office of the Public Editor

You didn’t think the New York Times was going to create a truly independent Public Editor’s office, now did you?

(Full context here.)

Update: I got the same response as Atrios and a few others. (Though signed by Okrent, the header is left over from my last exchange with Bovino — which doesn’t necessarily mean anything, they may well share a computer and/or email access.)

From: public@nytimes.com
Subject: Re: Those T-Shirts
Date: April 21, 2004 3:19:18 PM EDT

Dear Tom Tomorrow,

I recently learned that some readers wrote to this office concerning the protocols of White House press conferences. I cannot speak for other news organizations, but I can assure you categorically that the New York Times does not — ever — submit press conference questions in advance.

Yours sincerely,
Daniel Okrent
Public Editor

Daniel Okrent
Public Editor
N.B.: Any opinions expressed here, unless otherwise indicated, are solely my own