Called on It -- For Once

Remarkably, Helen Thomas (yes, Helen Thomas!) and CBS's Chip Reid called Robert Gibbs on the format of the administration's preplanned "town hall meeting" about health care (

video here).

Although Gibbs dances, dodges and pretends not to understand what they mean, their point is obvious: Taking pre-screened, hand-selected questions does not make for a transparent, open exchange of ideas between the public and the president that town halls supposedly promote.

If the Democrats are right in believing that President Obama is the genius we've all been told he is -- and the President is right that his health care plan is really best for America -- there shouldn't be any problem, should there?