Give Dino a White House Press Pass

Newsday reports on correspondent Dino Ironbody:

The reporter was fake, using a fake name, spoofing alleged fake White House reporter "Jeff Gannon." But the news conference was real serious.

A "correspondent" from the fake news show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, was outside City Hall yesterday to get some answers from City Council Speaker Gifford Miller.

Wearing a badly groomed hair piece, a fake mustache and an ugly 1970s tie, Rob Corddry waited patiently until after the real reporters had posed their questions to ask one about about Social Security.

Standing awkwardly with his legs far apart as though he were getting ready to sprint, nodding in agreement to every word spoken by Miller about the West Side Stadium, Corddry finally raised his hand.

"Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker," he shouted, as if in a White House news conference, identifying himself as "Dino Ironbody"

His question: "How do you feel about the president's awesome plan to privatize Social Security?"

Miller, who realized what was going on, played along.

"I'm not such a big fan of the president's plan to private Social Security," Miller said. "I think Social Security has worked pretty well for generations and we outta stick with something that works."

After the gathering broke up, Corddry, in a move uncharacteristic of reporters, invited them to chat.

"Anybody wants to talk shop, I will be right here," he said, pointing to the ground and cameras rolling. "Good conference man!"

I'm sure Dino has made mistakes in his past, but let's hope that won't prevent him from having a future.

Meanwhile, FishBowlDC (link via America Blog) is now at day four in their quest to gain access to the gaggle. They're reporting the possibility of...success? Perhaps. We'll see. Of course, it'd be interesting to compare and contrast their attempt with that of Guckert. It'd also be interesting to see others try to get access, because something tells me McClellan isn't being entirely truthful when he suggests that just about anyone can cover the White House for a day (or, every day for over two years).