Today's Poolitzer Prize, awarded semi-regularly to pool reports of unusual wit, detail or news value, goes to a dispatch from the New York Times' Helene Cooper, who covered the president-elect as he spoke with schoolchildren at the Dodge Renaissance Academy this morning after announcing his pick for Education secretary.
When one of the children -- betraying a preternatural concern for the issues -- asked him about Iraq, President-elect Obama responded by repeating his pledge to remove "troops" in the next year and a half. Despite his early initiative, the young cub reporter failed to ask a follow-up on just how many troops would be withdrawn how soon.
The winning pool report, edited only for clarity, is below:
After the press conference at Dodge Academy, President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden went upstairs for a 15 minute meeting with a group of 1st-4th graders -- about a dozen.After a few minutes of chit-chat in which he asked the kids what they were studying -- (when one child said "decimals," Mr. Obama replied, "Decimals! Wow, Joe doesn't even know his decimals!") Then he told the kids he was opening the floor to questions, and proceeded to take more than double the number of questions than he took at his press conference. Plus the kids got to raise their hands and ask.
He may even have made news. One child ask him about Iraq and he said he plans to have troops home in a year and a half.
Other questions:
What are you gonna do as president?
A -- Make sure all kids get a good education.In 2009 are you going to the White House?
A -- After replying yes, Mr. Obama volunteered that he's getting a dog for Malia and Sasha, and added: "I want to make sure my daughters take care of this dog, and if they do their business, and you've got some poop, you don't just leave it there."Will you go to other countries?
A -- Mr. Obama said yes, adding that he even expects to meet some kings and queens.He also told the kids he's thinking about longer school days, which did not seem to go over well.
He took some photos with the kids, and we left the school at around 11:26. Mr. Obama is back in his transition office, and we have a lid until 6 p.m.
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