John McCormick of the Chicago Tribune asks Obama about Rahm Emanuel’s reported contact with Blagojevich’s office despite the President-elect’s earlier deniel. Obama shoots down the question. McCormick then asks about a conflict of stories, only to be shot down once more. Obama insists that the prosecution doesn’t want information shared until next week. Fair ‘nough. But if its not simply a matter of complying with the prosecution and not refusing to put himself in a position, why the non-answer on a special election? Why will he only answer an idiotic question about jump shots?

The media’s suddenly discovered that Obama’s not the most transparent and upfront individual in the political world. Perhaps if they tried to hold him accountable more often during the election, instead of sending teams of reporters to Wasilla, Alaska to discover that Sarah Palin bought a tanning bed, this wouldn’t be news to them.

The interaction with McCormick stood out from previous meetings with the press. And speaking about the exchange on MSNBC shortly after, NBC Washington bureau chief Mark Whitaker said that reporters have not been aggressive enough during Obama’s post-election pressers.

“Our job is to hold him to account,” Whitaker said, adding that he thinks “we’re going to have to get tougher.”

Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter followed up: “We need the Sam Donaldsons of the world.”

It doesn’t take Sam Donaldson to hold a politician accountable. Instead of giggling about his blue jeans and reporting on his time spent in the gym, you could fact check his stories and check his connections a bit more often.

Will the media suddenly turn on him? Don’t count on it. He’s still their pet project and they won’t likely push him too hard.