Knoller to Earnest: Did Obama Really Mean To Say He’s Not Interested in Photo Ops?

Knoller to WH's Earnest: Did Obama Really Mean To Say He's Not Interested in Photo Ops? (RealClearPolitics)

MARK KNOLLER: One question on photo ops. Did President Obama really mean it when he said I have no interest in photo ops?

JOSH EARNEST, WH: His view is that solving problems is most important. And solving problems is what somebody who is exhibiting leadership is focused on. And that's what the president was doing when he was in Dallas on Wednesday. It's also what the president has been doing over the last couple of weeks...

KNOLLER: But he's not pained about every photo op that he does?

EARNEST: I think that if he did, he would disappoint a lot of people in this room. They are pretty interested in capturing the president.

KNOLLER: But aren't photo ops the life blood of presidential public relations?

EARNEST: Well, there's no doubt that presidential appearance somewhere sends a very important message about the president's priorities, and in some cases it sends a very important message about the country's priorities.