It was an article of faith among conservatives before Sen. Barack Obama became president, and has persisted through his re-election: America's first black president and the supposedly liberal mainstream media enjoy a veritable love fest.
The reality, at least among those who cover the president, has been quite a bit different. Reporters have grumbled for several years about being ignored, dismissed and even insulted by White House press officials. More than usual, the White House's relationship with the press corps has been marked by simmering tension and even mutual contempt.
And now the temperature has been raised to a boil.