Who Said it? “[W]e”have a respect for the press when it comes to the government”
That would be Sean Spicer in December 2016 on the difference between being selective with media outlets in the campaign versus in government.
The full quote (video at the link):
“I think, look, there’s a big difference, I think, between a campaign where it is a private venue using private funds and a government entity. And I think we have a respect for the press when it comes to the government, that that is something you can’t ban an entity from. You know conservative, liberal, otherwise I think that is what makes a democracy a democracy versus a dictatorship.”
Emphasis mine.
And look, I understand this is one incident, and it is possible to overreact. But as Doug Mataconis has pointed out, this really isn’t new. And, further, the administration has to be held accountable for this type of behavior. It is not acceptable.