A Double-Trouble Scandal for Obama

[Commentary] The facts of the Department of Justice’s press intrusions are clear and uncontested. We know Justice has seized records of reporters, that Attorney General Eric Holder himself signed onto a warrant that suggested a journalist was a "co-conspirator" in a national-security leak. We also know that government has violated its own guidelines on probing journalists. So this is a scandal that can't be ignored or dismissed as a Republican witch hunt.

Moreover, it is a scandal that has, for once, outraged two groups that President Barack Obama deeply depends on for his political success: the press and liberal activists. Since the AP story broke, the Beltway media have been doing a passable impression of a credible Fourth Estate. White House press secretary Jay Carney's daily briefings now resemble "Survivor" episodes, with journalists firing off questions, rejecting answers, and even rolling their eyes at responses. The White House's evasiveness on the press scandal has suddenly got the press corps wondering what else this administration isn't being straight on. Will it last? That may depend on how many more revelations about press intrusions come to light. But the notable thing is that President Obama has lost the media's loyalty at this critical moment of his presidency, as other scandals over the IRS and Benghazi continue to swirl. The left and the press have always been with President Obama when it really mattered, and that may well remain the case. The particular significance of Justice's press scandal is that it has deprived Mr. Obama of support at a time when he is vulnerable on so much else. Who knows what will come of that?