Earnest: Obama "Absolutely" Most Transparent President In History

BRIAN STELTER, CNN: Some would say it may be more adversarial because you are all withholding more than ever. Have you seen this letter this week from the Society of Professional Journalists?

JOSH EARNEST: I did see it.

STELTER: It's from 40 press groups, they're all saying that the president should be more transparent.

EARNEST: Look, I think the president's record of transparency stands up to any of the record of his predecessor.

STELTER: But you did see the letter, you did hear from the groups?

EARNEST: I did.

STELTER: Don't you think they have legitimate concerns?

EARNEST: Well, again, they're all journalists. The day that they stop -- the day that they sort of sit back and say, you know, we don't need to write a letter, the White House is telling us everything they're supposed to, is the day that they're no longer doing their jobs.

STELTER: Well, they say that these -- you know, many federal agencies all across the government are imposing terrible restrictions on freedom of the press. And I wonder if there's anything you can do in your new role to stop that, to improve the flow of information?

EARNEST: Well, I am definitely committed and I have a responsibility in this job to try to help the president live up to his commitment, to be the most transparent president in history. If you look at some of the steps that we've already taken --

STELTER: I'm surprised you still say that line -- the most transparent president in history.

EARNEST: Absolutely.

STELTER: He has been criticized so many times for saying that --

EARNEST: Yes.

STELTER: -- given the prosecutions of whistleblowers and other steps. You will still stick by that line?

EARNEST: Absolutely. But if you look at the president's record of releasing the wage records once a quarter, that that something the previous administration -- they went to the Supreme Court to prevent that information from being released. This administration releases it voluntarily on the Internet on a quarterly basis.

Reporters for years clamored to get access to fundraisers that presidents hosted or attended that were hosted in private homes. Reporters now have access to those when this president goes to a private home. He's at a private home on Wednesday night.