it's really annoying that nobody seems to care that empathy is NOT a synonym for sympathy.

those without empathy are mentally disabled. the diagnosis in DSM is psychopathic/sociopathic personality disorder.

empathy is the ability to understand another's thought and the very foundation for law.

Ah, unnamed sources -- gimme a big ol' plate a deep fried Reporter Porn!

These background briefings are key to the political maneuvering of the White House's political operations and permanent campaign. Reducing background briefings will slow down the implementation of the president's progressive agenda!

As I listened to the complaint about getting information on "background", I felt that you were being very unfair: you are getting the information, just not the authorization to report who is telling you this.
Though it is true that it would be less work for news reporters to have "official" reports all the time, I propose that it is better to get lots of unofficial reports that you can research and verify, than one daily "official" report, as the Bush administration tried to have.
Official reports, as you know, are highly skewed and scripted. Off the record comments are also often skewed and scripted, but if enough of them are collected, you can verify them more easily!

To conclude, don't complain because the Obama government is giving you unpackaged information. Use it! :-D