If you were reading this blog a couple of weeks ago, you may recall the debate that ensued over White House watchdog Dan Froomkin’s musings about how skeptically he and others in the White House press corps should cover Barack Obama.

As of now, the answer appears to be, “Like sheep following their shepherd.”

Or as Carol Marin of the Chicago Sun-Times puts it: “Deferential, eager to please, prepared to keep a careful distance. … The press corps, most of us, don’t even bother raising our hands any more to ask questions because Obama always has before him a list of correspondents who’ve been advised they will be called upon that day.”

They don’t ask any challenging or unplanned questions, and Obama won’t take any. It’s a wee bit hypocritical in light of the stink made over one compliant reporter in the Bush White House.

Granted, Obama isn’t the president yet. Hopefully the questions will get tougher and the press conferences less scripted once he is. But it’s a shame to see the press being so compliant, even if only for a pre- and post-inauguration honeymoon period.