The White House has posted an interview with Elena Kagan conducted by a White House staffer, and journalists are complaining. They wanted to interview her first. Waah.

While the White House seems to believe the American people deserve to hear from Kagan, it has not made her available to reporters. That prompted some consternation at today’s White House briefing.

“It appears that Solicitor General Kagan did an interview yesterday right after the president’s announcement,” said a reporter. “You’ve now posted that on the White House Web site. Who did the interview? And can I have one?”

“I think it’s — I think it’s on the website if you want to see it,” responded Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Soon after, the reporter can be heard saying, an edge in her voice, “So a White House staffer interviewing her.”

Gibbs says yes, and the reporter asks if Kagan would like to do another interview.

“She has — she’s not told me that, no,” replied Gibbs, prompting the reporter to respond, “Tell her we’re deeply frustrated.”

The decision to post an interview with Kagan conducted by a government employee - not a journalist - is in line with the Obama administration’s policy of regularly using new media tools to go around traditional media.