Nothing to See Here
[Guest post by DRJ]
The Most Transparent Administration Ever says the media doesn’t need to see President Obama sign today’s Executive Order on health care and abortion, and there’s nothing they need to know about yesterday’s meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu:
“White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs defended the secrecy shrouding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office on Tuesday – saying it wasn’t necessary for the press to have access to every presidential event.
Gibbs was peppered by questions from reporters who wanted to know why there was no pool coverage or readout of two Netanyahu White House meetings – just several canned photos provided by Obama’s staff.
Gibbs brushed aside the notion that the White House was playing tit-for-tat with Netanyahu, whose government snubbed Vice President Joe Biden during his recent visit to Israel.
“I think it comes as a great shock to you and me,” Gibbs said during his daily briefing. “But not everything the president does is for the cameras and for the press.”
Gibbs responded similarly to questions about another closed-press presidential event Wednesday – where Obama planned to sign an executive order on abortion. Asked why the White House wouldn’t allow reporters in as a show of transparency, Gibbs replied, ” We’ll have a nice picture from Pete that will demonstrate that type of transparency,” referring to the White House photographer, Pete Souza.”
Press Secretary Gibbs also compared Senator John McCain to a 6-year-old after McCain said the GOP would not cooperate with Democrats for the rest of the year:
“I find it curious that not getting your way on one thing means you’ve decided to take your toys and go home,” Gibbs said. “It doesn’t work well for my six-year-old. I doubt it works well in the United States Senate, because we have issues that are important for his constituents and for all of America.”
Asked whether he was comparing McCain to a child, Gibbs replied: “I’m saying that I think the notion that if you don’t get what you want you’re not going to cooperate on anything else is not a whole lot different than I might hear from a six-year-old.”
We get it, Gibbs. You’re busy and don’t want to be bothered with a distracting media, opposing lawmakers, or annoying Americans. However, the Administration’s job isn’t to patronize Americans or treat them like children — no matter how much they annoy you.
— DRJ
“I’m saying that I think the notion that if you don’t get what you want you’re not going to cooperate on anything else is not a whole lot different than I might hear from a six-year-old.”
So Gibbs was also calling Nancy Pelosi, the Minority Leader of the Party of No, during the Bush Administration, a six year old child. Tapper should clarify that in a follow-up question.
daleyrocks (718861) — 3/24/2010 @ 8:43 pmNow, daley, that is different. These are Teh Annointed, and they know better than anyone else.
Just ask our crew of trolls.
Eric Blair (21af67) — 3/24/2010 @ 8:46 pmDRJ:
You forget something: When you rule, all else is bother. Ruling is hard.
My only other observation is this:
Whether you like McCain or hate him, he was a prisoner of war from 1967 until 1973.
I know he was held by an oppressed state at war with a superpower. The way he tells it, he was apparently tortured and has some difficulties to this day from the alleged torture. And, I know he had it coming, if it happened, because he was a pawn of the imperial ambitions of the United States.
For a moment, though, let’s assume his story is true.
Robert Gibbs was born in 1971. He called McCain a six-year-old.
Draw your own conclusions.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 3/24/2010 @ 8:52 pmYes, Ag80. It is ironic how much these yo-yos think that respect is so important…to them.
And the arrogance is striking. All Mr. Gibbs would need to say is this: “We all respect a great American like Senator McCain, though we disagree with him on this issue. The senator has a history of bipartisanship, and we hope that he will return to the table to work with us toward solutions for all Americans.”
But Gibbs can’t do it. He must snark and be a jackass.
I’m glad. I love the overreaching and arrogance and dishonesty and immaturity. It’ll make 2010 and 2012 much nicer.
Eric Blair (21af67) — 3/24/2010 @ 9:02 pm“I’m saying that I think the notion that if you don’t get what you want you’re not going to cooperate on anything else is not a whole lot different than I might hear from a six-year-old.”
If I don’t get what I want (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness), not only am I not going to cooperate, I’m going to alter or abolish the government…or die trying.
Might want to keep that in mind before you try and treat me like I’m a six year old under your control…dickhead.
Dave Surls (5d222d) — 3/24/2010 @ 9:04 pmIsrael cannot be too happy.
JD (c52ba8) — 3/24/2010 @ 9:10 pmThis is the smart diplomacy they kept yammering about? So far, he treats tinpot dictators, wannabe dictators, and Iwannanewdinnerjacket better than the leaders of Great Britain and Israel.
JD (c52ba8) — 3/24/2010 @ 9:13 pmThere’s a price to be paid for being hyper-partisan and enacting major legislation opposed by a majority of Americans. Gibbs can be as snide and snarky as his boss, but that won’t change the fact that his party should pay a price for its hyper-partisanship, and that’s all McCain was talking about.
Andrew (480035) — 3/24/2010 @ 9:22 pmOf course, Gibbs’ response to questions today about the Executive Order on federally funded abortions was, sincerely, comedy gold:
The Order was reiterating the status quo.
Oops. Somebody got his talking points confused.
Maybe it was under duress.
Ag80 (f67beb) — 3/24/2010 @ 9:32 pmMaybe Obama went opaque to avoid the press witnessing more Biden jackassery. There’s a reason his party never gave him any leadership positions in the Senate and his colleague probably breathed sighs of relief when Obama plucked him from their midst.
daleyrocks (718861) — 3/24/2010 @ 9:45 pmPatronizing the people you lead, and treating them like children, is part & parcel of the Marxist credo. They are our betters; they know what is right & good & best for us; that is why they must do EVERYTHING they can to take care of us. If left to our own devices . . . why, can you imagine what we might do with true freedom of choice? Gad!
Icy Texan (6b0c6c) — 3/25/2010 @ 2:16 amAt some point Gibbs needs to pay fr his arrogance. But, that will have to be done by the press. We will see if they have the ability to call Gibbs out on his arrogance.
Rick Caird (0ceb78) — 3/25/2010 @ 8:00 amAt some point Gibbs needs to pay for his arrogance. But, that will have to be done by the press. We will see if they have the ability to call Gibbs out on his arrogance.
Rick Caird (0ceb78) — 3/25/2010 @ 8:09 am