Press finally calls Obama out on attempts to control press



[Pigs fly: Someone on RedState says "Well done, Helen Thomas." - Moe Lane]

h/t Drudge, Breitbart: http://www.breitbart.tv/white-house-reporters-grill-gibbs-over-selected-questions-for-obama/

See the attached video with CBS news and Helen Thomas taking Robert Gibbs to the woodshed on Obama and co.’s attempts to control the press. Thomas called this a pattern of planting questions as both denounced the process. Gibbs’ reaction was to belittle and ridicule the rep from CBS and Thomas both, which produced some interesting reactions from the surrounding press corps members. Hmm, maybe the usual m.o. of ridiculing those who criticize you and expecting that to end the issue for the press doesn’t work here Mr. Gibbs.

Much has been made of the “honeymoon” or “lovefest” between Obama and the press. This seems to be the part where the press’s eyes are finally opening a bit to who they got into bed with. Underneath their liberal instincts, the MSM is still on some level fiercely protective of their trust to protect the integrity and freedom of the press. Obama and co effectively here cheated on them and then blamed the victim. And belittling Helen Thomas, a veritable icon for what a White House press corps member would aspire to be is akin to the Obama and co. love team striking the beloved grandmother of the profession.

Perhaps the Obama team thinks other matters are more important now than their relationship with the press and that the press’s goodwill at this time doesn’t matter. Perhaps they think everything they read on Kos and agree amongst themselves and their supermajority is beyond question. They have become infatuated with their perceived mandate and believe they are not accountable to the press. Maybe, just maybe they are about to find out they are wrong.


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I've been saying that Gibbs's shtick would wear thin pretty quickly

bk (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 8:06PM EST (link)

You could tell Helen was really annoyed at Gibbs blowing off Reid’s question.

 

Wow, of all people.... Ms. Thomas.

Kenny Solomon (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 8:22PM EST (link)

Mr. Gibbs:

I know word of everything said here at RedState gets back to you in “The Daily Summary Of All DHS Certified Right Wing Extremists”, so I hope my words find you well and enjoying your position within the administration.

(Think he’s buying it so far ?)

In the matter of Ms. Thomas and her “calling you out” during the daily briefing, please pay no mind to her, as her way of going about asking questions and follow-up’s are unfortunately and obviously being affected by her advancing years.

(Yep, I got him enthralled here.)

In the future, may I respectfully suggest your calling on Ms. Thomas first ‘out of the gate’ as in past Daily Briefings and then call on Mr. Jake Tapper of ABC, so the ‘problem reporters’ can be dealt with straight away.

(Was it too early for the ‘zinger’ ?)

In closing, please be assured that as far as we here at RedState can tell, no other member of the media allowed into The White House Press Room will fall out of step with President Obama’s previously issued orders for reportage and discourse.

Cheers and keep up the great work you do !

(I think that may have given Mr. Gibbs pause to contemplate how much we all love watching his daily briefings and gleaning the pulse of the administration.)

 

I heard part of this exchange on Mark Levin's show.

TNJim (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 8:38PM EST (link)

I couldn’t believe it was Helen Thomas slapping Gibbs around like that. Kudos for Chip Reid for getting it started. It gives me some hope the presstitutes in the MSM are finally starting to see this administration for what it is.

Not much hope, but some.

Activism: What to do after the TEA party rally. Unified Patriots

Presstitutes !!!!!! 55555555555 nt

Kenny Solomon (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 8:44PM EST (link)

Heh, As much as I'd like to take credit for coining that word, Kenny,

TNJim (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 9:24PM EST (link)

I first “heard” it in the comments section of the LATimes blogs after a writer there posted the entire transcript of Limbaugh’s CPAC speech and gave a favorable impression of it. I think it was here but haven’t ran across it yet, my eyes are tired. There’s also a great little gem there I’ll call “Beware the liberal” a short way down in the comment section. I saved that little ditty for furure reference.

Activism: What to do after the TEA party rally. Unified Patriots

"future", not "furure"

TNJim (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 9:25PM EST (link)

Like I said, my eyes are tired…

Activism: What to do after the TEA party rally. Unified Patriots

 
 

The Presstitutes of the Debtocrats!

ColdWarrior (Diary) Thursday, July 2nd at 3:26AM EST (link)
 
 
 

Must have been a to-do on Helen's Bucket List

blooch Wednesday, July 1st at 9:20PM EST (link)

Or maybe it just takes a feisty little old lady to stand up and ask, “Where’s the Beef?”

“Lieutenant Dike wasn’t a bad leader because he made bad decisions. He was a bad leader because he made no decisions.”

 

Now that was a surprise. Hard to believe.

penguin2 (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 9:21PM EST (link)

I would be encouraged, except I’m reminded how almost all of the Press Corps and MSM are liberal and like and believe in Obama. Their annoyance isn’t going to make them expose him as the antithesis of everything we believe.

But it did make for a cheerful moment.

Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills

Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List

Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

 

Ha Ha

Laura Benson (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 10:10PM EST (link)

I love that Gibbs is sounding so snarky! Hubris is tough – the fall is painful and right now it appears Gibbs is teetering.

Well Done Helen Thomas

Laura Benson
A True and Proud Conservative
Follow me on Twitter -http://twitter.com/laurabenson62

 

Let me again point out

kyle8 (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 10:23PM EST (link)

that when they finally turn on Obama, (and they eventually will) It will be a horrible and awesome site to behold. Because they projected all their own hopes on him. When he lets them down they will be like a scorned woman.

“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle

Obama is not just going to let them down

izoneguy (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 10:31PM EST (link)

Obama will dump them in a very Obamaesque kind of way. Obama will play the victim as he does so well and the evil press will not be believed by the Obama worshippers….

Obama might even turn the FCC loose on those that dare say his name in vein.

The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.

Obamaesque way....

Bill S (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 10:45PM EST (link)

Fire and brimstone? No, wait, that’s the wrong side…

“It’s such a fine line between stupid, and clever.” – David St. Hubbins

 

"...those that dare say his name in vein..."

blooch Wednesday, July 1st at 10:57PM EST (link)

I’m guessing that’s another form of Blood Libel? ; )

“Lieutenant Dike wasn’t a bad leader because he made bad decisions. He was a bad leader because he made no decisions.”

 
 
 

A little prayer

Beaglescout (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 10:54PM EST (link)

>>Maybe, just maybe they are about to find out they are wrong.

From your keyboard to God’s RSS feed…

“A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.”

–Alexander Hamilton

I wish, but it ain't gonna happen

cwilson (Diary) Thursday, July 2nd at 2:22AM EST (link)

These people are INVESTED. They are true believers, and I disagree with the OP’s statement that the press is “fiercely protective of their trust to protect the integrity and freedom of the press”.

No they are not. They are lying shysters and they will keep covering for Chairman Zero with their last breath.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this little episode, too, was orchestrated (“C’mon, we need to slap you around a little to convince the rubes that we can be trusted; you need us to be trusted so that we can carry your water this fall on the Health Care takeover”.)

The MSM has no shred of integrity left. They must be replaced, root and branch; I’d like nothing better than for every newspaper, newsrag, and network news operation to go bankrupt tomorrow (no bailouts…). I’d rather have 1000 Michael Yons.

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom — go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! –Samuel Adams

 
 

Good for Helen Thomas

CarolT (Diary) Wednesday, July 1st at 11:07PM EST (link)

Helen was always brutal to Bush, so let her be as brutal to Obama and Gibbs. I doubt Obama would take on Helen on his own. I got a good laugh out of the video.

Actually

sdan (Diary) Thursday, July 2nd at 9:24AM EST (link)

he did already. On June 24th during a press conference he shut her down while answering a question from someone else. I doubt seriously that Helen took that very well. I think we will see Helen going after them a lot because of that. She doesn’t seem to be the forgiving type. However ,I don’t think that they will be calling on her much anymore.

 
 

Absolutely unbelievable...

lonebeagle Thursday, July 2nd at 1:37AM EST (link)

That news conference was just ridiculous–seeing Gibbs acting like a really inept and stupid clown demishes the office of the President of the United States.

Obama and company are going to end up trashing the White House and the country.

We are doomed if this continues–I thought that Bill Clinton was inept; this current administration is beyond idiotic.

 

I just noticed something about Gibbs....

TNJim (Diary) Thursday, July 2nd at 1:56AM EST (link)

Seems like when he’s backed into a corner his voice goes up at least one octave and he giggles like a little girl. It’s not just his responses become more inane, which they do. Then he tries to call on someone else while trying to leave the original question unanswered. But it’s the tone of his voice that’s the dead giveaway.

Activism: What to do after the TEA party rally. Unified Patriots

He's got a really bad tell there

Karina (Diary) Thursday, July 2nd at 6:56AM EST (link)

Useful for us, but then again it’s pretty easy to know when he’s telling the truth or trying to wiggle his way around it. He’s very slimy and seems to fit right in at this WH.

 
 

I'm not sure anymore. Thomas and MSM (= Obama Press) outbursts against Obama also sound fake and rehearsed. nt

Rod_Patrick (Diary) Thursday, July 2nd at 7:23AM EST (link)

Gibbs is just starting to get his groove on..

speciallist (Diary) Thursday, July 2nd at 12:03PM EST (link)

I disagree about "...protecting the integrity and freedom of the press"

The_Gadfly (Diary) Thursday, July 2nd at 1:03PM EST (link)

but come to essentially the same outcome. I think they are the most petty and grievous of people and protect their ‘power to take down the leader’ much as Gollum coveted “his precious.” But the clearly packed “news conferences,” especially after the Debbie Smith episode are starting to threaten that power. As far as they are concerned, NOTHING, not even universal healthcare, can be permitted to threaten that power. I suspect the show will be not unlike the Stalinists and the Trotskyites fighting. And safest watched at the greatest distance you can obtain from the fight.