One would think that Robert Gibbs, the President’s Press Secretary would be a little more media savvy. Where former Press Secretaries would dismiss comments made by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, or in this case the British press, Gibbs seems keen to take on all comers straight away. Bad move, Bob (or does the President call you Bill too?).
Politico has an extraordinary report on Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary, launching a furious broadside against the British press. Here are Gibbs’ sneering and condescending remarks:
“I want to speak generally about some reports I’ve witnessed over the past few years in the British media,” Gibbs said. “In some ways, I’m surprised it filtered down.”
“Let’s just say if I wanted to look up, if I wanted to read a write-up of how Manchester United fared last night in the Champions League Cup, I’d might open up a British newspaper,” he continued. “If I was looking for something that bordered on truthful news, I’m not entirely sure it’d be the first pack of clips I’d pick up.”
Gibbs’ juvenile comments followed an article in The Daily Telegraph relating to the President’s decision not to release new photos reportedly showing appalling prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib by a tiny minority of military personnel. The straightforward news piece, hotly disputed by the White House, is based upon an interview with Major General Antonio Taguba, who oversaw the inquiry into the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal.
Bob, may I call you Bob? Your boss wants this story to go away. The US military wants this story to go away. The American people want this story to go away. So, when you’re asked about it, why not just say, “The President did what he felt was in the best interests of our fighting men and women still in harm’s way,” or, “We’re not going to comment on every press account as relates to an issue that has been thoroughly covered.”? It’s all really rather simple, Bob. You don’t need to diminish the whole of British media with a snarky retort. Please Bob, a little professionalism. You should be out there elevating your neophyte boss in the eyes of the world and here you are playing down at his level? Come on, man… think.
Leave Limbaugh and the media (British or otherwise) alone. Think of these items as the third rail of Press Secretaries. You have managed to elevate a talk show host to the level of world power, while lowering the British press to the level of The National Enquirer. Just nod, smirk and say nothing… you can handle that kind of work cantcha Bob?
You’re an idiot Mr. Gibbs, but you’re our idiot. I don’t like to see you savaged in the foreign press, even if deserving of it. Elevate your rhetoric sir, please, for the sake of your rock star boss.
