Comedy gold: Tapper humiliates White House spokesman over transparency
posted at 4:39 pm on February 5, 2009 by Allahpundit
NRO’s been dumping on Gibbs for days, wondering when Obama’s going to have mercy on him and pull the plug. Watch this and I trust you’ll agree: Hopefully never.
Tapper’s after him for information about incoming Obama appointees, specifically financial disclosure forms and waivers from the new lobbyist rules. And no wonder: There seems to be a front-page story buried in every one. Exit question: Didn’t he learn from the campaign that subjects that make The One uncomfortable are necessarily “distractions”?
Blowback
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Good lord! Gibbs is a cretin.
rplat on February 5, 2009 at 4:41 PM
“Come again? I can’t lead the country out of the desert with all these distractions.”
BobMbx on February 5, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Come on! Whether appointees are lobbyists or tax cheats is not pertinent…
/
Vashta.Nerada on February 5, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Check out the dirty look from Helen Thomas sitting next to him. Sounds like Jake also nearly dropped an F-bomb “I think that’s pretty fuu… farily pertinent”….
heh
Pianobuff on February 5, 2009 at 4:43 PM
I actually hat a knot in my gut watching that.
This administration has been a laughingstock so far.
Tapper rules.
Chuck Schick on February 5, 2009 at 4:44 PM
That’s not the transparency that I once knew.
CyberCipher on February 5, 2009 at 4:44 PM
I, for one, enjoy LMAO at Press Secretary Peter Griffin.
Kid from Brooklyn on February 5, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Tapper has been one of the more moderate and fair members of the drive-bys recently, but this could still be taken a sign that the media is starting to have buyer’s remorse with Obama and realizes it needs to cover its behind by getting tougher with his administration.
Regardless, Gibbs is classic. Pleeeeeease don’t throw him under the bus, Messiah.
Doughboy on February 5, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Ouch…
BL@KBIRD on February 5, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Woops! There goes Tapper’s invite to bowling at the White House!
I’m proud to say I was the first at HotAir to call for a dead pool on Gibbs. I’m predicting a St. Valentine’s Day massacre at the White House.
rockmom on February 5, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Forget it, Jake, this is Barrytown.
Christien on February 5, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Tapper is in a battle of wits with an unarmed man.
jdflorida on February 5, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Is Gibbs’ job doable,given who the President is?
JiangxiDad on February 5, 2009 at 4:45 PM
He makes Didi Meyers look coherent.
Gothguy on February 5, 2009 at 4:45 PM
You just can’t even make this $shit up!
ROTFLMAO!
Holy cow! We are in for one hilarious ride!
Badger40 on February 5, 2009 at 4:45 PM
he will be gone in a month after the nominees get through. to drop him now would give the impression of total disarray.
rob verdi on February 5, 2009 at 4:45 PM
The important take away from this video (per the stimulus question) is that you can just ignore any question that you don’t like.
Vashta.Nerada on February 5, 2009 at 4:46 PM
The Good News: The attractive brunette behind Tapper was amused. She’s interested in him.
The Bad News: The crone sitting beside him looked like she was putting a hex on him.
Brat on February 5, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Baghdad Bob!
Laura in Maryland on February 5, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Gibbs is being asked to defend naked hypocrisy, an impossible task unless your last name is Clinton.
Kenrod on February 5, 2009 at 4:47 PM
He makes McClellan look competent.
Kid from Brooklyn on February 5, 2009 at 4:47 PM
OT (sorry…I’m about to watch this video, but): I JUST got a text that said, “OMG! Olbermann is a tax cheat, too! ROTFL”.
Anybody know what that’s about?
Okay, off to watch.
capitalist piglet on February 5, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Daaaamn.
I thought once he got his White House correspondent position, Tapper might turn over. I’m very, very impressed to see him dogging Obama the way they did Bush.
MadisonConservative on February 5, 2009 at 4:47 PM
White House Press Secretary is no more an entry-level job than the Presidency. Gibbs is not a professional (or shouldn’t be anyway). He walked right into that whole exchange by the snarky comment about the reporter knowing what the filthy bastard wants. That opened the door to questions like “Doesn’t he want transparency in his nominations?” Utterly avoidable.
Whoever thought that Scott McClellan would appear competent?
highhopes on February 5, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Wow, without doubt the worst press secretary in US History.
Time until Obama throws yet another close confidante under the bus in 4, 3, 2, 1……….
Norwegian on February 5, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Tapper better watch out. He’s going to get kicked off the plane.
meltenn on February 5, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Somewhere, Scott Mclellan doesn’t get what we’re talking about here.
trubble on February 5, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Ha Ha. Gibbs is easy prey.
jencab on February 5, 2009 at 4:48 PM
That’s Helen Thomas – She asked if Obama believed in separation of church and state and after Gibbs said yes she went off the rails about some of the faith-based stuff….
Pianobuff on February 5, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Did it sound like Tapper almost said the “F” ing word?
carbon_footprint on February 5, 2009 at 4:48 PM
This popcorn is delicious!
kirkill on February 5, 2009 at 4:48 PM
I think Gibbs might end up having the shortest tenure of any White House spokesman in history.
Jim-Rose on February 5, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Seven Percent Solution on February 5, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Via NRO, here’s another reporter questioning Gibbs today. It’s Gibbs dodging a question about Hilda Solis’ husband and his tax problems.
amerpundit on February 5, 2009 at 4:48 PM
The embed isn’t working anymore…gotta link?
Pulchritudinous Patriot on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Word for the day:
Transparency – To see the importance of a question, in such a way so as to avoid it. Also, a situation in which both parents are transsexuals.
OhEssYouCowboys on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Gibbs: You have four eyes! Is this real life? Will I be like this forever? *PRIMAL SCREAM*
Christien on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
hey, Scott McClellan is looking for work.
wildweasel on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
It sounded like that to me, as well.
Slublog on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
impression of total disarray…….Impression??……No it’s real.
These daily press conferences are becoming quite the show….not helping Duh One’s™ message….excellent
t on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Uh um Uh um What a tool. My 6 year old can talk better than he can.
Brat4life on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
he will be fired before the end of the year
ousoonerfan15 on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
There’s a LOOOONG history of super wedgies and stolen lunch money in Gibb’s past.
wccawa on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
I almost feel sorry for the guy. Almost.
toliver on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Breaking: Gibbs Lands Role as Hapless New Bond Villain.
emailnuevo on February 5, 2009 at 4:49 PM
I did a spit take on that one! She looks like the kind of lady I’d expect to see is a parking lot swinging a cat around by the tail.
Ampersand on February 5, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Odds of this making it on Hannity tonight? 100%
jp on February 5, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Marla Gibbs would be a better PS.
Pianobuff on February 5, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Thanks, I had to play that back a few times.
carbon_footprint on February 5, 2009 at 4:51 PM
No. He has an impossible job.
That said, allowing himself to get bullied so easily by the press corps, this early in the game … its like tossing bloody meat in a pond full of piranhas.
He’s also giving us a fine illustration of just how good most of President Bush’s press secretaries really were. And they faced a press corps that wasn’t just hungry but openly hostile for ideological reasons.
He’s got an impossible job. But somebody like Tony Snow could have come damn close to pulling it off.
Professor Blather on February 5, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Obama would be better off to become a Libertarian and just Do Nothing.
he set himself for all of this, with the lofty rhetoric of the campaign. This is just the beginning, this is the age of the internet and mass communications, everything is archived and the MSM can’t cover everything for you.
jp on February 5, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Fire up the popcorn poppers (but he better not pre-empt 24)
Brat on February 5, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Beautiful. ;-)
PersonalLiberty on February 5, 2009 at 4:51 PM
At least give him enough time to accumulate some book material. I can’t wait till the Cabinet realizes Barry has a shadow government running the real show and starts resigning. I just can’t figure out what Her Majesty is plotting. She isn’t going to ruin her gravitas by writing a book,….. is she?
a capella on February 5, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Helen Thomas was deciding how many pins to put in her Tapper voodoo doll tonight.
hoosiermama on February 5, 2009 at 4:52 PM
No it isn’t. Look at the way Dee Dee Meyers was able to defend Clinton at these press briefings by controlling the agenda. I probably shouldn’t be putting advice to Gibbs in writing but the man should have said something along the lines of “I’ll see what we can do about getting you that information- next question.” Instead, he admitted ignorance and made a snarky comment which opened the door to questions about Obama’s commitment to transparency.
highhopes on February 5, 2009 at 4:52 PM
I LOVE this guy!
[Thanks, Karl, you magnificent bastard, you.]
petefrt on February 5, 2009 at 4:52 PM
It’s all about contrast , how do Obama look. Not so train wreck.
the_nile on February 5, 2009 at 4:52 PM
I think the other reporters were shocked, looking down at their notes and thinking “this isn’t in the script…”
Vashta.Nerada on February 5, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Jake is a good man.
drjohn on February 5, 2009 at 4:53 PM
I know who she is. I just like using the word “crone” instead of her name!
Brat on February 5, 2009 at 4:53 PM
It looked like that old toad Helen Thomas didn’t like Tapper’s persistence and rude question.
Topsecretk9 on February 5, 2009 at 4:53 PM
the Press has also been challenged by be called out for all the Obama worship stuff, which will lead to some of them actually doing their job to save face
jp on February 5, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Well, not exactly breaking news, but yeah, he is.
Kelligan on February 5, 2009 at 4:53 PM
The White House will be switching to only allowing school children to ask questions from now on.
Caper29 on February 5, 2009 at 4:53 PM
at what time?
Ampersand on February 5, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Gibbs will pull a Dee Dee and bail in the middle of the night. He is in so far over his head it is ridiculous.
Not to mention funny as hell, too.
I am not sure anyone alive could be a PS for these incompetent Gomers.
-Dave
Dave R. on February 5, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Who’s that little person sitting next to Tapper, Yassir Arafat in drag?
petefrt on February 5, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Yes, yeeeessss. His stammering and sputtering sustains me.
MadisonConservative on February 5, 2009 at 4:54 PM
SHARK ATTACK!
Called this days ago… and it will continue to escalate as reporters wake up…
Romeo13 on February 5, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Note to Helen Thomas: Obama’s not Morgan Freeman and he’s not giving you a ride back to the senior center. Now leave Tapper alone.
Laura in Maryland on February 5, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Tapper will never get called on to ask a question again.
tru2tx on February 5, 2009 at 4:55 PM
the_nile on February 5, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Sorry, OT: There is a DAMN march for “Support the Employee Free Choice Act” happening down one of the main streets of Beverly Hills at Wilshire and La Cienega… PUKE!!!
Califemme on February 5, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Can sitting in the oval office and looking Presidential really sell this steaming pile of crap to the American people. Are enough of our fellow citizens really that stupid. Sadly, I think the jury is still out and the socialist wish list will not create one job or do one thing to help the economy.
highhopes on February 5, 2009 at 4:56 PM
I SOOOOOOOOOOOO <3 JAKE!!!!
seejanemom on February 5, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Thanks!
Wow…Tapper is going to get a finger poking in his chest one of these days, like that IBD reporter got from Clinton.
Awesome job.
capitalist piglet on February 5, 2009 at 4:57 PM
I believe the term is: pwned!
/these kids these days
Abby Adams on February 5, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Barry!
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk,
Im a womans man: no time to talk.
kirkill on February 5, 2009 at 4:57 PM
How long until MSBNC stops airing live footage of the WH press briefings?
I mean, c’mon, this Gibbs moron is a gigantic embarrassment to the administration.
Not that his replacement would be any better, given Obambi’s horribly bad presidency so far and his tendency to pick the most awful people for various appointments.
Norwegian on February 5, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Gibbs didn’t answer his second question at all, did he?
And how could one tell if Helen is giving someone a dirty look?
Oink on February 5, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Obama probably wants to avoid the impression that these setbacks are turning into a rout… He’ll probably force Gibbs to stick around until no one’s been tossed under the bus in a long time… I mean at least a few days!
CK MacLeod on February 5, 2009 at 4:59 PM
This guy makes Scott McClellan look competent.
- The Cat
P.S. I see this is a common thought
MirCat on February 5, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Transparency: Under the bus!!
Conservative_SAHM on February 5, 2009 at 5:00 PM
All that was missing was some sycophant cameraman saying:
Let me just say it again: Mr. President.
tarheelcon on February 5, 2009 at 5:01 PM
I’d put the odds at better than 100 % !
Red State State of Mind on February 5, 2009 at 5:01 PM
He’s the Campaigner-in-Chief so all he knows is how to mince words and sell sh*t to his sheeple. The press conference will be totally scripted. Unfortunately, Jake Tapper will probably not be invited.
Brat on February 5, 2009 at 5:02 PM
I CAN’T STOP WATCHING THIS….ITS SO DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS MY NEW “HAPPY PLACE” VIDEO TO WATCH WHEN I HAVE A PMS RAGE COMIN’ ON……………
****must. hit. replay…****
(Jake, bless your heart, your White House career is OVah)
seejanemom on February 5, 2009 at 5:02 PM
OK, time to start a pool for how long Gibbs lasts as White House Press Secretary.
I pick Day 55/March 15…Beware the Ides.
Christien on February 5, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Its just your jive talkin
You’re telling me lies, yeah
Jive talkin
You wear a disguise
Jive talkin
So misunderstood, yeah
Jive talkin
You really no good
INC on February 5, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Sock puppets would do a better job, what’s your point? :-0
Seriously though, I don’t understand how on earth this guy got the job.
highhopes on February 5, 2009 at 5:03 PM
On her way home, Helen Thomas stopped for extra eye of newt to take care of this Tapper kid.
Jim Treacher on February 5, 2009 at 5:03 PM
As benny shakar would say, an “unqualified success”.
ddrintn on February 5, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Is it just me or does the house of cards seem to be ready to crumble?
Vincenzo on February 5, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Gibbs acts this way for the same reason that O does: pure unmitigated arrogance and narcissm. That’s the only explanation for this kind of unprofessional behavior – this kind of stuff shows that Obama won the election too easily and I think that it may be his undoing in the end. They almost consider thier positions to more of a prize than a duty.
O’s administration will get smacked down at some point and it will be interesting how they react to it. If O allows Gibbs to continue this type of antagonism toward the press, he’ll regret it in the end. I’m really starting to think that O could very well be a one termer if this stuff keeps up.
volnation on February 5, 2009 at 5:03 PM
She’s hexing Gingrich too?!
Brat on February 5, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Gibbs to Tapper: Thank you sir, may I have another.
Laura in Maryland on February 5, 2009 at 5:04 PM
I’m starting to wonder if he’ll make it that long.
Vashta.Nerada on February 5, 2009 at 5:04 PM
I give him another two weeks (February 20th). Then the announcement that Gibbs has decided to leave to spend more time with his family.
highhopes on February 5, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Obama has set himself up to be “Alinskied”
Rule 4. “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity.”
skree on February 5, 2009 at 5:07 PM
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