Blue on blue: Helen Thomas hammers Gibbs on Obama’s phony town hall
posted at 2:55 pm on July 1, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Phony, that is, in the sense that the White House knows in advance the questions that’ll be asked, which makes the questioners de facto plants of the most transparent administration evah. I have no big problem with The One putting on a pageant — that’s standard presidential stagecraft in a television age — but I do have a problem with the NYT taking care to note the “orchestration” when Bush pulled this while neglecting to mention it this time. It’s in keeping with the media’s narratives about Dubya and Obama, though, the former shifty and stupid and therefore dependent on softballs, the latter “open” and ingenious and no longer required to prove his ability to handle tough questions. Also, and needless to say, while Thomas’s and Chip Reid’s effort is appreciated, O doesn’t need to shut out the press in order to “control” it. That’s what Rahm’s mad manipulation skillz are for, and what Rahm (and Axelrod) can’t control, old-fashioned liberal bias can be trusted to take care of. As lefty rag Vanity Fair admitted early last month:
They have been handed a most remarkable historical moment—in which they get to remake the media in their own image. They have the power and they are the subject. These people in this White House are in greater control of the media than any administration before them.
Frankly, with ABC holding infomercials for Obama in prime time, it seems almost petty to get exercised about a phony town hall. Exit question: How seriously should we take concerns that Obama’s not facing enough tough questions when voiced by a woman known to wonder why the White House considers Iran a threat? Click the image to watch.
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lap dogs Hellen, LAP DOGS!! Hello!!
moonbatkiller on July 1, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Helen was jumping ugly with Gibbs.
cruadin on July 1, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people.
— John Adams
And this is the goal.
WashJeff on July 1, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Ten bucks Helen gets moved to the back row for tomorrow’s illuminating Gibbs presser.
Good Lt on July 1, 2009 at 3:00 PM
This is a small crack. Cracks spread. Obama’s invincibility facade is cracking.
marklmail on July 1, 2009 at 3:03 PM
I thought the funniest part was when Chip thanked Helen for coming to his defense. Classic!
Sultry Beauty on July 1, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Helen Thomas is one of the funniest human beings I’ve heard and she doesn’t know it.
Notorious GOP on July 1, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Ok, I only made it to 2:24 and had to turn it off. Robert Gibbs is the biggest jackass I have ever seen. He has the balls to ask “have you emailed your question?” What a f-ing jerk.
UGGGGGGGGGH
milwife88 on July 1, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Now, I’m not completely down with the street language, but I’d like to keep up with the times.
Could you clarify for me, what is the distinction between “jumping ugly” and “riding dirty”? The latter came from a homily I saw in one of Barack Obama’s churches.
Thanks in advance!
jeff_from_mpls on July 1, 2009 at 3:04 PM
LOL – they don’t get outraged at the lies, contradictions, lawlessness or the fawning.
But they’re really pissed that some OTHER publication got to collaborate with Obama on a question in advance.
Daggett on July 1, 2009 at 3:04 PM
What’s the fun if you you can’t prepare your lies in advance.
Socmodfiscon on July 1, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Hell has frozen over.
And my stomach is turning at the fact that I’m actually agreeing with that old witch on something, and with the vigor with which she pursued it.
MadisonConservative on July 1, 2009 at 3:05 PM
The Socialist Media has been outted for over a decade, but someone forgot to send Helen the memo.
Hey Helen! Your job is a make-work joke just as are you.
DannoJyd on July 1, 2009 at 3:06 PM
But looks aren’t everything!
lawtwin on July 1, 2009 at 3:06 PM
How’s this working out for you liberal “reporters”? Did you think you would not be manipulated like the rest of us?
Christian Conservative on July 1, 2009 at 3:07 PM
When is someone just going to slap the absolute daylights out of Bob Gibbs?
pcpower1 on July 1, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Is it just me or have things been getting progressively testier between Gibbs and the WH Press Corps?
It’s little things here and there, but, it seems to be adding up into more and more discontent with the way things are currently being handled.
We can only hope that the bloom will fall of the rose soon enough that the damage can be reversed.
I realize President Obama is still a Democrat so the press will still provide him more support and cover than they would a Republican – however, if Obama were only getting President Clinton levels of fawning by the MSM, his approval ratings would be significantly lower than they are today.
JadeNYU on July 1, 2009 at 3:08 PM
These guys are just not as smart as BO…
d1carter on July 1, 2009 at 3:08 PM
How could you tell? LOL
Wonder if the press is figuring it out? Nah, a couple cocktail parties and a luau or two and they will be back under control.
ihasurnominashun on July 1, 2009 at 3:09 PM
I have to wait until I’m home to listen…
ladyingray on July 1, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Fibs kept asking if they “e-mailed” their questions. Why didn’t someone ask him why he wanted them to e-mail the question ahead of time. Why can’t this administration ( or any other for that matter ) just take questions as they come. If they don’t have an answer they could always say something like “I’ll have to get back to you on that”. Seems to me I heard Tony Snow say that more than once.
oldernwiser on July 1, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Breaking: Reliable sources are reporting that Hell has frozen over.
petefrt on July 1, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Exactly. This is just high school-level jealousy – kind of like the way a jilted lover would treat the offender if they were forced to be around each other every day by default like in high school. That is, Helen is snotty, miffed, intentionally annoying and trying to use that pissiness to coerce the ex-lover to pay attention to her while he flirts with the HuffnpuffPost.
I wouldn’t ascribe this to any kind of awakening in the mainstream media. I’d describe it more like an episode of “The Gilmore Girls” – boring, uneventful and utterly devoid of serious intellectual gravitas no matter what the plot line.
Good Lt on July 1, 2009 at 3:10 PM
In this case, the enema of my enemy is my friend.
Patrick S on July 1, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Clearly, there is a pattern here. Whenever Barry or Gibbs is asked a legitimate question that exposes the idiocy of their real agenda, they turn it into a joke or try to ridicule the qestioner. Major Garrett, Jake Tapper, Chip Reid and now, Helen Thomas. Hopefully, there is a backlash and Americans will get the real truth.
bloggless on July 1, 2009 at 3:11 PM
This is serious for o and company when the far left idiots begin to complain. They’re starting to get a taste of their own 5th. column, how sweeeet.
cjk on July 1, 2009 at 3:11 PM
no truer words written
IN THE TANK…..Big time…
cmsinaz on July 1, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Zing. They could care less about the massive debt either. Or the corruption. Or the pork. Or the cronyism. Or Acorn. They’re idiots of the highest caliber. (Most of them, not all.)
scalleywag on July 1, 2009 at 3:11 PM
“Laughing Boy” Giggling Gibbs is ridiculous. Dude deflected and changed the subject at least a half dozen times when he wasn’t giggling. I give Helen and the CBS reporter props, they really tried to pin him down…and Helen actually seemed lucid.
NickelAndDime on July 1, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Props to Helen Thomas and Chip.
I can’t believe I just wrote that.
jencab on July 1, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Helen – Enjoy Obama’s new health plan for seniors?
We hardly knew ye.
RobCon on July 1, 2009 at 3:13 PM
The guy sitting next to her….his right are is not in the picture. Is he working her mouth, or her arms. You’d think with modern technology she would be fully automated by now.
portlandon on July 1, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Just a little rivalry between the press corp and twitter and facebook. The problem is they can edit any embarrasing question ahead of time.
fourdeucer on July 1, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Gibbs is completely dense. He was being challenged by Reid on the basis that the questions are not spontaneous, as would be appropriate for an honest town-hall meeting. Gibbs cannot grasp that presubmitted, and selected questions do not constitute an open forum.
ICBM on July 1, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Sure.
“jumping ugly” means to get all up in somebody’s grill.
“riding dirty” has something to do with getting a Lewinski, but since I don’t belong to Obama’s church, I’m not sure of its theological implications.
cruadin on July 1, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Ugh that video, the only thing worse that seeing Helen Thomas would be Helen Thomas and Maureen Dowd…..
Naked and making out
LincolntheHun on July 1, 2009 at 3:15 PM
helen is a liberal it’s true
but she’s not stupid and can see,finally, where the president is taking us
devadevadasa on July 1, 2009 at 3:15 PM
You know an Democrat Administration is doing something wrong when Helen Thomas is calling you on it.
Wolftech on July 1, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Wow, he actually makes that douche bag McClellan look competent.
Monica on July 1, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Gibbs is a smarmy (bleep).
RobCon on July 1, 2009 at 3:18 PM
We no longer need Cap’n Trade legislation as Hell has just frozen over and will cool the planet…
MSM epiphany or staged ruse to fein “media getting tough with Obama”…you decide.
Wyznowski on July 1, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Subjecting me to that thought was mean and cruel.
txsurveyor on July 1, 2009 at 3:18 PM
ok, not a good image….yikes!
cmsinaz on July 1, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Ridin’ Dirty means driving with guns or drugs in the car.
Me, I not ridin’ dirty, I’m White and Nerdy.
Wolftech on July 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Ok, that was totally uncalled for. Dude, I just ate lunch.
Wyznowski on July 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM
i’d like to think the press corps is starting to turn on oboobi, we can only hope …..
SHARPTOOTH on July 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Wow – Gibbs sure is a smug jerk. They tried to ask serious questions and all they got were flippant answers. The crack will widen if that is all get from the administration!
SpellCheck on July 1, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Gibbs is a disgrace. It is beneath the dignity of the office of the Presidency for this guy to keep acting like such a smart-ass.
Every questions he’s asked, he’s always got a smart-ass, sarcastic response. As if no question is legitimate enough to answer with class and dignity. But, I guess that’s what we get now that the adults are in charge.
Funny, though, I never remember Ari Fleischer or Tony Snow acting so childish.
JohnInCA on July 1, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Gibbs spent a lot of time on Fox News during the election. He was an ass then and he’s still an ass. Talking to him is like talking to a looped recording of Obama talking points. About time the press started to catch on.
Dee2008 on July 1, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Throw in Janet Reno……….
…………. and we might have something.
Seven Percent Solution on July 1, 2009 at 3:20 PM
now if only the MSM would start to turn
cmsinaz on July 1, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Ditto. Good call.
And what of this strange new respect for Helen Thomas?! Who knew?
Jaibones on July 1, 2009 at 3:21 PM
SHARPTOOTH on July 1, 2009 at 3:19 PM
now if only the MSM would start to turn
cmsinaz on July 1, 2009 at 3:21 PM
we;ll see
SHARPTOOTH on July 1, 2009 at 3:22 PM
What an ass. The crypt keeper really put it to him, I wish she would do that more often, all of those state run media types, in fact.
HornetSting on July 1, 2009 at 3:22 PM
I wouldn’t have blamed Helen or Chip one bit if they took a swing at that guy – what a condescending little p___ck.
yogi41 on July 1, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Throw in Janet Reno……….
…………. and we might have something.
Seven Percent Solution on July 1, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Yeah. Severe hurling.
I’m not sure if Helen was legit or just trying to seem legit.
kingsjester on July 1, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Naked and making out
LincolntheHun on July 1, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Throw in Janet Reno……….
…………. and we might have something.
Seven Percent Solution on July 1, 2009 at 3:20 PM
uuuuuuggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHARPTOOTH on July 1, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Don’t forget JaNo and Hillary, oil wrestling. Bleh.
HornetSting on July 1, 2009 at 3:23 PM
THat Helen Thomas is such a handsome woman and what delightful manners!
Jeff from WI on July 1, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Gibbs wants Helen to e-mail it in. I think she forgot to put her teeth in.
fourdeucer on July 1, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Add Rosie O’Donnell.
MadisonConservative on July 1, 2009 at 3:25 PM
ya’ll have a great 4th…..tea party on dudes!!!
will catch you all on the flip side…
cmsinaz on July 1, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Spread the word. Obama thinks the press is to dumb to realise their being used.
Farmer62 on July 1, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Now I know why Porky Pig got the job as press secretary. He’s as duplicitous and tap-dancy as any human alive. The PERFECT press secretary for The Duplicitous One. Jerk. When Helen THOMAS gives him hell, the world is indeed upside down. Watch the White House move her to the back of the room.
bradley11 on July 1, 2009 at 3:26 PM
No, he doesn’t.
Nobody is that bad.
And I liked Bush.
Good Lt on July 1, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Dude. Some of us just had lunch.
Vic on July 1, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Helen Thomas just gained back a lot of points.
Kelli_D on July 1, 2009 at 3:29 PM
The press has to E-mail the questions in advance, so that Axelrod and Rahm have time to load the answers in the TOTUS and TOPSOTUS (Telepromter Of Press Secretary Of The United States). Surgeon General Warning: Spontaneous Uhhh Answers May Be Uhhh Hazardous to Your Uhhh Political Uhhh Health.
Steve Z on July 1, 2009 at 3:29 PM
I hope Porky’s speech impediment doesn’t hurt his careen at the White House. Personally I would of picked Bugs or Foghorn. Great Speakers.
Jeff from WI on July 1, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Riding Dirty actually means driving under some illegality to where you would be likely to face some sort of sanction were you to be pulled over.
This can mean anything from expired stickers, no insurance, or even a suspended license or pending warrant.
Sekhmet on July 1, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Fibs was the little fat kid in school who peed his pants in front of the whole class when he got upset during dodgeball & everyone laughed at him (and we are all still laughing at him, though more w/sorrow now than simple pleasure). ogabe should take freckles magoo for an ice cream, to ease his stress level.
Ris4victory on July 1, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Family Guy pwnd by the Helen Thomas-Chip Reid tag-team. Awesome.
I see that Obama (and his lackeys) continue to do what they do best: make unsympathetic people sympathetic.
Fallen Sparrow on July 1, 2009 at 3:30 PM
“It’s a pattern of controlling the press.”
__________________________________________
No, Helen Thomas. By jumping into bed with Obama and the dems, the press has allowed itself to be controlled, and they only way that can be reversed is to have some independent thought and analysis. And oh, you might want to think about how an independent press can be controlled when select journalists and personalities have a morning strategy session with the White House.
ICBM on July 1, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Yup, Obamacare will put a fast fix to the Helen Thomas problem.
petefrt on July 1, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Ugh that video, the only thing worse that seeing Helen Thomas would be Helen Thomas and Maureen Dowd…..
Naked and making out
LincolntheHun on July 1, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Okay, can we now have the ban hammer on this one! LOL, just kidding Lincoln. Still, a very disturbing image.
Torch on July 1, 2009 at 3:30 PM
I wonder if it’s now customary (as was apparently revealed here) to email your questions to the WH to make sure they don’t have to answer any “uncomfortable” or “distracting” questions. I wonder if they afforded the Bush Administration the same courtesy.
JEFF GANNON JEFF GANNON, you liberals say? Try a whole room, nay, a whole Administration and media room packed with Jeff Gannons. That’s what Helen and Chip are starting to realize (however long it lasts) that the press corps has turned into. They’ve been made stenographers for the Obama party line, and they have nobody but themselves to blame for it.
This farce is a microcosm of the true nature of this President versus the tawdry, idealized, manufactured image of the President we’re told by the press we should be seeing.
Good Lt on July 1, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Second look at Helen!
OUCH! MY EYES!
cntrlfrk on July 1, 2009 at 3:31 PM
……… the last thing I’m going to do is answer a bunch of questions!”
Seven Percent Solution on July 1, 2009 at 3:32 PM
And that’s the real a-hole part of it, Gibbs actually starts giggling to himself when suggesting that Helen email her question in…I mean, I know my grandma doesn’t email, let alone tweet. I doubt Helen does either. The guy is such a douche.
NickelAndDime on July 1, 2009 at 3:32 PM
check out this theory in process. from this morning’s richard cohen column in the WaPo
“Barack Obama is pretty much a perfect package- smart, articulate, handsome, charming.”
DrW on July 1, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Oh…gawd….
ladyingray on July 1, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Wow. They frakkin hammered him.
Dr. Manhattan on July 1, 2009 at 3:35 PM
It’s not controlling Helen. It’s buy mutual consent. You guys have previously consented to it, and now the White House just expects it. Face it, you guys have been treated like a cheap hooker. He bought you dinner and a movie, now he expects to have his way with you. What did you expect? So, NOW you have some morals—sheesh.
Q: What’s the first thing that a sorority girl does in the morning?
A: Walks home from the fraternity house…
Keep giving it up to them White House Press Corps, (yes you Jen Loven, Helen Thomas, Chuck Todd et al.) and they’ll just expect it all the time. Obama’s WH is just going to act like a dumbfounded boyfriend who’s gonna ask, “What I thought you liked it…?!”
–jacka$$e$—
ted c on July 1, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Hey Helen, He’s the kings jasper, not the kings magician. You’ve been had. Make the public happy and go for the juggler with Obama, you owe it to the folks.
bluegrass on July 1, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Jeff from WI on July 1, 2009 at 3:39 PM
The girly giggle and the childish “let’s play a little game here” tone say it all about Gibbs. I think he’s imagining himself as witty and effete, but I don’t believe “effete” means what he thinks it means.
mr.blacksheep on July 1, 2009 at 3:40 PM
it’s a transparency alright—-an opaque transparency!!!!!
rjoco1 on July 1, 2009 at 3:42 PM
What finally brought about that epiphany for Chip and Helen? Controlling the press! Well, duh!
I might take back some of the wicked thoughts I’ve had about that little lady, though.
Oink on July 1, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Memo from Michelle Obama (keeper of the enemy list) to Obama Health Care managers: Cut all life support to Helen Thomas! We have to get rid of her.
Mr. Joe on July 1, 2009 at 3:44 PM
I would pay to see this feat attempted.
uncivilized on July 1, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Stunning!
Apparently, in the rush to shove their collective heads up the administrations a$$hole they momentarily encountered ballz and decided to act like journalists and ask tough questions.
If they are not abducted shot or shut out of further questions for a few weeks i will be shocked.
WHere the hell where they for the 22 months of the campaign as Oblahblah manipulated avoided and obfuscated the press into giving him verbal felatio?
BillaryMcBush on July 1, 2009 at 3:46 PM
I remember that delightful Helen Thomas also giving a friendly “hard time” to a young Wilson Administration.
Jeff from WI on July 1, 2009 at 3:47 PM
When Helen Thomas starts to get her panties in a twist, looks like the beginning of the end of the love affair.
Glibbs flapping in the wind…
redfoxbluestate on July 1, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Wow … if Helen Thomas thinks there’s something amiss, just think of what the White House press says amongst themselves in private.
If only they’d grow the cojones to report this.
darwin on July 1, 2009 at 3:49 PM
I see that Republicans have become bankrupt to the point that their only hope is for the Dems to suck even worse.
jay12 on July 1, 2009 at 3:49 PM
The evil side of me wants to see him either start crying like a baby or throwing a fit like a toddler before he gets fired.
We deserve a little entertainment and with YouTube we can cherish it for the next three years.
sherry on July 1, 2009 at 3:50 PM
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