Video: WH spokesman avoids answers on Snitch Central
posted at 4:45 pm on August 12, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Megyn Kelly goes toe-to-toe with White House deputy secretary Bill Burton about Linda Douglass’ Snitch Central for almost seven minutes, mainly because Burton refuses to answer Kelly’s question about the storage of the e-mails it receives. Her question — does the White House purge the e-mails it receives complaining about dissent on Obamacare — has a straightforward answer: no. In fact, the White House can’t delete them, due to laws governing official communications in the executive branch. Why Burton doesn’t just say that is a mystery (via Greg Hengler at Townhall):
There are numerous problems with Burton’s response, but the biggest is the notion that a White House staffed with political operatives (as all are) somehow need a snitch line to find out what’s being said about ObamaCare. Are Burton and and his colleagues in the press office so incompetent that they can’t follow the news media and the larger blogs? They can do that themselves and present their own rebuttals in real time without Snitch Central in the West Wing.
Either they’re completely incompetent at the most basic New Media task — that of following RSS feeds — or they’re paranoid and want to turn Americans into snitches on political dissent. Even Nixon had the good sense to build his own enemies list.
Blowback
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We need a new TV show to replace the “West Wing.” We’ll call it the “Snitch Wing.”
Mojave Mark on August 12, 2009 at 5:14 PM
After this video I think I am becoming more versed in White House Newspeak.
myth (n.); perceived truthful lie.
lie (n.); mythical truth.
truth (n.); whatever the WH disseminates.
flabbergasted (adj.); to ask questions I don’t want to answer.
confused (adj.); attempt by WH to redirect viewers attention from fact.
dressed as Hitler (v.); articulate male in GAP khakis and collared shirt.
free speech (n.); agreeing with Obama or other socialist concepts.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/newspeak
new·speak (noo-speek, nyoo-) –noun
an official or semiofficial style of writing or saying one thing in the guise of its opposite, esp. in order to serve a political or ideological cause while pretending to be objective, as in referring to “increased taxation” as “revenue enhancement.”
regal on August 12, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Liberal343 is first to comment on nearly every post because he/she is an out-of-work, welfare-sucking, oprah-watching, couch-laying, cheetoh-eating slob living in his/her mom’s basement.
jbh45 on August 12, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Can i love Megyn Kelly any more?…:)
tencole on August 12, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Mighty progressive village ya’ll live in… :-)
But, your point is well taken and all of us parents need to pay heed to this. They get it in the schools as well…guidance counselors asking for the same, and more.
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 5:14 PM
but not really, because either a)palin won’t be running or b)she won’t win if she does.
then we’d be out a megyn kelly and a sarah palin. that does not bode well.
TruthBeTold2 on August 12, 2009 at 5:15 PM
He bought $300 worth of red bull today from his magic money card. He’s ready to comment!
lorien1973 on August 12, 2009 at 5:15 PM
He’s a remarkably ineffective press secretary.
Why blatantly dodge a question that we all know the answer to? The emails are stored, probably in perpetuity. He just looks shifty in this video.
Anders on August 12, 2009 at 5:15 PM
The problem is, Bill Burton is not going to put himself in the position of committing perjury. They’re not keeping an enemies’ list. But it’s obvious they are storing the email, which later could be perused to make such a list. And it’s possible he may not know the answer to Megan’s repeated question. He also has to show the aggression towards her that he does to prove to his bosses he’s with the pogrom.
What a goof. Although, probably a well paid goof.
klickink.wordpress.com on August 12, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Bill “Meathead” Burton is in the wrong business. Someone needs to help him find his niche.
d1carter on August 12, 2009 at 5:15 PM
There’s a lot of whining about the media from the white house these days..
the_nile on August 12, 2009 at 5:16 PM
She let him off easy.
Should asked it this way: “Okay, Bill. After you answer the emails, then what happens to them?”
txhsdad on August 12, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Running a protection racket looks to be his niche. Chicago and all.
Holger on August 12, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Bullseye.
SnowSun on August 12, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Obama is stuck, tell the truth and be exposed, or lie and continue the declining support…we have no leader, just a political hack afraid of the truth.
right2bright on August 12, 2009 at 4:50 PM
The Clothes have no Emperor.
I can’t claim the quote… I can only repeat its brilliance.
ooonaughtykitty on August 12, 2009 at 5:17 PM
They already do. First-hand accounts of teachers telling children to write reports about their parents and what they think of certain news stories.
MadisonConservative on August 12, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Marin County.
Home to Babs Boxer.
And a proud nuclear-weapons-free county!!
(Although the highway sign declaring us nuke-free along the road to my firing range is, sadly, heavily ventilated by small-arms fire.)
guntotinglibertarian on August 12, 2009 at 5:17 PM
You have destroyed the Kool-Aid man busting through a wall image forever.
LOL!!!
portlandon on August 12, 2009 at 5:18 PM
I guess the fact that I’m appalled by that means I have something to hide.
misslizzi on August 12, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Daddy, I’m writing a report for school about what you said when President Obama was on TV.
How do you spell c***sucker?
guntotinglibertarian on August 12, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Why doesn’t anyone EVER challenge the administration over their BS claims of “swaztica wearing” and “dressing like Hitler”? I haven’t seen any but these anchors just let it pass like the adminstration flacks were just saying good morning.
Mr. Grump on August 12, 2009 at 5:19 PM
If the ACLU is concerned about the whitehouse snitch program
it puts me on the side of the ACLU. Now I am conflicted.
fourdeucer on August 12, 2009 at 5:20 PM
B…i…l…l… B…u..r..t..o..n..
TruthBeTold2 on August 12, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Has anyone heard of any responses to date? Just curious…
ucantbserious on August 12, 2009 at 5:21 PM
deputy secretary power tool Bill Burton
People dressed as Hitler? Really? How many?
forest on August 12, 2009 at 5:21 PM
He is so obviously uncomfortable with having to spin and misdirect the facts. That man has a conscious. Wow.
Green Muse on August 12, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Moonbat343 drops a bomb and is gone…unable to defend the indefensible the libtard hides…typical.
Army Brat on August 12, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Not a peep from the Authentic Communist Liberties Union. No, wait… just a tiny little peep saying “we trust Obama to do the right thing.”
Illegitimati.
That’s Latin, liberal343.
either orr on August 12, 2009 at 5:23 PM
You have my sympathies…
Marin County was once a beautiful part of California (which was one time a pretty nice state)…back in the days when Two-Rock Ranch ASA Station was up and running.
That ventilated sign…just conservationists making sure the air flow wasn’t interrupted.
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 5:23 PM
I swear to God, it just went off in my hand.
guntotinglibertarian on August 12, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Gibbs is pathetic, but Burton is worse. For Burton, I urge an end-of-employment consultation–an employment DEATH PANEL as it were.
BuckeyeSam on August 12, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Considering you are sitting at your computer…I am not going to touch that line…no way…nope…never…ever! :-)
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 5:25 PM
This administration, in just six months, has achieved the impossible:
They make the Carter White House staff look like geniuses.
guntotinglibertarian on August 12, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Yeah, especially considering that I was looking at Bill Burton while I was typing.
guntotinglibertarian on August 12, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Burton has always been an incredible Douche.
My take is that he derives some sort of pleasure by never answering Meghan’s questions. Of course, by doing that he comes across as another Obama Tool.
SmallGovtGuy on August 12, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I need mind bleach now.
Holger on August 12, 2009 at 5:29 PM
I remember when I was in sixth grade, my Catholic schoolteacher(the one who was obsessed with Indians and wolves, but confiscated a quartz crystal I carried as being “witchcraft”) gave us a writing project: pen your eulogy.
Dad was not pleased. I think he had a few words in mind along your line of thinking.
MadisonConservative on August 12, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Something smells Fishy!
Burton = LIAR
Hussein must choose his spokesholes more carefully….
BigMike252 on August 12, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Yeah…let’s forget the entire thing….
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Whatever happend to Laurie Dhue? 6 ft 3 inches of babealiciousness.
Megyn Kelly’s alright, but Laurie…ahhhh
guntotinglibertarian on August 12, 2009 at 5:31 PM
regal…5:14 brilliant!
Linnea on August 12, 2009 at 5:31 PM
yeah, like that scene in Trains, Planes and Automobiles
guntotinglibertarian on August 12, 2009 at 5:31 PM
If the president lies then you can’t believe anyone in his administration with being truthful!
fbcmusicman on August 12, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Of corse they are keeping an enemies list. That’s what Obama’s death panels are for. That’s what a dictator does with his enemies, he gets rid of them one what or the other. Just ask the Castro brothers enemies!!!
Americanj on August 12, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Hey, Madison. I went over the top on the gun thing last night.
Wanna hug it out?
guntotinglibertarian on August 12, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Tone deaf.
Terrye on August 12, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Umm, yeah…sooo…how about them Steelers…gonna dominate the Pats and Giants…keep their number one spot next season??
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 5:35 PM
OK: First not one of the e-mails that I have sent to flag@whitehouse.gov have been responded to, so evidently they are picking and choosing who they respond to;
Second: where are the swastikas the dems keep talking about at town halls? Has any got any pix or linx? Please provide.
Third: where were all these libs when Bush was ROUTINELY portrayed as Hitler. . . oh, right, they were the ones dressing up as Hitler, carrying those signs….and swastikas. . . .
Willie on August 12, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Are Gibbs and Burton the guys from the “I’m a PC” “and I’m a Mac” commercials?
forest on August 12, 2009 at 5:38 PM
YES! That’s the only guy I’ve evah seen on TV whom I wanted to punch out. Aaaagggghhh!
inviolet on August 12, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Had the White House calibrated their words better I would have accepted the idea that all of this was just an innocent attempt to get some feedback from the street; a.k.a. gossip, chit chat. There are several scenes in the movie “V for Vendetta” showing eavesdropping trucks cruising the neighborhood listening to what people were talking about. Then the White House could tell their party loyalists how to refute opposition chatter.
Unfortunately, the words used by the White House were, and remain, far too sinister for that innocent interpretation. Perhaps by design?
Skandia Recluse on August 12, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Situational ethics learned over 40 years of NEA and Lib control of education in America has hit “adulthood.”
Was OK then…because it was OK….then.
But today…it is wrong and racist and un-American and upsets Michelle’s kids…and besides those nasty conservatives use nasty words to scare children…
Get the drift?
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 5:40 PM
I sick of libs saying we “need” this. We don’t need your neo-marxists programs!
jawkneemusic on August 12, 2009 at 5:41 PM
All I know is that I’ve received two different “Official White House” emails from my dear friend David Axelrod, (snort) in the last week! Both inviting me to help spread the “truth” and inviting me, (and my checkbook) to attend local rallies for insurance reform. I need to find out who ratted me out to the fishy website!
I say B.S. to their lies about not compiling a dissedent database.
anniekc on August 12, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Hope and Change
I hope the secret police don’t catch me when I am changing safe houses.
Oh, never mind. ed says they are just good Americans who think things should be done a different way.
peacenprosperity on August 12, 2009 at 5:43 PM
This is the best & the brightest that Obama could find to represent his administration?
thinkingmom on August 12, 2009 at 5:45 PM
After all, that’s how DHS did their “OMG CRAZY RIGHT-WINGERS” report.
Jim Treacher on August 12, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Bill Blurton.
Professional spin meister.
I love how they phrase opponents as “opponents of reform” if you have any disagreement with their insanity.
TTheoLogan on August 12, 2009 at 5:46 PM
It’s under a wet rock.
Jim Treacher on August 12, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Sure. Just mind the holstered pistol on my hip while we embrace with serious undertones of homosexual tension.
MadisonConservative on August 12, 2009 at 5:47 PM
I think that we need to report Barack Obama and anyone trying to sell this POS to the White House Snitch email because they are the ones who are providing more and more mis-information on a daily if not hourly basis.
milwife88 on August 12, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Not Burton again. I thought I had puked enough during the campaign trying to watch him and Megyn. I wouldn’t watch at all except – well it’s Megyn, after all. Yummy, yummy – even with a bun in her tummy…
Mr_Magoo on August 12, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Did you sign on to get the so-called historic Obama live barackobama.com announcement last year?
If so…you are on the official Obama mailing list…forever.
I dump my Obama stuff directly to recycle bin. Signed up for the Obama announcement just to prove to a few folks that the Obama media-savvy computer-competent wouldn’t even come close to their announced time….off by several hours, off by over a day in some places.
But the emails just keep on coming…even after I sent several emails to have them cut me from their mailing list.
Rarely use that old email account anymore.
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Can’t help but wonder if Oprah’s sweating yet. She sold a lot of average Americans on this guy…
rezgirl on August 12, 2009 at 5:50 PM
New here? :-)
Please, never ever ever use the words “Oprah” and “Sweating” in the same sentence. Some of older guys have delicate constitutions. :-)
OK….haven’t seen the handle before…so welcome to the best damn blogsite in America.
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Why, did she climb a flight of stairs?
Jim Treacher on August 12, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Oh hell no! These emails are just from the last week- thats why I’m confident that Obama and his thugs are compiling names and emails from every place they can get them.
anniekc on August 12, 2009 at 5:55 PM
How about someone do some Freedom of Information Act requests and see what they have?
I know some asses that would send in my info just for kicks.
aikidoka on August 12, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Chances are good that many Democrats are going to vote in favor of any healthcare legislation that is contrived this fall. Chances are also good that many will get voted out of office next year and may be influenced to vote for this legislation as a last gasp martyr attempt to pass the legislation for the sake of Obama’s presidency.
There’s a good chance that any congressman voted out of office may be preemptively agreeing to a sweet deal (a la Tom “Driving Miss Daisy” Daschle) at a lobbying firm or government entity involved in the oversight of any healthcare administration bureaucracy that is created as a result.
I encourage an amendment to make it illegal for any former congressman to be employed by any healthcare, pharmaceutical, energy, education or any other lobby or government entity that may be involved in any way with this legislation. Consider it “closing the back door” and preventing former lawmakers from profiting from legislation they helped pass and then paid the price for at the ballot box.
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Where has she been and where are the devoted out of Hollywood? I don’t watch her show but I would be curious if she has trotted out people with sad, pathetic ailments and insurance horror stories. And where is the obligatory Stars for Healthcare video?
sherry on August 12, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Seriously, her viewers are important to her – she has alot of money tied up in her own reputation and I think she just sunk it through Obama…feel duped much, Oprah?
rezgirl on August 12, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Get the drift?
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 5:40 PM
cw: I get the drift. But we have the pictures THEN and they don’t have the pictures NOW.
W.
Willie on August 12, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Is anyone else worn out by Obama’s constant mocking and dismissal of opposing points of views? “C’mon guys!” or “pretty silly” is not an effective rebuttal when the facts are against you.
DarkKnight3565 on August 12, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Has anyone ever heard of an NSA program called
“archangel”?
elderberry on August 12, 2009 at 6:01 PM
The NEA hit a new low this summer, when they openly called conservatives a name I won’t repeat here. Too bad. Many teachers in my area are conservative.
I heard her ratings were WAAAAAY down, even below Ellen. Bet that’s one unpleasant Green Room over at Harpo…
Grace_is_sufficient on August 12, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Isn’t the White House exempt from FOIA?
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 6:04 PM
I think this is basically a result of the fact that Obama still does not understand that he’s not running a political campaign anymore. If he were doing this as part of a political campaign, there wouldn’t really be anything anyone could say about it. Yet once he stepped into being the government, you have to stop doing certain things. Apparently he’s never gotten the memo that there are just some things you cannot do as president that you can as community organizer or senator.
Seixon on August 12, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Isn’t the new version “Lie to Me”?
malclave on August 12, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Who cares about pictures…Emperor Obama (Obama the Unclothed) is on TV again. /s
Yes, it is infuriating. And I would hope all remember this come next November. Elections matter.
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Thanks! I signed up a month or so ago, don’t post much (working!) but read as often as I can. I agree with you on the site – best evah!
rezgirl on August 12, 2009 at 6:09 PM
We have a certifiable pacifist in charge.
“Chicken Wing” seems apropos.
fogw on August 12, 2009 at 6:09 PM
It’s probably because the Administration hasn’t figured that out yet. Research isn’t their strong suit.
baldilocks on August 12, 2009 at 6:25 PM
I have a really hard time understanding what Bill Burton is trying to say because his mouth is so sull of Bacock Oballsma.
Perhaps if he removed the One’s One from his orofice he might be more cogent.
BillaryMcBush on August 12, 2009 at 6:28 PM
The evasiveness in that interview was simply frightening…
phadedjaded on August 12, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Then,
Hmmm. The real time rebuttals are pretty bad too.
unclesmrgol on August 12, 2009 at 6:59 PM
ted c on August 12, 2009 at 5:56 PM
ted c, I agree with you, but I think the “ego” thing will be working on each of these individuals. They think we will forget that they voted for the Health Scam, budget, and Porkulus. You know the old saying, “The public has a short memory”? They are all afraid that they won’t be mentioned on t.v. or won’t be able to get in view of a camera….EGO.
I do like your amendment idea!!!!!
yoda on August 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Yeah, stop confusing us with facts, Megyn. Just accept that we’re all confused and paranoid, and everything that BiggieO says is for the New American Utopia. After all, they know better about our lives than we do.
CatsGodot on August 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM
Love you Megyn!! Go get em girl!!
Viper1 on August 12, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Willie on August 12, 2009 at 5:37 PM
After spending the last 2 days pulling my hair out, I’ve got a 4th question to add: How many whose e-mails have been reported have suddenly found their computer hit with the “bitchslap” trojan?
justincase on August 12, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Okay, try again.
Willie on August 12, 2009 at 5:37 PM
After 2 days of cleanup, I have a 4th question to add: How many people whose e-mails were reported were suddenly hit with the “b!tchslap trojan”? The communications czar was chosen to be one who can “think like the criminals”. What, exactly, would stop that person from BEING the criminal?
justincase on August 12, 2009 at 7:34 PM
In a word “YES!”
GarandFan on August 12, 2009 at 7:34 PM
What’s so hard to understand? There is no list of names, with the title “Enemies” at the top. There IS a database of names and email addresses belonging to those who dare to spread disinformation regarding Obamacare. But NO “enemies list”!
mbs on August 12, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Elections matter.
coldwarrior on August 12, 2009 at 6:08 PM
and if people don’t grasp that concept now, they never will. I have hope for 2010. W.
Willie on August 12, 2009 at 7:37 PM
My computer keeps telling me I’ve got spyware. All I want to know is whether it’s referring to Google, or to the government? What computer DOESN’T have spyware now? It’s built into the system, isn’t it?
justincase on August 12, 2009 at 7:38 PM
After 2 days of cleanup, I have a 4th question to add: How many people whose e-mails were reported were suddenly hit with the “b!tchslap trojan”? The communications czar was chosen to be one who can “think like the criminals”. What, exactly, would stop that person from BEING the criminal?
justincase on August 12, 2009 at 7:34 PM
I haven’t gotten a virus, maybe ’cause I use a Mac? Anybody else get a virus that reported to “flag”?
Willie on August 12, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Tool, in more ways than one.
javamartini on August 12, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Every interview that I’ve seen with this guy is the same. I almost feel embarrassed for him. He can’t answer a question to save his life.
You have to wonder what kind of kid he was.
Did you spill the milk?
I’m glad you asked about milk. It’s full of vitamin D.
pageram on August 12, 2009 at 7:52 PM
burton, like gibbs, are emanuel lap dogs…i’ll take kelly 5:1 on any match up with these duds…team her up with palin and you got some real magic!
FloridaMike on August 12, 2009 at 8:24 PM
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