Tapper to Gibbs: Who are you to decide what constitutes a news organization?
posted at 12:55 pm on October 20, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Sheer comedy gold from one of the most honest White House correspondents in the business. Jake Tapper used his time in the Briefing Room to challenge Robert Gibbs on the Obama administration’s attempts to brand Fox News as something other than a news organization. Gibbs sputters but never answers Tapper’s essential question:
Tapper: It’s escaped none of our notice that the White House has decided in the last few weeks to declare one of our sister organizations “not a news organization” and to tell the rest of us not to treat them like a news organization. Can you explain why it’s appropriate for the White House to decide that a news organization is not one –
(Crosstalk)
Gibbs: Jake, we render, we render an opinion based on some of their coverage and the fairness that, the fairness of that coverage.
Tapper: But that’s a pretty sweeping declaration that they are “not a news organization.” How are they any different from, say –
Gibbs: ABC -
Tapper: ABC. MSNBC. Univision. I mean how are they any different?
Click over to Tapper’s blog to hear the answer. Ultimately, though, Gibbs thoroughly misses Tapper’s point. The White House is not just some political 501(c)3 issuing opinion statements on policy. They’re the executive branch of government, who exist to enforce laws and are accountable to the people, at least in part (one hopes) through the media. It’s entirely inappropriate to make pronouncements on the credibility of those organizations holding them accountable, especially when they try to wheedle other news organizations into ignoring them.
What do they have to fear from Fox News, after all? It makes them look petty and craven, instead of simply responding on each story and letting other news organizations tell their side of the story. After all, they have no lack of volunteers for that task.
It’s the difference between campaigning and governing. Gibbs et al still haven’t learned it, and they look like Amateur Hour as a result, or worse, Nixonian. At the moment, no video of the exchange is available, but I’ll update this post with it as soon as its available.
Blowback
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How about FOX facing a $30 million indecency fine from Obama’s FCC?
orfannkyl on October 20, 2009 at 1:15 PM
In a press release given to the Huffington Post and other press outlets this morning, White House Communications Director Anita Dunn stated that the Federal Communications Commission was asked to fine the FOX Corporation for violations of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005. This came after repeated racist and derogatory attacks made on FOXNews over the last two years.
The lack of specific examples is telling. I expect that Fox will fight this if it actually materializes.
MSNBC, you’re next!
ya2daup on October 20, 2009 at 4:19 PM
That is a hoax. Not real.
NJ Red on October 20, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Thanks for the laff–it had me going until the end…What’s scarey, is that it’s almost believable…
lovingmyUSA on October 20, 2009 at 4:40 PM
You know the true story: Bill and Hillary fixed it with Sumner Redstone.
It’s under lock and key in the Clintoon Lie-berry and Massage Parlor.
Jenfidel on October 20, 2009 at 4:42 PM
I corrected it myself a couple of posts down from the original. Apparently my fingers were disconnected from my brain for a couple of minutes. Thanks for the correction.
kam582 on October 20, 2009 at 4:43 PM
More accurately, Gibbs’s name is now a synonym for blinkered onanism. (Or should that award be given to Matthews and D’ohbermann?)
onlineanalyst on October 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM
That was my first impression when I looked at the page–too shocking and openly persecutory to be real…but the way things are going not entirely far-fetched.
RepubChica on October 20, 2009 at 4:53 PM
You just made me throw up in my mouth…
lovingmyUSA on October 20, 2009 at 4:54 PM
10 to 1 odds this is a hoax.
A specific example.
“Other examples little the FOX landscape. Bill O’Reilly’s Factor is infamous for accusing the Administration of freeing pedophiles while regularly praising former President George Bush. Sean Hannity shows “government waste” on his show, often not totaling a million dollars, but is yet to criticize the $3 trillion waste better known as the Iraq War.”
DSchoen on October 20, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Thank you for the update–I remember reading about this, especially as I am a former home healthcare worker myself. The attacks and pressure from the union were incredible–thank God we have people who are true Americans and refuse to be intimidated or bullied.
lovingmyUSA on October 20, 2009 at 4:58 PM
“Glenn Beck is hurting us by telling the truth about us, so now we’re hitting back by lying about him.”
Jim Treacher on October 20, 2009 at 5:00 PM
I hope Beck invites Gibbsy to come on the show with Tapper.
Buy Danish on October 20, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Barry is a coward.
‘Nuff said.
corona on October 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
I have to disagree somewhat with your point. Our government should not be focused on finding jobs. It should instead be creating conditions with less intrusive job-killing initiatives, regulations, and corporate taxation in order to allow jobs to grow and flourish according to consumer demand.
onlineanalyst on October 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Don’t be too hard on Sen. Inhofe. He is heading over to that international “climate change” hoo-ha in Copenhagen (?), loaded for bear with plenty of facts that refute the global warmists’agenda.
onlineanalyst on October 20, 2009 at 5:17 PM
I was so busy watching Obama’s Health Care Negotiations on C-SPAN that I must have missed this one!
Fishy.Gov on October 20, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Forget it, Jake, it’s Barrytown.
Christien on October 20, 2009 at 5:22 PM
It was a great question and an incompetent answer.
apacalyps on October 20, 2009 at 5:32 PM
I think that this is good example of a Fake but Accurate story.
Dhuka on October 20, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Besides the disturbing fact that the administration is attempting to silence anyone, there is also the fact that, with everything going on in the country and the world, they are wasting time on this feud. Pathetic, clueless, and classless.
Deanna on October 20, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Embargo on!
oops…that’s Bartertown….
Who runs Barrytown?
BobMbx on October 20, 2009 at 5:34 PM
To keep it in perspective;
When given a chance to author a Pulitzer-level article on world economics, or play with Play-Dough, which do you think the 5 year-old will choose?
Obama => Playdough. It’s on his level.
BobMbx on October 20, 2009 at 5:37 PM
At least some in the press are speaking out against the WH on this nonsense.
AnninCA on October 20, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Jake Tapper gave Gibbsy the equivalent of The Double-Dog-Dare…and Gibbsy folded.
joe btfsplk on October 20, 2009 at 6:02 PM
That’s because Tapper asks questions about principles rather than trying to “pretend” to be tough like so many others do.
AnninCA on October 20, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Bingo. How long before Tapper gets sent to timeout for asking questions? This WH will not be questioned, that much is clear.
hawksruleva on October 20, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Not unless Tapper goes for a cheap shot. He’s too smart for that, I think.
AnninCA on October 20, 2009 at 6:24 PM
But not enough. Jake’s point is spot on. What gives the WH the right to decide what stories get published? I don’t blame them for trying, though. I blame the media for allowing it.
hawksruleva on October 20, 2009 at 6:25 PM
It’s time to set this out of control fascist government that’s on it’s way toward a dictatorship straight.
Spiritk9 on October 20, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Well, Fox is their competition, and they are getting whipped by ratings. I can understand why some are jumping on the bandwagon.
However, Tapper is legitimate and good. He and, even, Helen definitely can speak up for journalists.
They are stupid to applaud this. They’ll be next.
AnninCA on October 20, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Fox has to be careful about the story content, though. The problem they have is that there are so many pundits now that it’s boring. They all are covering the same stories.
AnninCA on October 20, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Everyday there is a post about The Fox News Whitehouse “Blackout”. Get over it. Fox ISN’T real news. They actually said ‘terrorist fist jab’ when talking about The Prez and the First Lady on a NEWS program. They actually allowed Glenn Beck to keep his job even after calling the President a racist. Are we just going to ignore these things and attack the President? Fox has some of you guys brainwashed. They tell you to watch, you watch religiously; they tell you to march, you show up on 9/12 chanting Fox News. Do any of you think it’s okay for a Fox News a “Real” News Organization to promote any kind of protest? Name another news channel that has done this.
StoneKrab on October 20, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Ask Gibbs what news organizations the White House trusts?
So we know who the lazy liars are and can avoid them.
NoDonkey on October 20, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Thanks, Jake for a moment of clarity from the Borg.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.
wordsmithy2009 on October 20, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Oh, I think we are seeing a reenergized Fox News…
d1carter on October 20, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Chris Matthews on MSNBC’s Harball masterbates to Obama’s name every evening but somehow they are a “serious” news outfit according to White House/Gibbs?
IntheNet on October 20, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Uh oh. Tapps is next in line to be sent to Siberia.
PattyJ on October 20, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Stonekrab…no the others never would
http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/8812
CWforFreedom on October 20, 2009 at 7:32 PM
please do post the video as soon as possible ed thank you.
lees on October 20, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Stonekrab and for you to ignore the unbelievable sucking up by Mathews etc it just incredible. You are the useful idiot. You should be worried that YOUR government and mine is going after a media outlet in this matter….but you and I both know it meets your ends and you are a hypocrite.
CWforFreedom on October 20, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Give this man a job in the White House setting economic policy, cause there isn’t one other damn person in that building who knows what the hell they are doing, let alone this man’s simple truth regarding the economy.
ray on October 20, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Tapper is good for the MSM…However, when is he going to start picking up on the stuff Beck is doing? or is ABC gagging him on that stuff?
njpat on October 20, 2009 at 8:06 PM
When did we start talking about Chris Matthews again?
okay.
I’m not particularly “worried” about either one, as far as the feud is concerned. I march for no one. I’m more intrigued however by the rise of Fox News; Rupert Murdoch owns the hearts and minds of millions of loyal viewers and for that I’m a bit envious, lol.
Really? You know this how? What have I said that makes me a hypocrite? FOX BRAINWASHES…
StoneKrab on October 20, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Stonekrab more drivel …so you don’t fear a government going after a news outlet like fox? I said Mathews Etc…sheesh you are dim. The reality is that CNN MSNBC CBS ABC all went overboard to get OBAMA ELECTED and you are worried about FOX encouraging people to be involved. Glad you agree about your USEFUL IDIOT status. AS I just demonstrated it fits.
CWforFreedom on October 20, 2009 at 8:19 PM
StoneKrab…oh and your boy Olby encourages protests but that is okay ..right my little hypocrite
CWforFreedom on October 20, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Taper got uppity because he knows that if your news organization isn’t on the Administration’s enemy’s list it must be a member of the WHAM (White House Approved Media). He doesn’t want to be a Pravda apparatchnik but too bad, that’s who he works for.
This war with Fox News is actually quite refreshing. It paints a bright line between the real press and the fawning propagandists.
miles on October 20, 2009 at 8:32 PM
It’s not that serious for me. I’m not a foxbot. I could care less about “poor” FNC getting picked on by the big bad gov’ment, lol. Fox News has a history of throwing shots at other news organizations and the administration, and now they are pissed because someone fights back? Good luck with all that. Fox is EXTRA-LAME and THIS is what scares me.
uhh…I don’t believe that’s the job of a um…”news organization”. Maybe a political organization. You do understand how some may perceive “encouraging” as bias right?
StoneKrab on October 20, 2009 at 8:34 PM
But you ignore and do not stand up against the far more extensive leftist bias. So yes you are a hypocrite.
They came for the foxbots……..
When it is your day watch out. You are truly deranged if such actions by our government do not bother you . Your response is that you are not a fox fan? That is terrible. These actions are similar to any government that has totalitarian leanings.
Bet this does not bother you either.
Keep drinking the koolaid. Your type kills me … you pretend you think for yourself but I see such a programmed fool in you. Your LAME responses are just that.
CWforFreedom on October 20, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Stonekrab IT IS YOUR GOVERNMENT that is RACIST. The Obama government thinks you are stupid. Take it up with them. Oh yes I have read your previous racist posts.
CWforFreedom on October 20, 2009 at 8:40 PM
No he didn’t. DC Bob just wasn’t able to make a coherent case so he ignored the question and answered the question he wanted to answer.
highhopes on October 20, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Hmmm, do you remember the day that all the networks covered Obama and his Healthcare plan? I mean, surely you can remember that day–it started with the morning talk shows and contiued all night?
Of course, it wasn’t a protest–they wouldn’t allow alternate points of view to be covered, but just to remind you of the “fair and balanced” perspective…
lovingmyUSA on October 20, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Such as? Specific examples, please.
And while you’re at it, if you find any such examples, please prove them wrong, or false, or fake but accurate.
BTW, the last time I remember a President going after a single news source was Richard Nixon. You college kids must be so proud of the parallel.
getalife, OK?
Del Dolemonte on October 20, 2009 at 9:51 PM
To have Krabs is one thing but to have them when they’re stoned must drive a person nuts!
Vince on October 20, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Obviously, Fox will defend itself. What’s more important is that other real jouralists defend against this WH attack.
AnninCA on October 20, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Thanks a lot, Miles. You mention WHAM, and now I’m thinking of the song “Careless Whispers”. Bleah.
BillH on October 20, 2009 at 10:05 PM
unbelievable
AnninCA on October 20, 2009 at 10:05 PM
What should be devastating to the Obama Crowd are the comaprisons to Nixon’s and Agnew’s attacks on the media; however, they are not even fazed. It was Agnew who gave us the term “media.” Agnew put print, TV, and radio news into one lump and called it “news media.”
Pelayo on October 20, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Del Dolemonte, I’m 62 years old, are you anywhere near that age? Do you remember “nattering nabobs of negativism?”
Pelayo on October 20, 2009 at 10:17 PM
William Safire wrote that line, didn’t he? Sadly, he died recently. He will be missed.
NathanG on October 20, 2009 at 10:24 PM
I think Safire wrote that. Another speechwriter at that time was Pat Buchanan.
Pelayo on October 20, 2009 at 10:27 PM
..for Spiro Agnew?
HAnthonyWayne on October 20, 2009 at 10:29 PM
WH: “It’s our opinion.” ie, MSM that
ouryour facts.Indian Outlaw on October 20, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Yes. If I remember correctly, he was a speechwriter for Spiro Agnew.
NathanG on October 20, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Need to just continue eating BHO alive and not going on the defensive over it. The best defense is and always will be a good offense.
jeanie on October 20, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Tapper will end up on Foxnews (with a large pay increase) if he keeps up this sort of courageous work…DD
Darvin Dowdy on October 20, 2009 at 10:50 PM
I’ve always wondered how Spirew T. Agnew came up with the line: The Nattering Nabobs of Negatavism.
Dhuka on October 20, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Yeah right. Well let’s see, it is okay fine for an obnoxious CNN reporter to publicly humiliate the Tea Party people, but if some Fox producer is seen as supportive, that is bad.
Tell me this, when was the last time that Fox put classified material out there for the sole purpose of damaging a sitting president? No, we leave that bit of journalistic malpractice to the likes of the New York Times.
Terrye on October 20, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Hopefully not before Barry calls Billary to ask how to pull of that Vince Foster thing. /sarc
Fed45 on October 20, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Now you know. Fits doesn’t it?
Terrye on October 20, 2009 at 11:14 PM
So, Keith Overbite and that guy that is on before him are news?
Fed45 on October 20, 2009 at 11:18 PM
I don’t understand this.
A) Fox is certainly not failing.
B) Tapper does not work for Fox.
C) Gibbs is not a reporter.
anuts on October 20, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Happy to see Gibb’s jock-strainer stonekrab here. Care to tell us about any more of you top-secret hi-jinks? I can’t wait for you to tell us about the scooby-doo ending.
daesleeper on October 20, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Absolutely. The President is far more dangerous than some ‘news’ (as you might put it) channel.
It can be argued that the brainwashing is done by this administration. It is not Fox that has the full weight of the federal government behind them while attacking organizations that are opposed to the blatant abuses of power. Your position? Defend this tyranny and attack that entity just as the administration wishes you to. That is what defines brainwashing.
anuts on October 20, 2009 at 11:51 PM
I NEVER want to see Gibbs fired before this one term mistake ends. He outdoes Baghdad Bob at being Baghdad Bob!!
karenhasfreedom on October 20, 2009 at 11:52 PM
TAPPER: “Mr. President….do you believe the elderly that are on Medicare and Medicaid have a “duty to die”?
Chairman ObaMAO: “Jake, let me be clear. Yes. Next question.”
Wish it would happen……not holding breath.
PappyD61 on October 20, 2009 at 11:59 PM
I think he’ll be replaced if the midterms are bad enough. He’s not up to playing with the big boys. I think they will hire somebody from the media, ala Tony Snow. They will probably want somebody who is even more combative and knows the inner workings of the media. Linda Douglas, maybe? (Although she’s said some stupid things.)
NathanG on October 21, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Whoops. Meant to say they would promote Linda Douglas.
NathanG on October 21, 2009 at 12:03 AM
We really need more Jake Tappers. I’ve been following Tapper for awhile now and he represents what journalists ought to be: persistent, inquisitive reporters who don’t hold back, regardless of party affiliation. Hard to believe he works for ABC…
SG1_Conservative on October 21, 2009 at 12:07 AM
If Fox News are infidels, what does that make hot air?
long_cat on October 21, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Soros is the original Dark Lord, Morgoth, to whom Sauron tried to bring back into Middle Earth, remember, Sauron was Morgoth’s Lieutenant.
nelsonknows on October 21, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Soros is the original Dark Lord, Morgoth, to whom Sauron tried to bring back into Middle Earth, remember, Sauron was Morgoth’s Lieutenant. nelsonknows on October 21, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Mojave Mark on October 21, 2009 at 12:56 AM
A message from Obama’s teleprompter?
Oh, that hot air.
Obama is Nixonian in his actions, toss in some Jimmah Carter appeasement, some FDR and Wilson statist policies, and liberally sprinkled with every type of 3rd world dictator and topped by the singular world leader.
What a mess we get to clean up.
dthorny on October 21, 2009 at 1:54 AM
The administration will put the hammer down on conservative blogs on the internet just like they are going after Fox and radio. Will our Liberal friends here at HotAir defend our right for free speech?
yoda on October 21, 2009 at 6:33 AM
Liberals don’t believe in free speech. Look at Hugo Chavez. Look at Charles Johnson and the way he loves to ban people. Look at political correctness. Liberals believe in silencing people they don’t agree with. It’s all part of their obsession with having power over people.
pearson on October 21, 2009 at 7:23 AM
Hey, that non-new network let us know about Mao sympathizers, pedophile supports, and flat out admitted Communists in the White House. With a clown this dangerous in the White House, you bet 1I will watch whatever network is exposing this pile of human waste, our C in C.
Jeff from WI on October 21, 2009 at 7:27 AM
pedophile supporters
Jeff from WI on October 21, 2009 at 7:27 AM
Ojesus doesn’t like to be called out on his lies and distortions, thus the animus towards Fox News. FNC doesn’t kiss his arse on a daily basis and help to further the Meme of the Day™ as do the alphabet news shows and the other cable outlets.
This is the most unprincipled administration in my memory, and I am including Richard Milhous Nixon’s band of boobs in this assessment.
The Jug-eared One wants our news sources to be like the Pravda of old, dispensing propaganda instead of informing the populace.
hillbillyjim on October 21, 2009 at 7:30 AM
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