Huh?
The White House spokesman would now have us believe that he wasn't in full control of his faculties when he did an interview with the Hill in which he blasted the Democratic base, and suggested we all needed to take a drug test. Really? He couldn't control himself? Then what is he doing remaining in the job as White House press secretary?
Oh, and the part about how his criticism of the base is not "a view held by many" is also interesting. So the White House's top spokesman usually pops off to the press about his own personal opinions that have nothing to do with what the President or the White House in general thinks, even though he claims he's speaking for them? And, just coincidentally, those lone personal opinions of his match up perfectly with certain unnamed White House sources who continually blast the Democratic base in the press.
Seriously? That's his excuse? I was just using the office of chief spokesman for the President to sound off about my own personal views, views I know I shouldn't have shared, views I don't think anyone else has, and I attacked the very people who helped me get my job, because sometimes I just can't control myself when speaking on behalf of the President.
I feel better.
One more thing. Note Gibbs' excuse for the anger that forced him to lash out at the Democratic party base. He was upset at conservative Republicans criticizing the teachers aid package as a "bailout." Republicans criticized a bill in Congress, so Gibbs attacked the Democratic base.
I watch too much cable, I admit. Day after day it gets frustrating. Yesterday I watched as someone called legislation to prevent teacher layoffs a bailout -- but I know that's not a view held by many, nor were the views I was frustrated about.Again, huh?
Maybe the White House should take Nate Silver's advice:
I don't know whether Gibbs was going "off-message" out of frustration, or whether the White House has become so jaded that they actually think this was a good strategy. Either way, it speaks to the need for some fresh blood and some fresh ideas in the White House. The famously unflappable Obama is losing his cool.Sam Stein has more.
