My uh, name uh, is uh, Robert uh, Gibbs, Next uh, question?

[cherokeeprogressive]

Fuck me I hope he either learns not to do that or gets replaced soon. This is NOT the face I want to put on what we've worked so hard to achieve. I lost count of the uhs in the first MINUTE of his press conference.

The fucking WORLD is watching.

[tekisui]

1. That is the least of our worries.

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. Point conceded but this guy speaks for my President.

And he sure doesn't do it very well. I'd rather listen to a certain self-proclaimed goddess stammer and stutter through three hours of radio than to listen to him speak for my President and my country.

We spent eight years laughing at *'s speecheration. Then we put this guy up in front of the world press and cameras. He hardly seems uh, skillified to uh, occupate such uh, an important uh, position.

[MadBadger]

28. Have you ever watched an Obama press conference? He does the same thing.

[Beacool]

50. I'm glad you said it.

I was biting my tongue to prevent my fingers from typing. Obama, when not delivering a speech, speaks haltingly too. It always amazed me how such a good orator could be such a poor speaker off the stage, it's as if they are two different people.

:eyes:

[cherokeeprogressive]

55. PRESIDENT Obama doesn't say "uh" in the middle of EVERY sentence.

"Speaks haltingly"

President Obama has a manner of speech that brings people to the edge of their seats... they want to hear his next statement. Someone who says "UH" at least once during EVERY sentence and in some instances four or five times before completing a statement is making shit up as they go and loses the attention those people he/she may have been speaking to.

Out.

[Chiyo-chichi]

63. You are joking, right?

President Obama doesn't use a lot of "uhs"?

See this clip from Letterman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThEAO0lt4Dw

[Blue_In_AK]

71. He likes to say "a-a-a-n-n-n-d-d-d" a lot, too.

[Mira]

70. I have no problem with people thinking through what they are about to say.

It's the content I'm interested in. Truth, thought, logic, our best interest.
They are all in new jobs, and in a fishbowl of proportions we cannot imagine.

I like a good delivery, but it's like the whipped cream on a pie. Or gravy on meat.

[ncteechur]

43. remember this is the guy that slammed sean hannity--give him a chance to get going

[catgirl]

2. Maybe he was a hockey player?

Okay, bad joke.

[Mass]

3. Why dont you volunteer? Because obviously, you are so great.

Obviously, he is a little bit tense, which is not surprising, but he will get better.

[Occam Bandage]

4. I hope he loosens up, too. It's just distracting. nt

[SuperTrouper]

6. ...and very annoying after 5 minutes...

[Fleshdancer]

5. He's allowed to be nervous the first time

Gibbs has anticipated this moment for months now. That would make just about anyone nervous.

[cherokeeprogressive]

17. He doesn't seem the slightest bit nervous to me.

Minus the uhs, his answers are quick, well-reasoned, and to the point.

[calico1]

7. Not that I am comparing him to her but

Dana Perrino also seemed nervous the first few times. By the end it seemed old school to her.

I think once he gets used to his role he will be great at it.

[Thrill]

8. Give him a fucking break. Its his second day. Like anything

you get better the more comfortable you get.

Having said that, these pieces of shit never were tough on Perino as they have been the last two days on Gibbs

[nini]

23. Don't you know all these keyboard warriors are experts on EVERYTHNG?

I simply do not understand why Obama isn't coming here for advice on these matters!

:sarcasm:


I am so sick of the negativity here. Give the guy a change to get comfortable in the job. He kicked ass during the campaign handling the press - he will be fine. He just needs to get used to the pace etc.

[ShortnFiery]

9. He's doing just fine. Gawd! Cut him some slack - it's his second presser. eom

[bunnies]

10. What an ass.

No, not Gibbs.

[Cha]

11. Really! I haven't seen the second

one but he did great with the whining jackals, yesterday. And, I like him.

All those silver tongued propagandists who lied their heads off are the ones I'm glad to rid of.

[4lbs]

12. You might want Obama replaced as well then, since he says "Uhmm" quite a bit when talking impromptu.

n/t

[ClarkUSA]

13. Yeah, Barack Obama did/does the same thing and look what a loser he is now...

Uh, wait...

[cherokeeprogressive]

56. He doesn't do it four or five times EVERY SENTENCE. n/t

[Skwmom]

15. So now that Kennedy has been taken care of is it time to move on to Gibbs?

Why don't we just trash him on a daily basis and maybe he will be replaced by a Clintonite. Gibbs has got to go. He committed the unforgivable sin of actually supporting Obama in the primaries.

I like Gibbs. He seems like a decent guy. So who cares about the use of uh... At least he's not a slick liar.

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. I didn't say a fucking thing about what kind of person he is.

Nice try though. Also, for what it's worth, I NEVER supported SoS Clinton over Obama. Not for one single moment.

He doesn't seem the slightest bit nervous. His answers are quick and, minus the uhs, to the point.

[Skwmom]

25. I don't know who you supported.

But it doesn't take a genius to figure out that some of the so called non-Clinton supporters or pro-Obama supporters on this board are anything but. All I have to say is it must be a pretty lousy way to earn a dollar. (This isn't referring to you b/c like I said, I don't have any idea who you did or did not support).

[ClarkUSA]

18. Yeah, looks like that's their game plan... meanwhile, Andrea Mitchell references Gibbs' "good humor"

... and his "lack of parrying with the press". :eyes:

[rvablue]

35. Can we really grow up and stop the Clinton bashing...

IT. IS. SO. TIRED.

Everytime someone does a senseless "concerning" OP like this one doesn't mean they are a "Clintonite."

There is NO grand conspiracy by the "Clintonites" to destroy Obama or the Democratic Party. Secretary Clinton is now working for Obama and is going to do her damndest to succeed and make this administration shine.

Hey, I love Hillary. She's my avatar. I voted for her in the primary. And, with that, why don't you go check out my response to this OP in comment #32.

[OwnedByFerrets]

19. I dont care what he sounds like as long as he tells the truth....something

we havent heard for 8 yrs

[mtnsnake]

20. He does do lots of uh's, yes, but he'll be smooth as ice before long.

His job is one of the toughest jobs going, and he didn't do that bad, considering it was his very first time up there and only 3 days into the term.

The uh's will soon disappear.

[jenmito]

21. He's no Tony Snow...

who was a smooth-talking LIAR.

[EFerrari]

29. He's no Dana Perino, either,

who was an ignorant b word.

[jenmito]

31. Exactly. n/t

[question everything]

22. Right. Even Ari Fleischer showed more conviction

and belief in his boss.

When he is hesitant, it reflects on Obama.

[stray cat]

24. While Ari was lying through his teeth - I'll take Gibbs honesty

[question everything]

38. You cannot go far with a simple honesty

How, do you think, did Obama rally the crowd? Not so much with specific ideas but with his great oratory skills. How did FDR? Churchill? JFK?

You have to show a power of conviction, of great belief in what you say. If you just mumble along, appear hesitant, how, do you think, will all the citizens of this country, with a short attention spam to begin with, who are desperate and cannot wait for Obama to wave his magic wand, react to such a presentation?

How can Obama, with so much eloquence, choose such a ho-hum person to represent him? Where is the fire? The determination?

[EFerrari]

27. LOL! No, what Ari showed was slime, not conviction.

[RayOfHope]

41. No it doesn't. It means he's thinking before he speaks. n/t

[lamp_shade]

26. ofercrissake

[FrenchieCat]

30. I find Gibbs earnest and honest.,

There is supposed to be a "change" in the tone and what information is to be provided, and that is what we are witnessing.

Gibbs is obviously not going to make statements on what he doesn't know, nor make speculations on Hypotheticals.....
but yet, many of the questions being asked are just that.

The press is playing us by acting as though they get to decide how these daily briefings should go,
when they don't. In my opinion, the press is trying too hard in attempting to look tough,
and they are ending up looking like the vultures that they are instead.

As far as Gibbs is concerned, I think that although we may not be accustomed to his style,
he is doing a fine job......just not talking shit and putting people in their place,
which is what some of us "want".

Like the press, those who criticize Gibbs this early, IMO, are no better than the press
because they want things to happen the way they believe that it should happen.....
as opposed to having an open mind and simply watching the process, and how it translates
into the articles that are written based on these briefings.

The press cannot be "handled" if they wish not to be.....and that is what we are seeing.
They allowed the Bush administration to handle them, but now, they have decided that this won't happen again.......but yet they cannot tell the difference between being handled and simply having someone standing up there simply telling the truth.

[Cha]

34. I saw the presser yesterday and

thought Gibbs was excellent in handling the jackals/vultures..I missed the one today but look forward to the next one.

I liked his humor and realize he is so getting his feet wet. I remember chuck todd being obnoxious about there being "no cameras for the second swearing in" and Gibbs explaining it to him over and over so he could grasp it.

[rvablue]

32. It must be truly painful every day for you to wake up and observe others

I mean, you are perfect, right?

Every time you have started a new job, you did all the right things perfectly. You never needed to time to fit into your new role. You never made a couple of mistakes on your road to getting your duties down pat.

It must be a nightmare for you to have to walk amidst the rest of us humans.

[Clio the Leo]

33. You have GOT to be kidding me......

... seriouly. You want to REPLACE Robert Gibbs ..... SERIOUSLY!!!!

You realize that Barack didn't hire him yesterday, right?

Sheesh..

Ok, one more time....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgn6rjGbp0c

One of the greatest moments of the campaign.

[izzybeans]

36. I'd rather have the sincerity of a few "uh's", then the slick obfiscation

of prepared non-answers.

[Bad Thoughts]

37. Would casual profanity be more endearing? eom.

[butterfly77]

39. It will take some time for him to get his footing..

I felt that way during the campaign but,as time goes on you will see he is the best person. He really got me on his side when he let Hannity have in the last weeks of the campaign.

[Renew Deal]

40. He's nervous

Give the guy a chance to settle in. The world understands.

[WI_DEM]

42. Oh NOES!!!!!! Hey, maybe Caroline Kennedy will take the job of press secretary?

[Beacool]

51. Hey, watch those words!!!

I just snorted Diet Coke and choked. LOL!!!

:rofl:

[Pirate Smile]

44. He isn't going any where. He is one of Obama's closest advisers and friends.

Less than two years later, Obama was running for president and Gibbs was still at his side. He served in a variety of roles at first — spokesman, overseer, strategist and, in Gibbs’s words, Obama’s “traveling buddy.” “It’s not quite that they finish each others’ sentences,” Dunn said. “But they do have that mind meld.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/magazine/21Gibbs-t.html?pagewanted=5&_r=1


I wouldn't get hung up on Gibby because he is going to be around as long as Obama is around. I like him.



Ethan Gibbs says "Stop picking on my Daddy!"

;)

[Ikonoklast]

45. I like him. He's got moxie.

Let's not judge the man on one performance.

He made Hannity look like a fool during the campaign.

Check that...he helped Hannity make a fool of himself.

[bitchkitty]

46. Go to Obama's site and send them

a message - suggest that they hire a speech coach for those who aren't flawlessly articulate.

Something tells me that would be pretty low on their list of priorities though...

I don't really care how he talks; I don't want an actor, I want someone who will do their job, and do it well.

[Hieronymus]

47. Relax, and enjoy the tremendous change .. Gibbs is great.

[CreekDog]

48. You must've hated JFK

With all the umms and ahhs in his press conferences.

[cherokeeprogressive]

54. I was less than two years old when JFK was assassinated. Had I been aware then, I would have

been one of his biggest supporters.

I give Robert Gibbs all the respect he deserves. Who am I? I am nobody. He's PRESIDENT Obama's spokesperson. In that, I must defer to President Obama's choice of Robert Gibbs as the voice of the Obama administration.

Call me "old school". I was taught that while speaking extemporaneously, the "pause" (that moment when you're trying to formulate the perfect response) was what kept people on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next statement. I guess my debate teacher was wrong. He called it the "synapse" which is something I've yet to see used in that context here on DU.

I were a teacher once, but I were wrong in bringing up the subject of Obama's spokesperson speaking poorly in front of the world. I am eternally sorry for wishing that from day ONE, we put up a face that the WHOLE WORLD could grab hold of.

I be sorry.

[jillan]

49. He doesn't have all the answers yet because neither does Obama.

Give him some time.

[firedupdem]

52. Give him a minute! He's a slow talker and thinks about what he's

saying before he says it. I appreciate that although I don't like audible pauses. He'll get quicker.

[JI7]

53. Obama does the "uh, uh, um um" thing also

i don't think it will be a problem.

[cherokeeprogressive]

57. He does. I will concede that.

He doesn't do it during EVERY sentence he speaks.

There's a difference.

[MadBadger]

58. He does it during basically every question in a news conference

As long as Gibbs knows what he is talking about and can handle the press, he'll be fine

[ima_sinnic]

59. he is not a preprogrammed robot??!!!1! he must be stopped!!!1!!

I demand that we get a press secretary who does not think while speaking. He or she must know exactly what he or she is going to say in the instant it is said. He or she must rehearse and practice every word beforehand and deliver them flawlessly. It "doesn't look good" when press secretaries aren't actors delivering lines. Only APPEARANCE and FLAWLESS DELIVERY are important. The content of the message doesn't count for shit.

do I have to add :sarcasm: ?

[depakid]

60. Fortunately, press secretaries don't usually last all that long

and there are plenty of better spokespersons out there.

[Life Long Dem]

61. Yeah, I'd prefer the face we had before him myself.

But I don't think she is with our party.

[slay]

62. Well uh, you know uh, maybe uh, it will catch on... uh

lol, uh, lol :rofl:

[OneBlueSky]

64. long as Barack continues doing what he's been doing, his press spokesman . . .

can speak conversational Swahili and drool on his wing tips for all I care . . . :silly:

having a real president with a real brain (at last!) is what's important . . . speaking glitches on the part of his press geek aren't worth the time or the energy it takes to discuss them . . .

besides, the guy's new at this, and probably just a tad nervous (he is, after all, in the White House!) . . . give him some time, and he'll likely improve significantly . . .

[Jennicut]

65. Sorry, but I like Gibbs. An actual human being, not some programmed robot.

[Bluenorthwest]

66. These are things they can learn to do better

and they need to. They are skills that can be taught, can be learned, and anyone who communicates for a living would benefit from taking the time to respect the gig by training for it.
There is no need to seem tentative and unsure when one is strong and assured. To seem underinformed when one is fully informed.
No one is born knowing how to do these things, and many fail because they assume no preparation is needed. Without training, it goes about as well as sitting down at the piano in concert, while you only know how to play the trumpet.
These are not value judgements. I'd like to see Gibbs have the prep to do well. He has the facts and memory, he is just unfocused and worried about silly stuff that he can master, but without the work it will master him. Not just Gibbs, but anyone in such a position, desreves to have the tools he or she needs to be a sucess. They could hire a coach. And they should. Easily fixable stuff, all of it. Gibbs would be so much happier too!
I assume he will improve, take some notes from those who have them to give, and continue on to excell at his new and rather nerve working job.

[glowing]

67. It is what it is. Many people speak like this. I was taught not to umm and aww when I was in

school. When we gave oratory reports the work umm, awww, and like were graded as a negative. You could be giving the most brilliant report, but completely fail with the addition of those 3 negatives. It was even harder to avoid the no-no's when answering follow-up questions. I was taught it was in bad form. It always surprised me how many adults umm'd and awww'd once we were taught to use proper oratory edict. However, I assumed Gibbs would be given the task of press briefings since he had to deal with the sharks so much during the campaign. He was always good and on point when taking the message to the airwaves. I'm assuming he will become more comfortable and at ease with the process. I also think the press sharks will ease into their questioning. Some are new. I noticed Chuck was trying to be relevant. If you aren't relevant and don't get in good questions, you may be replaced.

[acmavm]

68. Good grief. I am SO GLAD that we're all concerned with the really important

things, like someone saying 'uh' when they speak.

Does that mean we have to start impeachment hearings on Obama. Go ask Pelosi if that puts impeachment on the table.

[WinkyDink]

69. He's not the tinny-voiced, whiny, lying, ignorant Dana Perino. Good enough for me!

He likely knows what the October Missile Crisis was.

[Ichingcarpenter]

72. When he took down Hannity on National TV....... that

was good enough for me.

I gave him a B-, the first day because he let a reporter ask
8 follow up questions and a solid B the second day because
he only allowed 3 followups and moved on.

I do wish that when questions are asked that the reporters
said their name and what news agencies they come from.