Tense White House exchange

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

Source: Yahoo

Contentious exchanges between White House press secretaries and members of the media have been fairly commonplace during the past few presidential administrations.

However, the one that took place Wednesday between White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and April Ryan of American Urban Radio, in which Gibbs essentially compared Ryan to a petulant child, is among the most heated (and entertaining) in recent memory.

The testy exchange was sparked by Ryan's insistent questioning of White House social secretary Desiree Rogers' role at the recent state dinner, which has been in the headlines because of the fallout from Tareq and Michaele Salahi's "party crashing."

Ryan claimed that there have been whispers around Washington insinuating that Rogers had overstepped the traditional role of her title at the event to become the "belle of the ball," thus "overshadowing the first lady." Frustrated by Ryan's tabloid-y line of questioning, Gibbs instructed her to "calm down" and to take a deep breath," adding "I do this with my son and that's what happens."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl1014

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This lady actually gets paid to ask this dumb shit. Man, am I in the wrong field or what?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. i wish they were that persisten with substantive issues.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. Nah, that would be craaaazy. Real issues and corruption might get exposed that way. nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. i mean did you see her? she was totally on top of her game. now if only her game

had been of any importance whatsoever

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. If I recall correctly this was the same lady that asked The Boy King a few years ago

how his "faith" was guiding his decision to invade Iraq. Or something like that. You get 1 question and that's what you come up with?! Now had she asked him with the same fervor about the lies he was spouting that would be another matter.

This is some Entertainment Tonight or whatever kind of "issue".

[bluestateguy]

5. "And now Agent Johnson and Agent Smith will now escort you from the building"

"You can leave your press pass with the receptionist up front".

well that would have been cool, anyway.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. its sad when the press secy has to tell the press to focus on substantive issues

usually they try to get away from substance to focus on human element non issues

[raystorm7]

7. EXACTLY!

I saw the video and she was rude as hell and couldn't take the heat thrown back at her.

[Demoiselle]

13. She was appallingly rude. And so full of her official Big Time Reporter self.

It infuriated me. Gibbs handled it with a whole lot more patience than I would have.

[Naked_Ape]

15. HA! made me spit coffee! nt

[The_Commonist]

8. I thought Gibbs was too nice to her.

He should have told that nobody gives a shit!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

Press Secretary Me would have definitely said so. nt

[EnviroBat]

9. I like Robert Gibbs.

The reporter was wasting valuable time with a vapid line of questioning.

WHO CARES!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. Like I said above this is the kind of shit that belongs on Entertainment Tonight not

on the WH Press Room.

[Mithreal]

10. LBN Gibbs nonresponse to mercenaries question was moved to GD yesterday,

seems appropriate that this should be moved as well.

[Divine Discontent]

17. true dat!!! I looked for this story IN the GD thread, first.

[Mithreal]

18. The question about mercenaries is orders of magnitude more important.

Was kinda sad to see the mercenary question moved out of LBN, but I understand.

[Jefferson23]

12. Pretty sad, "don't play with me" she says. LOL, I didn't get the impression

he was playing at all. I would be terrible at Gibb's job, too often I would be tempted to say STFU.

[JDPriestly]

14. American Urban Radio

AURN is the only African-American owned network radio company in the United States. It is the largest network reaching urban America, with more than 200 weekly shows, AURN reaches an estimated 20 million listeners.

Through three programming networks and our marketing division, American Urban Radio Networks reaches more African-Americans than any other medium in America and produces more urban programming than all other broadcasting companies combined.

American Urban Radio Networks broadcasts news, entertainment, sports and information programming to more than 300 radio stations nationwide. AURN also specializes in the creation, implementation and execution of national promotions and fully integrated marketing programs.

It is the only African-American broadcaster with a bureau in the White House. AURN has offices and bureaus in New York, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

http://www.aurnol.com/company/

They clearly need a more competent reporter in the White House. Whether an employee was grandstanding is up to the Obamas to decide. This looks like juvenile in-fighting among people competing for the White House job.

If the social secretary showed poor judgment or did not do what the President wanted her to do, the President will take care of it discreetly with minimal embarrassment for all. That is the President's job. This reporter is just drawing attention to one of the more unpleasant jobs that the President has. This is an internal White House employment issue, not a matter that needs a lot of public attention.

[tomm2thumbs]

16. I can't help it...

When I see that bearded picture really quickly, I see Carlos from Desperate Housewives. I'll try to do better.