Uh oh. Rachel, Olbermann and Schultz are not going to like this

[30rock]

Both CNN and Chuck Todd confirm that deputy press secretary Bill Burton said that Gibbs "meant the "professional left" to mean "folks who mostly live in this town and talk on cable TV."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/10/gibbs-walks-back-criticisms-of-professional-left/
http://twitter.com/chucktodd/status/20814649634

Obviously, Bill O'reilly and Sean Hannity are the far from left-wing; they do not see Canadian health care as good, so it's clear that the MSNBC commentators were the target.

What I find odd is that these progressive commentators often praise Obama for what they see as good policy, besides criticizing what they see as bad policy; yet Gibbs went after them anyway.

[aquart]

1. Keith and Rachel don't live there.

Can't wait for their shows this evening.

[30rock]

2. He said those who live there AND cable talk show hosts n/t

[tsuki]

13. Where does Tweety live?

[BonnieJW]

21. DC

[tridim]

3. Gibbs most certainly did not go after Rachel, KO and Ed.

None of them have said Obama = Bush.

And we already know that Chuck Todd is an IDIOT.

[30rock]

8. No serious liberal has proposed the elimination of the Pentagon either

So by that logic, Gibbs referred to nobody.
So you think Burton lied then?

[tridim]

10. Then what are you complaining about?

You're safe as a kitten if you never said these things.

But I guess it's more fun to extrapolate and amplify things that were never said.

[30rock]

12. I'm complaining about your flawed logic

You claim that Gibbs could not have been talking about these cable show hosts based on the fact that they do not compare Obama to Bush; but comparing Obama to Bush was not the only thing Gibbs found objectionable from those in the "professional left," whatever the term means. He also mentioned some fictional "they-want-to-eliminate-the-Pentagon" situation. And it follows that since no known cable liberal proposed this elimination, then Gibbs simply attacked them based on at least one made-up accusation.

[tridim]

15. Micheal Moore coined the term, and explained what it means.

And it does not define the MSNBC talent.

Sorry if that ruins whatever point you're trying to make.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. 30rock came here today to chew bubblegum and kick ass

Apparently, he has a lifetime supply of bubblegum.

[provis99]

22. you have completely and utterly missed the point.

In Gibbs, and the White House's mind, professional left (ie liberal) is identical to equating Obama=Bush. Whether liberals actually do is not the point; Gibbs is saying that simply being liberal is equating Obama=Bush.

This is no different than McCarthy's redbaiting tactics.

[gateley]

4. They can handle it. But I'm looking forward to their comments! nt

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Maybe they should shutup while they still have an iota credibility left.

[gkhouston]

6. Doesn't Jon Stewart live in town? Yes, he's a comedian by profession but

you'd have to be a complete idiot not to see that he and Colbert are slicing and dicing the newsmakers four nights a week.

[Vickers]

7. This is drawing a conclusion using a big ol' crayon. n/t

[30rock]

9. Do you know what a cable show from the Left is?

If so, please mention the Leftist cable talk show hosts you know.

[Vickers]

14. *Your* conclusion, not his.

Welcome to DU, yadda yadda yadda...

[dflprincess]

11. When someone else has to start explaining what the speaker meant

you can be pretty sure what the speaker said is what the speaker meant.

[LaurenG]

16. Well it sounds like Gibbs is an unprofessional shoe eater (foot in mouth)

he's causing trouble because he's disgruntled with those who are disgruntled.
He seems unsuited for the job.

[jayfish]

17. That's The Way I Understood It.

Still incorrect and downright stupid to utter though.

FSH

[Bluenorthwest]

18. Gibbs was making stuff up

That is why he is so frightened right now. No one said the things he claimed were said. Closing the Petagon? Which cable liberal was that? And which has said that Bush equals Obama? None. Lots of them do agree that universal health care is a human right, not a drug induced fantasy. I guess Gibbs just thinks the Canadians are better and smarter than us?
Gibbs is a gossiping backbiter, and a shame to the White House.

[alsame]

19. I saw the briefing and yes, this is what Burton said. He also joked with

Bill Press about being one of the professional left.

However, I think it's really unfair to hold Burton to these words - Gibbs should have to answer for himself and name names.

[bullwinkle428]

23. Bill Press?? Jesus, he's as corporate / establishment / DLC-left as it gets!

How thin-skinned is Gibbs if Press's words are getting to him?

[alsame]

24. I think Burton was just nervously joking. As I said above, I think Gibbs

should be questioned at the next briefing and explain exactly who he was referring to.