This is a lot of fuss for a press secretary. Some have made him the poster boy for every WH failure

[bigtree]

But, the reality is that Robert Gibbs is just the mouthpiece for this administration (not some major policy maven, not a cabinet member), and is prone to speak his own mind on occasion. It makes no sense, and is basically a tactic of the opposition party to single out a member of the administration and declare that whatever stupid things they say are the totality of opinion and policy of the presidency. They weren't (aren't).

I haven't heard Pres. Obama make ANY comment which mirrors the sentiments Gibbs spoke against the 'professional left'. I have heard the President make a case very similar to the retraction Gibbs offered yesterday in which the CIC has asserted that his administration is actively dismantling the planks of Bush administration policy and moving forward with our President's Democratic agenda.

I don't see how anyone can credibly claim that this Democratic WH is in any way 'just like Bush's'. Certainly there are aspects and constructions of Bush-era policy that has continued under this administration. But many of those policies are under active review, modification and assault by this new presidency. It's just not credible to use these short two years as proof that this administration isn't serious about changing the direction of our government, and serious about adopting whatever parts of our Democratic agenda they can reasonably manage. Gibbs and the President have both correctly pointed to those efforts (both the successful and ongoing ones) as proof that they aren't some carbon copy of the Bush republicans who preceded them in office.

Our political opposition eats these family kerfuffles up like cotton candy. It can only serve that opposition's own efforts to derail our Democratic agenda to see our party divide and squabble over nonsense like this. Our challenge is to remain focused on the President's words and actions; giving support where we can and encouraging them to adopt whatever issues we feel they've erred on or have neglected. We are also challenged, politically, to keep the opposition from exploiting these little family spats and detracting us from their very real opposition to the progress of our party's progressive agenda. Eye on the ball . . .

[damntexdem]

1. Straws and camels backs.

nuff said

[EFerrari]

2. The reality is that Robert Gibb's is Obama's mouthpiece, exactly. n/t

[bigtree]

6. and not the President or anything close to the totality of opinion of this presidency

I would think we'd allow our own president more consideration than that. I don't believe the President shares the negative views Gibbs expressed about a 'professional left'. I do think the President believes his administration is working to advance our Democratic agenda.

[EFerrari]

10. I would think the President show more consideration than that but

I'd be wrong as another spokesperson told the WaHo that the admistration shares Gibb's views. I believe that was Burton.

[bigtree]

11. well

. . . the 'views' that Burton says he 'shares' are those which assert that this administration is nowhere near 'like Bush's' - not the ignorant insult offered by Gibbs. I'm not surprised folks aren't willing to let go of that insult, but the gist of the argument was about whether there was any difference between administrations and presidencies. I personally don't believe comparing the two is a reality-based view.

[EFerrari]

12. The thing is, bigtree, that Gibbs talked about the left

in the same way the right talks about the left. And that's a problem.

Also, people compare things in their experience. That's what they do. An honest criticism of a policy is not that same as equating the president with that idiot and it is perfectly legitimate.

[bigtree]

14. We certainly agree that there are many Bush policy constructions left standing

. . . both purposefully and ineptly by our party and WH. But we do need to keep our perspective intact. Anyone who spent the last decade opposing Bush policy knows well of the vast differences between the two. I'd never suggest though that criticisms of Obama policy are not legitimate. I'd just argue for perspective and balance in those criticisms.

[EFerrari]

15. Perspective and balance are important to any useful critique.

It would be helpful if the White House could model what they would like to see in us, too. :)

[mike r]

3. "Deputy press secretary Bill Burton later said that the feelings Gibbs described were shared by

by everyone in the White House, including the president."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/11/AR2010081101212.html?hpid=news-col-blog

[bigtree]

7. which version?

The bald insult or the belief that their administration is actively working to dismantle Bush policy and advance our Democratic agenda?

[mmonk]

4. Words have consequences.

[bigtree]

8. and I think we're seeing that unfold right now

We're not shackled by them, though. We can judge the reality of this administration's efforts without dwelling on the retracted insult. I don't believe the reality is that this WH is just some copy of the last one. I think that's just absurd. I can understand the WH defenses against that sort of nonsense, without defending the insults at all.

[EFerrari]

13. Okay -- but the thing is, that was part of Gibb's absurdity, not ours. n/t

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mmonk]

9. Who are these DU'ers?

[Barack2theFuture]

16. to be fair,

there are LOTS of boys on that poster...

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[boston bean]

18. obama's actions speak for themselves nt

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. "giving handouts to every loser in the country"

And just who are these losers? Guessing you are not one? What's the matter, feeling left out, are we? :evilgrin:

[myrna minx]

24. Please try harder.

No critic here is calling the President treasonous. :eyes:

[boston bean]

19. obama's actions speak for themselves nt

[Iggo]

20. Oh some have, have they?

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[joeybee12]

25. That hole you and others are digging just gets deeper and deeper...n/t

[bigtree]

26. I'm in the same ditch as many other struggling Americans

My participation in discussions here are mostly for my own edification and interest (hopefully shared with the DU community). I suspect the administration will have to fare for themselves without the benefit of any significant influence from our little conversations.