Robert Gibbs = The trial balloon that went thump

[eleny]

[Whisp]

1. i don't know quite why there is such a flap here about what Gibbs said.

He was talking about the 'professional left'. These don't really have loyalty to the left and sometimes get paid for their so called 'opinions' and criticisms - they just take advantage of whatever is in the wind that would get them most attention.

Unless the majority of the people here that constantly rag on Obama over every thing he has ever said or thought or done, are really these 'professionals', what's the big bruhaha about and against Gibbs? Gibbs was telling it like it is.

[eleny]

3. I don't agree with your premise that the professional left has no loyalty to the left

I'd agree that there are probably some out there who fit that description. But your broad brush attempt to justify your confusion doesn't hold up. So we can't discuss your thoughts further.

[Whisp]

7. and what a sweetheart you are!

:rofl:

[eleny]

12. Here ya go...

[jobycom]

5. Gibbs wasn't just criticizing the "professional left."

He was ridiculing anyone who was disappointed in Obama, and dismissing their concerns as being part of that same mentality. Even worse, he was implying that anyone on the left who didn't like Obama was just mislead by the professional left.

It's the same method as Bush and Cheney claiming anyone who opposed the war was a traitor who hated America and didn't support the troops. You lump dissenters into a category, then you can ridicule and dismiss that category.

[Whisp]

8. I didn't read it like that at all.

but am not surprised some do.

[eleny]

9. Agreed, with thanks for your clarity

I see this episode as an attempt by the administration to see if they could herd the cats. It failed.

I'm sure that whoever came up with this dim attempt is frowning at the mirror today.

[FrenchieCat]

10. So you believe that it should be a one way street? That the left gets to criticize

at will about whatever, and can never be called on the carpet?

Why would that be? At this point, it appears that some on the Left are
working harder against this administration than they are against the Republicans....
and this is 4 months before the election.

And FYI, your interpretation is incorrect and full of hyperbole,
and that's intellectually dishonest. The right of disagreeing
does not provide the right of being disagreeable.....
and comparing Obama to Bush is simplistic hyperbole.

This administration has been ridiculed and dismissed by all sides
for far too long. So I'd have to say that those that dish it out
day after day, should be able to fucking take it too!

[jobycom]

15. Tell you what. If Obama wants to criticize the way I'm running the country

more power to him. I won't even call him names for doing it. There, the street is now two way.

[eleny]

16. I don't recall ever comparing Obama to Bush. So who's being dishonest here?

What I believe about what Gibbs said is that you don't bite the hand that fed you. The left, even media folk like Peter Werbe and Mike Malloy, used their microphones to help get Obama elected to the presidency.

I will never be so subservient that I'd allow myself to be "called on the carpet" by any politician I helped get elected to office.

[SunsetDreams]

22. You must have missed those posts

Obama=Bush. I know you can't possibly read every post, so it's not your fault. Most of the time it's posts within an OP.

[eleny]

24. FC asserted that *I* made that comparison when I can't recall ever having done that

Although I applaud her passion, I didn't appreciate that being said about me.

I have read postings where people said Obama = Bush, though. And I have been disappointed by his continuing warrantless wire taps and keeping some torture prisons open. Those are Bush policies. But I honestly don't recall ever saying here at DU that O=B.

I supported the campaign and even convinced a few more people at my caucus to vote for Obama. Because of that, he won my caucus district. What I will say is that I have a right to be disappointed and to say so. And anyone who thinks I shouldn't can kiss my grits.

[FrenchieCat]

26. I did not assert that *you* had made the Obama/Bush comparison....

[eleny]

28. Here is what you wrote.... You sure made it sound like it....

"And FYI, your interpretation is incorrect and full of hyperbole,
and that's intellectually dishonest. The right of disagreeing
does not provide the right of being disagreeable.....
and comparing Obama to Bush is simplistic hyperbole."

[SunsetDreams]

37. She wasn't replying to you though

It was a reply to post #5 that had this "It's the same method as Bush and Cheney"

[27inCali]

33. he said "if you think Obama = Bush, you are on drugs"

I agree, they are worlds apart. If anyone is making that comparison, they are either stupid or totally disingenuous.

I'm missing the part where he said, "All those critics on DU need to eat shit and die." If he didn't say that, that all this Brewhaha is a lot of self-important masturbation and there are most definitely more important things for us to do right now.

[Hansel]

35. You make his point quite nicely.

This is the same hyperbolic over-the-top interpretation of just about everything this administration says and does that Gibbs is referring to.

Perfect example.

[Bluenorthwest]

20. Gibbs gets paid 172,000 taxpayer dollars for his 'opinions'.

And he is citing made up crap that no one ever said, and tilting at this windmill of 'liberal media' that the right also imagines.
Gibbs called out those who want universal health care. Those who think we spend too much money on war for a broke ass nation. He slammed the hand that feeds him 172,000 dollars a year.
Never heard him speak a word off the clock.

[Whisp]

23. what a steaming pile you just dumped.

[Bluenorthwest]

34. In what respect, Charlie?

That is his salary, he is paid to communicate, he called out all of the people I said he called out. Was it fun to type that OFA Brand vulgarity, always on tap in lieu of actual counter arguments? A rude and vapid remark, meaningless, without content, save for a personal slam and some potty talk.

[eleny]

25. When Gibbs talks to media he's on the clock and you're right no matter what anybody else says

[great white snark]

2. The OP that went thump.

Was Gibbs talking about you?

[eleny]

4. He was talking about elected officials and media folk on the left.....

....who speak or stand up for my positions in their professions.

I guess that's why Rep. Ellison thinks Gibbs ought to resign:

"Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), an active member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Gibbs went too far. "This is not the first time that Mr. Gibbs has made untoward and inflammatory comments and I certainly hope that people in the White House don't share his view that the left is unimportant to the president," he said. "I understand him having some loyalty to the president who employs him, but I think he's walking over the line."

Ellison said that Gibbs's resignation would be an appropriate response. "I think that'd be fair, yeah. That'd be fair, because this isn't the first time."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/10/rep-ellison-demands-that_n_677195.html?ref=twitter

[Phx_Dem]

13. Rep Ellison is pretty thin-skinned. It doesn't bother him when his colleagues

critize the President, but God forbid the White House criticize them! What a pussy.

[eleny]

18. Ellison worked to get Obama elected

Biting the hand that fed you is a fool's act.

[Turborama]

14. LOL!

:rofl:

Welcome to DU!

[uponit7771]

6. Most who are complaing aren't willing to get dems resources needed to be more progressive

[eleny]

11. ROFLMAO! Been there and done that. It got us here, today.

But thanks for the thread kick. Didn't you get the memo? Really, don't you know you're supposed to let it sink?

[jobycom]

17. More goddamned group-dismissal bullshit.

How do you know what the people complaining are like? It isn't a united group comprising only one type of person, cloned over and over.

That's the exact reason I'm pissed at Gibbs. I don't do drugs. I didn't support Kucinich. Hell, i don't even like Dean. I'm an easy sell, I've been involved in politics long enough to understand compromises and I don't whine when I don't get my way. But I have criticisms. The hear them dismissed as just part of some sore losers group or some professional whiners' organization is more offensive than I can tell you without dropping my trousers. And your categorizing people "who are complaining" as not willing to work for what they believe in is even more offensive. Some of Obama's hardest workers and biggest donors were the lefties Gibbs is spitting on. They worked their asses off.

[eleny]

19. Gibbs owes those "hardest workers and biggest donors" you mention a huge apology

We saw so many people here post about how they couldn't afford it but proudly donated to the campaign. You couldn't find bigger hearts and worn out shoe leather the way "progressives" worked and supported.

His characterization of what he said as being "inartful" was quite feeble. Especially since we know how strongly he's capable of wording his thoughts.

I agree with Rep. Ellison, Gibbs can resign.

[Hansel]

36. He doesn't owe me one.

I think the constant whining and criticism is counter productive and over-the-top. So I agree with Gibbs. I worked just as hard and donated probably more than most and you don't speak for me.

You might be surprise to find out that many people who worked their asses off to get this administration elected are sick of the cynicism BS from the "professional left" because it's not helping at all.

I'm glad someone of his stature finally said it out loud.

I love Keith Ellison, but I get tired of Democrats who feel the need to gasp and jump up every time someone in our party says something that might offend someone's delicate sensibilities.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. I see you are in Texas

I'm in Oregon's 4th. So who is it that is not willing to go the distance and get Democrats elected again? All three of my seats have Democrats in them. My former home State and districts where I am still active as well.
And you, who do you send to DC, to be a resource?

[frylock]

32. this..

i love this line of thinking!

[donco6]

29. What on earth are you talking about? n/t

[frylock]

31. *sqwauk*

[Divine Discontent]

27. it was a NASTY swipe against progressives who support the people that run these liberal groups

If you're attacking the "professional left", you're attacking those who fund them. He can claim he wasn't all he wants - but it fits right in with Rahm's nasty comment.



Funny thing about elections... They come around every couple years. Non-progressives will never have my money again - EVER.

[eleny]

30. Right. The explanations I'm hearnig on tv and reading are feeble parsings

Gibbs' job is speaking to the public. It's his expertise. Hiding behind "inartful" or expecting us to know what he really, really meant or who he really, really meant to insult isn't working for me right now. If he screwed up he should just apologize for being a jerk and then resign. He obviously has no respect for a serioously passionate part of the Dem base.

[Aramchek]

39. Do you believe Obama is equivalent to Bush? Do you attack him at every chance?

If not, then Gibbs wasn't referring to you.

If so, then you deserve to be criticized.

[Tarheel_Dem]

38. It only went thump with the professional left, and those who take their

marching orders from them. The rest of us know exactly what Gibbs was saying. These folks aren't allies, and they never were, so screw 'em. :shrug: