Gibbs should be fired.

[smoogatz]

He has definitively screwed the pooch. Way to further alienate the progressive base going into the election season, dumbass.

[Ian David]

1. Gibbs looks as uncomfortable saying ANYTHING as Scotty looked when he was lying. n/t

[Phx_Dem]

Delete dupe.

[Phx_Dem]

2. Truth hurts.

Gibbs was spot on. Too bad he had to apologize.

The progressives love to criticize, but they cry like babies when someone calls them on their constant whining.

[smoogatz]

9. I disagree. Obama's more settler than leader, IMO.

I like the guy, and he's clearly worlds better than any likely alternative. I'll vote for him again in 2012. But when you take your cues about what can and can't be done from the Senate, as right-wing and dysfunctional as it is, then your policy track record's going to end up looking mighty Republican. Obama's a great speaker and was once a truly inspirational figure, but he allowed himself to be spooked by the teabagger "socialist" nonsense practically the day he took office. He should be out rabble-rousing right back at 'em, cheerleading for the progressive principles he ran and won on. But he doesn't do that. He settles. Oh, well.

[Whisp]

35. dleet

[Ignis]

40. According to Skinner, every single DUer is a progressive.

:hi:

[Phx_Dem]

59. With all due respect to Skinner, he would be wrong!

[azmouse]

41. +1

[moksha]

51. And the centrists run with the frame! Liberal values are dismissed as whines.

Advocating a liberal agenda is not whining, it is promoting social justice. Gibbs set up a strawman frame that conservadems love. It is much easier to be a centrist that to stand up, lead and do the right thing.

[Phx_Dem]

60. Only in progressive-land is constant bitching considered a "value."

Nice try.

[moksha]

63. Again, you try to dismiss honest criticism as bitching.

You weak-assed centrists are killing this party. When we lose, look in the mirror.

[Zenlitened]

61. Amazing to behold, isn't it?

Or, maybe not amazing.

Astonishing. Stomach-turning.

But definitely not unexpected, at this point.

[LaurenG]

3. And take Rahm with him. Those two are giving the Whitehouse a real bad

rep.

[DJ13]

6. And Larry Summers and his pet dog Timmy

[movonne]

26. I believe it is all Rahm...Gibbs only said what he is told to say...you

have to know that he does not say anything that hasn't been approved...

[eleny]

4. Yup, he shot the administration in the foot

And if he was carrying a message from the president, then he ought to get fired for being "inartful". This kind of message needs to be carried with greater skill than he possesses.

[provis99]

5. fired? for saying what the White House told him to say?

Can't fire a man for doing his job.

[LaurenG]

8. right ...but I suppose they could let him take the fall. nt

[impik]

11. Fired? For telling the truth?

[babylonsister]

7. I ask; why isn't it allowable for Gibbs to vent his frustration?

Everyone else does. Maybe if those progressives would actually listen to what he said instead of react exactly the way Gibbs railed against, there'd be some progress.

Fired? Bullshit.

[smoogatz]

12. Because he's a public figure whose job is to speak for the President.

If he mis-speaks, if he inappropriately puts words in the President's mouth, then he should resign or be fired.

And what business does anyone in the administration have being "frustrated" with progressives? We just want Obama to do what he said he'd do. We want Democrats in Congress to act like Democrats. We want them all to stop being such fucking pussies, as Jon Stewart said. But we're certainly not the enemy--we're not the people with the racist signs, or the people screaming "Hitler" and "socialist," and we're not the people who mindlessly obstruct Obama's agenda in Congress. We're on Obama's side--but you kind of have to wonder at this point whether he's on ours. Firing Gibbs would bring a bit of needed clarity to that issue, IMO.

[babylonsister]

14. How the heck do you know he wasn't expressing the President's

frustrations?

And 'we're on Obama's side'? You have a real funny way of showing it. :eyes:

[LaurenG]

19. Really? So are you saying that the President thinks I need a drug test?

I worked really hard to get him elected. I dearly hope you are wrong because if Gibbs is expressing the Presidents view about me he's in for a huge problem in 2012.

[ieoeja]

21. If you think he is like Bush, then I'd say a drug test is in order. nt

[smoogatz]

23. Only the Naderite loons think he's like Bush.

That's not a progressive position, and Gibbs knows it. But Obama HAS allowed himself to be buffaloed into settling for a much more corporatist legislative agenda than the progressive vision he ran on, and it's not unreasonable for progressives to be disappointed by that. I don't know who Gibbs is trying to send a message to, here--corporate donors, probably, nervous about how Obama's going to deal with pressure from the left. But, you know, fuck the corporate donors. Haven't they gotten a big enough piece of the pie?

[smoogatz]

20. I'd like to give Obama the benefit of the doubt.

In fact, I've been doing so for 18 months now. And yeah, I guess my family's maxed out donations to Obama, and hundreds of dollars donated to other Democratic candidates in down-ballot races, and hours of volunteer time in 2008 are a really, really "funny" way of showing which side I'm on. Look, it's simple--Obama ran as a progressive, a candidate of vision, but once in office he's basically Clinton minus the sex addiction but with two wars, a financial crisis and the worst recession in sixty years. Fine. It's still better than anything the Republicans can offer, and there's no viable alternative to the left. I get that. I'm not satisfied with it, though, and I wish that was the message--not "progressives are on drugs," but "the administration deserves credit for getting part of what we wanted in a difficult climate, but we're going to keep trying to do better." See how easy it is?

[babylonsister]

25. Obama ran as a progressive? Really? And

as far as "the administration deserves credit for getting part of what we wanted in a difficult climate", that was in Gibbs' message but the knee-jerkers probably never made it that far. And that's what he's complaining about; despite all the progress made, instead of appreciating that, people just keep trashing this admin for what hasn't been accomplished. I'd like to see all the complainers give a little credit where and when it's due once in awhile. Is that too much to ask?


Gibbs’s tough comments reflect frustration and some bafflement from the White House, which believes it has done a lot for the left.

In just over 18 months in office, Obama has passed healthcare reform, financial regulatory reform and fair-pay legislation for women, among other bills near and dear to liberals.

Obama is also overseeing the end of the Iraq war, with the U.S. on schedule to end its combat operations by the end of this month.

He’s also added diversity to the Supreme Court by nominating two female justices, including the court’s first Hispanic. Yet some liberal groups have criticized his nominees for not being liberal enough.

“There’s 101 things we’ve done,” said Gibbs, who then mentioned both Iraq and healthcare.

[smoogatz]

28. You left out the "we're going to keep trying to do better" part.

So did Gibbs. Instead he sets up a straw-man "progressive" to insult. The question is, why so defensive? Because we hurt their little fee fees, for Christ's sake? Or because they realize that they should have done more, specifically regarding the public option, the mortgage crisis, unemployment and DADT. And yeah, Obama ran to the left of Hillary Clinton, remember? That's about as progressive as it gets in our national politics.

Credit due on Iraq, though again Obama allowed himself to be bullied in agreeing to the Afghanistan "surge." Call it a push.

[babylonsister]

37. Do you honestly think they won't? I left it out because

he didn't say it, but honestly, do you think they plan on resting on their laurels now? That's a shame if you do; I don't.

This admin has been busting their asses since they got there; I fully anticipate they will continue to do so after the midterms. Now, nothing will get done because every pol who has a stake in winning will be concentrating on that 24/7.

[impik]

10. Okay.

[NYC Liberal]

13. Nope. He was right.

So he should stay where he is.

[Stoic]

15. Why? He's just saying EXACTLY what this Administration thinks.

And that includes the President. Anyone thinks Gibbs acted on his own doesn't know how the office of the Press Secretary works. If Gibbs says it the President told him to say it.

[smoogatz]

30. Maybe.

But he's also a human being, and a loyal follower trying to defend his boss. People fuck up and say things they shouldn't say. I doubt that even Gibbs is entirely immune.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. I don't agree

[Jennicut]

17. Ah, all Press Secretaries eventually leave. How long do they last? Remember Dee Dee Myers?

She didn't handle that job that well but she was young. Name one good Press Secretary? Most of them I couldn't stand. Bill Burton seems to be pretty non-annoying.

[alcibiades_mystery]

18. ROFL

Temper Tantrum Day at the DU Daycare.

:rofl:

[Scarsdale Vibe]

22. I agree even though everything he said was true.

The people he described are ruled almost entirely by emotion and firing Gibbs would be a good way of manipulating more of them to vote in the midterms. Warren's nomination was the supposed current holy grail of those Gibbs described, but now it's going to be the firing of Gibbs.

[30rock]

24. I wouldn't fire him yet

People make mistakes in their jobs, and this seems to be his first big mistake. I would keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't trash the left again though.

[Bluenorthwest]

27. He is lousy at his job, and makes me dislike the President

In fact, I avoid Gibbs as a favor to Obama, and that is just not what a spokesperson should bring to the table.

[smoogatz]

29. I actually think he's usually very good at the job.

And I like the President. But Gibbs fucked up big-time on this one, and should step down IMO.

[AtomicKitten]

31. Gibbs was talking about the dead-enders; Pres Obama has the support of 85% of liberals. nt

[smoogatz]

32. He was talking about Maddow, Olbermann and Krugman.

It's actually okay that he's frustrated. It means we've got their attention, at least.

[AtomicKitten]

38. IMO he's talking about the Greenwald/CommonDreams pundits who

rarely if ever (I can't think of an exception, thus the qualifier) have anything in the neighborhood of supportive or constructively helpful to say. Rachel, Keith, and PKrugman have been critical, but respectfully so; their overall general support not in question.

[smoogatz]

45. Maybe.

Although that's going pretty far afield. I don't read those folks--do you? And I'm a daily reader of Kos and Atrios, and a semi-daily viewer of Olbermann and Maddow (more likely to catch The Daily Show and Colbert than either of the MSNBC pundits, though). I don't visit DU that much anymore, it turns out, because you can't post here nowadays without having your motives questioned, one way or another.

[AtomicKitten]

47. Some here consider labeling others a viable retort.

I for the most part limit my cable chatter intake to Keith, Rachel, Jon, and Stephen. Take what you want from DU; the rest is often drivel on steroids.

Rachel on Pres Obama's accomplishments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oygp9G5SM8

[spoony]

33. Why would the man who sent the message fire the messenger? nt

[Whisp]

34. hahaha!!!

nice try.

:rofl:

[treestar]

36. No he should not

and he was not talking about the base. The base would never say that Rs and Ds were no different.

[jenmito]

39. K&U. Gibbs was talking about those who are on TV and similar outlets who don't recognize the

accomplishments this White House has accomplished. He has every right to say that and feel that way. You know-those who might consider Obama a "Corporatist" for example and thinks he is the same as Bush.

[smoogatz]

43. Like who?

Name one.

[jenmito]

49. Jane Hamsher. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

50. +1

exactly

:fistbump:

[smoogatz]

53. You think Gibbs even knows who she is?

I doubt it. He's talking about people on cable TV, he says (as in, "maybe I watch too much cable"). That's Olbermann and Maddow, and maybe the Ed show. Maybe Stewart, even. Who else is there?

[KingFlorez]

42. This is the sort of thing that proves him right

There is difference between progressive and far-left, the far-left is too reactionary.

[smoogatz]

44. "The far left is too reactionary?"

Uh... Never mind.

[derby378]

46. No, THIS is the sort of thing that proves liberal Democrats are right

The ad slowly moved in on a Time Magazine cover featuring bin Laden, zooming in on a close-up of Osama's eyes, while saying that Howard Dean was an unqualified Democratic candidate because of his lack of military or foreign experience.

Tricia Enright, who was the spokeswoman for Howard Dean at the time, summed the ad up best, saying: "Whoever is behind this should crawl out from underneath their rock and have the courage to say who they are." But Robert Gibbs, who was the spokesman for the group, embraced the slime ad against Dean, and refused to say who had funded the ad. Now sure, you can say that Gibbs was just doing his job. But Gibbs wasn't just aligned with the group, he was in the leadership. The group took seed money from crooked former Senator Robert Torricelli to get off the ground, and then went out and raised over a million to run the ad. Gibbs was one of three people that made that ad happen.

http://mydd.com/2007/2/22/robert-gibbs-the-drag-on-obama

Gibbs is in bed with those that tried to kill off the Democratic left. He just didn't want you to know that.

Hails and props to madfloridian for unearthing this inconvenient truth.

[SpartanDem]

48. It wasn't very smart to say what he said, the way he said it.

there is a lot of truth in what said, but there's no throw gasoline on the fire.

[phleshdef]

52. Gibbs was asked his opinion by and interviewer. Fuck your facist world...

...where people should be fired for giving an honest opinion in response to a question in an interview.

[smoogatz]

54. It's the fascist world of the White House press secretary.

His job is to be the President's intermediary with the press. Basically, to express the administration's point of view when responding to questions from the media. If he fails to do so for whatever reason, then he's not doing his job and should probably seek a job that's more in keeping with his desire to openly express his personal opinions--TV pundit, maybe, or slam poet. The LAST thing any administration wants is a press secretary who honestly expresses his own opinion in an interview, if there's even the slightest chance that that opinion is at odds with the public or private positions of the President.

[phleshdef]

55. LOL. You need to look up fascism. You obviously don't know what it means.

[smoogatz]

56. How old are you?

Seriously?

[phleshdef]

58. Old enough to realize the word fascist can't be applied to Gibbs stating an opinion.

[apocalypsehow]

62. Take a look at the convoluted paragraph you've composed here:

"His job is to be the President's intermediary with the press. Basically, to express the administration's point of view when responding to questions from the media. If he fails to do so for whatever reason, then he's not doing his job and should probably seek a job that's more in keeping with his desire to openly express his personal opinions--TV pundit, maybe, or slam poet. The LAST thing any administration wants is a press secretary who honestly expresses his own opinion in an interview, if there's even the slightest chance that that opinion is at odds with the public or private positions of the President."

It's a laughable slew of parsing, special pleading, reductio ad absurdum, and pretzel-logic. And why? Because Gibbs said something you didn't like, something his boss no doubt endorses and approves of to a great extent.

People shouldn't be fired because they honestly say something that "smoogatz" disapproves of. Period.

[whistler162]

57. Yup...

fire those that tell the truth!

[Kdillard]

64. Gibbs spoke the truth and it must have really hit the mark given the OP.