Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Gibbs Weighs in on White House vs Fox News Issue

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was prompted by Jake Tapper (ABC) to comment. He confirms/supports the official line from the White House. That makes sense, Gibbs being the press secretary and all; but it is relevant to show that the White House is not backing away.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/10/todays-qs-for-os-wh-10202009.html

"Tapper: It’s escaped none of our notice that the White House has decided in the last few weeks to declare one of our sister organizations “not a news organization” and to tell the rest of us not to treat them like a news organization. Can you explain why it’s appropriate for the White House to decide that a news organization is not one –

(Crosstalk)

Gibbs: Jake, we render, we render an opinion based on some of their coverage and the fairness that, the fairness of that coverage.

Tapper: But that’s a pretty sweeping declaration that they are “not a news organization.” How are they any different from, say –

Gibbs: ABC -

Tapper: ABC. MSNBC. Univision. I mean how are they any different?

Gibbs: You and I should watch sometime around 9 o’clock tonight. Or 5 o’clock this afternoon.

Tapper: I’m not talking about their opinion programming or issues you have with certain reports. I’m talking about saying thousands of individuals who work for a media organization, do not work for a “news organization” -- why is that appropriate for the White House to say?

Gibbs: That’s our opinion.
"

This sage, starting from the beginning; Anita Dunn 'called out' Fox News. Beck responded by installing a 'Red Phone Hotline', then aired a tape where Dunn said that Mao was one of her favorite philosophers. On the defensive, Dunn countered by saying that she was joking, and then added "Let it be noted that I also quoted Mother Teresa, but no one is accusing me of being a saint!". Not only was I was unconvinced, the New York Times declared Fox News the unequivocated victor. Axelrod and Emanuel joined in to take some of the pressure off of Dunn. And now Beck will likely turn up that pressure. A new video of Dunn surfaced where she said "very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn't absolutely control", which Beck used. Now Gibbs has thrown his support behind the White House position.

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