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The Professional White House Cheerleader Resorts to Insulting, Mocking, and Ridiculing
Townhall.com ^ | November 6, 2013 | Michael Schaus

Posted on 11/06/2013 12:02:14 PM PST by Kaslin

Poor Jay Carney. As the official Press Tap-Dancer for the Obama Administration, it is his job to make the lies of his boss sound a little less nefarious. (Of course, I’m paraphrasing the job description.) And like many liberals who allow their utopian promises to paint them into an intellectual corner, Carney is resorting to verbal abuse, condescension, and arrogance. Yesterday’s exchange between Jon Karl and the White House Press Jester is the latest example of Carney’s habitual harassment of reporters who dare to ask hard questions.

Maybe the White House has become so accustomed to the beltway media gleefully echoing the talking points distributed by Mr. Carney, that actual questions have become more of an annoyance than a regular occurrence in the Briefing Room. Regardless, the manner in which this White House scoffs, mocks, and belittles reporters who dare to ask pointed questions is indicative of an amateur administration struggling with the collapse of their signature initiative.

At issue is the President’s most recent lie on Obamacare: You can bypass the website and apply by phone or in person. . . And potentially enroll in Obamacare in as little as 25 minutes.

Carney Gets Testy During Exchange Over Misleading Claims On ObamaCare Website

Yes. . . There is a reason to be quizzical: No one will be enrolled in 25 minutes. And to suggest so is dishonest, disingenuous, and just this side of lying. (I’ll let you decide what “this side of lying” actually means.) So, let’s spot the asterisk in this Obama-sponsored promise. The truth is, even if an individual was able to successfully connect with a representative and “apply” on the phone, they still wouldn’t be enrolled; because all applications still have to go through Healthcare.gov. . . Which is where the bottle-neck is.

Get it? Everyone, regardless of how they apply, are in the same non-working Healthcare.gov queue. There is no expeditious alternative to the website. Now imagine if you called Geico for auto insurance, and after 15 minutes of handing over personal information the representative told you they would contact you in several days with some quotes. . . Do you think the Fed’s might look at Geico’s “fifteen minute” promise with some potentially skeptical investigative eyes?

Well, when the President is responsible for that kind of false advertising (apparently this is actually a staple in implementing Healthcare.gov) reporters are supposed to shut up, and let him get away with it.

Carney’s reaction to Jon Karl’s questioning on the topic is, however, a moment of unintentional transparency. Apparently the White House “professional” has decided the best course of action is to mock reporters who dare to ask for clarification on dubious Team-Obama promises.

Jon Karl is treated like an idiot, because he fails to swallow Carney’s dizzying “explanation.” The exchange is reminiscent of the thousands of times Carney accused Fox News reporters of “sticking to a narrative” or suggesting that the scandal of the day was a “manufactured” crises. Rather than answering questions (I thought that was actually his job description) the Press Secretary has adopted the tactics of discrediting the questioner.

And, in all fairness, Carney does not own the patent on this arrogant style of deflection. This is an attitude that is is deeply entrenched in the White House. It was adopted with great success by Obama’s campaign army in the 2012 election cycle.

People who dare to question our great Campaigner in Chief are portrayed as intellectually inferior, simply motivated by some sort of political dedication, or often downright evil. The fact that the White House Press Jester can’t simply do his best to satisfactorily answer Karl’s question, but must resort to petty verbal abuse, is illustrative of the ideological weakness in his argument.

Defense of Obamacare’s merits are apparently not an option anymore for Obama cheerleaders. Which explains the administration’s employment of half-truths, out-right lies, censored information, and verbal ridicule of any attempt at honest reporting. And the Administration’s only career cheerleader, Jay Carney, has adopted this tact with reckless abandon.

Then again, how else do we expect Carney to defend claims like “you can keep your insurance if you like it” or “you can sign up in as little as 25 minutes”? I guess insults and temper tantrums are the only thing left in his repertoire, given the ruined Presidency he is expected to defend on a daily basis.

And if you think Carney is getting overly defensive now, just imagine if we had a press that was honestly dedicated to investigative journalism. Pretty soon we’d hear that the Press Briefings will be closed due to sequester budget cuts (darn Republicans).


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: jaycarney
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1 posted on 11/06/2013 12:02:14 PM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Standard liberal “debating” technique.


2 posted on 11/06/2013 12:03:05 PM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Kaslin

I know a woman who supports Obamacare and she said it took her four hours to TRY to enroll, without success, and she is fairly computer-savvy. After the four hours it was still unclear what her options were and what the cost would be, so she just stopped.


3 posted on 11/06/2013 12:17:38 PM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: Kaslin
Jay, are reports you're joining the circus true?
4 posted on 11/06/2013 12:17:53 PM PST by JPG (Yes We Can morphs into Make It Hurt.)
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To: Kaslin

I just hope and pray that Jay Carney’s boyfriend regularly kicks his sorry ass.


5 posted on 11/06/2013 12:19:07 PM PST by Joe Boucher ((FUBO) ( Hey Rubio, eat pooh pal))
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To: Kaslin

Alinsky Rules in full force....................


6 posted on 11/06/2013 12:22:46 PM PST by Red Badger (Proud member of the Zeta Omicron Tau Fraternity since 2004...................)
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To: Steve_Seattle

But she didn’t stop being liberal.................


7 posted on 11/06/2013 12:23:25 PM PST by Red Badger (Proud member of the Zeta Omicron Tau Fraternity since 2004...................)
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To: Kaslin
I have been embarrassed for Carney in the past, but his antics with Jon Karl were his worst moment. Punching the air with his finger? How old is he, 5? Then calling out Mara Liaison was ridiculous. Both reporters have been Obama supporters/friendlies. I expected Mara to say something about the obnoxious comment when she appeared on Bret Baier’s show. Nary a peep. She must have felt humiliated. Carney is wearing thin even on those who have been total Obama sycophants. Alinsky tactics on Alinsky sympathizers are probably a no-no, Jay!
8 posted on 11/06/2013 12:28:18 PM PST by originalbuckeye (Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy)
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To: originalbuckeye

What did he say to Mara?


9 posted on 11/06/2013 12:31:49 PM PST by jersey117
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To: Kaslin


10 posted on 11/06/2013 12:32:54 PM PST by Iron Munro (When a killer screams 'Allahu Akbar' you don't need to be mystified about a motive.)
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To: Steve_Seattle

Will be very interesting to see enrollment numbers next week. Will they doctor them like unemployment figures?


11 posted on 11/06/2013 12:36:13 PM PST by Rennes Templar (America needs Obamacare like Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask.)
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To: Kaslin
in all fairness, Carney does not own the patent on this arrogant style of deflection

Actually it was pioneered and perfected during the Clinton administration by James Carville and Paul Begala. (Begala foreshadowed Obama's Presidential Executive Order tactics when he blurted: "Stroke of the pen, law of the land -- cool!")

Insulting, in-your-face verbal assaults have since become standard Democrat responses to any sort of disagreement, especially with Republicans and Fox reporters. But using those tactics on formerly "friendly" reporters like Karl may be a big mistake. The fact is, Carney's a vengeful, nasty little twerp, a loyal unquestioning apparatchik, made to order Obama's dictatorial governing style.

12 posted on 11/06/2013 12:39:45 PM PST by Bernard Marx
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To: Kaslin
Carney is a twerp!

The whole WH menagerie is filled with idiots.

13 posted on 11/06/2013 12:42:19 PM PST by SMARTY ("The test of every religious, political, or educational system is the man that it forms." H. Amiel)
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To: Kaslin

The kicker?

When Carney opines that “I think everyone here understands what I’m saying except you.”

And not one presser speaks up!


14 posted on 11/06/2013 12:43:54 PM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alterations - The acronym explains the science.)
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To: All

The little carney has no one to blame but himself. He is a mendacious, True Believer who would tell the same lies without pay.


15 posted on 11/06/2013 12:44:14 PM PST by Prov1322 (Enjoy my wife's incredible artwork at www.watercolorARTwork.com! (This space no longer for rent))
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To: All
I must say I am puzzled at criticism of Jay Carney for his conduct on the podium when dealing with the press. What else is expected? He is not an elected official with a responsibility to constituents; he is simply a spokesperson who delivers policy and other positions as outlined for him. None of the information he conveys is done on his own authority, nor is his tone and style adopted on the fly at his own whim.

Think of the infamous Baghdad Bob show during Iraqi Freedom. It was beyond absurd... but no one criticized the man himself for his patently silly pronouncements. It was understood that he did not have freedom of speech or message on behalf of Saddam's government.

Likewise, Mr. Carney is similarly situated. It is not as if he has a choice.

That's not to defend the Administration that he speaks for, merely to be a little realistic about his delivery options.
16 posted on 11/06/2013 12:44:38 PM PST by Robert Teesdale
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To: JPG

ENJOY... DEMOCRATS FOR KARL MARX PRESIDENT IN 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0azojPPRhw


17 posted on 11/06/2013 12:46:24 PM PST by Dqban22
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To: SMARTY
Carney is a twerp! The whole WH menagerie is filled with idiots.

Maybe so...but look what they are getting away with.

18 posted on 11/06/2013 12:47:59 PM PST by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: jersey117
So sorry, I cannot find the comment and don't remember exactly what it was. It was within the last week. I know that I watched Baier’s show to see if she would respond and nothing was said. The only comment I can find is from March when Carney tells her that she sounds like she is still working on a typewriter. She was asking about the budget and entitlements and what Obama would sign and Jay made fun of her. I cannot understand why any of these reporters sit still for the abuse this kindergartner throws at them.
19 posted on 11/06/2013 12:55:19 PM PST by originalbuckeye (Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy)
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To: originalbuckeye

He’s so unprofessional. I can’t believe the liar still has his job/


20 posted on 11/06/2013 12:59:02 PM PST by jersey117
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