Posted on 04/17/2009 2:16:42 AM PDT by seanmerc
WASHINGTON -- White House spokesman Robert Gibbs and President Barack Obama share the same trait: They both are very cautious when speaking with reporters.
Gibbs measures his words hesitantly between some "ums" and "ahs," before voicing carefully selected words in response to a reporter’s question.
As White House press secretary he is in the bull’s eye every day at televised news briefings, which may explain why he appears most comfortable with the reporters for wire services and TV networks he schmoozed with on the campaign trail.
In a position where many predecessors have blown their tops out of frustration or melted down in irritation over repetitive questions, the soft-spoken Gibbs keeps his cool and loves it when his acerbic wisecracks get a laugh.
He is very formally addressed as "Robert," not "Bob" or "Bobby" as he was called as a kid.
Some reporters actually pay him homage by thanking him for giving them a chance to question him at White House briefings. Not me. That’s his job.
Gibbs is part of the White House inner circle that includes chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and senior advisor David Axelrod. He also has a close and loyal relationship with Obama, who told the Wall Street Journal last year: "He’s the guy I want in a foxhole with me during incoming fire. If I’m wrong, he challenges me. He is not intimidated by me."
Gibbs sees himself as the "protector of the (Obama) image."
The 38-year-old Gibbs was born in Auburn, Ala., and still has a soft southern accent.
Politics apparently is the love of his life. Emily Sparrow -- his high school history teacher -- says he was a `political junkie at 17."
His work experience was mostly on Capitol Hill for different Democratic senators, and there he honed his skills in speaking for the "boss" and taking on the boss’s detractors.
For all his low-key demeanor and pastel neckties, he can be aggressive in defense of Obama and has been known as "the enforcer." Speaking of ties, Obama swiped Gibbs’ light blue tie for his speech at the 2004 Democratic convention. That was the address that won Obama national attention and set him on the road to the presidency.
"It (the tie) was requisitioned for a higher purpose," said Gibbs. "I have never gotten that back and I never had the illusion that I would."
Sometimes Gibbs has to dance around a bit when a questioner asks about glaringly inconsistent administration positions, such as blocking habeas corpus (the right of appeal) for prisoners we hold at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan but allowing it for captives at Guantanamo.
It’s up to Gibbs to field the questions, running the gamut of trouble spots.
Obama has had two prime-time formal news conferences. In his second news conference, Obama went out of his way to call on representatives of bloggers and even government-supported news outlets, like Stars and Stripes, the military’s newspaper.
The Gibbs press operation has this annoying practice of alerting selected reporters that Obama plans to call on them during a presidential news conference. It all smacks heavily of managed news.
I fear the next step will be that the White House staff will ask the selected reporters what they intend to ask the president if they are called on.
In an interview Gibbs told broadcaster Peter Maier that he would never lie as a White House spokesman. Where have I heard that before?
We’ll see.
Yoo-hoo, Helen Thomas ping list! Freepmil me if you'd like to be added.
Robert Gibbs = the “Lord of the Cult of Personality”
Maybe we should rename him “Gibbles”... ;o)
* CORRECTION! LOL
It would be more properly spelled “Gibbels”
Credit to my daughter FReeper “Izzy_Box” for the nickname.
I like it!
Bobby could’nt work as an order taker working the grave shift at Duncan Donuts.
He fits the Zer0 White House.
Good Lord!!! Way too early in the morning for this!! Thank God it’s Friday...
Don’t forget to use always:
Janet Napolitano = Janet Gestapolitano
Nancy Pelosi = Nazi Peloser
Barack H. Obama = Hussein Obamarx
GEEEZ! I don't care who you all are, that's just not right. Seek professional help stat.
(Oh, BTW Martin, you could probably use these pics.)
LOL... My favorite for Obama is the “Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers”. ;) I’m also partial to “Obamessiah”.
I will DEFINITELY use the Janet Gestapolitano, and Nazi Peloser monikers though.
That woman is such an idiot. Isn’t hell waiting on her or something already?
So they are praised for being cautious eh? If it were a Republican being “cautious”, they would accused in a high pitch voice of HIDING SOMETHING.
This media makes me sick. The commies have won in this area, they infiltrated the media and there is no getting it back unless wealthy Republicans are willing to buy some of these rags and stations.
As Homer Simpson Said AHHHHH AHHHHHH
To all of you who reveal your blackened souls here by your miserable comments about an old woman,
I sincerely hope you NEVER get old.
I’ve seen better looking heads on boils!
It has nothing to do with age.
BTW I have a hard time working up sympathy for an all-out traitor and propagandist for islamic terrorists and everything anti-American.
The only blackened soul here is the one of Helen Thomas.
Robert Gibbs and President Barack Obama share the same trait: They both are very cautious when speaking with reporters.
Gibbs measures his words hesitantly between some “ums” and “ahs,”
.
I’d have to give her credit for being the first in the drive-by to point it out
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