ABC News: White House Reacts to Woodward Book

ABC News ^ | September 22, 2010 | Jake Tapper

[Oldeconomybuyer]

A senior administration official who read the book says "the President comes across in the review and throughout the decision-making process as a Commander in Chief who is analytical, strategic, and decisive, with a broad view of history, national security, and his role."

The official says of the descriptions of the infighting in the book that "the debates in the book are well known because the policy review process was covered so exhaustively."

White House officials are still matching New York Times excerpts with anecdotes in the book but one says not all the quoting is fair, especially Vice President Biden saying Holbrooke is “the most egotistical bastard I’ve ever met.”

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[AppyPappy]

The Spin begins....

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Yep. Axelrod in overdrive.

[TSgt]

A senior administration official who read the book says "the President comes across in the review and throughout the decision-making process as a Commander in Chief who is analytical, strategic, and decisive, with a broad view of history, national security, and his role."

[Buckeye McFrog]

The leaked details are both juicy and devastating. I would hold my fire for a bit though, given the current state of this author’s credibility. At least until we find out who he interviewed, and whether they were in a coma at the time.

[sarasota]

Spin is what this administration does “best”...in their own eyes.

[AU72]

I’m suprised the Obama people let this guy anywhere near the West Wing.

[Celtic Cross]

They spin faster than the norns themselves.

[canuck_conservative]

If the White House feels a need to react this quickly to a book that isn’t even out yet (even the first reviews are just being published today), it’s safe to say they’re worried.

Which means I’m suddenly very interested in Woodward’s book ....

[carton253]

I don’t care if Woodward is writing about Obama... Woodward writes crap.

[UCANSEE2]

I’m suprised the Obama people let this guy anywhere near the West Wing.

Who says they did?

[Ann Archy]

VP Bite Me is right on Holbrooke!! What a POMPOUS ASS!!

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Good point. ;-)

[maggief]

“the President comes across in the review and throughout the decision-making process as a Commander in Chief who is analytical, strategic, and decisive, with a broad view of history, national security, and his role.”

Ax, the spinmeister, has outdone himself.

[cripplecreek]

From what I’m hearing in the news this morning, the book is not favorable to the white house. Sounds like it paints a picture of obama obsessed with the next election and completely unconcerned with the troops.

[cricket]

A senior administration official who read the book says "the President comes across in the review and throughout the decision-making process as a Commander in Chief who is analytical, strategic, and decisive, with a broad view of history, national security, and his role."

Axelrod, no doubt; confirming Woodward's assessment. . .

[SpaceBar]

...analytical, strategic, and decisive, with a broad view of history, national security, and his role."

In other words, the classic know-it-all dick.

[bray]

Bets this book is a big kiss up by Woodward.

Pray for America

[dps.inspect]

The media are like circus dogs doing backflips and jumping through burning hoops... their skills are rote and predictable with not a modicum of intellectual curiosity or critical thinking skills. They struggle to construct a world designed after their own imagination of how it should be, never taking into account the nature of man and man’s creator... they live in fairy-land. If insanity did not infect 1/3rd of American society, they would themselves be straightjacketed.

[SumProVita]

“Sounds like it paints a picture of obama obsessed with the next election and completely unconcerned with the troops.”

Not surprising is it...given Obama’s perennial campaign mode (and his lack of expertise in everything else)?