While we are waiting, here is Bagdad Bob Gibbs on the teachable moment.
Clipped from today’s briefing
Q Okay. But I guess the question, as the President said — the President said he wants this to be a teachable moment. How do you envision this being a teachable moment?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the — I think many people would have hardly imagined something like this happening this time last week. I think having them get together to talk — the President talked to both of these men last week. They’re decent, honorable, good men. To get together and talk about what’s going on in this country is a positive thing, even if you’re not able to hear each and every word of it. I think that kind of dialogue is what has to happen at every level of — every level of our society if we’re going to make progress on issues that have — we’ve been dealing with for quite some time.
Q I guess I could just request I’m sure on everybody’s behalf that we find out and have as thorough a debrief from you as possible so that we can make it as much of a teachable moment as possible.
MR. GIBBS: I will try to get that — like I said, I won’t be there, but I will endeavor to see what I can get.
Q Right, but you’re close with one of the guys who will.
MR. GIBBS: I know the President, yes.
Q And back to the Gates event today at the White House, why not allow the press to get closer to the table to be able to at least have some sort of conversation or something with the parties involved?
MR. GIBBS: Again, I think I mentioned to Jake, if those two gentlemen want to talk to you guys, there’s no prohibition
...
Q Right, but that’s if they want to, but typically when you have events —
MR. GIBBS: In other words, shouldn’t I just simply make them talk to you. (Laughter.) I appreciate the — that’s —
Q Well, no — no, I do want to follow up on that. I mean, specifically, there are events that happen here at the White House, we’re invited in, we get a chance to either ask questions of the parties there, and if they choose to come out we can get additional information from them. In this case, we won’t have anything there and most likely won’t get anything when they come out.
MR. GIBBS: Well, you’ll have to ask them on the latter part.
Q But what about on the earlier part?
Q What about the President? I mean, why is the President in a cone of silence on this? (Laughter.) You’re saying those two can come out and talk, but he can’t.
Q He wants to make it a teachable moment. Why —
Q What’s the lesson he wants to teach?
Q We’re students, we’re his students, Robert.
MR. GIBBS: The President feels comfortable with the way this is laid out, and looks forward to —
Q But why doesn’t he see this as an opportunity, if he wants to make it a teachable moment, to come out and talk and teach what he learned, what he wants the nation to learn?
MR. GIBBS: You guys will have a chance to talk to the President — one of you will later today, and maybe you can ask him.
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Q I’ve a question on the health care event yesterday. But on the Gates thing, the President has said he wants this to be a teachable moment. Regardless of who —
MR. GIBBS: I’m sorry, are we on health care or Gates — I’m sorry.
Q Gates.
MR. GIBBS: Okay, I’m sorry.
Q So he said he wants it to be a teachable moment. Regardless of who first proposed it, he, through his surrogates called these guys to the White House. But is he the teacher in this teachable moment?
MR. GIBBS: I think all of us are participants in a moment that we hope can teach all in this country that dialogue and communication will always improve the situation. I don’t think today is — I don’t think the President looks at himself as, and I don’t think today the President believes or the situation will be that one will be the teacher and others will be the students. I think the President believes that, hopefully through the example of communication and dialogue, that that can be a positive and lasting lesson for others.
Q Dialogue about what?
MR. GIBBS: About the situation that happened in Cambridge.
Q But how is that teachable for everybody? How is that teachable for the nation if it’s just an incident between two men?
MR. GIBBS: Jake, it’s something that’s been covered quite a bit. I think it’s something that has been — you all have spent an awful lot of time covering. I don’t think it’s about an incident just involving two men. I think if it was an incident involving just two men you might not have done so many stories.
Q Well, some people think it’s an incident about racial profiling; some people think it’s an incident about disrespect for police; some people think it’s — I mean, there are a million different things that it could be a teachable lesson about, and we’re not getting any —
MR. GIBBS: Not a million, but I don’t doubt that there are more than just one.
Q We’re just not — you say it’s a teachable moment. About what? Communication? I mean —
MR. GIBBS: No, I think it’s a — well, I think communication will help be part of — I don’t think — again, Jake, I hate to surmise — I hate to sort of move backwards in a hypothetical. I doubt you could have imagined a week ago in reporting this story that you’d have these two individuals here drinking beer with the President, right?
Q But we wouldn’t have imagined that they’d be here and we wouldn’t hear anything that’s going to happen — from the President. (Laughter.)
MR. GIBBS: I think you’re feigning surprise on that one, Mr. Reid. But I think —
Q No, I really — he’s not using this as an opportunity.
MR. GIBBS: Well, I appreciate —
Q The only thing we’re hearing that’s a teachable moment example is we’re going to get a photograph out of it or some film. I don’t understand — I mean —
MR. GIBBS: We don’t have to do that.
Q Do you think the coverage has been — it’s been good that people have been covering this issue? You said there’s been a lot of coverage. Is that a good thing?
MR. GIBBS: Some of it I think has, sure. I think —
Q Think how much more you could get if he came and talked to us.
MR. GIBBS: I feel like I’m trying to — I feel like I’m buying a car.
GAWWWWWWD.
Crowley reading now and says we all agree to look forward rather than backward. Professor Gates and I bring differnet perspectives to these issues. Thank you.
And every time you open your mouth, Mr. Gibbs, I feel like you're trying to sell me a used one.