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Robert Gibbs Gets Emotional Discussing His Departure at White House Briefing

video

by Tommy Christopher | 2:46 pm, January 5th, 2011

» 32 comments

On the heels of this morning’s announcement that he will be leaving the White House, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs fielded many questions regarding his future, and his possible successor. Gibbs played it characteristically close to the vest, divulging very little in the way of new information, but he spoke about his plans, and at one point, seemed poised to get a little misty when talking about the relationships he has formed during his tenure.

Alas, he was spared a Boehner moment by a trademark Gibbs “instance of laughter,” this time at the expense of Assistant Press Secretary Nick Shapiro.

Gibbs was tight-lipped about his possible successor, although the smart money is on Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton. He did speak about the need to “recharge” after such a sustained breakneck tenure, and later told NBC’s Savannah Guthrie that his last day at the White House will be “sometime in early February.” .

In this clip, Gibbs speaks about his future in some fairly general terms, and also downplays the notion that a post-White House Gibbs will be “unleashed” on the media. He’s not exactly known for pulling punches now, so there probably won’t be much daylight between his current style and his temperament in is new role.

When Chip Reid asks Gibbs to get into what went into his decision to leave the White House, the press secretary said “I have a difficult time talking about myself,” but spoke emotionally about his “love and respect” for President Obama, and the White House staff that he considers “among the best friends that I have,” and finishes by saying that there’s a “little boy who could use a ride to school once in awhile.”

He then lightens the mood with a reference to Assistant Press Secretary Nick Shapiro, and his surfing ways. Here’s the video, from C-Span3:

Bill Burton, Chip Reid, Jake Tapper, Nick Shapiro, President Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Robert Gibbs, Savannah Guthrie

libra blue

Another Obama “lap dog” bites the dust!
Atticus Draco

libra blue said:
Another Obama “lap dog” bites the dust!

You might wanna reconsider that notion
i look at these departures as more of a “strategic” move actually

Gibbs is a “lap dog” mouthpiece that’s gonna get a lot of AIR TIME in the coming years
Just4thefax

Fact: Closet cry baby!
Atticus Draco

Just4thefax said:
Fact: Closet cry baby!

lol,, that would be my guess as well
lazzzlo

He is a man.

Men don’t cry.
Just4thefax

Atticus Draco said:
lol,, that would be my guess as well

Fact: It was obvious the first time RRK posted in favor of his outfits that he wears at the podium!
lazzzlo

Atticus Draco said:
lol,, that would be my guess as well

Slow down.

Someone someplace has to jump up as an impulse everytime something happens.

You sound like a little chatty girl that wants to be 1st.

The little girls will always dance around their “whatever they do”
VoiceofReason

Rahm, the rod and now Gibby……I guess the business of getting Obamessiah re-elected far outweighs their “calling” to do American’s business……….

BTW, I wonder when Joyless and the Harpies will wonder on his sanity?
VoiceofReason

and finishes by saying that there’s a “little boy who could use a ride to school once in awhile.”

I’m sure Valerie can get the secret service to get you there on time……….
lazzzlo

It seems like it is way too much effort and I am stupid.
lazzzlo

It is easy to go out and “kick the shit out of people”. It’s a little bit harder as you get older.
lazzzlo

You view things differently.
libra blue

@Atticus Draco, “i look at these departures as more of a “strategic” move actually”

That maybe so, but non of the other “lap dogs” that have jumped ship have helped Obama’s cause.
lazzzlo

Who is a lap dog? I have never been subservient to anyone.
lazzzlo

uh oh…
lazzzlo

Do you agree to work together?

Or is
there only one voice?

F*ck it…I call you respond.

Any people seem to naturally respond to me.
lazzzlo

Yikes, sorry
lazzzlo

lazzzlo said:
Who is a lap dog? I have never been subservient to anyone.

I have never seen any Presedential verbal spokesperson once run away.
lazzzlo

I just never assumed they would actually listen to me.
dhg

Every time I see something about Gibbs leaving I hear the hallelujah chorus.
Seeing 2012 From My Window

Goodbye Minister of Propaganda, Bahgdad Bob. Good luck getting your guy reelected.
Puter Boi

“”Now there’s some sad things known to man
But ain’t too much sadder than
The tears of a clown, when there’s no one around
Uh hum, oh yeah baby”

Stevie Wonder
Hank Cosby
Smokey Robinson
TCinAZ

This is nothing that just a free (Buick, or Caddy, or GMC, or Chrysler, or Dodge, or Fiat ) or Chevy F-150? won’t fix for Bob.

Gibbs responded: “Look, Rush Limbaugh and others wanted to walk away. Rush Limbaugh and others saw a million people that worked at these factories, that worked at these parts suppliers, that supported communities, and thought we should all just walk away. The President didn’t think that walking away from a million jobs in these communities made a lot of economic sense.”

Later, Gibbs added: “You should ask Mr. Limbaugh — I don’t know what kind of car he drives, but I bet it’s not an F-150.”

RUSH: “Everybody on the blogosphere is trying to figure out, “What does he mean by that?” That I don’t drive a competitor’s car? What does he mean by I don’t drive an F-150?”

Yeah Bob, I’m one of the “others” who does want to know wth you Did mean by that? Because I know Chicks who know more about cars than You, and Bam-Bam, and D’chebags like that “Car Czar”, Rattner do. lol.
ChrisNH

Many, many times, Gibbs had the look of someone ready to ‘Go Postal.’ I’m glad the creep is being pushed off the cliff. He’ll end up being some useless Lib hack and probably will ‘go postal’ at some point as Obama craters even more.
Davo

Atticus Draco said:
i look at these departures as more of a “strategic” move actually
Gibbs is a “lap dog” mouthpiece that’s gonna get a lot of AIR TIME in the coming years

Maybe. But I think Hussein wants a different image that projects a facade of strength rather than the image of weakness and incompetence Gibbs represented.
david r

With Boehner on the loose, I don’t see how you can even mention this as an emotional moment. Gibbs is an oaf and a shill.
Alz

Atticus Draco said:
You might wanna reconsider that notion
i look at these departures as more of a “strategic” move actually

Gibbs is a “lap dog” mouthpiece that’s gonna get a lot of AIR TIME in the coming years

Strategic or not Gibbs will be around. He’s not going to be writing any books soon because he’s going on the payroll as a consultant.

Gibbs and the Axelrod of Evil will be all over CNN, PMSNBC, etc.
Nahu Tuk

Robert Gibbs Gets Emotional Discussing His Departure at White House Briefing

WHAT???? This cannot be!!!! Democrats never get emotional, only people like Mr. Boehner are crybabies.

I’ll give 10-1 odds that the libs won’t besmirch Mr. Gibbs for showing some emotion.

Meanwhile, I noticed something in Mr. Gibbs remarks today that I hadn’t seen in a long while. It’s hard to put a label on it but I would call it some sort of spiritual relief. I think the toll of getting before a bunch of rabid reporters every day and having to defend the indefensible 0bama regime as it sells the greatest country that has ever existed into third-worldism really took a lot out of him. He may well get some R&R and be back later on, but I think he is emotionally drained and ready for mental collapse. He’s certainly earned it.
ChrisNH

Good riddance to this little limp-wristed sock puppet.
BatBoy

Good bye Gibbs….you have already overstayed your welcome!
More Liberty2

Gibbs made $174,000 plus benefits for being a spokeshole. Even Obama claimed this is “modest” pay.
david r

You call that emotional ? Boehner gets more emotional than that brushing his teeth.