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Robert Gibbs Doesn’t Take Birther Bait In Sarah Palin’s Egypt Remarks

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by Tommy Christopher | 4:55 pm, February 9th, 2011

» 34 comments

Apparently, Lawrence O’Donnell isn’t the only one who needs a Sarah Palin translator. At Wednesday’s White House briefing, I asked Robert Gibbs if he thought Palin’s remarks to CBN, in which she suggested President Obama doesn’t know “what America stands for,” were a dog-whistle to the Birther movement, questioning the President’s American-ness, and if this was a taste of the looming 2012 presidential campaign. Gibbs, like many, didn’t know what Palin was trying to say.

Here’s Gibbs’ response:

Attacks on President Obama’s status as “one of us” are nothing new, dating back to the 2008 Democratic Primary campaign, and ratcheted up significantly once Palin joined John McCain’s campaign in the general election. Questioning opponents’ patriotism is also old hat for the GOP, but the “birther” movement, people who believe that the President’s US citizenship is in question, has fueled a deeper attack on Obama’s character.

Palin’s remark doesn’t specifically reference the President’s birth certificate, but her remarks are of a piece with the drumbeat that not only is the President un-American, he’s actually an enemy, determined to weaken our country. Remarks like these, and Palin’s comments to CBN, play well to multiple audiences, but especially to birthers, a voting bloc that other Republicans have proven afraid to offend. The Birthers’ level of discredit makes it risky to actively court them, but not-so-subtle messages like Palin’s hit the mark, while retaining some Birther deniability.

Robert Gibbs, and the White House, seem determined not to be drawn into an early campaign with Palin, and Gibbs’ dismissive attitude may indeed be as much a harbinger as Palin’s remarks. The difference is, once the campaign starts in earnest, it won’t need to be Gibbs calling this stuff out.

Birther, Birthers, Lawrence O'Donnell, President Obama, Robert Gibbs, Sarah Palin

Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window)

Haha, again it’s liberals bringing up the birther claim.
Big Eddie

Did Bill Press give you that question and dare you to ask it ?
Greg

Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window) said:
Haha, again it’s liberals bringing up the birther claim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdBVN7azPs8
24AheadDotCom

The people who have no credibility are the dozens of MSM reporters and politicians who’ve lied about the basic facts of this matter. For just one example, Howie Kurtz said something had happened when in fact it hadn’t. Tommy Christopher’s buddy “Captain Ed” made a false statement about HI’s laws and has so far refused all requests that he issue a correction.

And, I’ve tweeted my smarts/integrity test about this issue to Tommy Christopher two or three times and he hasn’t deigned to reply. If anyone get a chance to ask him where he has to give an answer, get him to answer the question here:

http://24ahead.com/debate-me-obama-citizenship-issue-part-2

That’s actually a very difficult question. So difficult, that after four months and thousands of views, only one (1) Obama fan has come close to the correct answer.

Tommy Christopher has shown time and time again that he lacks the smarts and integrity to pass that test.
TfT

Tommy and Gibbsy sitting in a tree, kissing….

loving how you just cuddle up to him and pose these absurd questions based on your misinterpretation, reinterpretation, bs regarding anything Palin.

Too funny

kissy kissy kissy
24AheadDotCom

Update: since I started writing that, Tommy Christopher did take the test:

http://www.tweetdeck.com/twitter/tommyxtopher/~kYJWr

And, he got it wrong.

I’ll announce the correct answer in a few months or so.
Big Eddie

Hey Tom . When Gibbs’ replacement comes in , tell him you’re there to Win the Future and you want a seat next to Savannah Guthrie .
Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window)

Greg, your “argument” is an epic fail! Most of the folks on my side of the isle do not subscribe to the birther nonsense. We think there are many more important things about Obama to focus on. It would appear that the fact that we don’t make a big deal out of it drives the liberal media, Tingles, O’Donnell, Tommy C, crazy so they contintually bring it up in the hopes of keeping the issue alive.
Color Me Badd

It is because Sarah speaks in Teabag, only fellow teabags have any idea what she is talking about.
Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window)

I’d rather speak in Teabag, then idiot.
TangledThorns

Liberals, y u no like America?!? Fact check: A flag burner is more likely to vote Democrat than Republican. Hence why America does not like Obama, the new Jimmy Carter.
Greg

Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window) said:
Greg, your “argument” is an epic fail! Most of the folks on my side of the isle do not subscribe to the birther nonsense. We think there are many more important things about Obama to focus on. It would appear that the fact that we don’t make a big deal out of it drives the liberal media, Tingles, O’Donnell, Tommy C, crazy so they contintually bring it up in the hopes of keeping the issue alive.

Let me introduce you to something called “Data”… In this case the “data” demonstrates that, “the proportion of incorrect answers is also much higher on the citizenship question among Republicans, which suggests that the encouragement of the birth certificate myth by conservative pundits and Republican politicians has begun to activate the GOP base on this issue. I’m not sure if Michael Steele is going to be able to make this “unnecessary distraction” go away any time soon.”

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/disturbing_poll_on_beliefs_abo.php?nr=1
http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

THAT’s the question you asked?

You have a platform like that, and THAT’s the question you ask?

Tommy, how about the discrepancy in the way Democrats treat Egyptians protesting against an overbearing central government, and Tea Partiers protesting it?

That’s a question.
Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window)

Greg, more Dems think 9/11 was an inside job then Repubs are birthers, but you don’t see Conservative commentators bringing it up. Face it, it’s the libs trying to drive this issue.
nice_thought

Why were you trying to bait him though? Are u a birth- baiter?
Greg

Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window) said:
Greg, more Dems think 9/11 was an inside job then Repubs are birthers, but you don’t see Conservative commentators bringing it up. Face it, it’s the libs trying to drive this issue.

“Indeed, the poll is surely partly wrong. Many Democrats are probably merely saying that Bush is incompetent or that he failed to connect the dots or that they’re just answering in a fit of pique.”- Jonah Goldberg
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg15may15,0,3962183.column?coll=la-opinion-center

“Even under this more stringent standard, 23% of Democrats and 28% of Republicans indicated direct support for the misperception of interest.
In short, using a more appropriate comparison poll, the primary conclusion stands — both party’s bases are disturbingly receptive to wild conspiracy theories.”
http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2009/08/911-and-birther-misperceptions-compared.html
Powerslave

Tommy said:

“I asked Robert Gibbs if he thought Palin’s remarks to CBN, in which she suggested President Obama doesn’t know “what America stands for,” were a dog-whistle to the Birther movement, questioning the President’s American-ness, and if this was a taste of the looming 2012 presidential campaign. Gibbs, like many, didn’t know what Palin was trying to say”

Maybe this was his polite way of telling you that you ask stupid questions. Honestly, you have access to the mouthpiece of the POTUS and this is the best question you come up with?
Dem4Ever

If Progressives didn’t constantly keep bringing up the POTUS’s questionable heritage nobody would be giving it a second thought.
Powerslave

Dem4Ever said:
If Progressives didn’t constantly keep bringing up the POTUS’s questionable heritage nobody would be giving it a second thought.

Exactly. I have an effective way to deal with Sarah Palin that works for me……ignore her. Don’t listen or respond to her. I never would have known what she said last week if Tommy wouldn’t have brought it up. The woman has a small following at the extreme conservative end of the political spectrum. Progressives and liberals tell us over and over again how marginal her influence is and then proceed to thrust her into the spotlight every chance they get.
Scott_in_MI

Dem4Ever said:
If Progressives didn’t constantly keep bringing up the POTUS’s questionable heritage nobody would be giving it a second thought.

Right on….you do not hear about the “birther” controversy on FoxNews, but Chris Matthews is sure to bring it up at least once a week. I believe that Matthews has doubts about BHO’s citizenship status since the dude cant stop thinking about it.
Scott_in_MI

“she suggested President Obama doesn’t know “what America stands for,” were a dog-whistle to the Birther movement”

Palin remark about BHO not knowing what America stands for isn’t about the “birther movement.” Its about a President who sees America as a flawed country (just read his Cairo speech) and capitalism is an outdated system that needs to be replaced with big government socialism. Its about a President that bows to foriegn leaders…its about a President who sold out our greatest allies (Britain, Poland, Czech Republic) in order to win the Russian over on the Start Treaty….its about a President who allows Chinese musicians to play anti-American music at a state dinner.
OxyCon

So this is the sorry excuse the White House Press room has been reduced to? Throwing out “birther bate” questions?
Gee, I don’t know why White House press briefings didn’t include bloggers sooner.
Puter Boi

This could be a new drinking game.
Every time T.C. writes a piece here at Mediaite that mentions Sarah Palin… you do a shot of tequila….
No lightweights need attempt this game….
Judge Mental

Heh. When I saw the title, I knew this had to be a TC Joint.
Just_MC

Talk about making the most of a chance at “hard-hitting journalism.” Way to go Tommy.

Lapdog.

Could you do anything LESS useful with your “seat at the table?” And do they put you up in a high chair?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ9myHhpS9s
borderraven

1. A US citizen, eligible to serve in the Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch, but not the Executive Branch, is:
a. any naturalized US Citizen
b. A US-born US citizen using the formula: (SOIL)+(MOM)+(DAD) = BABY CITIZENSHIP
Thus:
i. (USA)+(USA)+(ALIEN) = US NATIVE BORN DUAL CITIZEN
ii. (USA)+(ALIEN)+(USA) = US NATIVE BORN DUAL CITIZEN
c. A foreign-born US citizen using the formula:
i. (FOREIGN)+(USA)+(ALIEN) = FOREIGN BORN US DUAL CITIZEN
ii. (FOREIGN)+(ALIEN)+(USA) = FOREIGN BORN US DUAL CITIZEN

2. US Natural Born Citizen, eligible to serve in the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch, is:
a. Using the formula: (SOIL)+(MOM)+(DAD) = BABY CITIZENSHIP
Thus:
i. (USA)+(USA)+(USA) = US NATURAL BORN CITIZEN
borderraven

If SCOTUS can rule POTUS violated no laws, then can SCOTUS rule if the President was an ineligible candidate?

DYNES V. HOOVER, 61 U. S. 65 (1857)

“that the President of the United States, as constitutional commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and in virtue of his
Page 61 U. S. 84
constitutional obligation that “He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” violated no law ”
http://supreme.justia.com/us/61/65/case.html
Just_MC

24AheadDotCom said:
Update: since I started writing that, Tommy Christopher did take the test: http://www.tweetdeck.com/twitter/tommyxtopher/~kYJWr And, he got it wrong. I’ll announce the correct answer in a few months or so.

I looked at it. Seems pretty obvious to me, at least in one sense.

If the redaction was not part of the original document as issued, then it is a scanned image of a self-invalidating document. Because the document itself officially proclaims any alteration invalidates it.
tatboy

Hay Tommy… remember how you went off on Fox News for all their NBPP coverage. You felt it was unwarranted because the NBPP was such a small number. The birther issue is YOUR NBPP… let it go man. There’s like 100 people that actually are true birthers.
Pablo

Tommy is a birther. He’s obsessed with the notion.
libbyliberal

Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window) said:
I’d rather speak in Teabag, then idiot.

Well congratulations, you accomplished both!
libbyliberal

TangledThorns said:
Liberals, y u no like America?!? Fact check: A flag burner is more likely to vote Democrat than Republican. Hence why America does not like Obama, the new Jimmy Carter.

Silly rabbit!
Yoda002

Maybe if she had wrote it on her hand it would of made more sense.
Just_MC

Tommy Christopher wrote: “At Wednesday’s White House briefing, I asked Robert Gibbs if he thought Palin’s remarks to CBN, in which she suggested President Obama doesn’t know “what America stands for,” were a dog-whistle to the Birther movement, questioning the President’s American-ness, and if this was a taste of the looming 2012 presidential campaign. Gibbs, like many, didn’t know what Palin was trying to say.”

Sounds like the headline SHOULD have been:

“Robert Gibbs Doesn’t Take Birther Bait In Tommy Christopher’s Question”