Maureen Dowd: Robert Gibbs Was Right About The ‘Professional Left’

by Glynnis MacNicol | 11:06 am, August 15th, 2010

» 35 comments

Maureen Dowd thinks President Obama should fire Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Fear not Gibbs fans, she merely thinks the President should promote Gibbs to adviser because he is a truth teller (be it of the unpredictable sort). Something Gibbs might not be all that opposed to if this WaPo profile from April is to be believed.

Dowd, in one of her smarter columns of late, thinks Gibbs is correct in his assertion that the “professional left” is undermining the Obama administration and that “the press secretary and the president are understandably frustrated over the asymmetry at the heart of American politics.”

Rand Paul and Sharron Angle aside, Republicans often find a way to exploit their extremes for political advantage, while Democratic extremes typically do damage to a Democratic president.

One of the most disgusting things about Mitch McConnell and Jon Kyl, and now the former maverick John McCain, is that they are happy to be co-opted by the radicals in their party to form one movement against President Obama.

On the Republican side, the crazies often end up helping the Republican leadership. On the Democratic side, the radicals are constantly sniping at Obama, expressing their feelings of betrayal.

Fox built up a Republican president; MSNBC is trying to make its reputation by tearing down a Democratic one.

In the larger sense what she appears to point out is that Fox and the GOP have merely figured out how to sell more tickets than MSNBC and the always less cohesive Dems and as the left scrambles to keep up (and keep up the ratings) Obama is suffering the consequences. Dowd further concludes that perhaps Gibbs, in the end, is not the best man for the job:

Gibbs does not see his job as a bridge between the press and the presidency. He sees himself more as a moat. He has always wanted to be an inside counselor to the president. So Obama — who bonded with Gibbs during the campaign, over sports, missing their families and how irritating the blog-around-the-clock press corps is — would be wise to promote him to a counselor. Let someone who shows less disdain for the press work with the press, and be the more engaging face of the White House.

Needless to say, the Mid-terms are fast approaching and are traditionally a time in which administrations make changes.

barack obama, Maureen Dowd, New York Times, Robert Gibbs

Bootleghaircut

Classic!!! this must be a real a mindbender for our conservative friends since they really don’t want to have to agree with Maureen Dowd-that just might give affirmation to all the things she’s levelled avbout the GOP!!!

Perhaps they hate and Obama and gibbs so much that they will just have to say she’s right!

Either way; its shaping up to be a fine morning.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Matt-Herrick/100000969560328 Matt Herrick

I think Ms. Dowd sees an opening coming up for the curmudgeon spot on 60 Minutes, and wants to get off the impending NYT trainwreck.
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

The new press secretary : Beady eyed Bill Burton ? Anita ( the press controller ) Dunn ? Joe ( make room for Hillary before she runs against us ) Biden ? Reggie ( Keeper of the Kools ) Love ? Eric ( tickle me ) Massa ? Traitor Joe ( no idea what’s going on ) Klein ? Ezra ( Journolist ) Klein ? Fine choices all .
Latin2

It’s a smoke screen to make Obama look like he is a Centrist before the Nov. elections.
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Somebody’s got to go ! GLENN BECK might talk about this on his SHOW !
Azarkhan

“One of the most disgusting things about Mitch McConnell and Jon Kyl, and John McCain, is that they are happy to be co-opted by the radicals” Dowd

One of the most disgusting things about that old bitch Maureen Dowd is that she was co-opted decades ago by extremist Democrats, and with even less excuse, since she supposedly represents the non-partisan press.
Latin2

Who is destroying Obama is more than the crazies on the Left,.it is the LAP DOG MEDIA and Obama policies. the public is seeing through the Media’s running interference for Obama and Leftist politicians and don’t trust them which makes people dislike Obama more.
Latin2

Azarkhan said:
“One of the most disgusting things about Mitch McConnell and Jon Kyl, and John McCain, is that they are happy to be co-opted by the radicals” Dowd

One of the most disgusting things about that old bitch Maureen Dowd is that she was co-opted decades ago by extremist Democrats, and with even less excuse, since she supposedly represents the non-partisan press.

Agreed Dowd is actually one of those extremist crazies on the Left.
Latin2

Never trust a Liberal…which means most of the MSM. This is a new narrative that Obama is calling out the Leftwingers, but they know that majority of Americans are not Liberals. Liberals only make up 20% of the population and the whitehouse is trying to make it seem like Obama is not friendly witht the crazies on the Left.
JimBob

I always thought Maureen Dowd and Rachel Maddow were brothers!
Bootleghaircut

“It’s a smoke screen to make Obama look like he is a Centrist before the Nov. elections.”

Called it; they’ve actually lost their minds. This was fun to watch.
writer

Amateur leftists are pretty good at calling anyone who disagrees with them racists, trailer trash, bigots, etc. But if you want that real ‘I’m better than you’ sneering arrogance, you should call in a professional.
Bootleghaircut

“Amateur leftists are pretty good at calling anyone who disagrees with them racists”

And race baiting first post of the day; really could this insipid jackass get anymore tiresome or any more predictable.
writer

Here’s how Bootie’s ‘mind’ works. Rev. Wright makes a racist statement. You quote Rev. Wright. You’re the race baiter for quoting him.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

Dowd wrote, “One of the most disgusting things about Mitch McConnell and Jon Kyl, and now the former maverick John McCain, is that they are happy to be co-opted by the radicals in their party to form one movement against President Obama.”

This notion that the extremists on the right like Beck, Bartbreit, Palin, Limbaugh, et al, are “radicals” is a common misnomer in the media and even academia. Right wing extremists are reactionaries, not “radical.” It is the far left that are radical.

Dowd also wrote, “On the Republican side, the crazies often end up helping the Republican leadership. On the Democratic side, the radicals are constantly sniping at Obama, expressing their feelings of betrayal.”

There are moderates and reformers (liberals) who are also feeling betrayed by Obama although the rhetoric is far more harsh from progressives than from liberals. For just one example, see Micheal Green’s “Our professional failure.” http://www.regressiveantidote.net/Articles/Our_Professional_Failure.html
Bootleghaircut

Here’s how wrtier’s mind works-on a thread that has nothing to do with race he ALWAYS bring it up every single time no matter what the topic-this fool even tried to talk about race during the oil spill which should tell you just how amazing stupid and ignorant he is.

And the Proof-see if you can find race mentioned in the subject of this post about Dowd-oh wait-you can’t-then why did Write-hjackass go there?

Because he’s an insufferable asshole.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

LOL, the fact that Dowd and poor Glynnis think that The Teaparty hold extreme or radical positions is real joke. The left thinks reducing taxes is extreme. They think letting people keep their own money is radical. They look a America thru such a warped prism up is down and down is up.
That is why they believe it is not extreme to build a Mosque next to ground Zero. How dumb can they be?
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

GordonBlowHard, the Tea Party for the most part are reactionary, as reactionary as you, Glenn Beck and you.

What the left thinks is that extending the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy is the worst way to stimulate the economy and irresponsible in light of the growing national debt, but go ahead BlowHard, distort the left’s views. It’s what reactionaries do.
Founders_were_Liberal

Maureen Dowd — as usual — nails it.
jimw1016

Apostrophe jones says:
August 15, 2010 at 11:30 am (Quote)
8 2
Somebody’s got to go ! GLENN BECK might talk about this on his SHOW !

OMG AJ, twice in one day, you actually made me laugh!! Thanks you. Good one.
writer

Bootie, part of the topic was the professional left. In order to differentiate between the amateurs and the pros, I had to give some examples. And sorry you consider Wright such a racist that no one should even quote him.
newzmaker

Does Dowd know that the Obama administration has brought back David Plouffe, as an outside adviser and strategist, for the November elections? I’m quite sure Gibbs knows what he’s doing, courtesy of Plouffe. Plouffe also knows that the Professional Left, which includes Dowd, will have to be thrown under the bus, as a precursor to Obama’s 2012 re-election bid. Personally, I’d suggest that Dowd and the rest of the ‘Professional Left’, remain quiet, because they aren’t coming out from under the bus, until after 2012, if then. Why not grab a few blankets and snuggle up under that bus, until prompted to do otherwise? That MSNBC crowd also needs to calm down, until Plouffe decides what to do with their loud mouths.

Personally, I will not be supporting any Democrat in November, or 2012, however, I would suggest that the Professional Left stop talking and take a hint from Gibbs. If Plouffe feels, at some point, he has any useful purpose for the PL, I’m sure he’ll drag them back out from under the bus, dust them off, and allow them to speak, once again.
writer

Keith Olbermann has been scouting the farm teams, seeing if any of the amateurs are ready to move up to the pros. One promising prospect was able, in one sentence, to include the terms racist, bigot, sexist, homophobe, trailer trash, lipsticked meat bag, and other smears, all while totally avoiding any facts. Keith thinks he’s ready.
notsofast

Maureen, you ignorant slut, YOU are part of the “Professional Left.”
Arkansas Steve

Usually the word PROFESSIONAL is somewhat of a compliment. It implies “competence”.
NOT IN THIS CASE!!

You’re going to hear the phrase “PROFESSIONAL LEFT” from all manner of pundits, left & right, for quite a while.

This phrase will become known to represent people who:

Are more interested in their politics than the welfare of our country.
Want the government to give them things they are unable or unwilling to earn in the market place.
Insist you live your life as they tell you.
Etc. etc.
felixw

Left-on-left insults rising dramatically. If this were the Chicago Board of Trade, I would shout “buy, buy, but” on Democrat-infighting futures.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

notsofast says: “Maureen, you ignorant slut,…”

Tell Mediaite why you should not be banned from this site.

Man, the right are a bunch of crude and mean folks.
writer

GBR, have you ever seen the posts from Bootleg, Royal King, BFD, Ted, Roxy, etc.?
Ted-

gordonbloyershow said:
LOL, the fact that Dowd and poor Glynnis think that The Teaparty hold extreme or radical positions is real joke. The left thinks reducing taxes is extreme. They think letting people keep their own money is radical. They look a America thru such a warped prism up is down and down is up.
That is why they believe it is not extreme to build a Mosque next to ground Zero. How dumb can they be?

Poor Gordo…poor, poor Gordo…are you on an hallucinogenic?
thedonkeyedge

Dowd’s assertion that the so-called “professional left” is indeed undermining this administration is filled with nothing but platitudes and warmed-over Inside-the-beltway “bash the liberals” hash. This administration is doing an excellent job of undermining itself.

One such tactic is their (baffling) strategy to alienate the base, which will backfire in 2010 if they don’t stop. Sadly, I don’t think they see the train coming.

We all understand that the Democratic Establishment hates liberals, but when it starts to alienate its longtime, bedrock, middle-of-the-road base, it’s playing with fire.

My father is one such person. A lifelong middle-of-the-road Democrat and military veteran, he’s tired of being taken for granted and mocked for his grassroots activism and is thinking of taking the Press Secretary’s glib advice and having a “drug test” this election day rather than voting. Here’s the cautionary tale:

http://thedonkeyedge.com/2010/08/14/my-father-i...

Forget Cronkite: this administration has just lost my father.
notsofast

GlennBeckReview said:
Tell Mediaite why you should not be banned from this site.

Man, the right are a bunch of crude and mean folks.

Tell me why you are so stupid?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ruth-Gretzinger/596613915 Ruth Gretzinger

GlennBeckReview said:
notsofast says: “Maureen, you ignorant slut,…”

Tell Mediaite why you should not be banned from this site.

Man, the right are a bunch of crude and mean folks.

you’re kidding, right? this is from the classic SNL “Point/Counterpoint” sketch with Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin. how embarrassing for you.
StandUp

GBR has never seen SNL since Beck is not on it. But if Beck ever guest hosts he’ll be watching…and helping SNL achieve record ratings. Thank you in advance glennbeckreviewstalkerobsessor
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

notsofast says: “Tell me why you are so stupid?”

YOu call the author a name that I would not repeat, and I’m “stupid” for asking why Mediaite should continue to allow you to continue posting comments here. OOOOOOOoooooKay.

Stand up, Glenn Beck will not be on SNL. You don’t seem to recognize that Beck has a huge boycott against him because he is so far out of the mainstream. Oh, your ignorance is on display again by suggesting that I don’t watch SNL.

Ruth, no I’m not kidding. This is not SNL, and notsofast is completely out of line.
newzmaker

lonniewahl said:
Just plain dishonest. I am growing weary of people who claim that those of us who don’t like Obama don’t like him because he is Black.
http://www.teethidpro.net

Just plain dishonest is your link to an advertisement. You must be poor, if you can’t afford a paid advertisement.