1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser
Advertisement

CBS’ Chip Reid Asks Why The President Isn’t At The Podium Talking About Egypt

video
» 34 comments

The Obama White House sent Robert Gibbs to brief reporters on the evolving situation in Egypt, but at least one member of the White House press corps was curious why President Obama himself hadn’t come to face the cameras. “Why is the president not standing where you’re standing right now,” asked CBS’ Chip Reid. Gibbs, who spent most of the briefing sticking to a very narrow set of talking points, responded that the White House–and the president–were “monitoring a very fluid situation.”

Fluidity was also given as a reason why Gibbs declined to clearly state whether Mr. Obama still stands with Hosni Mubarak. Gibbs moving quickly to repeated assertions that “violence is not the response,” and protesters’ grievances “have to be addressed.”

Watch the exchange over the president’s absence here, from C-SPAN:

Follow us on Twitter.

Sign up for Mediaite's daily newsletter.

Email Twitter Facebook Digg Reddit Stumble Upon Yahoo Buzz LinkedIn Tumblr Delicious
  • Ricia

    Obama is busy figuring out how he can blame Bush

  • justanotherconservative

    he’s too concerned with what to get michelle for v-day. she expects more than flowers, dontchaknow.

  • dummy123

    Electric cars and high speed trains??

  • libra blue

    “Why is the president not standing where you’re standing right now,” asked CBS’ Chip Reid.

    Well Chip, it is because Obama likes to vote “present” and doesn’t want to take responsibility for any statements. He likes to let Hillary Clinton and the rest of the WH lap dogs take the blame for any mistakes even if they are speaking for the administration.

    Obama is now trying to figure out how to revoke Chip’s seat in the WH Press Room.

  • Obeezy

    Its simple, he has no clue what to say..The polls aren’t out yet so he is lost. Wait till they take a poll, than he will have a response

  • Ricia

    Good post libra blue

  • The Lantern of Truth

    RRKING here . How dare these protesters interrupt Obama ‘ s vacation planning meetings , golf lessons and Presidential Enemies ‘ List compiling sessions !

  • libra blue

    @Ricia, “Obama is busy figuring out how he can blame Bush”. You are right.

    Gibbs said that these “grievances” have “been in place for a number of years” translation = blame Bush

  • musiccityvic

    Chip….. 2 PM Tee Time

  • shortstopk

    A lot of over-analysis going on, I think. Anything he says now is likely to affect relations with whoever is in control of Egypt next week or next month. That may be Mubarak, or it may be someone better or worse. It’s prudent to wait a while and see how things go.

  • Scott_in_MI

    Because freedom isn’t that high on Obama’s principles. He did the same thing when the Iranian youths were begging for recognition in the streets while their gov. was killing them.

  • musiccityvic

    shortstopk said:
    A lot of over-analysis going on, I think. Anything he says now is likely to affect relations with whoever is in control of Egypt next week or next month. That may be Mubarak, or it may be someone better or worse. It’s prudent to wait a while and see how things go.

    I probably agree with you somewhat. Generally whoever he gets behind loses, especially America

  • sticks

    The President is’nt at the podium because he does’nt know what to say or do… Inept, incompetent ?… You decide… I say it’s both… Obama does’nt have a clue what to say or do, and he’s hired even more inept and incompetent help, so they damn sure don’t know what to do… Meanwhile the Suez Canal might be a goner… Gas will double or triple… And Obama has his thumb up his butt, saying… What do I do, what do I do ?… Maybe by May he will have an answer for us… That should be delicious !!!…

  • Liberal Tormentor (formerly Seeing 2012 From My Window)

    Ricia says:
    Obama is busy figuring out how he can blame Bush

    Not fair, when has he EVER done that? hehe

  • BatBoy

    BO is hiding – that is why he is not at the podium.

    If he did come, he would have to say something that makes sense…and he is at a loss for that kind of discussion.

  • bealzebubba

    So, you guys are clearly concerned about what’s happening in Egypt?

  • possibly

    Why isn’t Skip hosting his own show?

    Because he continues to ask stupid questions.

    Why do president’s have press secretaries?

    To answer tons of dumb questions from stupid people like Skip.

    Why is Skip so stupid?

    Because he’s too dumb to host his own show.

    Why is he so dumb?

    Because he tries to be smart by asking dumb questions?

    What does he hope to gain?

    An honorable mention on the tea party websites.

    Why is that so important to him?

    Because he’s a dumb man who asks stupid questions.

    Why is he a reporter on a major network if he’s so dumb?

    Because he’s too stupid to host his on show and they don’t want a guy who asks dumb questions.

    Okay, thanks for clearing that up.

  • rocky road

    I am very uncomfortable having these clowns in charge. I miss Bush.

  • TeaPartyPatriot

    “CBS’ Chip Reid Asks Why The President Isn’t At The Podium Talking About Egypt”

    Answer: “You Lie!” hussein won’t interfere in any actions by his muslim brothers. PRAISE ALLAH!

  • OxyCon

    sticks said:
    The President is’nt at the podium because he does’nt know what to say or do…

    Take it easy on Obama. It takes him at least two whole nights to write a speech. Then he has to practice how he performs it, to make sure it strikes the right tone and gives the most tingles.

    Probably by Monday or Tuesday they’ll program the teleprompters and Obama will give a speech explaining how everything that happened in Egypt went exactly the way he wanted it, and the media will all talk for two days about how it was Obama’s best speech yet like they’re American Idol judges instead of pundits.

  • musiccityvic

    OxyCon said:
    Take it easy on Obama. It takes him at least two whole nights to write a speech. Then he has to practice how he performs it, to make sure it strikes the right tone and gives the most tingles.

    He hasn’t quite figured out how to blame the Tea Party or those Right Wing Extremist PAC’s for the violence in Egypt. Maybe it was the civility of the SOTU. Seeing John Kerry next to John McCain was just too much for them.

  • Big Eddie

    So what was Scoop Christopher ‘s question ? Anything about gay marriage in Egypt ? Olbermann’s future Tweets ?

  • George Sore-ohs

    This is a foreign affairs version of Obama’s reaction to BP Oil Spill. Obama should be called Casper the Ghost. He disappears very well when the going get tough.

  • got a grip

    Strategically, do you proactively exhibit leadership, let the world know where you stand, and maybe have an IMPACT on how it comes out -OR- do you wait for the smoke to clear so that you can best react to whatever happens? If you’re substantive, right is right, and there is a place to be heard. If your Barry, you avoid personal risk and wait for what you can do with the image and teleprompter.

    the Obama Presidency, reminding us of the old Billy Chrystal “Fernando” routine- (with accent) ‘it is better to LOOK good than BE good, and I must say, I look mah-va-lous..”

  • sticks

    possibly said:

    Your brilliance shines…

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    Perhaps Reid should turn to a news channel right now?

  • Cancon2

    Teleprompter repair man got gassed at Lunch?

  • ChrisNH

    If it doesn’t involve the progressive march of socialism or finding out ways to make union hacks richer or generally giving himself more ‘powah,’ Obama doesn’t much feel like addressing it.

  • notsofast

    Now that is certainly a racist question.

  • mamamary

    “loose lips sink ships” in this situation.

  • mamamary

    notsofast said:
    Now that is certainly a racist question.

    Cancon2 said:
    Teleprompter repair man got gassed at Lunch?

    No, Michelle Bachmann borrowed it for her response. Or was that Sarah Palin?

  • msblkwidow

    what the hell do they pay these other folk for. I’m tired of seeing our president. Maybe he was using the playing golf like Bush often did, or maybe he was somewhere getting a pedicure, or better yet…maybe he was using the bathroom.

    I want to get my TAX DOLLARS worth. Let these people work for their money like we do.

    THAT was a silly question.

  • msblkwidow

    I have taken the pledge to refrain from speaking the former Governor of Alaska’s name which is why I cant comment on the other articles. Besides, who really cares about what “that one” is doing or saying?

  • X-3

    Top down, bottom up, inside out.

© 2012 Mediaite, LLC | About Us | Advertise | Newsletter | Jobs | Privacy | User Agreement | Disclaimer | Power Grid FAQ | Contact | Archives | RSS RSS
Dan Abrams, Founder | Power Grid by Sound Strategies | Hosting by Datagram