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Robert Gibbs Flips Michael Steele the Bird Over Speaking Fees

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by Tommy Christopher | 3:22 pm, December 22nd, 2009

» 17 comments

gibbs_odonnell At today’s White House briefing, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs displayed the kind of wit that has made him the most popular White House staffer, but not before nearly getting his skull burned through by Norah O’Donnell‘s eye-lasers.

O’Donnell was asking Gibbs about remarks made by RNC chair Michael Steele that Democrats are “flipping the bird” to the American people, and Gibbs wondered what those interviews had cost. Moments after explaining that his crack was directed at Steele’s speaking fees, and not O’Donnell, he got in another zinger at Steele.

Steele has come under heavy fire from former RNC chairs for charging hefty speaking fees, an uncommon practice according to them. When O’Donnell asked Gibbs about Steele’s comments that the Democrats are “flipping the bird” (a reference to the extension of the middle finger in a gesture that means “F*** you”) at the American people by passing healthcare reform, the Press Secretary couldn’t resist taking a shot at Steele.

Moments later, when Gibbs remarked about a ringing cellphone (a major problem at press briefings), another reporter set Gibbs up by shouting “It’s Steele!”

Gibbs’ reponse to that is funny, but for me, the highlight of this clip is Norah O’Donnell’s pricelessly unamused reaction:

Here’s the transcript of the exchange: (via email)

Q Robert, on the — I want to get the President’s take on some of the language that’s been used in the last several days regarding the health care reform bill. I don’t know if you’ve heard that the chairman of the Republican National Committee twice yesterday said that the Democrats are “flipping the bird” at the American people.

MR. GIBBS: How much did that interview cost — (laughter.)

Q Oooh –

MR. GIBBS: That wasn’t directed at Norah. That was just simply directed at the RNC.

Go ahead, I’m sorry.

Q Is the language inappropriate?

MR. GIBBS: I think if you look back — just to give everybody some context as to why he came up with whatever verbiage he came up with — this was I think predicated on the fact that he had in his mind deduced that the White House had pressured the Congressional Budget Office into coming up with statistics that were good for the bill. I don’t know how many questions I’ve been asked about CBO numbers in the past nine months. I think it’s — the notion that somehow this White House is in cahoots with the Congressional Budget Office is delusional, to put it mildly.

I would suggest this for the RNC and for anybody that’s in the Republican Party: There are millions of people that don’t have health care this Christmas. There are millions of people that are watching their health care rates skyrocket. And instead of giving chippy interviews, it might be good to actually be part of negotiations and a solution to get health care reform — to make health care reform a reality for the American people. I think that’s what they want to see from their two political parties in Washington.

Q And then can I just follow up on John’s questions about the President’s involvement? Because Senator Feingold said that the lack of support from the administration made keeping the public option in the bill an uphill struggle. And I asked Chairman Dean about this yesterday, whether it was the administration’s fault that the public option was not in there, and he said simply, “yes.” There are some Democrats who believe that the President did not push hard enough.

MR. GIBBS: I think all those are certainly entitled to their opinions. Again, we would not be at this point in health care reform were it not for the President’s leadership. We would not be at a point where we were a couple of votes away, not in people but in sequencing, to getting health care reform through the Senate. At that point we will have — (cell phone rings.) Is somebody ordering a pizza?

Q Steele. (Laughter.)

MR. GIBBS: Good, good. (Laughter.) Let me tell you, it’s $30,000 if you answer that call. (Laughter.)

Michael Steele, msnbc, Norah O'Donnell, Robert Gibbs, Tommy Christopher

ImNotBlue

Gibbs remains one classy fellow. Ugh.
Jim R

Norah displays the prototypical beltway insider mentality that relishes the chance to ask “tough” questions of Democrats after eight years of doormat behavior to Republicans.

Funny she didn’t avail herself of the chance to ask about those DFHs bitching in the back seat.
LNSmithee

Jim R wrote:

Norah displays the prototypical beltway insider mentality that relishes the chance to ask “tough” questions of Democrats after eight years of doormat behavior to Republicans.

Oh, yeah, Jim. Norah opened with a really, really tough question: “Is [Steele's] language inappropriate?”
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

What happened to TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOTS like Ari Fleischer??!!1
scristanti

and I might add to gibbs when he starts his rant about all the millions of people who don’ t have health care, small businesses , to have healthcare a reality, that’s when I would ask him, gibbs, when does this healthcare kick in for all those millions who have been waiting? oh! 2014? and when do the millions out there, small businesses , ordinary people who are struggling to make ends meet start paying for it? oh! NOW? 2010? why are we paying for this so far in advance before it even starts to kick in? and I would also ask him, how much are you cutting MEDICARE AND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE? over 400 billion dollars? how ironic by 2014 obama will be gone, it’ll be blame whoever is in charge then not him. the AMERICAN people do not realize that this thing does not even get started yet, everyone I talk to thinks its starting right away, people who do not know what is really going on, they think they are going to get all this medical care FREE, I am a senior citizen and there are many of them that are furious at what he is doing, they voted for him and they want to throw him out now.no one ever comes right out when he goes on and on about how great this is and what he is doing , is it true you are cutting MEDICARE? and WHEN DOES IT START, THE NEW BENEFITS? the president is conning the AMERICAN people, and gibbs is conning the WH press and media, they are giving him a huge pass, but then what can you expect, they helped him get elected.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Thank GOD someone was BRAVE enough to steer this discussion towards OBAMACARE!!1 Just another example of how we Right-Thinking Americans CONTROL THE CONVERSATION, whether its CABLE NEWS or INTERNET COMMENTS!!1
ImNotBlue

Ugh… it’s Karl from TVN… and his particular brand of “humor.”

For those who haven’t met Karl, he fancies himself something of a “Stephen Colbert” for the un-published, un-watched, un-talented group. Imagine a college production of the “Colbert Report”… not imagine if the host of that, who was so convinced he was funny, didn’t lose the persona even though he had graduated 10 years ago… then you’ll have Karl.

Buckle up folks… it’s only downhill from here. *Sigh*
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Just another jealous OLD MEDIA DINOSAUR hating on a fellow Right-Thinking American when we should be BANDING TOGETHER against the Obamessiah and his SOCIOFASCIST storm troopers!!1 I can’t understand most of your LONG-WINDED “put down” of me, but to me it translates as “WAH WAH WAH!!1″ So SORRY that the PENNYSAVER you used to write for SHUT DOWN and all you can do is take PETTY SWIPES at your BETTERS in BLOG COMMENT FORM!!1 Go HOME, GRANDPA!!1
ImNotBlue

Karl Spensen says:
December 22, 2009 at 7:27 pm

According to YOUR blog… I’m YOUNGER than YOU.

Karl Spensen is a 33-year-old amateur journalist. In the past, he has been a freelance writer for “The Suburban News”, “The Ridgewood Reporter”, and “The Home and Store News”. From 2005-2007 he was a senior correspondent with “News69″, Northwestern Bergen County’s Only News Source™. While studying at Ramapo College he hosted “The Spensen Factor” on WRPR Radio and “The Spensen Factor After Dark” on RCTV. Karl currently lives with his mother in Waldwick’s Tamaron Retirement Village. He is also listed on Facebook, if you’re into that sort of thing.

AND please STOP writing in ALTERNATING caps WHEN there’s NO point in it. YOU’RE making me ILL.

Or maybe it’s the CONTENT.

Still haven’t found a real job, eh, Karl? Keeping the act going, hoping someone notices you? So sad…
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

I LOVE IT when people post my CREDENTIALS!!1 THANK YOU for reminding me of the great JOURNALISM CAREER I’ve enjoyed here in beautiful NORTH JERSEY!!1 I’ve probably accomplished MORE than you can ever DREAM OF by the time you’re my age!!1 Now try REALLY HARD and put your PETTY JEALOUSY aside so we Right-Thinking Americans can continue to DOMINATE THE CONVERSATION!!1
ImNotBlue

Karl Spensen says:
December 22, 2009 at 9:37 pm

By the time I get to your age? Dude, I accomplished more than you have currently by the time I graduated college! The fact that I don’t live with my mother in a retirement community is enough to vault me ahead in the “success” category.

Anyway… I guess you’re going to spread your non-humor around here too. A 30+ year old man, who keeps up the same sorry act that he did in college. Talk about “failure to launch.” How depressing.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Listen – the RIGHT WING has a lot of rational policy disagreements with the Obama administration. THAT’S NOT WHAT I’M ABOUT!!1 I am a reflection of the True America … the TEA PARTY PATRIOTS … the GLENN BECK ARMY who will one day TAKE BACK our ONCE PROUD REPUBLIC … I want CZARS behind BARS!!1 I want DEATH PANELS out of my HEALTH CARE!!1 And above all, I want to see a BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!1

You raise plenty of VALID, RATIONAL POINTS, but that’s not going to get you ANYWHERE!!1 What IS going to get you places is your SNIDE, CONDESCENDING TONE … which I totally ENVY!!1 You TALK DOWN to people and LOOK DOWN YOUR NOSE better than any LATTE SIPPING, NPR LISTENING LIB I’ve ever met!!1 Together, we could TAKE THIS COUNTRY BACK!!1 Think about it!!1
ImNotBlue

Karl Spensen says:
December 22, 2009 at 11:21 pm

Ugh… alright… I’ve had enough. Karl, you’re not worth my time… and whatever you goal is, whether its simply to annoy everyone (both sides of the aisle), if it’s to make some sort of political point, or if it’s because you think you’re funny… I don’t want to be a part of it.

This personal isn’t worth your time… and it’s certainly not worth my time.
Tommy Christopher

Karl, you wrote for the Store News? My brother delivered the Store News for years. What a blast from the past.
tjl

Am I off the hook, ImNot? I’m not as bad as that, am I?
ImNotBlue

tjl says:
December 23, 2009 at 12:58 am

Nope… you’re not that bad. Karl is simply annoying… and I have no patience for that. Political difference is fun… and so is a feisty sprit. But being annoying, for the sake of being annoying… no thanks.

But you’re not off the hook.

Tommy Christopher says:
December 23, 2009 at 12:55 am

You might want to hold off any teary memories between you and Karl. Especially since his name is actually Christian Larson… Karl is simply a character he’s continued past college. As for the “information” listed on his blog (one of many), I wouldn’t believe much of it.

As I said before… a Colbert wannabe, who should have left it in college… but apparently, can’t let go.

Isn’t that right, Christian?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tommy-Christopher/1054638341 Tommy Christopher

Too late. Already teary-eyed.