MSNBC’s Mike Barnicle Tells Fmr. Obama Official He Worked in a ‘Virtually Scandal-Free’ WH

In remarks delivered at MIT last month, former President Barack Obama said the following about his White House tenure:

“We didn’t have a scandal that embarrassed us.”

Tuesday on Morning Joe, regular panelist Mike Barnicle repeated that claim — certain to draw ire from many on the right — in a question to former Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs.

“I’m wondering about the presidency that you were a part of and what you think about the damage that’s being done to the institution of the presidency today — given that you worked for a presidency that was virtually scandal-free, an exemplary person as president. And now we have nearly the opposite,” Barnicle said.

Gibbs replied with a non-answer.

“I don’t think we can solve problems in our country if we can’t sit down and talk about them,” Gibbs said. “If we’re so deeply divided, if everything becomes everybody going to their corners and their trust in the ability of the people that we have on either side leading us can’t help bring all of us together. And I think that’s -— without it…you’re going to find the problems that we struggle with each and every day that don’t get better with age.”

Barnicle pressed, “But with all due respect, aren’t we talking about something completely different at this point? You know, people running to their corners, that’s been a problem that we’ve had to deal with, but aren’t we dealing with something completely different? What’s holding you back from talking about the reality of this presidency in a real way?…aren’t you deeply concerned as an American?”

“I think everybody is concerned deeply about the country,” Gibbs said, again dodging.

Watch above, via MSNBC.

[featured image via screengrab]

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