The American Spectator : Change They Weren't Waiting For

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Washington Prowler

Change They Weren't Waiting For

By The Prowler on 4.27.09 @ 6:08AM

Obama seizes golf course. Also: Getting away from Robert Gibbs.

TEED OFF
When President Barack Obama decided to visit the golf courses at Andrews Air Force Base on Sunday, it necessitated shifting several foursomes of military personnel who had reservations and tee times set up for yesterday. According to one prospective player, the reason for their shift in time and to another course was "a VIP visitor."

"We got our 18 holes in and we weren't terribly inconvenienced," says the golfer, "but I didn't get the impression that anyone from his group really cared one way or the other."

By all acounts, Obama, who occasionally played golf as an Illinois state legislator to cozy up to Democrat leaders, is a decent player who does not take the mulligans that former President Bill Clinton was well known to rely on.

ELLEN'S LIST
Inside the White House Communications shop, some staffers aren't surprised that commuication director Ellen Moran has chosen to leave for a senior post with Sec. Gary Locke in the Commerce Department. "Working with [press secretary Robert] Gibbs is not the easiest thing to do in this White House," says a current communications aide. "It can be a high-stress work environment."

Moran, who's had a long career in Washington politics with EMILY's List and working with senior Washington egos, found herself on the outside looking in on many decisions, say White House aides, who say she was pushing for Obama and the communications team to look for ways to keep the president from having to rely on teleprompters in his public appearances, but lost that battle. She also clashed privately with Gibbs.

Gibbs is trusted by Obama and is considered part of the White House "inner circle."

"Right now, there aren't many fights GIbbs is going to lose," says the aide. "Most of the White House press corps likes him and gets along with him, and that's what's important."

Moran, though, given her background with EMILY's list and Democrat electoral politics, may be moving on to a job at Commerce that is more in line with her interests. Later this year, as chief of staff to the secretary, she will be able to shape and track preparations for the U.S. census, which is run out of the Commerce Department.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (17) | Leave a comment

Robert Rosencrans| 4.27.09 @ 8:24AM

Shouldn't that have read, "Most of the White House Press Corp likes Obama, so Robert Gibbs is simply a poorly spoken Pinocchio, who relishes the limelight in front of Pinocchios who don't report the news?"

Mrs. Jackson| 4.27.09 @ 8:34AM

From his first 100 days, reasonable Americans have seen what a much better score keeper Obama is than Bill Clinton. Mulligans are for poor slobs like Clinton. Really. Obama doesn't need them. He'll shoot 3 over par, turn and look at his comrades and say, "Imagine that? One under par, again."

None of his comrades will disagree. In fact they'll trip over their clubs to have the honor of penciling it into his scorecard.

Anthony| 4.27.09 @ 9:05AM

So when was the last time the WHPC had a cozy relationship with a R spokesperson, other than the chubby pinanta, Scott McClellen, after he stabbed Bush in the back? Never mind, it's a rhetorical question.
So Gibbs is into handing out grades to the WHP puppies, eh? Do they get treats and have their tummies rubbed after asking a fawning question about "The One"? Is there a "Depends" dispenser in the press room in case the fawning media gets too excited? Alice-in-Wonderland indeed, except our enemies aren't the least bit confused or overwhelmed by "The One".

Bob| 4.27.09 @ 10:15AM

Actually, Anthony, Tony Snow had a pretty good relationship with the press... I believe he was a Republican.... But then again, why trifle with facts...

Marc Jeric| 4.27.09 @ 11:04AM

Gibbs ia another bloviating gasbag avoiding answers - just in effect saying "We won - so just eat it!" His superior smile hides a far-left smugness which given the very near future will cause many of us a huge sigh of relief.

Warrior| 4.27.09 @ 11:33AM

Gibbs is a total buffoon. I have never seen a press secretary so ill prepared for the job. The press corp should have chewed him up and spit him out in the first two weeks. This guy makes Baghdad Bob look witty, insiteful, articulate, etc.

Basil Plumley| 4.27.09 @ 11:38AM

Bob--The poster said "cozy relationship". Once again, your reading comprehension fails you. But hey, don't let your obtuseness get in the way of another terrible post; we need a good laugh.

FTR, Tony Snow did a better job but I think it was too much, too little, too late. Snow's defense of McCain-Kennedy was horrible. But, I am sure that you thought that was great.

Bob| 4.27.09 @ 12:35PM

Basil, can you cite me any evidence that Tony Snow didn't have a "cozy relationship" with the press, or did you make that up (as in lie) as well. There is no evidence of press hostility to Snow.

And FTR, I thought Snow was the best press secretary we had seen for a long time. He was professional, straightforward, and very bright. Gibbs is extremely irritating to me even though he seems to get along well with the press.

Tim| 4.27.09 @ 12:40PM

Can't have our POTUS golfing on a course amid all those potential terrorists.

Basil Plumley| 4.27.09 @ 1:16PM

Hey Bob--I was not the poster who used the term "cozy relationship". You tried to change the the phrase to "pretty good relationship".
That is all I pointed out. It appears that your logic is as bad as your reading comprehension.

Tony was quite good as Press Secretary but even he had his moments with the David Gregorys of the WH Press Corps.

Try harder next time, Bob. You are smarter than your posts, aren't you?

Anthony| 4.27.09 @ 4:53PM

True enough Bob, as far as it goes, but it all depends on your definaton of " pretty good relationship", wouldn't you agree? I'll concede Tony Snow was not universally hated or mistrusted by the WHPC. Even these clowns recognized class when they saw it. No, these champions of truth actually gave Tony a few seconds before they jumped down his throat, chortled about Bush's constant lying and challenged Tony not to be a Bush lacky. You do remember that senile old leftist fool, with her smeared lipstick, Helen Thomas, don't you Bob? And the CNBC boy wonder who now has his own show? Tony didn't grade the WHPC, he had way too much class for that, and besides, it wouldn't be polite to call them out on their rank partisanship, although he hinted at it often. Their actions spoke louder then their assinine questions, do I have that about right, Bob?

Grzmlyk| 4.27.09 @ 8:02PM

I don't think Gibbs's superior smile hides his smugness at all. I would call it a perpetual smirk. Which is in keeping with a guy who graduated from Our Lady of Eternal Self Congratulation with a major in Supercilious Studies and a minor in snark.
But you see, with Dems, you don't need command of the facts; facts get in the way of the Brave New World they're architecting for us.
He could get up there naked and urinate on the entire press corps and the headlines would read, "Gibbs Hides Nothing, Impressive Stream of Consciousness Quenches Thirst for Truth."

Interested Conservative| 4.27.09 @ 9:44PM

Bob - With all due respect, I think Tony Snow obviously knew the game, and the WHPC knew he knew the game, and extended professional courtesy to one of their own. Gibbs, OTOH is facing a crowd who are cozy with pretty much the entire WH and all staff, let alone those who have jumped the aisle and switched jobs.

I don't think most of the comments consider Toy Snow's relationship "cozy" with all of the insinuations it includes, (i.e. self dealing conflicts of interest).

As for history, Gibbs seems to combine the charm of Ron Ziegler with the effectiveness of Scott McClellan. Snow ranks at the top, perhaps with Ron Nessen and one of Clinton's later choices whose name escapes me.

I kinda of enjoyed Jody Powell as well.

Hello Americans,have a briain| 4.28.09 @ 4:46PM

Look at the real News:
http://www.fknnewz.com/index.php

jr| 4.28.09 @ 5:33PM

The Messiah has got to be careful with the military. In a few years it may be the only thing between us and him. He should have given each of those fly boys one of the toy helicopters from the WH store. Better still, he should take them a ride in his 747 over Bloomberg's NY.