It is interesting to watch and get a sense of the new Obama administration’s communications style, to see if some of the tactics that proved to be effective in campaign mode carry over to governing.
So far, I am encouraged to observe that they are aggressive and using all available means to communicate and defend their policies.
As an example, some of you may have caught the dust up with CNBC reporter Rick Santelli. He had come out extremely critical of the administration’s housing bailout plan. See this Washington Post link for more context: Gibbs Takes on Santelli. According to the article, in a wildly popular YouTube video, Santelli ranted and ended with:
“President Obama! Are you listening?” Santelli demanded.
Apparently someone in the White House was. In response, Gibbs
attacked Santelli by name repeatedly, accusing him of not having read
the president’s housing plan and mocking the former derivatives trader
as not being an effective spokesman for the little guy.
“I’m
not entirely sure where Mr. Santelli lives or in what house he lives,”
Gibbs told reporters, his voice dripping with derision. “Mr. Santelli
has argued — I think quite wrongly — that this plan won’t help
everyone. This plan will help, by the money that’s invested in Freddie
and Fannie, will drive down mortgage rates for millions of Americans.”
Later, Gibbs added: “Now, every day when I come out here, I spend a
little time reading, studying on the issues, asking people who are
smarter than I am questions about those issues. I would encourage him
to read the president’s plan and understand that it will help millions
of people, many of whom he knows. I’d be more than happy to have him
come here and read it. I’d be happy to buy him a cup of coffee, decaf.”
Agree or disagree with the administration, you have to admire their pluck and in particular Press Secretary Robert Gibbs’ defense.
On the Today Show this morning Matt Lauer interviewed Santelli. Lauer noted that Rick had said he felt that Robert Gibbs was threatening him. Although Rick tried to downplay this characterization, he did whine that it was unfair to be personally singled out and mentioned by Gibbs.
Here’s the play by play below, and you can check out the YouTube video above:
Lauer: If you go out of your way to call out the POTUS, you have to expect that his representative may go out of his way to call you out. Doesn’t that go with the territory?
Santelli: As a member of the press, do I not get to ask a question?
Lauer: And as the Press Secretary, doesn’t he have the right to ask you a question?
Go Matt! (Santelli, if you want to call this blog out by name on national TV by all means, feel free!)
