In his daily press briefing earlier today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs scoffed at a question by conservative-leaning WCBM Radio host Les Kinsolving as "far afield" from a question posed just a moment earlier on the February 17 nationwide conversion to digital television (DTV).
Other reporters could be heard scoffing Kinsolving as well as the embedded video shows. Relevant transcript below (emphasis mine):
LES KINSOLVING, WCBM Radio: Can I follow that up?
ROBERT GIBBS, White House Press Secretary: Yes sir.
KINSOLVING: Thank you, so much. A number of Democrats in Congress want to restore the so-called Fairness Doctrine, which, before it was repealed applied only to electronic media and not to any print media-
GIBBS: Lester, I thought we were talking about DTV.
KINSOLVING: Does the president believe that-
(LAUGHTER)
MALE REPORTER: This is on the same planet, I believe.
GIBBS: I'm pretty sure I did not, I don't think I got an answer to my question. I think we were talking about DTV and now we seem to be, somewhat, I'm going to go back to baseball [analogies], far afield on the Fairness Doctrine.
KINSOLVING: Since you mentioned it, from the field, does the president believe-
(LAUGHTER)
MALE REPORTER mockingly: Lester, far afield?
KINSOLVING: Does the president believe that this selectivity of some media and not others is fair? And if so, why?
GIBBS: I have no information on the Fairness Doctrine and I will endeavor to get some clarity on DTV.
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This is a great example of why the media is hated
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 17:43 ET by Dr BThe other reporters there, laughing and mocking, weren't there to challenge the government or to report news. They were there to hear and regurgitate Democrat talking points.
Kudos to Les Kinsolving for asking the important questions, even in the face of persecution from his idiotic colleagues. The big news media is still dead, however. We can't trust those buffoons!
'Shut up', he explained.
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 19:18 ET by TailgunnerNOLI PUGNARE ME OCCIDERE
The verbal stumblebum...
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 17:58 ET by JPR1is also a "no-class-a*****e.
This must be another example of the administrations bipartisan respect character.
Can't imagine Les cared, he's got the skin of a rino' compared to the roomfull of pansies in attendance.
Can anyone identify the male reporter who mocked Kinsolving?
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 18:06 ET by gopcongressIt is one thing for Gibbs to act the way he did, but it would probably be more in Newsbusters and the MRC to find out the identity of that yahoo. Not that it means much, but it is the relevent case of media bias.
big fan of les
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 18:19 ET by right of wayles is so off beat but yet in touch with the heartbeat of issues. he has no reservations asking the out of the way questions. as for robert gibbs, i hope no one reports me for saying this but going back to the election the first time i saw gibbs, i thought he looked like a serial child molester. don't ask me how or why as my liberal friend asked me why would you think of him like that and what exactly constitutes someone to look like a child molester, my answer, i don't know. maybe it's from watching chris hanson on dateline.
I think that Newsbusters or
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 18:34 ET by BuffNBoneI think that Newsbusters or the Media Research Center should have a "Stones of the Week" recognition. It would go to the reporter or reporterette that asks the most relevant question(s) to a member of the executive or legislative branches of our goverment. Maybe extra points if the question is accurately answered with minimal spin.
A companion recognition could be for the most slobbering question/comment asked during the week.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Good one, Buff
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 18:39 ET by BlondeI vote we call it the Neil Cavuto "stugatz" award (he actually said that tonite, LOL)....don't know about the spelling though.
Not For Nothin' but its "Stugots"
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 20:49 ET by CapeCodScottAs in "Asking that question, he has Stugots" I think the Graphic for the award could be interesting...
www.ScottOnCapeCod.com
"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation"... until they get fed-up enough to finally say something about it!
So this is what is meant by change
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 18:40 ET by needleIf a Republican President or his Press Secretary ever acted this way there would be a riot.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Gibbs
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 18:40 ET by slickwillie2001Robert Gibbs is starting to look like another Scott McClellan. Maybe it's the 'lowering expectations' game.
Gibb's looks like a guy
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 19:05 ET by celatorGibbs looks like a guy who is about to say: "Hey, look everyone, when I flap my arms, I can fly!!!!"
There's something screwy about him.
For liberal Democrats and the Old Media, everything is crisis, chaos, calamity and catastrophe. That justifies stealing your property and liberties.
Speaking of Scott, I
Fri, 01/30/2009 - 01:11 ET by thebutlerdiditSpeaking of Scott, I remember the first time I saw him at a presser, and I thought, Good Heavens, what is W thinking? Does he know his parents? Did his family do the Bushes a favor? I mean, really, it was the only thing I could think of, he was just so bad. I then thought he might get better, but no. Then we hear that this liar is going to be up, and he is going to be the bestest evah, but I think that pansy McClellan might have even done better. What a doof. He knows nothing, nothing! LOL. I sure do miss Tony Snow, RIP.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Wow. Kinsolving got more
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 18:58 ET by SickofLibsWow. Kinsolving got more (LAUGHTER)s than Blohar usually does.
I know, I'm just going 'far afield'; I like that term better than off-topic. Kinda makes me feel like a hunting dog.
I'm glad I caught this...I
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 19:00 ET by bigtimerI'm glad I caught this...I was watching this presser, and I got a phone call when it got to Les...which sort of irrated me as I love to hear the questions from Les, they are usually or always very pertinent/revelant to what is going on in todays news...
He ALWAYS seems to be scoffed...by both sides over the years.
Infuriating is a polite word for what I feel when all do it.
The Fairness Doctrine..MORA, or whatever cutesy name they try to use to slide it in a bill, is very dangerous to all of us...to scoff at this is pure stupidity.
Here is a link I read this morning about all of this...this is from a man who knows, he ought to he is/was a FCC memeber.
The internet is included in this.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/162933-Citing_Obama_Opposition_McDowell_Warns_Against_Fairness_Doctrine.php
The fairness doctrine.
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 19:02 ET by pbthinkerDemocrats will NOT re-introduce the "fairness doctrine" because that's not how Democrats do things. They will, however, re-introduce something akin to it and call it something like "Broadcasting to save the children act" or some other dumb name where, if you vote against it, you must be Jack the Ripper.
The Democrats can not argue their positions so they will try their best to squash any alternative opinion to their thoughts. I don't know how they'll do it, we just know they will, since their policies don't stand up well, in the light of day.
Speaking of that, look for this one to be snuck through with no one knowing about it until it's passed. That's that way these people operate and they haven't changed a bit, since 1994.
Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.
Yeah,
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 19:47 ET by UpNorththey're going to call it the Media Ownership Reform Act. It will reinstiture the Fairness Doctrine if passed. It was introduced by Rep. Maurice Hinchey and co-sponsored by:
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9]
- 7/14/2005
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-11]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Sanders, Bernard [VT]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9]
- 7/22/2005
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33]
- 7/14/2005
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6]
I think if you check, the cosponsors are all dems as is Hinchey. Except for Bernie Sanders, commie-Vt. Note the name, Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor. So, this already has traction in the Zero's cabinet. This list of co-sponsors was posted prior to the Zero's picks for his cabinet.
So, yes, the dems are seeking to shut down talk radio, and any conservative news outlets.
Huh?
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 20:42 ET by klchadwickGibbs has "no information on the fairness doctrine" and will "endeavor to get some clarity on DTV"? This sounds like something from "Wanye's World" meets the "Are you smarter than a 5th Grader" edition of Jeopardy". No information? Is he serious? Also, what's with the attempt to make himself sound intellectual (ie. endeavor and clarity) on a subject he just admitted he knows nothing about? You would think that he was being asked to go on a mission with 007.
Sgt Schultz response
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 22:29 ET by Dan DiegoFairness Doctrine is not an issue in the WH? Give me a break.
BTW: Dems think Wheel of Fortune is the first half of Jeopardy.
Let's just hope and pray
Fri, 01/30/2009 - 01:49 ET by mostlymoderateLet's just hope and pray that if a Fairness Doctrine were ever to be re-enacted, more and more broadcasters will move to Sirius or XM. Then, with SO MANY people flocking to subscribe to Sirius and XM, maybe they could lower their prices where "anybody" could afford it.
However, I pray for no "Fairness Doctrine". It is B.S., anti-capitalism, anti-supply/demand and it is one closer step to a socialist way of life. :(
If they are going to do
Fri, 01/30/2009 - 05:43 ET by RR GOPIf they are going to do this and the Bush administration 'war crimes' stuff, they need to do it fast (before the 2010 election cycle) as they may lose seats in Congress and while they still have the unflinching support of the MSM and at least the lukewarm support of the majority of the American public.
Wonder what the timeline on these things would be? That is, at what point can we take off the tin foil hats on these two issues?
However, if they are confident that they'll retain a majority in both houses, and if they are banking on at least 8 years straight in the White House, then they may think they have more than enough time to accomplish these goals a little at a time thus increasing their chances of getting away with it.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
Gibbs reminds me of.................
Fri, 01/30/2009 - 05:46 ET by old croLes Nessman
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/397242/wkrp_less_nessman_with_the_news/