Slam dunk, or nothing-but-net three-pointer? Either way, with a line he got off today, Chuck Todd has surely scored some points in the battle over Pres. Obama's all-male White House basketball games.
The NBC News political director/chief WH correspondent took his shot while discussing the issue with Andrea Mitchell—whose sympathies were clearly with the distaff side—during the 1PM hour slot on MSNBC today.
ANDREA MITCHELL: There are critics who say there has been a frat-party, a frat-house atmosphere at the White House. Why was Melody Barnes, do you think, included in the golf match yesterday? It's the first time --
CHUCK TODD: What a coincidence, huh?!
MITCHELL: A coincidence! Savannah [Guthrie] asked the question last week. "Bunk" said the president about the all-male basketball teams. What is it about you guys at the White House--I'm going to include you in that?
TODD: Whoa, whoa, whoa--thanks a lot!
MITCHELL: I was just joking [presumably about including Todd when she criticized the White House atmosphere], but truly, I've got to tell you, that it is a Rohrshach test --
TODD: There is a little something there.
MITCHELL: Savannah was absolutely right about that when she asked the question, the response, and you saw Mark Leibovich picking up on it in the New York Times yesterday. A lot of women are commenting and I can tell you we're hearing from women inside the White House as well as outside the White House.
TODD: And men too, the other way. And of course I'm sure Rahm Emanuel is waiting for all the baby shower invitations he wasn't getting before.
MITCHELL [pause, followed by nervous laughter]: We'll have to look into that.
The question of course arises: was Todd defending the right of men in general to kick back among themselves, or was he playing defense for Team Obama?
PS: Funny, we haven't heard Hillary Clinton weigh in on this. You know, proud graduate of Wellesley College, which . . . excludes men.
