Replies to post #76323 on Discover GOP Opprobrium

[teapeebubbles]

GIBBS' 'INARTFUL' MISTAKE....

I was tempted to skip the story of the day, because I find the back and forth wearying. The Democrats' progressive base gets justifiably frustrated with the pace of progress; the White House gets justifiably frustrated when the president and his team don't get credit for their accomplishments, even from allies. This isn't especially new, or even unique to this administration.

Nevertheless, the tensions continue to simmer, leading to foolish, preventable mistakes, which come alongside larger truths.

During an interview with The Hill in his West Wing office, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs blasted liberal naysayers, whom he said would never regard anything the president did as good enough.

"I hear these people saying he's like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested," Gibbs said. "I mean, it's crazy."

The press secretary dismissed the "professional left" in terms very similar to those used by their opponents on the ideological right, saying, "They will be satisfied when we have Canadian healthcare and we've eliminated the Pentagon. That's not reality."



I know why Gibbs is frustrated. I can even understand some of it. What I can't understand is what made Gibbs think it was a good idea to complain about the left to a reporter three months before an election in which Republicans already enjoy an enthusiasm-gap edge.

Even if Gibbs is genuinely frustrated, and even if he has reason to be, where's the upside in criticism like this, when the WH press secretary's focus should be on President Obama's accomplishments and Republicans' descent into madness? Gibbs no doubt finds it deeply unhelpful when some on the left trash the White House and dampen enthusiasm of voters Democrats clearly need, but by blasting the "professional left," Gibbs only offers additional rhetorical ammunition to those same liberals who will keep trashing the White House.

Worse, he's painted with far too broad a brush. I suspect Gibbs' criticism was directed, for example, at those on the left who worked with conservatives to try to kill health care reform, not those who backed health care reform but still wanted a public option. But by blasting the "professional left" broadly, Gibbs seemed to be taking a shot at his own allies.