Posted by
AJH on Sunday, February 22, 2009 1:57:34 AM
The White House responded to CNBC reporter Rick Santelli who apparently “doesn't know what he's talking about.” So much for listening to the man on the street.
Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs “poked fun at Santelli” and invited him to the White House to read and discuss the bailout plan. “I'd be happy to buy him a cup of coffee,” Gibbs said. “Decaf.”
Santelli accepted the offer. “I think this is terrific that this has been opened up to national debate,” Santelli said in an MSNBC interview. “I think it's wonderful he invited to me to the White House. I'm really not big on decaf, though. I think I'd prefer tea.”
Gibbs did acknowledge that “there will be people that made bad decisions that in some ways will get help,” but are not the focus, he claimed. “I also think it's tremendously important that for people who rant on cable television to be responsible and understand what it is they're talking about,” he said.
We are not stupid, Gibbs. Santelli is one of the few journalists who is actually doing his job rather than merely adoring your boss day-in-and-day-out. We understand. We are responsible. We simply disagree.
For more details read these stories: “White House objects to 'rant' on its housing plan” and “White House blasts reporter's 'rant'”.
The original video of Santelli challenging the insanity is here. Talking Points Memo has a video, “Rick Santelli vs. Robert Gibbs”.
AJH