FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Traditionally there's not much love lost between any White House and the media.
And so it was this week:
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/18/art.gibbs.jpg caption=" White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs"]
Almost two months into the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history, Pres. Obama addressed the American people from the Oval Office about the Gulf oil spill.
And his speech got panned... pretty much everywhere... including MSNBC which usually just loves anything this president does.
They said the president wasn't specific enough and didn't appear to show that he was in charge. They were absolutely right. The speech was weak.
The next day in the White House briefing room - Mr. Obama's Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, was asked about the drubbing his boss took. Reporters wanted to know what Gibbs thought about cable news critics who said the president is being too hands-off when it comes to the oil crisis.
Gibbs responded:
"I appreciate the hand on the pulse of America by those who live on cable TV. I don't actually think that is where all of real America lives."
Gibbs also said that if Mr. Obama had decided to run for president based on what the pundits were saying a year before the primaries started... he would still be in the Senate.
Meanwhile despite all the talk about the president's speech and the criticism that followed... it was the second least-watched Obama speech ever. The audiences for his speeches are beginning to mirror his job approval ratings.
Here’s my question to you: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says cable news is not "where all of real America lives." Is he right?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
L. in Illinois writes:
My brother has been unemployed for over a year and had to cancel cable TV to cut expenses. He now finds himself living in the "real America" Gibbs is referring to.
Chandra in Las Vegas writes:
Gibbs is wrong, by a long shot. Cable news channels are watched by people who closely follow politics and current events. I personally find those that are uniformed and less interested only watch the evening news. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on Gibbs' part, but in reality we only hope that Gibbs is really smarter than he portrays himself to be.
Lori in Pennsylvania writes:
It sounds like someone can't take criticism. Frankly, the Obama administration deserves to be criticized. Constantly spending when everyone, including a retired Alan Greenspan, is saying you need to stop. Doing nothing to address the illegal immigration problem. Putting band aids on the unemployment problem. An oil spill that has yet to be stopped. The list goes on and on. Gibbs, it's time to listen to the criticism. It's time for the Obama Administration to change how the U.S. problems are being dealt with.
Linda in Arizona writes:
Robert Gibbs should be fired. His answers when he's cornered are always pure snark with no substance, but tons of arrogance. What he or anyone else in this clueless elitist administration would know about "where real America lives" wouldn't fill a thimble.
Chris in Florida writes:
Where does he think we live? We can't afford to go to the movies.
D. writes:
Where does Robert Gibbs live? It appears that he performs as a hand puppet and Obama is making his mouth move and out comes sound bites that ignore reality. Maybe he should check his own pulse.