Even Obama/WH haters have to admit this was good. Gibbs threatens to pull Obama after

[Vette73]

Gibbs threatens to pull Obama after press dispute
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upsho...s-threatens-to-pull-obama-after-press-dispute

"Indian officials would only let in five reporters into Hyderabad House in New Delhi instead of the agreed-upon eight.
The Washington Post's Scott Wilson—who was on White House pool duty today and filed the report for the White House press corps-wrote that "Gibbs announced loudly and persistently on steps of Hyderabad House that he would pull" President Obama out of the meeting "unless 'the White House 8' as we've come to be known, were all allowed in."
As the discussion continued, Gibbs grew more animated."


Good to see the WH did not back down to less press, and even got more Indian press inside to cover the talks.
I am guessing the press have less rights in India?

 

[RightIsWrong]

Yeah, they did something admirable. Now, if only they could take care of some of the real issues that plague the country, it be great.

 

[waggy]

good for gibs. they agreed on 8 and it should have been 8. they tried to change it after teh fact and gibs wouldn't let them.

while many will say it was something small they had to do it as a sign of power.

 

[Throckmorton]

Why did they want to limit it to 5? And why so much that they tried to force the door closed and break his foot? Is there something I'm missing?

I give 10 minutes until our friendly neighborhood rightwingers find a way to spin this into something bad.

 

[dfuze]

I understand they had an agreement with 8 initially, but if it were only 5 would it have made that much of a difference?

 

[GroundedSailor]

Mr. Gibbs Sides With the Press in India

Mr. Gibbs Sides With the Press in India
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
Jason Reed/Reuters The White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, right, argued with an official from the Indian prime minister’s office.

The White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, is known for his angry tirades directed at reporters.

But Mr. Gibbs turned his famous intensity on Indian security officials Monday morning — in defense of the American press corps — after the officials tried to bar reporters from attending a meeting between the leaders of the two countries in New Dehli, according to reporters on the scene.

American and Indian officials had agreed to allow a pool of eight American reporters into the beginning of the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

But Indian officials then refused to allow more than five of them to enter. Mr. Gibbs loudly protested and at one point threatened to pull Mr. Obama out of the meeting if the security officials did not relent.

“At one point, Gibbs literally had his foot lodged in the closing front door, asking if the Indian security officials pushing hard to shut it were going to break his foot,” reports Scott Wilson of The Washington Post. “More angry words ensued, and after Gibbs convinced them, through high volume and repetition, that he was serious about pulling POTUS, we all made it inside.”

Pictures of the encounter showed Mr. Gibbs speaking intensely with Indian officials. Mr. Wilson reported, half in jest, that the American reporters have begun calling themselves “the White House eight” to reflect the difficulties with the Indian officials. Earlier in the trip, the group of White House reporters clashed with Indian officials on the tarmac of the airport.

Security in India around Mr. Obama’s visit has been exceedingly tight — and no wonder, given India’s strong memories of the Mumbai terrorist attacks two years ago. Reporters and others attending Mr. Obama’s joint conference with Prime Minister Singh on Monday were subjected to intense pat-down searches.

White House reporters and the president’s press secretary are usually considered adversaries. But it is not uncommon for White House officials to become protective of the American press corp while overseas.

Still, the threat by Mr. Gibbs to intervene as boldly as he did on behalf of the press was a unique moment in press-White House relations.

And as the group of reporters drove to their next destination on the trip – the parliament building for a speech by Mr. Obama – they had an extra passenger in the press van, just in case: Mr. Gibbs.

Security officials can be dicks anywhere in the world, not just here.

..

 

[Scotteq]

Security officials can be dicks anywhere in the world, not just here.

..

...I heard a (highly unsubstantiated and probably false, and even more likely made up solely for personal amusement) rumor that the Security Officials aquiesced and reversed their decision to limit to 5 instead of the agreed upon 8 on condition said Journalists each submit to a thorough cavity search. Press Secretary Gobbs then countered with the threat to call Helen Thomas (born in 1920 - you do the math!) back to service. D:

All 8 Journalists were then granted immediate access... :awe:

 

[GroundedSailor]

...I heard a (highly unsubstantiated and probably false, and even more likely made up solely for personal amusement) rumor that the Security Officials aquiesced and reversed their decision to limit to 5 instead of the agreed upon 8 on condition said Journalists each submit to a thorough cavity search. Press Secretary Gobbs then countered with the threat to call Helen Thomas (born in 1920 - you do the math!) back to service. D:

All 8 Journalists were then granted immediate access... :awe:

:biggrin::biggrin:

..

 

[Vette73]

Why did they want to limit it to 5? And why so much that they tried to force the door closed and break his foot? Is there something I'm missing?

I give 10 minutes until our friendly neighborhood rightwingers find a way to spin this into something bad.

If you read the replays at yahoo and other sites the rightwingers are still attacking Obama/WH for this. Yet if Gibbs did not do this and Fox was one of the 3 cut how much you wanna bet they still tear Obama/WH over it?

 

[Scotteq]

If you read the replays at yahoo and other sites the rightwingers are still attacking Obama/WH for this. Yet if Gibbs did not do this and Fox was one of the 3 cut how much you wanna bet they still tear Obama/WH over it?

Easy way to solve the issue: Make them give Helen Thomas a thorough cavity search. They'll shut up reaaaaaaaaaal quick!