Helen Thomas wants Robert GIbbs's Conscience to Bother Him

Run time: 00:59 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOV3qpg6LrY   Posted on YouTube: October 03, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: October 03, 2009 By DU Member: t0dd Views on DU: 1033

 
Source: Firedoglake

Dana Milbank, whose incredibly stressful job at the Washington Post allows him to go to White House press briefings, watched Thursday as Helen Thomas did something she has done pretty much every time she’s had the chance for the last half-century—she asked a straight question, and then pushed for a straight answer:

Actually, Helen is right, and Dana is wrong.

http://firedoglake.com/2009/10/02/late-night-vertebrates-on-parade/

of being a hater?

deniability is tough. They also ignored the transcript of Rockefeller talking about the Obama phone call asking him to vote for an HCR without the public option.

nt

e"!! Bingo!!


..........I know, big surprise.

You see, this "spine" of which Dana writes implies that the Obama team has wanted to—and still wants to—push for a public option, but they are afraid to do it. It implies that the inclusion of a public option in a health reform bill is the goal of the administration’s strategy, but they flinched.

Alas, as we've discovered, the public option is part of a strategy, but that strategy is one that keeps the PO floating in a “believe in, but won’t insist on” limbo for the listening and dancing pleasure of the Democratic base, while the Rahm Squad plays sweet music for the moneyed interests. In the end, the White House fully expects to ditch the public option, say “Hey, we tried, but the votes weren’t there,” and then turn to PhRMA, the AMA, hospitals, health insurance companies, and the other benefactor-beneficiaries of the Baucus Caucus and say (sotto voce), “We kept our end of the deal, now you keep yours.” That is the administration’s strategy; they know it, but they won't say it in an on-the-record press conference.

And that, of course, is shameful. That behavior, that plan, that level of faux-realpolitik cynicism is a betrayal of the heady promises made by candidate Obama, and, more importantly, of all the folks that worked so hard to get him elected. That is that sort of thing that should gnaw at you, that is the sort of thing that should eat your conscience alive.

(special thanks to KC for finding the video of the exchange)

Whether Democratic or Republican, I want someone there who asks the tough questions and demands honest answers. The 2006 White House Dinner showed that except for Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher and Jon Stewart no one is willing to challenge the entrenched and the powerful. With the passing of Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow, we are left with people like David Gregory and Tim Russert who only cared about being George W's buddies, except the brave, obstinate and honest Helen Thomas.
Like Cato, she has a laser like focus on her goal. Whereas, Cato ended every speech with "Carthago Delenda Est", Helen ends hers with we, the people, have a right to know the truth.
HELEN THOMAS IS MY HERO AND I THANK GOD FOR HER!!!!!!!!!!