Robert Gibbs Fights With Indian Security Over White House Press Corps Restrictions

Amerigo Vespucci

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Mon Nov-08-10 02:43 PM
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Robert Gibbs Fights With Indian Security Over White House Press Corps Restrictions

Robert Gibbs Fights With Indian Security Over White House Press Corps Restrictions

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/08/robert-gibbs-fights-india-reporters_n_780270.html

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs grew so angry with Indian security officials on Sunday that he got into a heated shouting match with them -- and even blocked a door they were trying to close with his foot.

The altercation came during the third day of President Obama's visit to the country. Indian officials, citing security, attempted to cut the number of White House reporters who would be allowed to cover a meeting between Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Indian officials decided to cut agreed-upon number of WH pool allowed into spray of extended bilat from eight to five. Katie Lillie and other U.S. officials lobbied hard for the eight, but no luck until Gibbbs announced loudly and persistently on steps of Hyderabad House that he would pull POTUS of bilat with PM Singh unless "the White House 8," as we've come to be known, were all allowed in. 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.

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, to hold with larger Indian press contingent, for start of extended bilat. Finally escorted into spray at 11:55am. Delegations seated opposite each other along a long light-wood table, beneath a simple chandelier. POTUS and PM Singh sat across from each other at table's middle.

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sally cat

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Mon Nov-08-10 02:46 PM
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1. He's quite the emotional person.

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RUMMYisFROSTED

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Mon Nov-08-10 02:47 PM
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2. The next Bond?

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CyberChas

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Mon Nov-08-10 02:50 PM
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3. I wonder...

I wonder two things...

1. Does he really think that the Press Secretary (or even the Director of Communications or even the Chief of Staff) can "pull" the POTUS from an international event? Really? He's THAT powerful?

but more interesting to me....

2. Who are the "White House Three"? That is the three who would have been excluded. Let me see, if it works the way it usually does with this shoot-me-in-the-foot team, it would be:

a. Fox News
b. The Washington Post
c. The Wall Street Journal

Those would be the three "majors" that would be most likely to go negative on the White House anyway, so let's go out of our way to cause an international protocol incident just to get them in the door.

Charlie

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Adsos Letter

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Mon Nov-08-10 06:15 PM
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4. "...allowed into spray of extended bilat..."

Huh?

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