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India-Pakistan
Gibbs threatens to pull Obama from India talks after press dispute
2010-11-08
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is known for sparring with White House reporters, making for what often seems an antagonistic mood in the press briefing room.

But during President Obama's trip to India, Gibbs assumed the role of press advocate and threatened to pull Obama out of bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh because three U.S. reporters were blocked from covering the meeting.

Indian officials would let only five reporters into Hyderabad House in New Delhi instead of the agreed-upon eight.
Seriously, this could have been resolved diplomatically and out of the public view. Now we have an American leadership that looks petty and arrogant, a important ally looking spurned and everyone wondering what the hell is going on with our political class. Team Bambi looks more and more amateurish every day.
Posted by:DarthVader

#14  Obama, Gibbs, et al, have taken the Peter Principle way beyond its original scope.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2010-11-08 21:34  

#13  Old Patriot, I think you just insulted despicable Calcutta beggars by your comparison.

I'm hoping that they missed a coconut or two over by Gandhi's old house....or that India has a very patriotic killer rabbit in the swamp somewhere.
Posted by: Swamp Blondie   2010-11-08 20:39  

#12  The Indians should have called Gibb's bluff, then immediately escorted the lot to the airport had he followed through. Nothing like showing our ugly American hindparts at a foreign event. I doubt we've heard the last of this one.
Posted by: Besoeker   2010-11-08 19:49  

#11  Personally, the entire O'bumble crowd, from the "President" on down, has about as much "class" as the most despicable Calcutta beggar, and should immediately self-exile themselves somewhere where sanitation is equivalent to their competence - if such a place still exists in the 21st century.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2010-11-08 17:49  

#10  At least he bowed to the whole bleedin' Indian Parliment.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2010-11-08 16:33  

#9  The Obama administration is in no position to be this rude to Indian security officials, considering that there was a major breach of security at Obama's reception for the Indian PM last November.

Muslim party crashers having direct physical access to the Indian PM. What could go wrong?
Posted by: Omaing White7048   2010-11-08 15:30  

#8  Had no idea Beltway Bob had such authority

In this administration, it takes more than a dash of denial and a pinch of cluelessness to be press secretary.
Posted by: gorb   2010-11-08 14:25  

#7  Intersting that in this administration a flack thinks he has the power to pull the POTUS out of a meeting. Had no idea Beltway Bob had such authority.
Posted by: Mercutio   2010-11-08 13:40  

#6  IIRC- Indians are sticklers about protocol rank. I can imagine a big misunderstanding about a 'mere' press secretary being able to pull the POTUS out of a meeting.

Of course, I myself still cannot understand why a beastly viper such as Mr. Gibbs is one of the President's most trusted advisors.
Posted by: Free Radical   2010-11-08 13:32  

#5  Sounds like a deleted scene from This is Spinal Tap: the band won't play unless there is a bowl of blue M&Ms backstage
Posted by: regular joe   2010-11-08 13:20  

#4  I screwed it up It should be Sons of Barak, or SOB's for short. Dopey me.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2010-11-08 12:42  

#3  We should start calling the Obama administration "officials" Sons of Obama. The SOB's for short.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2010-11-08 12:41  

#2  Ya know, the more I think about it that Indian MP who was going about wondering what a teleprompter is...may have been being snarky.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2010-11-08 12:23  

#1  "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," Wilson continued. "More angry words ensued, and after Gibbs convinced them, through high volume and repetition, that he was serious" about pulling Obama, the press secretary had the security retinue's full attention.

Really, the Indians must be soooooooo impressed with these people.
Posted by: tu3031   2010-11-08 11:44  

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