Stooping to Rush’s Level

In the clip below, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs does a pretty pathetic job of defending himself, and the president, against charges of hypocrisy for engaging in the sort of inane media-blather they have condemned in the past. Gibbs is clearly caught out by the question, which he tries to laugh his way out of, but he’s forced to give a rambling, embarrassing non-answer. Not very impressive for someone in the propaganda Big Leagues.

According to Politico, the recent baiting of Limbaugh is part of some grand Democratic strategy to rebrand Republicans as the party of Rush. If the Politico story is true, I agree with Gibbs: it’s counterproductive. But then why are they doing it? The strategy could theoretically work, but for the president and his spokespeople to be the ones carrying it out seems shortsighted. They might succeed in elevating Rush as the face of the Republican Party, but is it worth dragging down your boss in the process?

P.S. Kudos to whoever asked the question. Not every day you get to nail a White House spokesman to the wall.