Obama’s Press Secretary Compares Black Reporter To a Child

Political blogs are buzzing about this contentious verbal exchange between obnoxious and pompous White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and American Urban Radio reporter April Ryan last week.

Ryan asked Gibbs whether he thought Michelle Obama felt overshadowed by White House social secretary Desiree Rogers and if Rogers invited herself as a guest to the 1st state dinner two weeks ago when she should have been tending to her job (my words and emphasis).

Gibbs bristled like he always does when he feels he’s being challenged instead of just answering the question. First, he ordered Ryan to “calm down” and then compared the black reporter to his child, telling her, “take a deep breath. See, this happens with my son, he does the same thing.”

“I’m older than your son. Don’t play with me!,” Ryan shot back as the other reporters in the room gasped. Would Gibbs have been so condescending if the reporter was black? Can the Obama administration do anything right?

Source

lovinme

That dumb broad relly is that the place to ask a question like that!! Really come one wow I think he dealt with her simple ass just fine. It sounded like a stupid high school question…. She should have came with a real question.

Am I the only one who thinks the queston was stupid!!!
lovinme

and what does it matter that she was black…. who cares what she was she asked a gossip question really !!!
ebonymonique

I think there are far more pressing issues than whether desiree was the “belle of the ball”. It was a stupid question and waste of time. It has nothing to do with her being black, it has to do with ignorance.
ShoYaRight

Robert Gibbs was out of pocket for that. He was trying to be evasive and vague and like a true journalist, Ms. Ryan pressed for a straight answer and I’m glad she did and I wish more did the same!!!! Kudos to you Miss Ryan.

The question has much relevance!!! Our national security was at stake because Desiree was more concered about sipping champagne, laughing, and dancing the night away as opposed to ensuring that her staff made sure that the right people made it in and the wrong people stayed out.

Thank goodness the trespassers are just attention seeking social climbers and not terroists. America was lucky this time.

SHAME on you Gibbs!
Anna

lovinme Says:

That dumb broad relly is that the place to ask a question like that!! Really come one wow I think he dealt with her simple ass just fine. It sounded like a stupid high school question…. She should have came with a real question.

Am I the only one who thinks the queston was stupid!!!
~~~~~~~
It was a stupid question and I was laughing.
lovinme

@shoyaright

That chic had no concerns with National Security when it came to that question lets be real.

She didnt say ” SHould Mrs. Rogers have been at the gate rather then at the party”. She asked a stupid question like she was some high school girl… Come on really……

This chic needs to sit down!
free

yeah, i think the way it was presented was kinda messy. however, he could have chosen better words also.
lovinme

@free

True unfortunatley we are all human and when we are confronted in a ignorant or foolish manner sometimes we revert to that same demeanor.. I know I do at times and probably shouldnt but some people bring out the worst in each of us….

Hind Sight 20/20 he probably like damn i should have just been like next question… But i doubt she would have sat quietly
Daisy

Since when is D Rogers responsible for national security and securing the President? I thought she was the event planner per say? *kanye shrug*
http://facebook.com/renz.renegadesince1985 renegadesince1985

The question has much relevance!!! Our national security was at stake because Desiree was more concered about sipping champagne, laughing, and dancing the night away as opposed to ensuring that her staff made sure that the right people made it in and the wrong people stayed out.

The question she was hounding him for an answer was whether or not there has been talk amongst REP and DEM about Desiree outshining Michelle Obama. She could have cared less about national security. She was trying to get the inside gossip it seems like. Meanwhile, unemployment is at a high, troops going to Afghanistan …she wants to ask some dumb shit about whether Desiree is “outshining” Michelle? She deserved exactly what she got. I would have been annoyed by her too..acting like a high school kid trying to start some beef..smh..

>:(
free

however, i admit this has piqued my interest now. after more searches, i’ve learned that this is actually the SECOND time she questioned gibbs about desiree. the first time was a long, drawn but decent Q&A. so she came in AGAIN trying to beat a dead horse and i guess he wanted to check her.
ShoYaRight

@ lovinme

Regardless of whether Robert didn’t like the question, if the question could have been phrased better or if it was just irrelevant, he should not have spoken to an accomplished professional journalist in that manner. Even her peers were taken back by Robert’s patronizing and offensive response.
free

i mean, the second DAY of questioning by her about this matter.
ShoYaRight

@ Daisy

As social secretary for the President, it is customary for her or someone from her staff at the checkpoint to ensure that if any questions arise about the guest list, someone will be there to address them. Desiree did not do that. At the very list, she should have made herself available had questions arose and the Secret Service tried to get in contact with Desiree and/or her staff and they were unreachable. That’s her role in this and that’s why they wanted her to testify before Congress.
lovinme

@ShoYaRight

She should have acted as such then… Im sorry I dont care who you are act like you got some damn buisness about yourself and you will be treated as such… The journalists always come in there and act like they can ask any kind of question anyway…. someone needs to check they a$$.. its been done to many a journalist in different ways in this adminstration and others.

Im sorry she came across as rude from the jumo and you or I dont know how mnay times she has asked questions and what tone she used.
lovinme

renegadesince1985 Says:

The question she was hounding him for an answer was whether or not there has been talk amongst REP and DEM about Desiree outshining Michelle Obama. She could have cared less about national security. She was trying to get the inside gossip it seems like. Meanwhile, unemployment is at a high, troops going to Afghanistan …she wants to ask some dumb **** about whether Desiree is “outshining” Michelle? She deserved exactly what she got. I would have been annoyed by her too..acting like a high school kid trying to start some beef..smh..

—————————————————–

Exactly my point!!! lol
Thomas

I saw the video this weekend and am also in agreement that her race had nothing to do with the exchange. She was badgering Gibbs. How could he respond with her constant interruptions? The “gusto” she was displaying should have been aimed at Bush when wanted to invade another country “looking” for WMD that didn’t exist. The Belle of the Ball??? Seriously? Out of everything that is happening, this is what you chose to grill the press secretary on? Lor Jay Be!
chase

Yeah this had nothing to do with national security and more to do with gossip. This had nothing to do with her being black and everything to do with her bringing gossip and innuendo’s to the White House. I doubt she would of asked President Bush that question….
SunnyPA

ShoYaRight Says:
As social secretary for the President, it is customary for her or someone from her staff at the checkpoint to ensure that if any questions arise about the guest list, someone will be there to address them. Desiree did not do that. At the very list, she should have made herself available had questions arose and the Secret Service tried to get in contact with Desiree and/or her staff and they were unreachable. That’s her role in this and that’s why they wanted her to testify before Congress.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
lovinme

@chase

I agree and i know for damn Sure she wouldnt have asked Obama himself that.
M_promp2

@renegadesinece1985
The question childish and as if she was trying to start mess. She acted as if she wanted it to be a riff between Michelle and Desiree. Like some high school ish. I agree she got exactly what she deserved and I hope her boss got in that azz too.

Sandra,
“Would Gibbs have been so condescending if the reporter was black? Can the Obama administration do anything right?”
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Are you saying the reporter what white? ID get that statement. She looked black to me and she still got what she deserved. I think the Obama Admin. handled the childish mess accordingly. Why do you hate him so much? ID get it.

@Shoyaright, are you serious? SMMFH I wont waste much more time on that nonsense than that.
free

@m_promp2, i agree w/shoyaright, desiree has a JOB to do and she wasn’t on it.

i can’t help but get a bad feeling about this because obama is a person who is usually ON POINT. i liked that about him. however, this is some straight MESS going on w/desiree. obama is really not holding her accountable and she should be, to some extent. things like this bring out the weaknesses in his staff and this is a weak link.
ShoYaRight

@ M_promp2

Yes, I’m serious and so is Congress. Put down the koolaid and slowly walk away.
lovinme

Wonder how many of the previous social secreteries were standing at the gate checking names?

Aint no Koolaid drinkin here (why is it called that) cause i am not a supporter of Obama but I just feel like they are really taken this overboard as far as this chics roll.

Its the secret service job to check and verify identies these folks had no invitation yet the Secret Service let them in.
SouthernPrincess

http://losangelespublicrelations.com/april-ryan/02311

Above is a link providing the transcript of what transpired between Gibbs and Ryan.

Ryan was unprofessional and out of line.
ShoYaRight

@ lovinme

No one is saying that the only option was for Desiree to be at the gate. She could and should have delegated that task to a staff member. The White House admitted that this practice is customary of social secretaries and the Obama administration has announced that this policy will be strictly enforced immediately.
Imalover

The reporter was completely out of line for this unprofessional trivial question. She should have reserved that question for her Saturday morning visit to the beauty shop where it belonged. If she wants to be taken seriously as a journalist she should attempt to sound less like a commenter on an urban blog (not this one, we’re not simple up in here)and go to the wizard to request depth, knowledge, and tact.
lovinme

Today is the 68th Anniversery of the attack on Pearl Harbor. May the men and women who lost thier lives that day continue to Rest In Peace.
lovinme

@ShoYaRight

Okay I get where your coming from but she wasnt the only point of failure How does the Secret Service let someone in without invite. They already admitted that they failed to follow protocol. And just as every administration before this one is not protecting Desiree just like bush did to one of his staffers its the norm when it comes to stuff like that. (so it seems)

Either way ole girl was out of line her questiion was in no way related to National Security….
lovinme

@Imalover

she looked like a damn fool … seemed like she was trying to start some ish between the two ladies
Imalover

@ lovinme… Exactly!!
bigqdawg

@lovinme

A “kool-aid drinker” is a person who blindly accepts a leader or a cause, often to their own detriment. You might be too young to remember the Jonestown massacre in the 1970’s, when all of the followers of the Rev. Jim Jones committed suicide by drinking cyanide-laced kool aid, but that’s where the term comes from. Most people think the term has racial overtones, but it doesn’t.
lovinme

@bigqdawg

Yes being a 80’s baby I think so but you know Im bout to read about it.

Ahh now it all makes sense Im glad I finally asked thanks
http://facebook.com/cristinalex Crislex

It just seems to me this jounalist needs to be working for a gossip blog or starting her own damn one. WTH? Did Desiree outshine The First Lady? WHO GIVES A DAMN?? You should be asking about the breach in security for the dinner and also what will happen to the crashers that keep assuming they were invited.

And Desiree Rogers is the Public Relations and Event Planner for the White House. She is not security. Security should have handled that situation. She obviously made her list of invited quest and put it together and sent out invites. If you behind didn’t get one then the SECURITY should have handled it better and escorted Mr. and Mrs. Invite-Ourselves to the nearest exit. People just want to place blame.
http://facebook.com/cristinalex Crislex

AND Why is it she is the only BLACK JOURNALIST worried about who outshines who? What are we that silly and jealous to worry about what two successful black women are doing and whos out doing who? Sometimes sounds like a typical black female trait. GEEZ
gadgetgirl

i don’t think it had anything to do with her being black. she was getting on his nerves. hell she was getting on my nerves. it wasn’t that deep, and she tried to make it seem like it was.
JustSayin

I was actually embarrassed for the reporter… She came off as if she were writing for an urban blog and wanted the real T. It also seemed as if she has something personal against Desiree..I think Gibbs did the best he could with her ignorant a$$.

JustSayin
talldrink

The security of the president is not a STUPID question. April’s question was valid. Had it been so irrelevant then the admin. would have let her testify before congress.

Bobby was stupid as hell for his behavior, but in true black girl style she set him fresh as hell.

I emailed the whitehouse about that shit. Go April. How stupid are the ppl who are saying this is a non issue. Desiree should have been at the frickin’ gate, checking invites. Note to Obama, don’t hire your friends to save your life.
ShoYaRight

Great points talldrink! Couldn’t have said it better!!!
Kimi

The question was stupid, and I Robert Gibbs!!
starr2910

i was lmao when he said that….that lady was so extra and out of line..talking about “don’t play with me”..why does she think she’s so big and bad?? well at least now they know not to invite her ass anywhere again! acting like she has no home training..