Feb 28, 2013 4:05pmThe White House today adamantly denied that Gene Sperling threatened Bob Woodward, adding that the president’s top adviser on economic policy was “incredibly respectful” in his emails to the veteran journalist.
“I think you cannot read those emails and come away with the impression that Gene was threatening anybody,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.
Woodward has accused Sperling of threatening him last week over an op-ed he later published in the Washington Post that alleged President Obama is “moving the goalposts” by insisting Republicans agree to new tax revenue as part of any deal to avoid the so-called sequester.
Sperling is the director of the National Economic Council.
In one email, Sperling told Woodward, “I know you may not believe this, but as a friend, I think you will regret staking out that claim.”
Carney, a former White House reporter, stressed that he has “enormous respect for the work that Bob Woodward is famous for” and that this was just a “factual disagreement.”
“The president from day one, has been absolutely clear that in dealing with deficit reduction going forward and in replacing and eliminating the sequester, he believes we had to have balance,” Carney said.
“You’d have to have your head in your — in the sand not to know that. Everybody here has reported it ad nauseam. So, I think that’s the fact that Gene was concerned with.”
The feud between Woodward and the White House has distracted attention from the administration’s campaign to blame Republicans for the looming $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts set to kick in Friday.
Carney disagreed with the notion that tension between the White House and the media has escalated under the Obama administration.
via abcnews.go.com
The White House seems to be digging in rather than distancing themselves from the foolish comment that was apparently made by Presidential Adviser Gene Sperling. While Chicago-style thug tactics are not very surprising for this administration, the level of arrogance is--when a administration official believes that his britches are big enough to take on the veteran journalist, Bob Woodward, who took down Nixon and a bunch of his cronies--some even spending time in the clinker.
Surprised, but not amazed, I only hope that Woodward watches the skies carefully. This President has already exhibited his willingness to use military drones to kill private American citizens.
I hope that all Sperling intended by his threats was denying access to the White House. Even so, he MUST have some basis to think he can get away with this. Of course the White House is in full denial. But I have my money on Woodward. He ain't no dummy. He twern't born yesterday, nor is he over the hill (or Hill)--as some in the White House seem to want to imply as they seek to discredit the journalist's impeccable reputation.
does this White House really have no bounds as to how far they will go? No. this is apparent.