The Left has been taking pot shots at Bob Woodward for a week over his stance on the sequester, but following Woodward’s claim on CNN tonight that a senior White House official told him he’d “regret” calling out the president on “moving the goal posts,” Obama’s water carriers had to kick into high gear their campaign to discredit Woodward.
Coming spin: "Woodward's strange shift to right-wing talking points risks his reputation as one of the great American journalists," etc.
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) February 27, 2013
It didn’t take long for that “coming spin” to arrive.
Media Matters attacks Bob Woodward, White House threatens Bob Woodward, now all the people he inspired are turning on him. #CultofObama
— RBe (@RBPundit) February 28, 2013
Bob Woodward was as close to a deity as you could get on the left. He calls out Obama once and the cult goes for the jugular.
— RBe (@RBPundit) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/status/306927823464054784
Woodward is telling the truth about the Obama Administration? He must be a right-winger now! Why else would a reporter do such a thing??
— (((AG))) (@AGHamilton29) February 28, 2013
Remember when the Left believed the Bush WH instead of Bob Woodward? Or any reporter? On anything? Ever? #NopeYouDon't
— 100 Proof (@ChampionCapua) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/306928256605638656
https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/306928870270050304
Which of the “juiceboxers” will be among the first to stand with the White House? How about Talking Points Memo’s Josh Marshall?
Wow, looks like Woodward is going the full David Mamet/Judy Miller combo. This is gonna be fun to watch
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 28, 2013
Who goes birther first, Scalia or Woodward?
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 28, 2013
If you’re a journalist attacking Bob Woodward because he told the truth about Obama, you need to reevaluate your life -> @joshtpm #tcot
— RBe (@RBPundit) February 28, 2013
Make room for Time’s Mike Grunwald — he too stands with “the Obama guy.” We can assume, then, that such a guy exists and Woodward isn’t making this up.
The Obama guy was right. Woodward will regret this. He already should.
— Michael Grunwald (@MikeGrunwald) February 28, 2013
The official DC-Woodward story is that the hostage-takers are right because Obama came up with the idea of how to pay the ransom.
— Michael Grunwald (@MikeGrunwald) February 28, 2013
"I don't understand this White House," Woodward said. He's right about that.
— Michael Grunwald (@MikeGrunwald) February 28, 2013
Anyone else?
Bob Woodward is senile. Or maybe he is encouraging President Obama to break the law so he can be relevant again with an expose.
— Steve Weinstein (@steveweinstein) February 27, 2013
"Bob Woodward has lost it, let's all stop indulging him." – @pareene http://t.co/BnNaQvkQ3f
— Salon (@Salon) February 28, 2013
Am I crazy to read "regret" here as "regret being wrong"? This is something flacks yell at reporters a lot. http://t.co/IsN1R4lCsR
— Ben Smith (@benyt) February 28, 2013
Here’s an example of that tireless search for the truth at work in today’s media, courtesy of Roland S. Martin.
Bob Woodward says Pres Obama came up with the idea of sequestration. I DON'T CARE. Congress passed. He signed it. NOW FIX IT!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) February 28, 2013
NOBODY outside of Washington, D.C. gives a flip about who came up with the idea. If Bob Woodward is right, great. Wonderful. And? FIX IT!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) February 28, 2013
The Obama Administration should stop wasting time responding to Bob Woodward. That feeds his ego and DC journalists go ga ga. FIX IT!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) February 28, 2013
Folks who think MSM is "liberal" may have trouble explaining why the White House has threatened WashPost's Woodward (as he claims)
— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) February 28, 2013
How do I reconcile the Bob Woodward story w claim that MSM is in tank for Obama White House? Asking for a friend.
— David Frum (@davidfrum) February 28, 2013
@davidfrum Look at everyone in the MSM who's dismissing Woodward, if not making thinly veiled threats. And you don't have any friends.
— China is lying (@jtLOL) February 28, 2013
Well, David Frum, you could begin by checking around to see how many real journalists in the mainstream media — many of whom would admit Woodward inspired them to go into journalism — have come out to stand with him in his reporting. For those who still have the ability to be outraged over threats to reporters originating from within the White House, Legal Insurrection created the #StandWithWoodward hashtag.
#StandWithWoodward http://t.co/5ZsRMRGxYM /his honesty and free speech have made him a target of the Chicago thug machine in the White house
— Fuzzy Slippers (@fuzislippers) February 28, 2013
#StandWithWoodward You go, Bob! Your reporting brought one Presidential resignation, maybe this will be your second and proudest moment.
— PoliticalWoman (@political_woman) February 28, 2013
@RedBrightandTru Can I freak out over this? He's, like, legendary. Now he's being threatened. #StandWithWoodward
— Emily Baxter (@EmilyBaxter613) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/rickswift/status/306933607396700161
R govt is so full of $&@" they should be tossed out diapers and all. #tcot #StandWithWoodward
— FullFrontalTruth (@truth_full) February 28, 2013
One would think that other journalists would realize that they are being used by Obama and his minions. #StandWithWoodward
— kim jossfolk (@shoegal90) February 28, 2013
You’d think that, wouldn’t you. Could this be the wake up call?
Hey Beltway Media, if you’re not going to defend BOB WOODWARD from this kind of attack from THE GOVERNMENT, you’ve failed your profession.
— RBe (@RBPundit) February 28, 2013
* * *
Update:
Someone sent out the talking points.
— RBe (@RBPundit) February 28, 2013
It looks that way. Obama’s palace guard are beginning to settle on the story that Woodward’s just trying to make the story about him, and besides, the White House official’s email to Woodward was anything but a “threat.” Don’t you people understand friendly ribbing when you see it? And perhaps most important: you, the American people, don’t care. The media will let you know when you should care.
https://twitter.com/AdamSerwer/statuses/306957964793749504
https://twitter.com/JohnSunununu/status/306958505972211715
http://twitter.com/mattyglesias/statuses/306950755955384321
http://twitter.com/mattyglesias/statuses/306953371573698560
http://twitter.com/mattyglesias/statuses/306960181894463489
FIXED: the DC clown car game continues as Hannity tries to cry tears on Fox becus WH "threatened" poor Bobby Woodward; #verklempt
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) February 28, 2013
Bob Woodward story makes twitter boring.
— amyweingartensalv… (@amysalv) February 28, 2013
Thank God! Was wondering when DC press would turn sequester story into a story about them. #thanksWoodward
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) February 28, 2013
but he was THREATENED; @amysalv: Bob Woodward story makes twitter boring.
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) February 28, 2013
Woodward deserves a lot of credit for taking a macro story about DC dysfunction, competing econ theories & making it all abt him #journalism
— Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) February 28, 2013
Actual WH to Woodward quote, via @politico: "You will regret staking out that claim." Bit less explosive http://t.co/1Niw6vS6wl
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) February 28, 2013
There's no story so big that DC media can't turn it into a self-colonoscopy.
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) February 28, 2013
I know I'm on vacation, but I've gotten threats from both Obamaland and Romneyland. 'You'll regret this' is like a walk in the park
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) February 28, 2013
http://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/statuses/306958195346243585
http://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/statuses/306963000290574336
http://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/statuses/306963370144329729
https://twitter.com/joshgreenman/status/306952300549779456
https://twitter.com/joshgreenman/status/306954013960724481
https://twitter.com/slone/status/306956745815781376
https://twitter.com/joshgreenman/status/306959073738366976
I can't get past thinking, man, that ain't a threat.
— Sam Youngman (@samyoungman) February 28, 2013
My point is this: if you find that intimidating, you probably shouldn't be covering the WH. Folks gotta toughen up.
— Sam Youngman (@samyoungman) February 28, 2013
Well that was fun for less than 10 minutes. I take it back. I've never even heard of Bob Woodmore. Goodnight, twitter.
— Sam Youngman (@samyoungman) February 28, 2013
You can watch the groupthink setting in. It's a fascinating, organic process as it crystallizes in a shield around Obama.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 28, 2013
* * *
Update:
CNN’s Jim Acosta says he has the straight scoop from a White House official. Of course it wasn’t a threat-threat; Woodward would simply regret being so wrong.
WH official on Woodward: "Of course no threat was intended."
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 28, 2013
WH official on Woodward: "note suggested that Mr. Woodward would regret the observation he made… because that observation was inaccurate"
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 28, 2013
Update:
Politico has released the text of Woodward’s email exchange with the White House.
Related:
All the president’s stenographers: How the toady media tried to make Woodward ‘regret’ his reporting
Obama henchman David Plouffe: Bob Woodward should be put out to pasture
Bob Woodward: ‘Very senior person’ at White House said you’ll ‘regret’ reporting on sequester
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