Gibbs: I have firsthand knowledge the president was furious. (ap)
The persistent flapdoodle over that unfortunate, psuedo Air Force One photo-op over New York City burbled on for a second (or is it third?) day at the White House Tuesday. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs tried valiantly the day before to kill the story by knowing nothing useful and referring all inquiries to the White House Military Office.
President Obama injected new life into the story Tuesday morning, when he responded to a question from the pool before an event at the FBI.
“It was a mistake as stated,” the president said. “It will not happen again.”
Such a kerfuffle! Gibbs was better prepared at Tuesday’s briefing and said Obama asked Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina to find out how the flyover came about. Nothing on the cost of the stunt or why New Yorkers weren’t notified.
Bottom line: The photo-op flap is proving an embarrassing distraction for the White House, as Obama preps for his 100th Day press conference Wednesday evening.
