Gibbs: He will cut you! (cnn photo)
Once, traveling with former first lady Laura Bush in Jerusalem, journalist Jim VandeHei observed that compared with the rambunctious Israeli press corps, the traveling White House press came off like a bunch of “polite doormen.”
So it was again on Friday in Copenhagen, when White House press got shoved aside by Chinese cameramen during a meeting between President Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Compounding the indignity, press secretary Robert Gibbs had to step in and be the muscle.
Recounts CNN:
Gibbs attempted to gain access for American reporters after Chinese cameramen pushed into the room, and Chinese security behind then blocked the entrance to U.S. media attending the event.
Told “no photo” and “no press,” Gibbs responded: “Hold on. Hold. I’ve got to get my American guys in because everybody else got in…. My guys have to get just like your guys got in. This is a joint meeting, and my guys get in or we’re leaving. …”
The horror!
