The Big Blur

"Cotton candy down the street" White House press secretary Robert Gibbs is heard saying and then he continues with "it's a circus."

During a live press conference that was aired on C-Span, CNN and Fox amongst others, Robert Gibbs refers to his own briefing as a circus. It seemed strange, the laughter that proceeded the comment, was disjointed, nervous laughter. The press contingent was both visibly and audibly shocked into laughter at the going ons.

What happened was, two reporter's cell phones were heard 'going off' during what some had called a contentious White House briefing. Gibbs had 'gone off' as well, saying: "Just put it on vibrate, man." When a second phone (belonging to CBS' Bill Plante) began to ring it all appeared to get out of control and, quite conveniently, became comical.

Convenient because just prior to the cell phone antics Robert Gibbs was having a noticeably hard time with CNN's Ed Henry, as well as, ABC's Jake Tapper.
These two intrepid reporters {{tongue firmly planted in cheek... which incidentally sounds like tepid, when the tongue is in your cheek}} went back and forth with Gibbs about the President's decision not to release detainee abuse photos.

What? Abuse photos? Is that what the press briefing was all about?
NO. And nothing was out of control but strangely seemed staged.

Consider this: the press has had their cell phones ring many, many times before and Gibbs chose this ocassion to get upset about it? lt is all unbelievable. As if Robert Gibbs manipulated the press and cleverly used the ringing phones to do an impromptu misdirection. Trivializing, as Robert Gibbs has been known to do with tough questions, the subject of his own briefing.
Why? Because the administration badly wants the whole thing to go away. Misdirect and make trivial what could still be this administration's biggest blunder, the release of photos that would bog down the President's agenda. Yes, even though President Obama would like nothing more than to embarrass the last administration, he has learned that the release of the photos would hurt him more than anyone else.

Great performance Mr. Gibbs, you've succeeded at making it all a big blur.