Chip Reid And Helen Thomas Take WH Gibbs Down

White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs fields questions from CBS's Chip Reid with Helen Thomas in uncontainable support (ctrl-click to launch video). Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Chip Reid And Helen Thomas Take WH Gibbs Down

Transparency, openness, townhall, open forum, staff communications, dissenting views, Gibbs snarky push-offs and giggling were all elements in this White House press corps Q&A briefing yesterday in anticipation of President Barack Obama's healthcare "townhall" style meeting scheduled for later in the day.

CBS's Chip Reid with Helen Thomas in uncontainable support (ctrl-click to launch video). Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

"The point is the control from here. We have never had that in the White House. And we have had some control but not this control. I mean I'm amazed, I'm amazed at you people who call for openness and transparency and have controlled..." veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas said Wednesday.

View from the podium of White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs as he fields questions from CBS's Chip Reid with Helen Thomas in uncontainable support (ctrl-click to launch video). Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

After the townhall meeting was held, it was discovered that ALL of the people in attendance were, IN FACT, hand picked Obama supporters and all of the questions were on some level, pre-screened.

One of the most poignant moments came at the last question when Obama scanned the crowd and "randomly" pick someone for the question ... this person, who it was revealed had Cancer during the course of the question, was planted by the event organizers and Barack Obama was in on the ... THEATER of the staging.

.. and the insults to everyone's intelligence keep on being delivered here in Carter's Second Term!