Gibbs' Memory Lapse on Anti-Bush Protesters

The news that is not White House approved...

Earth to Robert

White House propagandist Robert Gibbs had a short-term memory lapse on Friday – either that or he has a very selective memory. Gibbs thinks Republicans are being uncivil when it comes to the health care debate.

Here's what he had to say:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY, NOV. 6: In this debate you hear analogies, you hear references to, you see pictures about depictions of individuals that are truly stunning. Imagine five years ago somebody comparing health care reform to 9/11. Imagine just a few years ago had somebody walked around with images of Hitler.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

"Imagine," Robert? I don't think we need to imagine because it actually happened. Left-wingers loved walking around with images of Hitler comparing President Bush to him and saying that the American government was a lot like Nazi Germany. I think they called it the Fourth Reich?

I just I thought I'd put things in context for you, Robert, since you seemed to have forgotten.

In the Weeds

Congressman Barney Frank has been pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana, and now we may know why. The congressman's partner, James Ready, was arrested in 2007 when police found marijuana, marijuana plants and bongs in his home.

Boston's WFXT-TV news station recently discovered that Congressman Frank was present when it happened. Actually he was sitting on the front porch. Nonetheless, he is maintaining his innocence.

Here's what he told the station:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. BARNEY FRANK, D-MASS., HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES CHAIRMAN, NOV. 6: The police are — went by me and went around the corner and said these are marijuana plants. And I said, "Gee, I didn't know." Frankly, I wouldn't have recognized one but they were out of my sight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now you're pushing a bill to legalize medical marijuana so you really didn't recognize it when you saw it?

FRANK: Right. I'm offended by the question because you're suggesting that you don't believe me. I don't think there's any basis for that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just asking you to clarify it.

FRANK: No. You're asking me in a tone of voice to suggest — you know, there's no basis for that. I am not a great outdoorsman. I am not — I do not smoke marijuana myself. I've never smoked marijuana. I don't know what the plants look like. I don't — I couldn't identify most plants.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

"Offended"?

Sounds likely, doesn't it?

Pawlenty in Iowa

We are getting closer to the election of 2012, and this past Saturday in the key primary state of Iowa, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty headlined a major GOP fundraiser. During his remarks, the governor pulled no punches when it came to President Obama and the issue of health care reform.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. TIM PAWLENTY, R-MINN., NOV. 7: We need to fix this health care system. It's busted. And the number one thing that people are concerned about is they're worried that they can't afford their health care anymore. And the promise of the federal legislation was supposed to be they're going to make it more affordable.

They're going to spend more money on health care in the federal budget, not less. Our premiums are going to go up, not down. They're going to have the federal government making health care decisions. My goodness, unless you're a Guantanamo detainee they can't even get us a reasonable time a vaccine for the H1N1 virus. How are they going to manage our health care?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

It sounds like somebody may be up for a challenge.

Look out, President Obama.

Fall of the Wall

Twenty years ago the world watched as the wall dividing East and West Berlin fell. For almost three decades the 96-mile concrete barrier imprisoned the people of East Berlin and at least 136 people were shot and killed as they try to cross the border.

But on the evening of November 9, 1989 the wall finally fell, and the world celebrated once again. Dominos were positioned where the wall once stood and a massive fireworks display marked the anniversary.

Without a doubt those who were in attendance were likely recalling this historic moment as well:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RONALD REAGAN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT, JUNE 12, 1987: General-Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate.

(CHEERS)

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.

(CHEERS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Only two short years later, President Reagan's hope was realized and the wall came down.

What a moment that was.

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