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‘You Will Regret…’:The Full ‘Threat’ Email a Top White House Official Sent Bob Woodward

Feb. 28, 2013 10:05am Madeleine Morgenstern

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Veteran Washington journalist Bob Woodward rocked the political and media world Wednesday after he claimed that a senior White House official threatened him over his reporting that President Barack Obama was actually behind the imminent forced federal budget cuts known as sequestration.

Woodward told Politico the exchange occurred in an email after the aide, later reported to be economic adviser Gene Sperling, “yelled at [him] for a half-hour.” The line in question: “You’re focusing on a few specific trees that give a very wrong impression of the forest. But perhaps we will just not see eye to eye here. … I think you will regret staking out that claim.”

Woodward “repeated the last sentence, making clear he saw it as a veiled threat. “ ‘You’ll regret.’ Come on,” he said. “I think if Obama himself saw the way they’re dealing with some of this, he would say, ‘Whoa, we don’t tell any reporter ‘you’re going to regret challenging us.’”

Politico published the email exchange between Sperling and Woodward in full Thursday morning:

From Gene Sperling to Bob Woodward on Feb. 22, 2013

Bob:

I apologize for raising my voice in our conversation today. My bad. I do understand your problems with a couple of our statements in the fall — but feel on the other hand that you focus on a few specific trees that gives a very wrong perception of the forest. But perhaps we will just not see eye to eye here.

But I do truly believe you should rethink your comment about saying saying that Potus asking for revenues is moving the goal post. I know you may not believe this, but as a friend, I think you will regret staking out that claim. The idea that the sequester was to force both sides to go back to try at a big or grand barain with a mix of entitlements and revenues (even if there were serious disagreements on composition) was part of the DNA of the thing from the start. It was an accepted part of the understanding — from the start. Really. It was assumed by the Rs on the Supercommittee that came right after: it was assumed in the November-December 2012 negotiations. There may have been big disagreements over rates and ratios — but that it was supposed to be replaced by entitlements and revenues of some form is not controversial. (Indeed, the discretionary savings amount from the Boehner-Obama negotiations were locked in in BCA: the sequester was just designed to force all back to table on entitlements and revenues.)

I agree there are more than one side to our first disagreement, but again think this latter issue is diffferent. Not out to argue and argue on this latter point. Just my sincere advice. Your call obviously.

My apologies again for raising my voice on the call with you. Feel bad about that and truly apologize.

Gene

Read Woodward’s response to Sperling here.

The White House has denied threatening Woodward, telling Politico, “Of course no threat was intended. As Mr. Woodward noted, the email from the aide was sent to apologize for voices being raised in their previous conversation. The note suggested that Mr. Woodward would regret the observation.”

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Comments (173)

Spur
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 5:13pm
I agree that the email ALONE doesn’t seem like much of a threat.

What the general media and many on this comment board seem to be missing is the CONTEXT of the email. This email was sent after Mr. Woodward was verbally attacked by Gene Sperling, the writer of the email.

Apparently, Mr. Sperling “yelled” at Mr. Woodward for “a half-hour” over the phone because he was reporting unfavorably on President Obama. In my opinion, this email feels designed to read like an apology while functioning as a “CYA” move by Mr. Sperling. Rather than saying “I’m sorry – I behaved badly and apologize for that” this email goes into detail about policy, history, etc. defending Obama’s actions and parroting liberal talking points.

Keeping in mind Mr. Woodward is a liberal with close ties to the White House, this probably shook him up quite a bit and clearly left him upset and very uncomfortable. It is clearly understandable that he would see an implied threat in the softer words of the email WHEN TAKEN IN CONTEXT with the verbal attack heaped upon him by its writer.

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RoseAmerica
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 5:02pm
Anyone who doubts the validity of the threat against Woodward for daring to be an actual journalist, note the trashing of him from other lappies since yesterday. How swiftly Woodward went from being the esteemed supporter of Obama to the old folks home glory days monger.\
But this is just the beginning of the leak in Obama’s boat. He doesn’t have any real people skills, and Woodward is one coon you don’t want to trap up a tree.

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LOJ
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 4:39pm
Since when doesn’t a journalist have the right to disagree on the issues. Sperling: “I think that you will regret staking out that decision”…Ha, and thats putting it mildly. This sequestration is being used to trash and blame the Republicans, so that we will eventually become a One Party system.

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wowjustwow
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 3:28pm
I don’t know why this site isn’t reporting this, but it’s noteworthy. Congress (both sides of the aisle) seems to be getting ready to go after “too big to fail banks”…thought I’d spread some cheerful news that we can all be happy about (if it actually happens).

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Basharr
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 3:17pm
I think damage control is the reason behind the apology which I would not take as heartfelt. There are some telling phrases that speak to insincerity. “My Bad” being quite telling. It is the speak talk of people unwilling to engage on a level of importance and sincerity, it is more of a way used to in a sense say sorry but no harm no problem.

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Guidothecat
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 3:16pm
Doesn’t Sperling have Spell Check?

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jowettusmc
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 3:07pm
Woodward is credited with taking down Nixon; do you think he could do the same with Owebummer?

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- RoseAmerica
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 5:11pm
  Now that the Obama cronies are going after Woodward, he doesn’t have anything to lose but to really spill the beans. Others are also dfecting, partly because they just can’t stand this president, and the other reason is because the ship is starting to sink and don’t want to go down with it. It’s like the economy, the fear of a bad economy can create one, abandoning ship for fear it is sinking, is what ultimately does sink the ship. I still think the MSM are cowards, (except for a few) and they will go with the populace. The populace is shifting, so time to jump and speed up the reality.
  
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- RoseAmerica
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 5:19pm
  I think he wouldn’t have anything to lose by trying.
  
  Report this comment
Ricolip
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 2:53pm
The media fell in love with the idea of having our first black President and totally ignored his lack of experience and his adolescent political ideologies. It appears his administration is now going after the very people who ignored his arrogant disregard for the Constitution–1st amendment rights in this instance. The President takes an oath to uphold the Constitution but this President actively campaigns against 2nd Amendment rights and now is abusing the 1st Amendment. Woodward brought down Nixon, so he is a warrior.

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- RoseAmerica
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 5:15pm
  And Woodward just might want to go down with a BANG. I mean, if they are going to crucify Woodward for crying foul, he might just decide to publish this administrations dirty underwear.
  
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Margyt
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 2:48pm
I predicted that the BO press would start to turn on him in order to prepare for a Hillary run for 2016. It is happening. I think the press who have been choking down what BO has been dishing are secretly very happy to be able to call him out on his lies. The attempt to control the press is well known and it does dramatically color what news we get. Without access, there is no news to report, so the media will take watered down or skewed reporting as a cheap substitute for the real thing. Now, though, they feel some courage to push back and there has to be a reason. No way this is the first time this has happened to Woodward. I have heard him play the party line on things way more important than this one.

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kickthemouse
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 2:46pm
They will regret their actions. If we were to form a re-newing set of founding fathers who shall we pick? Glen, Rush, Rand, … Give me your thoughts. Let’s get our party in line.

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- kickthemouse
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 2:50pm
  Dr Carson , Herman Cain,
  
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melbach
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 2:33pm
Glad someone has finally spoken up. I do, however, disagree with Woodward on one thing–I don’t think that the president would be bothered by it at all. He may pretend to be, but actions speak louder than words.

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ellietoo
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 2:24pm
No threat. I sounds like a promise to me. He will regret speaking a bit of truth. You cannot cross this criminal regime without paying the consequences.

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John.Galt
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 2:06pm
“The idea that the sequester was to force both sides to go back to try at a big or grand barain with a mix of entitlements and revenues (even if there were serious disagreements on composition) was part of the DNA of the thing from the start.”

OUTRIGHT LIE. THE SEQUESTER WAS APPROVED BY THE R’s SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT DID NOT CONTAIN TAX INCREASES.

BESIDES, THE TOP TAX BRACKED JUST WENT UP FROM 36% TO 43.8%, A WHOPPING 28% INCREASE, DUE TO THE FISCAL CLIFF DEAL AND THE NEW OBAMACARE TAX ON THE JOB CREATORS. AND THERE WERE NO CUTS IN THAT “BALANCED” APPROACH…

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napoleon_solo
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:50pm
Are you people really this lazy? Do you swallow everything the WH shovels into your mouith? The threat was made in a 30-minute phone call. The email is Sperling’s attempt to cover his behind. Wake the H up!

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shelgor
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:50pm
I don’t know why I am dumfounded…..but HOW DUMB does the POTUS ( or at least the jerk Sperling ) think ‘we’ are……

How dumb can you be to ‘put it in writing ‘….even leave a voice mail message …..and then, DENYING responsibility …..These are YOUR elected and appointed leaders folks…..and they not only walk among us…..they ‘legislate’ YOU LIFE…..albeit a Chicago crook, gangster, thief template

Note to Bob Woodward: I would go on every prime time show that you can and SHOW the eMail, and play any voice recordings that you have to EXPOSE the RATS for what they are….and it would be an honor to help / support you in anyway I can

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Mathchopper
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:49pm
Ya think lib Woodward might finally see the light in his old age? Better late than never. Sorta like getting shot with a Priest in the foxhole with him.

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- napoleon_solo
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:55pm
  Fool. Sheep. The threat was made in the phone call that preceded the email. The email was an attempt to pretty it up and you and these pseudo journalists are swallowing the WH misdirection. Idiots.
  
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JackSprat
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:32pm
Slowly but surely the mask is slipping off. Tyrants only take what the subjects allow them to take in the beginning. Little noticed at first, the tyrant gets more brazen as time goes on. The mainstream press was suppose to be in the tyrants back pocket. Thank God there are those that are finally waking up to the power plays of this tyrannical administration. Truth seeks its’ own level and it always has a way of exposing itself. All it takes is an incident which will require drastic measures for the tyrant to take off his mask completely. It will happen, it is in the genetics of this corrupt administration, they cannot help themselves. If you don’t have your eyes open yet, you soon will!

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cbrown
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:32pm
Woodward comes across so petty and petulant. Now he has to manufacture controversy in order to seem to be still credible

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- UNALIEN
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:38pm
  your propaganda is well… unconvincing
  
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- cbrown
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:43pm
  @UNALIEN
  
  Did you read the response Woodward sent to Sperling. It seemed pretty cordial and was looking forward to engaging more with Sperling.
  
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jakartaman
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 1:02pm
What part of Chicago thugs don’t people understand.
History will be replete with facts regarding this sorry administration.
I hope we can survive the 4 years – maybe even some border line Democrats will grow some brain cells and see the truth.

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PlowMan
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:40pm
My problem with this whole thing is that this “sequester” is just a reduction of the increase over last year’s dollars spent. Why aren’t more people talking about this. You hear a few people bring it up on occasions but no one wants to go into any kind of deep discussion on it. Families, businesses, and local governments have to cut real dollars every day.

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Really2012
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:39pm
President Thug and his loyal Thugettes can’t have the truth coming out….

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- LOJ
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 4:41pm
  Its good that Woodward spoke out, because most of the country knows what this is about now and it shows the true intentions of the WH!
  
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wowjustwow
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:39pm
Even if you don’t like the left, you have to admit after reading the exchange that this was the biggest piece of propaganda crap to surface in a while.

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Newone
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:35pm
Sequester and Taxes starting tomorrow.

11 key United States Defense contractors. Lockheed Martin , Northrop Grumman , Boeing , Raytheon , General Dynamics , General Electric , L-3 Communications , Computer Sciences , Hewlett-Packard , Dell computers , Rockwell. “All fuel contractors”.

All of them “Price gouging” the U.S. taxpayer.

Do you think this “Sequesters” going to affect Defense contractors; their insider lobbyists are hard at work getting them around it.

Do you think these insider contractors going to “”Pay their fair taxes”” to help with the National Debt, They are not their “lobbyists and tax lawyers” are working hard on tax loopholes.

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gbgreta
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:14pm
What ever happened to Jake Tapper?
?
?

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- kat747
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:48pm
  Probably the same thing that happened to Vince Foster !
  
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heidihoneighbor
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:07pm
youWWhat grade is Gene Sperling in? His English is atrocious.

From the looks of the email he is a fr heaking wingnut.

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- heidihoneighbor
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 12:10pm
  DDroid screen sucks.
  For a journalist or politician to have such poor English should be embarrassing.
  that is what i was saying.
  
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