It’s Official: Gibbs Leaving the White House
- Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:02am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary and one of the most visible and forceful advocates for President Barack Obama, said Wednesday he is quitting his job to become an outside political adviser. The change is among the many expected in the coming days as Obama redefines his leadership team to gear up for a re-election bid and a more powerful Republican Party.
Gibbs said he would be leaving the White House by early February. The top contenders to replace him are two of his deputies, Bill Burton and Josh Earnest, and Jay Carney, who is communications director to Vice President Joe Biden.
The move allows Gibbs to escape the grinding pace of the press secretary’s job, make money giving speeches and spend more time with his wife, Mary Catherine, and their 7-year-old son, Ethan. From the outside, he will still be a key voice in Obama’s decision-making, and he will end up back in a pivotal role in Obama’s campaign for a second term.
The move will also change the dynamic of the White House, particularly combined with the coming departure of senior adviser David Axelrod, who, like Gibbs, has been at Obama’s side for his entire presidential run. Obama is losing daily proximity to two of the aides who best know the way he thinks and who remember personally all the pledges of the campaign.
To the world outside of Washington’s insular political scene, Gibbs is the rare White House staff member who is considered a familiar face. His sparring with reporters during his press briefings have filled hours of television the last two years.
Gibbs, 39, expressed huge gratitude for getting to serve in the White House. “Over the course of the next two years, we’re going to be involved in discussions about which direction to take this country, and in 2012, we’ll have a presidential election,” he said. “I don‘t have any fears that there won’t be plenty of roles (for himself) outside of the White House.”
Obama is also weighing a change at the top staff job at the White House and perhaps in all of politics: his chief of staff. The interim holder of that job, Pete Rouse, may leave soon, and the president is considering bringing in William Daley, the banking executive and former Commerce secretary under President Bill Clinton.
In the coming days and weeks, Obama is expected to have a new chief economic adviser, a new senior political counselor, and two new deputy chiefs of staff. Collectively, the moves reflect that change is coming to the White House in ways that will alter the dynamic of the place – and, in turn, will influence the agenda affecting the nation.
For all the insider intrigue that surrounds who is coming and going, the overlooked element is why.
One core factor shaping Obama’s thinking is the new dynamic in Washington. Republicans have won control of the House and eroded the Democratic majority in the Senate, which fundamentally changes the White House agenda.
Obama’s chief of staff must reorient his legislative and legal departments to deal with a Republican-led House. The White House will be on the defensive much more than the offensive, trying to protect and enforce the huge health care and Wall Street reform laws of the last year, and getting more organized to deal with aggressive Republican oversight.
Another issue at play is fatigue. People like Axelrod and Gibbs who have been with Obama from the start are ready for a break. So are others in a White House that has kept a crushing schedule. Some senior staff members are eager for fewer hours, more family time and a bigger private-sector salary. Staff members are being asked to either leave shortly or stay for the remaining two years of the term.
Soon to join the White House staff is David Plouffe, the architect of Obama’s presidential campaign, who will essentially replace Axelrod as the top political adviser. Gibbs, in turn, will work out of the private office near the White House that has been used by Plouffe, who has written a book and counseled Obama since the end of the 2008 election.
Gibbs said he and Obama have been discussing the spokesman’s departure for a while. “I’m going to continue to help him,” Gibbs said, “so he’s happy with that.”
How Obama is rebooting his operation is the broader story, and the aides guiding him are a central part of it.
The White House goal is to become more efficient and less insular, to realign itself for divided government, to find fresh voices and to get Obama re-elected. A major emphasis will be to ensure that the campaign works in tandem with the White House, with Obama loyalists spread across the parallel operations or helping from outside both of them.
Among the expected changes:
-Daley is under serious consideration to replace Rouse as chief of staff, which is considered the most important gatekeeping job in American politics. Rouse, a camera-shy adviser to Obama who has served smoothly as interim chief of staff, had never wanted to do it for long. If Rouse decides to leave, Daley will likely come aboard. No other scenarios are being strongly considered. Obama and Rouse are expected to decide shortly.
-Gene Sperling, a Treasury official and deficit hawk with ties to Wall Street and the Clinton administration, is considered most likely to become Obama’s chief economic adviser. That announcement could come as soon as Friday. Sperling would replace Lawrence Summers as director of the National Economic Council. The job becomes even more important considering that no task is more vital to Obama, both for the country’s well-being and his own political fortunes, than boosting job growth in a time of high unemployment.
-Jim Messina, the deputy chief of staff who juggles operations, politics and legislative roles, is expected to leave to run Obama’s re-election bid out of Chicago. He will likely be replaced by Alyssa Mastromonaco, whose portfolio would center on overseeing the operational aspects of the White House, including staffing and budgeting. Mona Sutphen, Obama’s deputy chief of staff for policy, is also expected to leave her post.
-Axelrod, one of Obama’s most trusted advisers and strategists, is leaving the White House after the State of the Union speech in January. He plans to recharge at home in Chicago and play a significant role in Obama’s re-election bid.
This story has been updated with a more extensive version.
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Comments (142)
lionslayer44
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:24amIt will be dificult to find someone who can lie as straight faced as gibbs (never do i capitalize anyone in the admins name or title). This guy was obscene, when he wasnt lying he was ripping the truth. He’s another rat following the pied piper (soros? obama?).
Report Post »littleangel
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:23amUh, um, uh, good!!! I couldn’t stand to listen to this idiot. Hope they get someone who can say a whole sentence with out the um, uh, um blather.
Report Post »AsBrokeAsAmerica
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:21amA talking puppet will soon be replaced with another mouth piece.! Maybe Obama will appoint his old pastor whom is a radical preaching revolution and hatred for America.
Report Post »midcoastmainepatriot
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:20amGood-bye Mr. Fibbs………… One more scum-bag bites the dust ……I cant wait until they are all GONE to the dust-bin of history
Report Post »REETZBEE
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:19amI’ve been waiting ah, ah, ah for this ah, ah headline for two years: “Gibbs is Leaving” He has got to be the worst public speaker in history. Hopefully they can replace him with someone who can complete a sentence while not mocking or showing complete distain for the whole room.
Report Post »lildeb56
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:19amYea! He has been the worst Press Secretary in my memory! Who is O gonna replace him, Alfred E Newman?
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:18amDoesn’t matter, there’ll be just another orifice there spewing out the same crap.
Report Post »Warphead
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:18amCaptain Obama say’s, Now nobody panic. Please return to your staterooms. We run into these kind of things (icebergs) all the time. Move along. Nothing to see here.
Report Post »AWatchman4Him
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:32amYeah!
You want a death stick ? No ! I dont want a death stick, You want to go home and rethink your life, ah ! I want to go home and rethink my life. Obama’s tactics only work on the weak minded !!!
Report Post »JohnQTaxpayer
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:18amWho will be the next liar to take the podium?
Report Post »123abc
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:18amGood, I never did like that arrogant son-of-a-gun. He was condescending and lied with a straight face. Good riddance!
Report Post »bbquizzle
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:18amDrat. They might hire someone competent now.
Bobby, you were good for many laughs. Much obliged. However, you won’t be missed.
Report Post »PITMASTER
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:17amRobert Fibbs is leaving? Great, now we get Bill Burton. I have it on good authority that Gibbs is moving to Chicago and will hook up with Rham Emanuel. Yep, Gibbs will sit on his lap and they’re doing comedy in downtown cocktail lounges.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:16amLet’s see, there is Chris Matthews (he still gets a thrill up his leg), Joy Behar (she still thinks he’s brilliant), Schultz is still looking for a job (and he has lots of friends who will give him recommendations), and the list goes on………fill in the blank with suggestions.
Report Post »Ray2447
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:16am“Gibbs leaving the White House.”
Don’t let the screen door hit your jackass.
Report Post »Warphead
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:14amI was beginning to wonder just how many times he could stick his foot in his mouth before finally choking. Most impressive.
Report Post »inexiletill2012
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:13amAnother rat desserts the ship
Wonder who the next will be ?………Clinton ?
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 2:34pmClinton is going to have to step down from her post soon….so she can run against Ohbummer next year.
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:13amWho is going to pay him to give speeches????? I always Figured he was Blackmailing Obama to keep his job.
He is “Butt Stupid”
Report Post »AWatchman4Him
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:12amIt’s about time ! He has been an embarrassment to this country, hands down.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:11amI here Keith Olbermann will be taking his place…no wait. Olbermann already works as one of O‘Barry’s press secretaries.
Report Post »Ray2447
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:20amWhy not Katie Couric for the next press secretary? If I’d never seen Gibbs, I‘d have thought she was already Obama’s press secretary.
Report Post »MPS
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:11amWhen your mouthpiece can’t articulate lies to your liking anymore, throw him under the bus….
Report Post »BuckOfama
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:10amYeah, I heard he is also taking over for the Pillsbury Doughboy on tv and public appearances…
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:09amGood! I’m tired of his lying face. I wonder who the next lying face will be.
Report Post »OkieDokie
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:08amYou mean that smart A$$ is going???? We put up with his mouth for two years; should been gone with their first smart A$$ remark he did.
Report Post »GEW
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:07amYou know what this means, we will see this guy on every single lib-media there is all the time. Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesa
Report Post »Hoosier Daddy
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:41amSince I don’t watch unwatchable liberal TV gabfests, I’m not concerned. Staff changes to the Obama Show mean nothing. It’s all about the “O”, baby.
Report Post »not funny
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 3:57pmTwo years of campaigning for Obama, starting now—when does this nonsense end?
Report Post »Devil Dog 7175
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 6:50pmI hope in 2012
Report Post »Cookiepuss
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:06amBye Bye Gibsy! Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out!…..You won’t be missed! freak!
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:11amMore of the “transparent” Obama administration at work. I’m sure there is nothing shady going on here. Gibbs opening his own business, with Obama as his main client. Sounds pretty shady to me. How about the rumor that a Daily will be replacing him? That’s what we need, more of that Chicago style politics in Washington.
http://www.donsmithshow.com – Conservative news and political humor.
Report Post »c10win
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:15amOh no, the pasty white guy is gone! What are we to do????
Report Post »Warphead
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:15amDon’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!!!
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:16amC-ya Gibbs, you smarmy jerk!
Report Post »bbquizzle
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:20amMaybe Anita Dunn and that weird lip-licking thing she has going on can replace him. Or perhaps that nice young man from MSNBC, Maddow. The possibilities are limitless…
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:22amThe problem is that we will probably see more of him now. He’ll be all over the news channels now being an “outsider” to the administration. Doh!
Report Post »justanamerican
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:24amIs he still gonna do the Mac vs.PC commercials…. PC in his case refers to Politically Correct
LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5skuYPa_fY
Report Post »Reagan/DeMint.disciple
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:31amWho’s gonna hire this moron to speak non sense ???
Report Post »Bulletproofed
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:33amThe king of UH….uh…….uh………uh.uh.uh ….uh uh uh and they said bush was stupid, o my God!
He’s leaving to go back to his freshman year!!!
Report Post »BMartin1776
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:42amBuh Bye you clueless slob! Robert “Baghdad Bob” Gibbs you sir WILL NOT be missed and will go down in history as this regimes propagandist. BUT like Van Jones he isnt really leaving guys just changing the title he will stand have a hand just out of the spotlight. IMO this is BHO trying to paint a nicer picture of himself, bending to way votes as he prepares for next years election.
We need to find out about this new endeavor of his and who he will be dealing with! This man is dangerous propagandist maybe we were better off with Gibbs being where we could watch him.
56 men, our Founding Fathers, had the guts to stand up and do what’s right, what about you? http://www.savingtherepublic.com
Report Post »Kalish
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 12:20pmGibb’s said Wednesday he is quitting his job to become an outside political adviser.
A political advisor ? seriously ? That guy doesn’t have a clue, I guess some no-truth no-brain liberal organization will pick him up though
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 12:25pmOutside Political Advisor? Does that mean he will now be an officially paid liar and conartist for the administration?
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
Report Post »Curator_JDR
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 12:46pmI won’t be singing “Gone Too Soon” Bye-bye Gibbs. If you have a gov’t pension, I will be angry.
This animated short feature exposes the insanity of the Progressives with BIG TIME HUMOR. http://www.marcrubin.com/hairmerica.ivnu It also gives us a new hilarious new visual image for the enemy (domestic and foreign) which unites us. This is as important as Rosie the Riveter. Images matter. Thats why Progressives hate art and try to destroy it.
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 12:47pmUnfortunately it won’t make a difference. Burton is just as arrogant (check out the interview with Megyn Kelly) as Gibbs. The arrogance is ingrained in the system within this administration.
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 1:01pmHey, he had the hardest job in the world. He had to defend the indefensible and promote a not quite ready for prime time adolescent with a below normal IQ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIqryU3Sp54
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 1:01pmWe are onto your shenanigans, LIAR-in-CHIEF. You are playing political musical chairs, to give the appearance of a new “bipartisan, left-center agenda.” Know this, Mr. Traitor: We the People are not fooled. The Republican agenda must still be NO to your Marxist agenda: investigate, defund, repeal all things Obama.
Report Post »KenM
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 1:46pmCode for:
“He got tired of lieing for the President. He is now gowing to become a lobbiest and try see if he can leverage a position at FOX or CNN. Word is a tell all book is coming soon”
Why am I such a cynical guy?
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 2:52pmI say replace him with Biden’s Comm. Dir., Jay Carney. We already have Arni the Carney in charge of Education. Why not have another Carney in the circus tent wowing and preaching about the new mircle government tonic that BHO is selling?
Report Post »*************************
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 3:00pmGibson gone means one less liar in the White House. Time to mop up (no “socialist mop”, thank you) the rest of the mess in there, too. Start with the Illegal alien Kenyan …
“What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on here? I hired you people to try to get a little track laid, not to jump around like a bunch of Kansas City fággots!” -boss Taggart, Blazing Saddles
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 3:23pmSomehow, I always expected the first words out of his mouth to be “WHAT, ME WORRY”! http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »avenger
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 3:58pmhow did this dope get so twisted to work for the marxist……must be a ritalin baby…
Report Post »Sparky101
Posted on January 5, 2011 at 6:49pmToo bad he can’t backdate his letter of resignation and leave two years ago.
Report Post »WTH
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 1:26amNa na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, GOODBYE! See ya Bobby! He always looked and sounded so put out by the press corp having the nerve to ask questions. Maybe Rahm will hire him. Good riddance!
Report Post »Derfel Cadarn
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 8:49amAnd in the land of the little people there was much rejoicing
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