Robert Gibbs Compares Reporter April Ryan To A Child

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs slammed April Ryan, a White House correspondent for the American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) on Thursday. While perhaps Gibbs was having a bad day, he went quite a bit over the top in his raking her over the coals (watch here).

April Ryan of AURN was asking questions about last week's state dinner feting Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. Ryan asked specifically if Desiree Rogers, White House Social Secretary, had been invited to last week’s state dinner.

While it seems like a relatively minor question, what happened, and it's clear from a transcript of the conversation, April Ryan was trying to foster some obvious tension. She was, from the transcript, trying to state that the White House may not have wanted Rogers to attend, as she might overshadow First Lady Michelle Obama.

April Ryan pressed the question quite a bit. The whole point, according to Ryan, was whether or not Desiree Rogers invited herself to the dinner, or if she was invited to the dinner by the White House.

After April Ryan repeated the question several times, Gibbs responded, “April, April, calm down. Just take a deep breath for one second. See, this happens with my son. He does the same thing.” Ooof, you could hear the audible “ohhs,” from other reporters. Gibbs stated that Rogers was in charge of organizing the event so obviously she would be there, but that was not Ryan's point. Her point was if the invitation came from the White House or herself.

Here is the transcript of the incident:

APRIL RYAN: Was there a concern in this White House that she came out being, some might have called her the ‘belle of the ball,’ overshadowing the first lady at the…

ROBERT GIBBS: I don’t who some are. I’ve never heard that. Again…

APRIL RYAN: Well, it’s been bantered around Washington, and it’s been in Democratic circles as well as Republican circles, high-ranking people…

GIBBS: April, I, I, that’s not a station I live in in life.

APRIL RYAN: Just answer the question, please.

GIBBS: Are you done speaking so I can?

APRIL RYAN: Oh yes, I’m done.

GIBBS: I’ve not heard any of that criticism. I’ve not read any of that criticism. The president, the first lady, and the entire White House staff are grateful for the job that she does. And thinks she has done a terrific and wonderful job pulling off a lot of big and important events here at the White House.

APRIL RYAN: Did she invite herself to the state dinner or was she a guest? Did the president invite her or did she put her… No, that’s a real question. Do not fan it off. I’m serious.

GIBBS: I, I, Jonathan-

RYAN: No, no, no. Did she invite herself or did the president ask her? Her name was on that list, and social secretaries are the ones who put the names on the list…

GIBBS: Right. Was she at the dinner? April, April, calm down. Just take a deep breath for one second. Now see? This happens with my son. He does the same thing. (

APRIL RYAN: Don’t play with me. I’m being serious. Do not blow it off.

GIBBS: I’m not… And I’m giving you a serious answer. Was she at the dinner? Yes. She’s the social secretary.

APRIL RYAN: Social secretaries are not guests of the dinner.

GIBBS: She had the primary responsibility for running the dinner. I’m going to get back to weightier topics like 98,000 men and women in Afghanistan.

Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com