"I would encourage him to read the president's plan..."
The White House on Friday launched a bullish retaliatory attack on cable television reporter Rick Santelli, saying his "rant" against President Obama's housing foreclosure plan is uninformed and dangerous.
...
"I'm not entirely sure where Mr. Santelli lives, or in what house he lives," Mr. Gibbs said, repeatedly blasting the reporter by name.
"I would encourage him to read the president's plan and understand that it will help millions of people, many of whom he knows. I would be more than happy to have him come here and read it. I would be more than happy to buy him a cup of coffee decaf."
...
Helped by prominent coverage from the Drudge Report, Mr. Santelli's strenuous denouncements of the president's housing plan on CNBC have become an Internet sensation. Mr. Santelli called for a "Chicago Tea Party" revolt against Mr. Obama's plans.
"The government is promoting bad behavior," Mr. Santelli said, calling on the administration to hold an Internet referendum to see if Americans really wanted to rescue those with bad mortgages.
It would have been helpful if Gibbs had encouraged Democrat Chuck Schumer, who voted for the bill, to read it.
Here's the rant:
I think Rick Santelli spoke for most average Americans. I cheered when I saw it. We need more people like him.
Posted by: Scott Allan | February 22, 2009 at 10:33 AM
His Tea Party idea is catching on. They're planning one for July, link here
Also, Top Conservative on Twitter (TCOT, you need to join that!) and several others are sponsoring Tea Parties for next weekend. Info here
Link to TCOT here
Posted by: Julie | February 22, 2009 at 02:48 PM
So are you going to Montgomery Fri? Or is there a more local tea party?
Posted by: Maccus Germanis | February 23, 2009 at 08:24 AM
Hey, MG! I haven't heard about the one in Montgomery. And no, I don't think there's one planned for B'ham, if so I haven't heard about it either! Do you have info. on Montgomery?
Posted by: Julie | February 23, 2009 at 06:43 PM
I haven’t heard of any Tea Party plans in Montgomery, or anywhere in Alabama, and I believe I would have if one is being planned. The most comprehensive list of Tea Party cities I’ve seen is @ http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/page/tea-party
Posted by: Don | February 24, 2009 at 05:08 AM
There appears to be an event shaping up for Shelby County.
http://altcot.ning.com/events/shelby-county-alabama-tea
Posted by: Maccus Germanis | February 24, 2009 at 09:12 AM
They are showing the Shelby County one at http://tcotreport.com/ and Smart Girl Politics (Don's link).
Posted by: Julie | February 25, 2009 at 05:41 AM