In an exclusive report this morning, Politico released the text of the email exchange in which White House adviser Gene Sperling told Bob Woodward he would “regret staking out” his claims about President Obama and the sequester.
Sperling was concern-trolling Woodward.
— Area Man (@lheal) February 28, 2013
“I know you may not believe this, but as a friend, I think you will regret staking out that claim,” wrote Sperling after apologizing for raising his voice in a phone call.
We all know the meaning of 'raised voice' when the culprit is trying to explain how you made him do it.
— Vulpes vulpes (@Oenonewept) February 28, 2013
Woodward’s reply:
You do not ever have to apologize to me. You get wound up because you are making your points and you believe them. This is all part of a serious discussion. I for one welcome a little heat; there should more given the importance. I also welcome your personal advice. I am listening.
I assume Sperling sent the emails to @Politico to push back on the threat meme, no? http://t.co/1jdjhA1WJu
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) February 28, 2013
A few possible takes on that email exchange:
http://twitter.com/FirstTeamTommy/statuses/307138938928242689
+1 RT: @davidfolkenflik
Woodward has 'splaining to do. Email from Sperling seems to be making case, not threat – @Politico has the exchange— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) February 28, 2013
Woodward’s Basic Point Still Holds: The Woodward, Sperling emails revealed http://t.co/ZbpJxFCPCy via @DanRiehl
— Legal Insurrection (@LegInsurrection) February 28, 2013
It would take a great semiologist to unpack the false professions of friendship and anger and source protection here. http://t.co/Yrrqwfvawf
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) February 28, 2013
This entire story is nutty all around RT @robertcostaNRO @Politico scoops: the Woodward, Sperling emails http://t.co/uLUM65ForZ
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) February 28, 2013
President Obama’s stenographers and mouthpieces are giddy over the release of the emails, natch.
So the big Drudge splash, "You'll regret this," was mostly crap. I may need to lie down, so shocked am I.
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) February 28, 2013
So much talk abt Woodward & Sperling emails this a.m. Why the hell is this news? Sperling doing his job, Woodward sort of doing his. #stupid
— Stephanie Cutter (@stefcutter) February 28, 2013
But as Twitchy reported last night, the biggest story here is one of media narratives and the press’ sycophantic enthusiasm for crucifying anyone who dares to kick a speck of dirt onto the president’s robes.
https://twitter.com/CuffyMeh/status/307126761211187200
They are in full Rule 11 Freeze Mode on Woodward. They're attacking him, not what he said. "Get back in line, prisoner."
— Area Man (@lheal) February 28, 2013
Obama’s steno pool saw Woodward’s claim not as news, but as marching orders: Discredit Woodward and make him the story to distract from his reporting on Obama’s sequester. And destroy him for failing to bury that bone like a good lapdog.
Even before the content of the emails was revealed, Woodward’s interpretation was dismissed by Obama’s bootlickers as the product of senility or cowardice.
http://twitter.com/NathanWurtzel/statuses/307139728841535488
Woodward must be discredited, or the Obama lie that the sequester is the Republicans' fault doesn't work.
— Area Man (@lheal) February 28, 2013
And these “real reporters” did their damnedest to make sure Woodward would “regret” even mentioning that the sequester originated in Obama’s White House. Anything to avert a Humpty Dumpty moment for The Light-bringer.
.@DLoesch hell, I've been threatened before by a governmental entity before. If you haven't you ain't been reporting!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) February 28, 2013
"This tabula rasa typing," Didion wrote of Woodward's approach, gives us "books in which measurable cerebral activity is virtually absent."
— Robert Mackey (@RobertMackey) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/306987218487091200
https://twitter.com/moorehn/status/306952582981632001
https://twitter.com/JeffreyGoldberg/status/306958313411710977
RT @pareene: People who very suddenly revere Bob Woodward all seem to think I just started hating on the guy last weekend.
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/jbarro/status/307009784446603264
Aren't there bigger scandals Bob Woodward could muckrake — besides WH moving "goal posts" of a manufactured crisis?
— Katrina vandenHeuvel (@KatrinaNation) February 28, 2013
So sad RT @swin24: It's really horrible how WH staff hit Bob Woodward in the face with a rusty hammer and then abducted his family tonight
— Stefan Becket (@becket) February 28, 2013
Woodward email from WH mild if it didn't contain obscenity. Archivists gonna have a field day with this stuff.
— Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) February 28, 2013
remember when Bob Woodward sat the Valerie Plame story for two years? http://t.co/lJRhC7EaSn #theBushyears
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) February 28, 2013
Amazing to think that Bob Woodward stood up to the Nixon White House . . . but he's intimidated by Gene Sperling.
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) February 28, 2013
This is really sad RT @DylanByers: Bob Woodward will be on Sean Hannity tomorrow night.
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/Max_Fisher/status/306988545099321345
Gene Sperling of course correct here. http://t.co/mG51hyYkP2
— Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) February 28, 2013
No RT @BuzzFeedBen Am I crazy to read "regret" here as "regret being wrong"? Something flacks yell at reporters a lot http://t.co/ZTu9WzN5CN
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) February 28, 2013
Such objectivity from the palace guard! And all before the good little soldiers bothered to obtain the emails. (ICYMI, more here.)
All this time I thought Bob Woodward inspired people to become reporters. Nope. He inspired them to attack Republicans & protect Democrats.
— ?It's?Almost ⛄️Christmas? (@jtLOL) February 28, 2013
Whether the WH threatened to go after Woodward's reputation or not, other reporters actually did it tonight without a second thought.
— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) February 28, 2013
How many of these journos attacking Woodward tonight considered him an inspiration and role model a week ago. Media's now a cult.
— John Ocasio-Nolte (@NolteNC) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/306963147254804480
Woodward currently committing mortal sin per media. He is upsetting, challenging The Narrative. And they will make him pay.
— John Ocasio-Nolte (@NolteNC) February 28, 2013
Note media is attacking Woodward, making him story, not talking about Obama's lies.
— John Ocasio-Nolte (@NolteNC) February 28, 2013
Wow @BuzzFeedBen siding with WH over Woodward. Knock me over with a feather
— John Ocasio-Nolte (@NolteNC) February 28, 2013
You think when Ben Smith was 8 & watching All The President's Men for the first time, he knew that one day he'd #BenSmith that guy?
— John Ocasio-Nolte (@NolteNC) February 28, 2013
White House steps in it & runs to Ben Smith to spin them out. He's like those reporters in Game of Cards, turning tricks for scoops.
— John Ocasio-Nolte (@NolteNC) February 28, 2013
BuzzFeed scoop: Woodward now a bad journalist. Slate scoop: Woodward boring. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 28, 2013
Leftist media: Bob Woodward washed up. But Jimmy Carter and Al Gore are still brilliant contributors to the public debate.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 28, 2013
Media on Woodward when reporting on a Republican: Genius! Icon! Legend! Media on Woodward when reporting on Obama: Senile! Crazy! Amateur!
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/KevinWGlass/statuses/307094342366011392
The widespread mocking of Woodward on Twitter is… odd. The reporter who wrote "Price of Politics" and knows inner working of WH is a joke?
— Robert Costa (@costareports) February 28, 2013
I wonder how many other reporters have been threatened by this White House? This could explain the coverage of Benghazi.
— Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) February 28, 2013
Barack Obama does have an enemies list, just like Nixon, BTW. Welcome to it Bob Woodward.
— Matthew Boyle (@mboyle1) February 28, 2013
Ex-Wonkette punk who became famous making racist ping-pong ball jokes attacks Woodward for "embarrassing himself." http://t.co/b2G7Mtk5qc
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) February 28, 2013
NY Times on Woodward '04: "No reporter has more talent for getting Washington’s inside story & telling it cogently" http://t.co/0KYDAPDQ6a
— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) February 28, 2013
Same folks who lectured Breitbart team on journalism last week lecturing Bob Woodward on journalism this week. http://t.co/p812YXYTRZ
— Alex Marlow (@AlexMarlow) February 28, 2013
The Bob Woodward story isn't important. That's why liberals and the media (PTR) are losing their minds over it.
— ?It's?Almost ⛄️Christmas? (@jtLOL) February 28, 2013
I think there is a push to kill this story before other reporters realize they have a story if they report their own experiences.
— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) February 28, 2013
So many in the "media" inadvertently expose ideological bias on Twitter in these moments. WH threatens one of their own, media defends WH.
— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) February 28, 2013
Upset the narrative, pay the price. But tell us again how there’s no liberal bias in the media.
Related:
Obama henchman David Plouffe: Bob Woodward should be put out to pasture
Bob Woodward: ‘Very senior person’ at White House said you’ll ‘regret’ reporting on sequester
As Left ramps up campaign to discredit him, others proudly #StandWithWoodward
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