Center for American Progress Chair John Podesta recently signed on as White House counselor, and, well, it’s clear that he fits right in with the rest of the Obama regime.
Didn't take long for John Podesta to step in it.
— Mike Long (@MikePLong) December 18, 2013
In an interview with Politico’s Glenn Thrush, Podesta emphasized the importance of ensuring that Obama can “reset the agenda through executive action” — and he dropped this little nugget:
WTF –> John Podesta: "a cult worthy of Jonestown [is] in charge of one of the houses of Congress.” http://t.co/PDYbyYz0T5
— Brendan Buck (@BrendanBuck) December 18, 2013
Via Politico:
This is not just about providing added muscle to a beleaguered and undermanned West Wing staff. According to interviews in recent weeks with an array of Obama insiders and a dozen current and former senior aides, Podesta’s hire is explicitly meant to shake things up inside the White House. In effect, I was told, it represents the clearest sign to date of the administration’s interest in shifting the paradigm of Obama’s presidency through the forceful, unapologetic and occasionally provocative application of White House power. Podesta, whose official mandate includes enforcement of numerous executive orders on emissions and the environment, suggested as much when he spoke with me earlier this fall about Obama’s team. “They need to focus on executive action given that they are facing a second term against a cult worthy of Jonestown in charge of one of the houses of Congress,” he told me. [Emphasis ours.]
Welcome to the age of the Great Uniter.
Let's sit back and ponder the reaction in the media if a Republican said what John Podesta said.
— RBe (@RBPundit) December 18, 2013
We’re guessing there’d be a tidal wave of conniptions across the media world. As it happens, there’s more of a ripple:
Wow, Podesta calls House GOP, or maybe just tea party wing, "a cult worthy of Jonestown" http://t.co/FQkB3rus1k
— Jon Ward (@jonward11) December 18, 2013
Geez. John Podesta calls House R's "a cult worthy of Jonestown" http://t.co/fYiWOovpDY
— Tia Mitchell, AJC’s Washington Correspondent (@ajconwashington) December 18, 2013
National Journal’s Ron Fournier, one of the few liberal journos who’s been willing to criticize the Obama White House, certainly took issue with Podesta’s remark:
Am I reading this right @johnpodesta? Republicans are "a cult worthy of Jonestown." Really? http://t.co/Jg8gzLwqZA cc: @GlennThrush @Reince
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) December 18, 2013
.@pfeiffer44 do you consider Republicans "a cult worthy of Jonestown"? Does POTUS? http://t.co/Jg8gzLwqZA cc: @GlennThrush
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) December 18, 2013
Good on him.
https://twitter.com/Heminator/status/413305787692244992
That may be true, but while it’s not a shock that a worm like Podesta is spewing garbage, this remark is particularly egregious.
@ron_fournier Defense of the Constitution against the utter lawlessness of the 0bama regime = Jonestown? Hyperbole much @johnpodesta? #tcot
— (((WitCoHE))) (@E__Strobel) December 18, 2013
Count on Dems, and John Podesta, to elevate the dialogue—Rs are a “cult worthy of Jonestown” http://t.co/yLAmfFdVLm #WeDidn’tStarttheFire
— ❌ NoOil4Pacifists ❌ (@nooil4pacifists) December 18, 2013
New tone ==> “@jonward11: Wow, Podesta calls House GOP, or maybe just tea party wing, "a cult worthy of Jonestown" http://t.co/9j6QqgVWDG”
— Lady L. North (@LadyLNorth) December 18, 2013
@ron_fournier Good thing @johnpodesta is coming in to help stabilize and calm the White House, huh?
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) December 18, 2013
@jimgeraghty @ron_fournier @johnpodesta If someone claimed the WH was like a Jonestown cult, the press would be in an uproar. Shameful.
— Michael R. ~ Trumpus Delendus Est (@Nel_Mezzo) December 18, 2013
Idiot. RT @WrayPressley: WH Counselor John Podesta Declares Republicans Are a 'Cult worthy of Jonestown' http://t.co/Pbmp8lnx3S
— James (@FloGrownPatriot) December 18, 2013
Psychological projection 101. MT @conncarroll Obama White House Calls GOP a "Cult Worthy of Jonestown" http://t.co/2SqbjoeMnc
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) December 18, 2013
https://twitter.com/makeyourmove33/status/413323733693374464
https://twitter.com/TFCochran/status/413319810685341696
@rorycooper Next act: jailing political opponents? | Podesta: GOP 'A Cult Worthy of Jonestown.'
— Deb Singer (@debsinger2) December 18, 2013
The Jonestown comparison isn’t something to be taken lightly.
https://twitter.com/rorycooper/status/413321202837360641
The Jonestown cult murdered a sitting United States Congressman before its terror was over. Not a funny comparison, Podesta.
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) December 18, 2013
https://twitter.com/rorycooper/status/413322416685731840
Shame on Podesta. Shame on the entire Obama administration.
https://twitter.com/conncarroll/status/413306289549094912
Outrageous — and truly frightening.
***
Update:
‘Not accepted’: John Podesta’s apology for Jonestown remark rings hollow
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