A pretty lousy kind — and, according to press secretary Jay Carney, the kind that’s currently occupying the White House. Confronted about the developing Veterans Affairs scandal during today’s press briefing, Carney reassured the press corps — and thus the country — that President Obama only found out about it recently. From the news, natch:
Per @PressSec, @BarackObama heard about the VA problems on the news
— Kirsten Kukowski (@kakukowski) May 19, 2014
VIDEO: White House: Obama Learned About The VA Scandal From News Reports http://t.co/8c5SBghd37
— Webber Steinhoff (@webbersteinhoff) May 19, 2014
Transcript:
Reporter: “When was the president first made aware of these problems, these fraudulent lists that were being kept to hide the wait times? When was he first made aware of those problems, and when did other White House officials — top White House officials — become aware of these problems?”
Carney: “If you mean the specific allegations that I think were reported first by your network out of Phoenix, I believe, we learned about them through the reports. I will double check if that’s not the case, but that’s when we learned about them.”
Sound familiar? It should.
'We learned about it on the news' — @PressSec Umm, we've heard this before.
— Sarah Isgur (@whignewtons) May 19, 2014
This isn’t the White House’s first time playing the ignorance card before. And just like back then, citizens are calling B.S.:
https://twitter.com/FigDrewton/status/468449077454450688
If this admin STILL gets all of it's info from the freaking news, they're not just inept–they occupy jobs they shouldn't have.
— Krystle Baker (@TarheelKrystle) May 19, 2014
https://twitter.com/FigDrewton/status/468449655249207296
https://twitter.com/Matthops82/status/468449313031331841
https://twitter.com/Matthops82/status/468451862744539138
https://twitter.com/OrwellForks/status/468451855174213632
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/468449718981640192
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/468449920559902721
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/468450438002782208
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/468451798060367872
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/468452152005099520
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/468452729523023873
Take comfort, though:
Carney on VA scandal: "I'm sure you'll hear from him on this at some point soon."
— Rick Klein (@rickklein) May 19, 2014
When will @BarackObama speak on VA scandal? @PressSec says, "I am sure you will hear from him at some point"
— jonkarl (@jonkarl) May 19, 2014
The White House is on it!
https://twitter.com/rorycooper/status/468451285591949312
We’re in capable hands, America.
Can we safely conclude that these problems have been allowed to get worse BECAUSE Obama only learns about them from the news?
— RBe (@RBPundit) May 19, 2014
***
Related:
Hogwash: President Liar Pants claims he heard about IRS targeting conservatives ‘from news’
‘This country has failed its veterans!’ Stacey Dash appalled by deaths at Phoenix VA
Actor Ken Wahl: Instead of fundraising, Obama should visit corrupt Phoenix VA
Dean Cain: ‘Like Obamacare? Check out the VA hospital scandal’
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