That’s sure how it looks.
https://twitter.com/Garrett_R_Hall/status/386152977339142144
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, an unnamed Obama administration official proudly admitted what we’ve known all along: for the White House, the shutdown is a political game.
Senior admin official admits: We're winning so it doesn't matter to us when the shutdown ends http://t.co/4HlCy99mwJ
— HotAir.com (@hotairblog) October 4, 2013
Senior White House official: "It doesn't really matter to us" how long the shutdown lasts. http://t.co/QIL5ndv4HT pic.twitter.com/NKrxTiN44x
— NRCC (@NRCC) October 4, 2013
Here’s the full quote from the WSJ:
Said a senior administration official: “We are winning … It doesn’t really matter to us” how long the shutdown lasts “because what matters is the end result.”
Politico’s chief economic correspondent Ben White was rather taken aback:
Bet WH wants this blind quote back: "We are winning. It really doesn't matter to us how long the shutdown lasts." http://t.co/LGrGpinDLX
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 4, 2013
Because if the White House does not actually care how long the shut down goes on that's a really bad thing. Furloughed workers care.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 4, 2013
If this were a West Wing episode CJ would be going from office to office demanding to know who the SAO was who gave that quote
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 4, 2013
@BDayspring @ron_fournier there is no defending it. it's a terrible quote. It's not a game.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 4, 2013
The White House has got some major ‘splainin’ to do:
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/386138011533967360
Well? Inquiring minds wanna know.
It's "We are winning" vs "I don't know what that even is" for Worst Quote of the Shutdown honors.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 4, 2013
Press Secretary Jay Carney did respond. Unfortunately, his response was essentially that this whole mess is the House GOP’s fault:
.@morningmoneyben This is absurd. POTUS wants the shutdown to end NOW. Speaker can do that NOW by putting a clean CR to a vote. #JustVote
— J Earnest (Archived) (@PressSec44) October 4, 2013
. @PressSec Jay, I am talking about the quote in the WSJ that the WH does not care how long shutdown lasts. Do you disavow the quote?
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 4, 2013
.@morningmoneyben So am I, Ben. We utterly disavow idea WH doesn't care when it ends. House should act now, no strings attached. #JustVote
— J Earnest (Archived) (@PressSec44) October 4, 2013
Oh! Well that’s all right, then.
@PressSec fair enough. Thanks for responding Jay!
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 4, 2013
White may have been satisfied with Carney’s non-answer, but we’re definitely not:
https://twitter.com/JBordeaux/status/386144386498961409
@morningmoneyben @PressSec He disavowed the "idea" NOT the quote. You are just going to let him get away with that Ben?
— Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) October 4, 2013
@morningmoneyben The way I read it, @PressSec disavowed the idea, not the quote. Different, right?
— Kai Ryssdal (@kairyssdal) October 4, 2013
@PressSec Jay, you're spinning like a nuclear powered top. How is it possible to spin, lie and keep a straight face all at the same time?
— Deplorable Rees (@reesdansie) October 4, 2013
He’s not very good at it. Like, at all.
https://twitter.com/CuffyMeh/status/386138941121765376
https://twitter.com/CuffyMeh/status/386144128611803136
Hey, take it easy on the guy. He’s got it rough:
https://twitter.com/AlexPappas/status/386148770959732737
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