Compare and contrast these two news stories from today.

Obama Urges Setting Aside “Petty Politics”

President Obama declared today that “a sense of purpose that transcends petty politics” must be forged by Democrats and Republicans to create more jobs, reduce the deficit and find at least some common ground on health care.

“We can’t afford grandstanding at the expense of actually getting something done,” Mr. Obama said as he made a surprise appearance at the daily White House briefing for the media only hours after he convened his first monthly bipartisan meeting he called for in the State of the Union address.

Robert Gibbs Scrawls Notes on Hand, Mocking Sarah Palin

Following President Obama’s surprise appearance at the White House press briefing, press secretary Robert Gibbs garnered laughter from the press corps by holding up his hand to reveal that he had written notes on his palm in black marker.

Gibbs’ move was a jab at Sarah Palin, who was shown to have written notes on her hand at a speech at the Tea Party convention Saturday after making an implicit criticism of the president for using a TelePrompTer.

Gibbs quipped that he had made the notes in case he and his family are snowed in by the storm approaching Washington. He said the words written on his hands included “eggs” and “milk” and that he had written “bread” but crossed it out.

Yeah. No more petty politics. Right.

I’m guessing Helen Thomas won’t be giving Obama a solid B+.

Video provided by Freedom’s Lighthouse.

Earlier today, Jake Tapper of ABC questioned White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs over Obama’s nonsense war with FOX News.

I’ve been watching the FOX News channel this afternoon.

Jake received major kudos and props from Glenn Beck at 5 and just now from Bret Baier on Special Report, (update: and now O’Reilly and Hannity) which got me thinking…

How long before Tapper moves to FOX?

Can’t you see it? I think it would be great.

Anyone? Anyone?

So says the first commenter over at Jake Tapper’s blog, Political Punch. Tapper had an interesting exchange with White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on the nature of Obama’s stupid war with FOX News.

“From this morning’s gaggle in White House press secretary Robert Gibbs’ office:”

“Tapper: It’s escaped none of our notice that the White House has decided in the last few weeks to declare one of our sister organizations “not a news organization” and to tell the rest of us not to treat them like a news organization. Can you explain why it’s appropriate for the White House to decide that a news organization is not one –”

“(Crosstalk)”

“Gibbs: Jake, we render, we render an opinion based on some of their coverage and the fairness that, the fairness of that coverage.”

Read the whole thing here.

Hat tip to Ed Morrissey at Hot Air.

UPDATE: This post is getting big traffic from Hot Air readers and I just want to say, Thank You! You guys and gals ROCK!

The only thing better than Hot Air posts by Ed Morrissey and Allahpundit is reading the always hilarious and intelligent comments from their readers.

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Yours in Liberty,

Aleister

You’ll notice he never really apologizes for saying the Cambridge Police “acted stupidly.”

Meanwhile, back at the White House, Obama’s useful stooge Robert Gibbs is snapping at the press pool.

“I think the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed McCain,” Gibbs fired back at reporters, referring to Obama’s Republican opponent in the 2008 election. “If I’m not mistaken.”

What does that mean? The cops deserve abuse from the president because a cop organization endorsed McCain? How else are we supposed to read a comment like that?

I’m having trouble figuring out whether I should believe my own eyes and ears or the White House Press Secretary.

EXHIBIT A: Obama says the Cambridge Police “acted stupidly.” He says it quite clearly, on video below at precisely the 1:26 mark.

EXHIBIT B: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says that what I just saw and heard with my own eyes and ears, just never happened.

“White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today that President Obama was not calling the Cambridge police officer stupid last night when he criticized their actions in the Henry Louis Gates incident.”

“He was not calling the officer stupid. The situation got out of hand,” Gibbs said today on Air Force One en route to Cleveland.”

I better make an appointment with an eye and ear specialist. Clearly, I need treatment.

Where were you during the 2008 presidential campaign, Helen?

CNS News reports that Helen Thomas has her panties in a twist…

“Following a testy exchange during today’s briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas told CNSNews.com that not even Richard Nixon tried to control the press the way President Obama is trying to control the press.”

“Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.”

“What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said. “They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.”

Welcome to reality, Helen!

And congratulations on finally figuring out what the rest of us already knew. The fact that you and the rest of the media are being used as the unofficial fourth branch of American government; the propaganda branch.

Here’s a video of the dear Helen coming to her senses. Watch the whole thing, Helen doesn’t start trashing White House press secretary Robert Gibbs until about two minutes in:

Thank goodness for all that “transparency” we were promised.

Allahpundit at Hot Air explains this situation better than I ever could, so be sure to read this.

Candidate Obama in 2008:

President Obama’s Press Secretary in 2009:

The gay community has been betrayed by their own chosen candidate.

Who do they attack in their rage? Miss California.

DUH.

Rick Santelli is interviewed by Larry Kudlow on CNBC about the shots he took from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Kudlow points out the startling fact that the White House is going after dissenters in journalism.

Santelli does not disappoint.