Marc Ambinder: "Does Obama Think Labor Wasted Money on Lincoln?...Kind of, yes"

[Wandawilkerson]

Ambinder is very well-connected to the White House. Just two days ago, he posted a video of a Beach Party given by Joe Biden, Rahm, etc. where Ambinder was invited. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/06/the-biden-beach-party/57765/
Glenn Greenwald describes Ambinder as one "who often passes along White House thinking under the cover of anonymity."
So it would be difficult to have a source closest to the White House. Now I give you Ambinder's corroboration of today's story by Ben Smith:

MARC AMBINDER (6-9-2010), via Twitter: "WH anger at labor predates tonight. Pelosi/Reid/Obama did a lot for labor and labor repays them by wasting $10 million. That's their claim."

...

Ambinder in The Atlantic blog:

Did President Obama agree with the senior White House officials who expressed significant frustration to Ben Smith and me about labor's $10 million decision to try and beat Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas. Here's what Robert Gibbs said in today's briefing. See the bolded portion. Seems the answer is: kinda of, yes.

Ambinder's opinion is based on the answer provided by the man who speaks for Obama (Gibbs) to the question today:

GIBBS: "I think that whether or not that money might have been better spent in the fall on closer elections between somebody -- between people who cared about an agenda that benefited working families and those that didn't, that money might come in more handy then."

[xchrom]

1. grrrrr. nt

[aquart]

2. Aww, AFL-CIO's Eddie Vale sent me a thank you.

This is what he sent me:

Re: I agree. And thank you.

Than you for such kind words, been a long few days, much appreciated!



This is what I sent him:



The AFL-CIO is NOT an arm of the Democratic Party.

THANK YOU, AFL-CIO for supporting Halter over Lincoln. Thank you for every challenge you make to Democrats who forget their roots, their base, their obligation to do what's best for the working people and families of the United States.

Sincerely,

aquart, granddaughter of Rose Weiner Abrams who was, at 17, the first person in her sweatshop to walk out on strike.

[katandmoon]

3. The WH: "Labor should only waste its money on US!"

[choie]

4. I'm sorry...

what have Pelosi/Reid/Obama done for labor????

[socialist_n_TN]

22. That was my first thought

I don't remember anything. Maybe because they haven't ACTIVELY tried to destroy them? Well, until now.

[bvar22]

27. Supporting "Free Trade" IS actively...

...doing something to destroy Unions...and the entire American Working Class.

[tsuki]

26. I scratched my head on that one also. nt

[NorthCarolina]

5. Apparently labor wasted a lot of $$$ helping to elect Obama too. eom

[girl gone mad]

7. Touché. n/t

[janx]

6. Wandawandawanda....

You are so welcome here, bringing these tidings of truth in such a short time! You are bringing the opinions of these bloggers to our attention! :rofl:

[Wandawilkerson]

8. Not "these" bloggers. Only one with wide access to the White House

Which counts.

[janx]

9. WIDE access according to whom?

;-)

[Wandawilkerson]

10. To Rahm, Biden, Obama

The White House in general. Or do you think he goes there and sits around without talking to anyone?

Question: Do you think Marc Ambinder lied about having heard the claim from a White House aide?

Another question for you, Mr. "i-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it".

What is your opinion of Greenwald, Schultz and the Union in question for believing the story?

[janx]

11. So the chief of staff, the vice president, and the president have

declared that this blogger has WIDE access to the White House?

I am not a Mr.; I am a Ms.

My opinion does not matter. Facts do matter. Critical thinking skills matter, and those depend upon where information comes from--not opinions, but facts. Original sources matter. Where is the information coming from?

Find the original source of the information, Wanda, if there is one. Don't accept anonymous sources, because if you do, you'll be as duped as a housewife reading tabloids and watching soap operas.

[Wandawilkerson]

14. Better yet: They've given him the access

Let's just say that you don't get a "behind the scenes" set of moves from the White House if you do not have wide access. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/12/politics/onthemarc/main5083352.shtml

Doubting the claim by the anonymous White House aide has put you in a very uncomfortable situation, having to accuse Ben Smith and the White House-friendly Marc Ambinder of conspiring to tell a lie and claiming that Ambinder does not have wide access.

I wish you luck trying to make your theory stick. Good luck!

[janx]

17. I don't have a theory, because I don't have any facts.

I only have conjecture and conspiracy theories, because the "source" is not named. I write and teach writing, and I have a problem with that.

I don't accuse these people of anything other than lazy journalism and sensationalism--but that's how they make their bucks.

[Wandawilkerson]

18. Can you please call Greenwald, Ed Schultz and the Union conspiracy theorists?

I'd just love it if you stated it here, because you believe they are conspiracy theorists. All of them believe the story.

Even Gibbs didn't use that "Conspiracy theory" defense.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wandawilkerson]

Schultz, Greenwald and the Union spread gossip?

Oh my.

[janx]

23. Learn critical reading and research.

Find original sources. Then come back to us, Wanda.

;-)

[Wandawilkerson]

25. Janx, why do you accuse Ed Schultz, Greenwald and the AFL-CIO of spreading gossip?

Our greatest thread in DU is about the AFL-CIO's response to what you call "gossip."
I don't hate you for being in such a tiny minority though.

[Wandawilkerson]

20. Self-deleting duplicate n/t

[Wandawilkerson]

12. "Marc Ambinder Provides A Behind-The-Scenes Look Into WH Maneuvering In The Health Care Debate"

So little access, lol: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/12/politics/onthemarc/main5083352.shtml

[janx]

15. Wanda, I understand that you like Marc Ambinder and want to promote

him.

But his opinion does not equal fact. I wish him well with the Atlantic and his career. This is a red herring.

When I think of The Atlantic in former days, I remember C. Michael Curtis fondly--but that seems like a long time ago.

[Brickbat]

13. THIS "labor" member doesn't give a shit what Obama thinks about what labor does with its money.

How's that EFCA coming along there, Mr. Friend of Labor? Mm-hm. Thanks.

[janx]

16. Do you trust the media source?

?

[caledesi]

21. You are on DU. Blogs/tweets are NOT links. nt

[Wandawilkerson]

24. Yes they are. Why do you hate blogs and Twitter? But here's something that will make you happy

Since you believe only mainstream journalists and outlets qualify as "links," be aware that Ambinder is CBS chief political consultant. Happy?

[caledesi]

28. I am happy! nt