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White House : Equality Marchers 'left-wing Internet fringe'?

by smkovalinsky | October 12, 2009 at 05:32 am

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Marchers need to 'take off their pajamas' and get real?

A CNBC correspondent says the Obama White House viewed Sunday's Equality marchers as 'left wing internet fringe' members who reveal no real Democratic dissatisfaction with the President, according to a Huffington Post piece:

The White House believes protesters at Sunday's gay rights march in D.C. are part of the "internet left fringe," according to CNBC's Chief Washington correspondent John Harwood.

According to Harwood, an adviser to President Obama called protesters at the National Equality March "bloggers" who need to "take off the pajamas, get dressed and realize that governing a closely-divided country is complicated and difficult."

Harwood did not name the adviser who made the remarks.

Harwood reported on the gay rights march for NBC Nightly News and was interviewed by anchor Lester Holt:

"If you look at the polling, Barack Obama is doing well with 90% or more of Democrats. So the White House views this opposition as really part of the internet left fringe, Lester.

And for a sign of how seriously the white house does or doesn't take this opposition, one adviser told me today, 'those bloggers need to take off the pajamas, get dressed and realize that governing a closely-divided country is complicated and difficult.'"

Source: huffingtonpost.com

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 10:35 on October 12th, 2009

"...an adviser to President Obama called protesters at the National Equality March "bloggers" who need to "take off the pajamas, get dressed and realize that governing a closely-divided country is complicated and difficult."

I wonder how this 'adviser' and President Obama feel about Harwood now?:)

AGK

at 10:47 on October 12th, 2009

Something tells me Harwood may be in some real hot water now, Rhonda. ;) smk

Rhonda J Mangus

at 11:30 on October 12th, 2009

He should be, along with the alleged 'adviser':)! I think ,too, the White House should start taking the matter of civil and human rights very seriously! And, Harwood's comments (keeping in mind attributed to an anonymous 'adviser' to President Obama) are seemingly just another attempt to insult and diminish the efforts of a culture who, in the first place, should not be in this 'battle'.

politisite

at 11:59 on October 12th, 2009

What gets me as the photo here clearly shows the crowds don't go all the way back to the Washington Mont. But the Numbers the left disputed for the 912 march are now being affirmed for this march by double.

I don;t think President Obama should be calling this amount of folks, who traveled from across the country, as fringe. Why is he disrespecting this group.

AGK

at 12:06 on October 12th, 2009

Yes, all true. It seems odd this group is being disrespected, as they are on the side of the Dems. the 9-12 was belittled for obvious reasons, being the opposing side. But to begin to belittle one's own side?

And yes, Rhonda, I was quite surprised that this would even be said openly. It is going to cost them, if they belittle people who campaigned hard for Barack Obama's election. It's very odd, and I think Obama should issue some statement to clear it up.

albertacowpoke

at 12:48 on October 12th, 2009

As a Canadian I find it offensive that a government would belittle any side. Is he not the President of all Americans? But this seems to be standard procedure with this Administration for anyone that disagrees with them.

Roy C

at 12:41 on October 12th, 2009

These objections are the statements of a political Culture of Narcissism.

When you diss the idol of the "-Ism", you diss the religion itself and the payback is that you get "othered" by the Conformity Squad of the Orthodoxy because you provided fresh ammo even for the total opposite side, the Right.