• May 27, 2012
SIMPLE PLEASURES

Reporters Delighted Over Robert Gibbs’ ‘Rising Podium’ Trick

by Sara K. Smith  3:58 pm March 23, 2009

So ha ha, funny story: Robert Gibbs, he has this podium that he stands behind during press conferences, and it can be raised and lowered with no apparent effort, much like a levitating hippie. The simple mechanical act is enough to make Chuck Todd squeal with glee. The Washington press corps has not experienced such a giney-tickling thrill since the Jonas brothers played. [YouTube]

{ 36 comments }

loudmouthredhead March 23, 2009 at 4:02 pm

Please don’t ever mention Chuck Todd’s squealing giney ever again Sara..

loudmouthredhead March 23, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Also, who wanted to take Gibbs to T.G.I.Friday’s after this briefing? Please don’t say Helen Thomas

Custerwolf March 23, 2009 at 4:03 pm

And according to the newscrawl ‘newspapers fold.’

Mr Blifil March 23, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Ooohhh Aaaahhhh, now let’s get back to the business of burning money…

bitchincamaro March 23, 2009 at 4:04 pm

Dow up, podium up, economy collapsing. All good.

BillyClubb March 23, 2009 at 4:05 pm

That loud mechanical sound was the built-in whorebot servicing Robert Gibbs (he just pressed the “BJ” button on the side of the podium). As you can see from his expression and the faces of the people in the audience, that whorebot does a fine “job”.

loudmouthredhead March 23, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Did Gibbs push the button to activate the molesto-tron 3000 ™ under Chuck Todd’s chair? No wonder the press has been so “agreeable” of late…

The Unfairman March 23, 2009 at 4:08 pm

[re=271239]Custerwolf[/re]:

To quote Mr. Gibbs: “Ah, technology, right?”

americanscandoanything March 23, 2009 at 4:08 pm

blessed are the easily amused

Giant Robot March 23, 2009 at 4:09 pm

No boner joke? Biden would’ve made a boner joke.

Canuckledragger March 23, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Yeah, but Chuck Todd squeals with glee every time I do the ancient “pull my finger” joke, too.

He’s like a six year old. Without the worldliness.

norbizness March 23, 2009 at 4:14 pm

This recalls the George HW Bush/Michael Dukakis (Dana Carvey/Jon Lovitz) Presidential debates in ’88 on SNL, where the vertically challenged Duke had a hydraulic lift.

It also included the classic line “I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy” and “I am the son of Greek immigrants. My parents were little people – little swarthy people.” What the hell happened to that show?

MARCdMan March 23, 2009 at 4:16 pm

No he just hit the button that electrifies the seat of every blogger in the room.

shortsshortsshorts March 23, 2009 at 4:20 pm

IM SURE THEY WONT BE LAUGHING WHEN HE’S DONE SHOOTING UP THE PLACE. RUN FER YER LIVES!!!!!!1

gurukalehuru March 23, 2009 at 4:21 pm

I don’t believe he answered the question.

Somewhere, Scott McLellan is smacking his forehead.

Colander March 23, 2009 at 4:24 pm

He just turned on the snark detector. He’s trying to save journalism.

thatonegirlsays March 23, 2009 at 4:24 pm

I’m always disappointed that he is not CJ Cregg.

Holding Out for a Hero March 23, 2009 at 4:24 pm

Someone explain to me WTF Chip Reid was doing with his hands in that clip…on second thought don’t!

Texan Bulldoggette March 23, 2009 at 4:25 pm

Gee, the look on Chip Reid’s face was priceless. Guess that means he’s no longer mad at Gibbs’ dissing his buddy Dick.

Accordion-o-rama March 23, 2009 at 4:27 pm

Continuing escalation in the vertical camera angle wars (shoot from below to enhance subject’s credibility, from above to undermine it). FOX, having spent the last eight years shooting W-admin press conferences prone, will now be issuing their cameramen jet packs to neutralize O’s latest technology.

http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED130360&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED130360

loudmouthredhead March 23, 2009 at 4:28 pm

[re=271252]Giant Robot[/re]: No, he would have made a COCK joke, my good sir. None of that subtlety stuff. That’s for weenies.

S.Luggo March 23, 2009 at 4:30 pm

Meh. Rush can do the same thing with his butt dildo.

Lazy Media March 23, 2009 at 4:35 pm

Actually, he stands ON a podium. He stands BEHIND a lectern. I thought you Harvard girls were supposed to know everything.

Origami March 23, 2009 at 4:36 pm

Helen Thomas is NOT amused.

Frampton Comes Alive March 23, 2009 at 4:38 pm

BUT DOES TEH PODIUM HAVE TELEPROMPERZ?!?!11

TGY March 23, 2009 at 4:39 pm

Presumably it’s to block sudden shoe tosses.

Mr Blifil March 23, 2009 at 4:45 pm

Why did they book a midget for the warm up act?

WadISay March 23, 2009 at 4:54 pm

[re=271252]Giant Robot[/re]: Dana Perino would have made it taller by cuddling up to it. There’s your goddam boner joke.

Carrie_Okie March 23, 2009 at 5:00 pm

[re=271252]Giant Robot[/re]: <–what I was thinking

Custerwolf March 23, 2009 at 5:10 pm

[re=271294]Lazy Media[/re]: This is the White House briefing room. No one STANDS on the podium. They LIE on it.

Capricatony March 23, 2009 at 5:11 pm

Magic lectern: the Bush admin’s greatest accomplishment.

El Pinche March 23, 2009 at 5:28 pm

I don’t mind Todd squealing in ever-luvin delight.
I just don’t want to see David Gregory dancing and prancing to Jonas Bros or Hillary “bareback” Duff.

AllHat March 24, 2009 at 9:47 am

I can haz new press corps plz

zhubajie March 24, 2009 at 10:10 am

I believe the Byzantine Empire had something like this a thousand years ago.

Zhu Bajie

liquiddaddy March 24, 2009 at 11:50 am

Mr. Gibbs, is that a mechanical lectern riser or are you just happy to see us?

BTW, Dick Cheney would have put that sucker through the roof.

teebob2000 March 24, 2009 at 1:23 pm

I know with comely Helen Thomas right in the front there, MY podium would be rising!

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