Woodward White House “Regret Threat” Source Revealed; Somewhat Disappointing

The great “You’re going to regret this” Obama administration-to-journalist melodrama finally has a name to attach to the idle threat… Gene Sperling.  I’ll pause for the collective “WHO?”

For those of you wondering, Gene Sperling is the director of the White House Economic Council.  Yeah, I had to look him up as well.  And just in case you’ve not been following the story, the journalist at the center of it is Bob Woodward – formerly of Watergate fame.  He’s more or less considered one of the most accomplished journalists of this generation.  In a nutshell, he’s kind of a big deal.

The controversy began when Woodward dared to assert that President Obama’s attempts to blame Republicans for sequestration were both disingenuous and factually inaccurate.  When the administration caught wind of the coming story’s release, Woodward was told he’d “regret” the decision to challenge the president’s narrative.  That “threat” caused quite a national stir among journalists and political news followers alike.

And now we have the source of the “threat”; and the email that contained it.

“Threat” seems a bit harsh, no?

If you read the email exchange, it’s clear to see that Woodward and Sperling are – at the very least – acquaintances; maybe even friends.  One could easily argue that what Bob perceived to be a threat was really nothing more than a word of caution for a colleague – that the “truth” would paint his work in an unfavorable light.  That said, if Woodward and Sperling are “close”; who am I to judge what is or could be interpreted as a threat between two people that know one another?

Beyond that, friend or no friend, if this was any reporter – not named Bob Woodward – the email probably would have been received as a threat.  Just the threat of denial of access to White House officials could potentially kill a Washington reporter’s career.  Imagine a beat writer for the New York Yankees being barred from the club house.  Think he’s going to have his job for long?

What’s the takeaway here?

I’m inclined to say… this is pretty much the kind of thing I’ve come to expect from this White House.  Is anyone out there really all that surprised to find out that administration officials are capable of trying to control what news is reported about this president?  If so, have you been paying attention for much of the last four years?

Don’t get me wrong.  To some degree short of threats, that’s their job.  They work for a man who works in the industry that is American politics.  It’s a dirty business.  If you’re not framing the debate in a light most favorable to your boss, the other side will certainly do it for you; albeit less favorably.

The White House wants to chain sequestration around the necks of House Republicans; and they’re succeeding at doing so.  One can only wonder how many other journalists were threatened to assist the cause.

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Not the only threat?

Did you really think it was?

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