WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS
Exchange of the Day [Greg Pollowitz]
Bob Gibbs is having a little trouble explaining why President Obama's former campaign manager, David Plouffe, is heading to Azerbaijan:
Q: Robert, what is — what is Plouffe doing in Azerbaijan? Is he representing the president in any way, the administration?
MR. GIBBS: No.
Q: What is he — what's the —
MR. GIBBS: Plouffe is a private citizen in Azerbaijan. I honestly don't — I don't have his itinerary.
Q: He's not carrying any message or anything, then?
MR. GIBBS: No, he's a private citizen.
Q: Is it weird — does it send a curious message that he's going to visit one of the world's most famous dictators —
MR. GIBBS: I think what Plouffe is there primarily to do is speak. You'd have to ask David. I don't know.
Q: (Inaudible) — send e-mails for the DNC, on behalf of the DNC and on behalf of Organizing for America. What's the (inaudible)?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I mean, again, he's a private citizen. He's not there at the behest of, and not delivering a message on behalf of, the president of the United States. If the president had a message for Azerbaijan, he'd pick up the phone. It's a longer flight and a shorter call.
The question above refers to an email Plouffe sent to the Obama mailing list on February 7 asking readers to watch this video on the president's spending plan. Given Plouffe's high profile role at the DNC, is he really a "private" citizen?
02/09 02:18 PM
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