WASHINGTON — Simmering tensions between Democrats in Congress and the White House boiled over yesterday after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted the president’s press secretary for undermining the party’s chances of keeping the House.
The backbiting started after White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs made a politically boneheaded but obvious statement that Republicans have a chance to take over the House this year — in elections where many outside experts anticipate a Democratic bloodbath.
The candid comment at a press briefing from President Obama’s top spinner infuriated Democrats, who worry it only energizes Republicans and gives wealthy party donors a reason to hedge their bets.
“It was an absolutely ridiculous thing for him to say,” said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY). “We didn’t appreciate it.”
Pelosi told House Democrats at a closed meeting that Gibbs’ statement was “politically inept” and she compared it to “friendly fire,” according to reports.
“How could [Gibbs] know what is going on in our districts?” Pelosi fumed.
“Some may weigh his words more than others. We have made our disagreement known to the White House,” she said, according to Politico.com.
Pelosi went on to accuse Obama of favoring the Senate, where the president served until 2008, over the House — even though House lawmakers have carried more water for the White House by casting tough votes on Obama’s agenda.
She skewered a White House official attending the meeting, even though ironically the official is a longtime Capitol Hill aide.
The official didn’t defend Gibbs’ comments, saying the press secretary had been speaking on the fly.
The White House pushed back with a memo detailing the bundles of cash Obama has raised for Democratic lawmakers and the 200 events he and top administration officials had done for lawmakers in their districts to help.
Gibbs backed off his original comments and showed deference to Pelosi.
“Of course the opinion of the speaker of the House matters to me,” Gibbs told reporters yesterday, saying the “tough votes” cast in Congress have been “monumental.”
“I don’t think I said anything that was politically shocking,” Gibbs said.
In the remarks that sparked the blowup on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Gibbs said Sunday: “I think there is no doubt there are a lot of seats that will be up, a lot of contested seats.
“I think people are going to have a choice to make in the fall, but I think there’s no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause Republicans to gain control.”