Gibbs: Obama 'smartly' avoids MSNBC

The president doesn't have opinions on what is said on MSNBC because he "smartly" avoids watching it, according to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

His comments came today in response to a question from Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House and one of the top ranking reporters in seniority on the beat.

He asked, "Last June, Newsweek's editor, Evan Thomas, on MSNBC, said the president is 'sort of God.' Last week on MSNBC, Chris Matthews said the president is 'post-racial. I forgot he was black tonight for an hour.' What is the president's reaction to these two MSNBC revelations?"

"Smartly," said Gibbs, "the president does not occupy his time watching cable television."

WND has reported on some of the turmoil at MSNBC, including when MSNBC President Phil Griffin slammed one of his network's on-air personalities for an attack on another MSNBC host.

Keith Olbermann

Griffin just days ago dealt with the dispute over comments about MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, who attacked Massachusetts Senator-elect Scott Brown.

In an official MSNBC memo, Griffin warned, "We do not publicly criticize our colleagues," but did not address Olbermann's remarks about Brown that first prompted the opposition.

Olbermann had described Brown as "an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees."

In response, "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough used his Twitter account to blast Olbermann's rant.

"How reckless and how sad," Scarborough wrote. "It is no longer enough to simply disagree with someone. These days some feel the need to call opponents evil. It happens on both extremes."

Continued Scarborough: "Just as when [Fox News host Glenn] Beck called the president racist, this sort of rhetorical extremism must be discouraged. It cheapens the debate."

In a second question, Kinsolving sought to obtain the White House opinion on whether polygamists are entitled to the same rights held by homosexuals.

He was denied that information.

"There have been news reports that the president's nominee for EEOC commissioner, Chai Feldblum, and the ACLU support the acceptance of polygamy. Does the president believe our armed forces should begin recruiting polygamists?" Kinsolving asked.

"I'm happy to look at the information in the news reports you cite, but I don't have anything on that." Gibbs said.