Joel Award: Robert Gibbs

It is time to give out the Joel Award. The award goes any celebrity, pundit, blogger or politician that purposely contradicts himself or herself.

White House Press Sec. Robert Gibbs made big news. He said the Obama administration would end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This was before the administration took office.

GIBBS: That is you don't hear a politician give a one word answer much, but it's yes.

Flash forward to May 15th, 2009. Gibbs say the White House can't do anything without Congressional approval. The next question should be how many meetings has to White House had with members of Congress to push for legislation to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Q Well, the President says that releasing the detainee photos poses a danger to our troops, but doesn't dismissing otherwise qualified soldiers also pose a danger? Is it a question of degree?

MR. GIBBS: No, no. What I talked about in terms of "don't ask, don't tell" was the President -- the President, as you know, supports changing that because he strongly believes that it does not serve our national interest. He agrees with former members of the Joint Chiefs in that determination.
But unlike photos, the only durable solution to "don't ask, don't tell" is through a legislative process, and the President is working with Congress and members of the Joint Chiefs to ensure that that happens.

Q But couldn't he in the meantime put a moratorium on these discharges until that can be accomplished?

MR. GIBBS: But again, the President has determined that that's not -- that's not the way to seek any sort of lasting or durable solution to the public policy problem that we have.

Q Then how would you respond to the criticism, though, that dismissing a qualified linguist endangers the troops?

MR. GIBBS: I think I would respond by saying that the President has long believed that the policy doesn't serve our national interest.

Gibbs is not giving one word answers these days.

The administration will not push Congress to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Obama will not use an executive moratorium to stop gay and lesbian soldier from being Discharged because of their sexual identity.

Robert Gibbs is the winner of the Joel Award.