SNL Comes to the White House: Reporter Uses Word 'Strategery'

A bit of unintended hilarity during today's White House press briefing, AFTER THE JUMP...

MSNBC's Chuck Todd Presses Robert Gibbs on LGBT Policy

Chuck Todd follows up on today's White House Pride event, Obama's promises and follow-through on LGBT policy — more specifically, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Gibbs insists that the White House wants Congress to work it out rather than an order coming from "on high."

Gibbs says immediately halting gay discharges would "exacerbate the problem of getting something through Congress."

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

White House: No Substantive Announcements at Monday LGBT Event

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked today whether Monday's LGBT Celebration of Stonewall reception at the White House was scheduled because the President is feeling "political heat" over the gay community, and whether there would be any substantive announcements at the event regarding key issues DOMA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

In a word: "no".

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #493

LT. COLONEL VICTOR FEHRENBACH: Kyra Phillips interviews the 18-year decorated soldier who was recently notified he's being discharged for being gay.

DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL: Robert Gibbs once again addresses The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld in the press briefing, saying that new Army Secretary McHugh and Obama are in agreement that the military gay ban is not working.

DICK CHENEY: Bush passed the buck on GM bankruptcy to Obama.

SPERM WHALE: A thieving whale caught on tape.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

White House Hammered Again on Military Gay Ban at Press Briefing

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked a follow-up question by Air America's Ana Marie Cox (I posted her first yesterday) on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in which Gibbs said that the Pentagon has corrected its statement on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", and that there are active discussions.

Cox also asks why the President feels the need to go through Congress on the issue. Gibbs answers that "the only durable and lasting way with which to overturn the policy is to do it by law."

One wonders if the President has seen the Palm Center's recent study providing a blueprint for him to halt discharges and end the policy via executive order. Maybe Cox can ask that question next.

Watch it (and read the transcript), AFTER THE JUMP...

White House Offers Partial Response to DOMA Press Briefing Question

On Monday I posted a question from The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs regarding the President's position on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Eleveld: "The President supported the Defense of Marriage Act — full repeal of that — during the election. Now that same-sex couples can marry in five different states, what is the President doing to make sure those marriages can be recognized at the federal level, and what's the timeline for something like that??"

The Advocate reports that the White House gave them an official response which includes an answer to part one of the question, but not part two. The official response:

"DOMA is a federal law passed by Congress that precludes uniform federal recognition of same-sex relationships, even those recognized as valid under the law of the state. Because the President believes that this is an issue that should be left to the states, he continues to support the legislative repeal of DOMA."

Eleveld's original question, via C-Span, AFTER THE JUMP...