Susan's Blog » White House Manners: "CBS' rude little liberal?"

Why does each generation decry the perceived decline of manners in subsequent generations?  As I mentioned in an interview on "techiquette" yesterday for the South China Morning Post, I don't believe that manners deteriorate with each generation, but rather that they change or morph with the times.  That said, the circus-like fiasco at Robert Gibbs' White House Press Conference yesterday afternoon reminded me that every generation has its' fair share of simply rude people.  During serious discussion about President Obama's decision on Gitmo detainee photos, four cell phones rang after repeated requests from Mr. Gibbs' that all phones be put on vibrate.  Does this sound more like a middle school class room with a substitute teacher?  

John Gizzi of Human Events Magazine lost his cell phone to Mr. Gibbs.  Appropriately, Mr. Gizzi apologized for his error.  Okay, mistakes happen.  After a few more minutes, the seemingly arrogant older "kid," who had been put in the front row so that the teacher could keep an eye on him, not only disrupted the "class" with his ringing cell phone, but answered it!  Yes, Bill Plant, CBS Senior White House Correspondent, answered his cell phone, defiantly refusing to give the "teacher," Robert Gibbs, the noisy contraband, and left the briefing talking on his phone.  No apology there.  In fact, no apology was given afterward in his CBS blog discussing his "side of the story."  But, this is not the first time this reporter was labeled by the media as "rude."  In 2007, The New York Observer labeled Mr. Plant a "rude little liberal"  after he shouted out the uninvited question to President Bush regarding Karl Rove: “If he’s so smart, how come you lost Congress?”

What's a White House Press Secretary to do?  Do what most good parents and teachers do:  Establish a policy, be clear about what it means in a way that defines the consequences for its' violation, and be consistent about enforcing the policy.  It's a simple matter of global manners.