Gibbs: Shelby Holds Are ‘Silliness’

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)
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White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called out Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) this morning over his rare blanket hold on all of President Obama’s nominees in the Senate. Reports from this morning’s press gaggle are coming in, and they show a White House that is flabbergasted by Shelby today.

From DailyCaller White House reporter Jon Ward’s Twitter feed from inside the gaggle:

“Gibbs on Shelby holds: “I fear there won’t [b]e a greater example of silliness throughout the entire year of 2010.”

More from Ward:

“Gibbs said Shelby holds are a “poster child for how this town needs to change the way it works.”

We’ll have more on Gibbs’ statements in the gaggle shortly.

Late Update: Here’s the full transcript of Gibb’s remarks about the Shelby hold in the gaggle today (Provided by the White House):

Q Robert, Senator Shelby has placed a hold on 70-plus of the
President’s nominees apparently until two of his earmarks get restored.
Can you comment on that?

MR. GIBBS: I guess if you needed one example of what’s wrong with
this town, it might be that one senator can hold up 70 qualified
individuals to make government work better because he didn’t get his
earmarks. If that’s not the poster child for how this town needs to
change the way it works, I fear there won’t be a greater example of
silliness throughout the entire year of 2010. It is —

Q Robert, can you tell us a better readout on the meeting last
night with Democratic leaders?

MR. GIBBS: Hold on one second, let me just finish this. I think it
boggles the mind to hold up qualified nominees for positions that are
needed to perform functions in a government because you didn’t get two
earmarks.

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