Gibbs just confiscated one of the WH Reporters Cell Phones! (w/video)

[Clio the Leo]

After the reporter's phone went off twice (and once the day before apparently) Gibbs said, "Just gimme the phone!" at which point the reporter (sorry, not sure which one) got up and handed it to him! LOL The briefing room fell out laughing! Gibbs walked to the briefing room door and PITCHED it inside and then came back saying,"dont worry, somone caught it."

He continued speaking and then,about 10 seconds later, ANOTHER cell phone went off at which point he stopped, went to THAT reporter and stuck out his hand and said, "give it to me!" again, to more laughter.

Rather than ALSO coming off like a punk, the second reporter held the phone up to his ear and walked out of the briefing! lol

Politico will no doubt have video of this later! That was SOOO funny. I love the Gibbinator.

Video: http://www.politico.com/singletitlevideo.html?bcpid=1155201977&bctid=23027552001

[question everything]

1. Great! I hope that schools, for example, and lecture halls

and other public places will follow this example.

Except for the president, no one has to be available 24/7. There is something wrong with our society that has enslaved so many workers to constantly be "on call."

[goclark]

2. Gibbs was kind and light hearted

The man that walked out to take the call should have been made to stay out IMO.

[Arugula Latte]

9. Check out this 37-second video entitled "Professor Smashes Student's Cell Phone"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arj2S9KYCCY

[question everything]

10. That's a good example

I suppose, though, that he missed the other cell phone that actually recorded it.

[wndycty]

3. I always confiscate my students phones when they go off in class . . .

. . .or when I catch them texting.

[Catshrink]

14. Me too.

Last year I was #1 in confiscations. I'm the "cell phone Nazi."

[Dappleganger]

4. Too funny!

Last weekend when we went to see the Star Trek movie someone's phone kept ringing. The guy even answered it! A whole bunch of trekkies started to yell at him to put it away and he finally did. People are so self-important these days.

[TrogL]

7. I saw Star Trek with my cell phone on but....

I'm on call so I had it on vibrate and made a point of sitting in an aisle seat near the exit so I could nip out and deal with it if I had to.

DAMN that's an exhausting movie.

[madamesilverspurs]

5. Once had a teacher

who did that with chewing gum. At least there's no "eww factor" with confiscating the phones... Remember that commercial about the guy in the audience at the opera; he answers his cell phone, and the valkyrie on stage pitches a spear through it. Hmmmm.

And, by the way, I thought Gibbs' technique was superb for conveying that the venue deserves the respect of those in the room. These people are, ostensibly, professionals. They needed to be reminded of that.

[Clio the Leo]

6. added video link NT

[yellowcanine]

8. A friend of mine confiscates ringing phones and answers them.

Then he explains to the person calling that the phone's owner is in class and can't talk right now. He sometimes engages in an extended conversation with the caller, extracting personal information about the phone's owner. He only has to do it once or so at the beginning of the semester and after that there are no more ringing phones for the rest of the semester. These are college classes.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

16. I had a similar problem when I worked at the courthouse.

I would make a doctor's appointment and they would call back, and court would be in session. The court clerk would answer the phone in a whisper and tell them I was busy. They did not understand that you don't stop court so that the people can take phone calls.

As far as I was concerned they should not have had ANY phones in the courtroom, except for the bailiff to get instructions to bring in jury panels and such.

[CakeGrrl]

11. They either need to turn them off or stay out of the briefing room

I don't know why that's so difficult.

They're in there to take notes from and ask questions of the Press Secretary, not to multitask. They should treat it with the same respect they would treat going into a staff meeting.

[gblady]

12. What a hoot......

"cotton candy down the street, it's a circus" Gibbs at the end.
He did that with grace!

[ashling]

13. I have begun class with something this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GzmMebIIKA&NR=1

or, this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hut3VRL5XRE&NR=1

that generally gets the point across

[high density]

15. WTF was Bill Plante doing?

He has been around long enough to act properly in a WH press briefing.