White House Press Secretary Confiscates Cell Phone

White House Cell Phone White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs took a reporter's cell phone when it went off during the middle of a press briefing.

by CBS/WKRG Staff

Published: Thu, May 14, 2009 - 8:38 am CST Last Updated: Thu, May 14, 2009 - 12:17 pm CST

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is used to battling the press and their barrage of questions. But he had another battle to fight Wednesday - the dreaded cell phone.

Reporter John Gizzi's cell phone went off while Gibbs was talking about the President's decision to withhold the release of photos showing the abuse of terror subjects in U.S. custody.

It's not the first time a reporter's phone has gone off during a press conference and Gibbs decided he'd had enough. Gibbs told Gizzi to give him the phone, which got a laugh from the White House press corp. Gibbs walked out of the press briefing room and tossed the phone to someone off camera.

Seconds later, Bill Pante's cell phone went off. But the CBS News reporter decided to walk out of the room instead of handing over the phone. Gibbs called Plante out, saying he must be talking to his banker considering the suit he was wearing.

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Wait4Me Says:

Fri, May 15, 2009 at 6:11 am

A hands free system that operates throught the radio speakers and can be installed in almost any vehicle. Available at Best Buy and on-line. Blue-tooth and works great.

mustuknow Says:

Thu, May 14, 2009 at 10:10 pm

what is a “Parrott System”?

JOESPKN Says:

Thu, May 14, 2009 at 12:47 pm

Weally

Wait4Me Says:

Thu, May 14, 2009 at 12:06 pm

ALL vehicles should have a device that disables the cell phone while in gear with a special operator number a person can call to alert the drive of an emergency so they can pull over and talk (in park) I use mine for work and am on call 24/7 and I have a parrot system in my truck to make it safer if I have to drive while talking, but I wouldnt mind not having calls while I drive.

southernbelle6913 Says:

Thu, May 14, 2009 at 11:57 am

Turnipman needs to go back to the farm. I do not “YACK” on mine while driving but my cell is how my children get in touch with me if they are sick or what not. Cell phones are an important part of society. I do believe however that there is a time and place that the phones need to be turned off or at least put on vibrate.

Oldefarte Says:

Thu, May 14, 2009 at 11:29 am

Sounds like Gibbs was trying to TORTURE that reporter——Congress should investigate this!!!!

Hate-it Says:

Thu, May 14, 2009 at 9:50 am

Who ever is doing the editing, needs a new job,
Wite?

cmb1 Says:

Thu, May 14, 2009 at 9:28 am

Wite ?