Sign "O" the Times

White House Spokesmodel Dan Pfeiffer isn’t too happy these days, and vented his frustration on yesterday’s Sunday shows:

The remarks came from Dan Pfeiffer, a member of the president’s inner circle, as he appeared on all five major Sunday morning talk shows in an effort to move the administration past what commentators have described as a “hell week” of controversy and missteps. He pointedly rejected Republican criticisms of the president’s actions and leadership style as “offensive” and “absurd,” and he said the administration would not be distracted from doing the nation’s business.

I don’t know about offensive, but critiques this effective are certainly unaccustomed. Even Bob Schieffer is tired of getting stonewalled:

“I don’t want to compare this in any way to Watergate … but I have to tell you, that is exactly the approach the Nixon administration took. You’re taking exactly the same line,” Mr. Schieffer said.

He then castigated the White House for taking credit when the federal government does something right, but passing the buck when problems arise. Republicans and other critics have made similar claims that Mr. Obama seems to have little knowledge of what’s happening in his own federal government.

“When the executive branch does things right, there doesn’t seem to be any hesitancy for the White House to take credit for that,” Mr. Schieffer said, citing the killing of Osama bin Laden as an example. “When these [scandals] happen, you seem to send out officials many times who don’t even seem to know what’s happened.”

The last couple of weeks have been one Sergeant Schultz act after another from various Administration officials. And that breaks the cozy compact between Official Washington and the MSM (but I repeat myself), in which the former has to help the latter make it appear as though they’re doing their jobs.