Matt Lauer Calls Out Rick Santelli For Claiming The White House Threatened Him (VIDEO)

Since CNBC correspondent Rick Santelli's on-air eruption last week over Obama's mortgage bailout plan, he's been promoted by his network, become the subject of a viral video and dominated many a blog post. Santelli's very public assertion that "the government is promoting bad behavior" also reached the White House press briefing on Friday, soliciting a request from Press Secretary Robert Gibbs that Santelli take the plan and "download it, hit print and begin to read it." After that, Santelli ratcheted up the exchange by claiming that Gibbs was issuing a veiled threat.

On Thursday morning, "Today" host Matt Lauer asked Santelli if he was "serious" about his claim that Gibbs threatened him. A rather awkward exchange ensued:

Santelli: "Listen, let's put it this way. Matt, you're married, are you not?"

Lauer: "Yeah, I am."

Santelli: "Ok, this is more about the feelings my wife had when she watched the body language and listened to what he was saying."

Lauer: "But this is the White House Press Secretary. You think he's going to threaten you on national television?"

WATCH IT BELOW:

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Comments

[emmasvoice]

I wonder how Santelli's wife feels about his calling us little mainstreeters "losers", while our tax dollars bail out his partners, and increase his salary. Similar to his wife, my husband doesn't appreciate bailing out wall street. Frankly, he was promoted because he and cnbc and all are owned by wall street.

Mr. Gibbs comment was right on point. Had Santelli read the President's program on the internet, he may have kept quiet. That is how we "little people" get our information. And, believe it or not, we can read and comprehend what we read..

[CitizenFarmer]

Santelli was out of line; almost as bad as Hillary's statement about bullets flying around her head in Iraq.

[HoracePManure]

I love it when Republicans attempt to use 'nuance' and 'feelings' to make a point.

Like watching an armless man paint a house.

[bigmacha]

I guess in Santelli's view he should be able to say whatever he wants without any fear of someone respondng to him. Gibb's reaction was reasoned and reasonable because 1) as a trader Rick is living in an alternative universe; his compensation at its lowest is far in excess of what the average American makes 2) as a commentator on CNBC his compensation is far in excess of the average American makes 3) add those to two factors up and you have someone earning in the top 1% of all Americans - what could he possibly know about the housing crisis other then as an observer. Gibbs was absolutely correct. What is funny is the paranoia - gee his wife was worried about it so it must be a problem; unfortunately he did not have the stones to say HE was worried about it. Running your mouth on national TV (even cable) has its consequences especially as it impacts the "markets" and if he is worried about it (unduly so) then he should be more circumspect in his rantings.

Just for the record nothing said on CNBC will ever favor this President's policies - just ask the question - where were these blovators when GWB was turning a 400 billion surplus into a 1 trillion dollar deficit?

[fairness4all]

It's very clear that Santelli is afraid to take responsibility for his remarks and is now trying to hide behind his wife! And he wants to "re-phrase" the question? In other words he can't or won't answer the direct question posed to him by Lauer.

Santelli complains because Gibbs referred to him (Santelli) by name instead of the general media? Why - it wasn't the general media that MADE the comment - it WAS Rick Santelli!

Rick doesn't believe that Robert Gibbs had the right to mention his name?
Santelli used Obama's name in his remarks and now Santelli is wimping out.

Just to emphasize bigmacha's question - Why couldn't Santelli find anything to whine about in the past eight years? Maybe Santelli could muster up some guts and explain that for us.

[bigmacha]

Basically it is because he like the rest of the "street" professionals doesn't have any new ideas. They all simply restate the republithug mantra of lower taxes and personal responsibility - forgetting of course the Golden Rule which they profess to adhere to in their worship [fill in the creed/sect]. They don't realize that someone has to pay for the infrastructure - roads, schools, police, fire dept, military, etc, etc. When they don't have any of the above they scream bloody murder. It is much easier for these fools to wrap themselves in a flag, praise the lord and rant.

These "pros" also don't want to accept responsibility for the mess that we are in. Not that all of the Street is collectively responsible, but everyone knew that these CDO's, etc were, as Buffet said so eloquently, "weapons of mass destruction". They didn't speak up then (CNBC) nor do they now. They encouraged­/facilitat­ed several bubbles in the past and then hide behind "we're just reporting the news/journalism" accepting no responsibility for responsible journalism. Pure BS.

After spending over 40 years on the "street" it sickens me to see these so-called professionals whining after years of raping and pillaging. I don't care what they say, but in reality, people do not make investment decisions based on the possibility they will pay taxes - investments are made, businesses are financed, etc on the prospect of making money. If you pay some taxes you are keeping a whole lot more.

[Counterglow]

The best thing I've seen in a while was the graph showing the economy going in the tank immediately after Santelli insisted everything was just fine. Typical job performance for one of these right wing types: he gets it dead wrong, but because he follows the party line, he gets a promotion. No doubt if he fails his way upward for long enough, he'll wind up as president of AIG or something.

[care4mypeeps]

It was totally refreshing to hear Matt Laure call Rick Santelli out on his mess. We have had to endure
this kind of drive by shooting of those who are trying to make a name for themselves or those who were goated on by the Republican Party to muddy the waters so that the Presidents message is eclipsed or muted through insinuations and dishonest insertions.

Now that Rick Santelli has been called on the carpet for his lie of being threatened by the Press Secretary as well as his other lies, just mayby he will speak the truth with just as much passion.

[Ravyn]

The problem with Santelli is too many people listen to him and think he's right without really stopping to think who he is and what he does. In retrospect anyone who works in the financial market, standing in the middle of a trading floor complaining about the mortgage bailout, when virtually all the major financial banks and firms have had to be bailed out and the stock market is tanking, is a total hypocrite. Santelli should be taken as seriously as a balloon -- he's full of hot air and his 15 seconds should be over right about now.

[MANK]

Reports coming out that this was all preplanned by the Repugs. Tinme will tell. It always does!

[fictioneer]

When Matt Lauer's holding your feet to the fire, you're full of it.

[ClintB]

Santelli Fraud
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/rick-santellis-rant-was-coordinated-eff

[sl26]

Santelli, O'Reilly, Rush, and Coulter, are all REACTIONARIES. It's sad they are allowed air time.

[listentome]

They are allowed air time because they appeal to that part of our society that live in fear of anything or anyone that is different from that they are accustomed to. They appeal to those who cannot believe that the world is changing around them and that they are expected to adapt. Santelli, O'Reilly, Rush, Hannity and Coulter speak loudly and boldly and tell those folks that they don't have to change.

[paparoo]

They are allowed airtime because they are American citizens with the right of free speech. And because of people like them, attempts at censorship like the 'Fairness Doctrine' will never see the light of day again in America.

[paparoo]

I have to agree with Santelli. I cannot remember an administration that so readily names media names that dare to criticize them. Obama has named O'Reiily, Limbaugh, Hannity, and Fox News several times.

They are either very thin-skinned or trying to intimidate the media from negative press.

[listentome]

Why wouldn't an administration that is always being questioned about those very names that you named not comment? Those individuals you named are in fact trying to intimidate this administration and incite a war against them. I applaud this administration for taking them on for the psycho nuts that they are.

[NativeCarolinian]

He got a promotion instead of being fired, i.e. Dan Rather.
How much negative press did you hear from the media (other than cable news) about the last administration up to the last year or so?
Being in the White House, gives up your freedom of speech? Everybody else can say what they feel, but the Obama administration have to be political correct? PLEASE...

[soupson52]

(giggle) papa was jesting. Right??

[teepeeyoyo]

Can't get anything past you, huh?

[Maninhilo]

I think it's about the level of the conversation. The guy's on a very large rant. He's jumping up and down, yelling and saying we should have another tea party...(talk about body language... lol) I think the response was appropriate and actually showed more restraint than I would.

Thin-skinned would be the opposite.

[TamysDMilo]

Santelli's wife is not the only one who read physical threat in Gibbs' body language. My 93 year old mother-in-law called me at the end of his press conference to tell me that she had just finished speaking to the Volusia County Sheriff's office to see what they could do about preventing him from doing harm to Santelli by taking Gibbs into custody.

[patrickgarret]

Cookooo Coookooo

[soupson52]

Thanks Tamys. That was funny!

[Terypat]

Santilli's contract up this summer? Hmm, expect to see more of the same antics. As long as the sponsors are happy, he might have a chance to keep his job. Yes, networks are hurting too, Rick. Rick, by the way, I hope your mortgage is in good shape and you didn't overextend yourself. Unemployment checks don't go too far. Oh, silly me, I forget when people like Rick get canned they are sent packing with a nice severence pay.

[makrom]

Santelli's rant was a hoax. CNBC helped set this up with Republican right-wing operatives. The story is here ... DO NOT MISS THIS! Kudos to Kos & Playboy for this one: http://www.playboy.com/blog/2009/02/backstabber.html

[hlhicks]

Classic. More shenanigans from the right wing extremists. Let's see how long it takes the MSM to pick up this story and it should be on page one of HuffPo right now.

[ClintB]

CNBC is Evil. All the republicans on CNBC (thats almost everyone) do nothing but bad mouth Obama, then when Obama speaks on TV the Hedge funds naked short the market so the market crashes every time he's on. They are conditioning the investors. Obama = Bad. It's the only hope the Republicans have in 4 years.