Brendan McDermid/Reuters, left, and Bill Authl/Getty Images At the podium: The president in 2000, and now the former president in 2010.Political Washington watched, slack-jawed, as President Obama on Friday offered former President Bill Clinton the White House briefing room and Mr. Clinton took it – for a full half-hour.
The remarkable moment in Washington set the Twitter world on fire as Mr. Clinton sought to help his Democratic successor with the kind of political problem that the 42nd president so often faced – a revolt among his base.
“Surprise visit to wh press room right now: POTUS and ex-POTUS,” wrote NBC’s Chuck Todd.
Christina Bellantoni of Roll Call offered: “Wow. I looked at my TV and its 1999.”
As Mr. Obama departed the briefing room, leaving Mr. Clinton alone with the reporters, the Twitter messages got more and more incredulous.
“This is Un. Real,” Bellantoni added.
And Peter Hamby of CNN deadpanned: “Me? Take over the briefing room podium? Don’t mind
if I do!”
Mr. Clinton continued to talk – and continued and continued. At one point, he leaned in, resting his chin on his hand, the way the press corps and the American people have seen him do so often.
Taegan Goddard of the Political Wire Web site suggested that: “Obama leaves Clinton at the podium taking questions. This may last longer than the Bernie Sanders filibuster…”
And Michael Goldfarb, a conservative strategist, sent in that he was “watching with no audio at the bar – Did Obama just resign?” He added moments later: “Can someone please ask about Vince Foster?”
It has been rumored for months that Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, may soon be replaced at the briefing room podium. Mr. Gibbs has always demurred, saying he’s happy in his job.
But the rumors have persisted, and on Friday, Tony Fratto, who served as deputy press secretary under former President George W. Bush, joked in a Twitter message that he had figured out who would be replacing Mr. Gibbs.
“Is Pres. Clinton auditioning for White House press secretary?!” he wrote.
But perhaps the best Twitter message of the afternoon goes to Ezra Klein of the Washington Post, who said: “After this, Bill Clinton is going to go sit in the Oval Office, ‘just until Obama gets back.’”