Rick Santelli's CNBC rant stated:
"The government is promoting bad behavior. I have an idea. The new administration is big on computers and technology, how about this President and new administration: Why don't you put up a website to have people vote on the Internet as a referendum to see if we really want to subsidize the loser's mortgages or would we like to at least buy cars, buy houses in foreclosure, and give them to people that might have a chance to actually prosper down the road and reward people that could carry the water instead of drink the water."
The most interesting aspect of the rant is that the Obama administration was quick to counter-attack. They are demonstrating a persnickety and righteous indignation as well as an inability to accept valid criticism and frustration on the part of many people. If there were vestiges of integrity and decorum on the part of the Obama administration, this video rant would roll off their backs, but they must feel compelled to respond. They single out critics, as they did with Rush Limbaugh, in an attempt to silence opposition.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs poked fun at Santelli and thus underscores how sensitive the Obama White House is to media coverage. Cable television news shows have been annoying and they have made no effort to hide their displeasure.
The episode is ludicrously insignificant yet by dignifying the rant with a response Obama legitimizes the message delivered by Santelli.