WASHNGTON, D.C. Feb. 28 (DPI) — Celebrity author and journalist Bob Woodward announced on CNN last night that a high-level official in the White House threatened him.
According to Woodward, the official — later identified as Gene Sperling — told Woodward he “will regret doing this” in reference to his intention to publish a column describing President Obama as “moving the goal posts” in budget negotiations.
By today, with the disclosure that Sperling, a longtime Democratic operative, was the source of the so-called threat, the matter looked nothing more than a trumped-up charge, and an opportunity for Woodward, who turns 70 next month, to appear relevant — and make the news prior to publication of another book.
By most accounts in Washington today, Sperling has been a longtime source and confidante of Woodward, so the “regret this” phrase in their email spat hardly qualified as a genuine threat, at least not one suggesting Tony Soprano-style retribution. Rather, it was little more than a threat to cancel dinner plans, Washington insiders say.