Today's Gratuitous Rumor

Republicans Will Force Vote on Slaughter Rule, Human Events
“Most interesting rumor from the Hill yesterday: Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) who announced his retirement from Congress has been promised the job of NASA administrator in exchange for his vote, and Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), another retiring Democrat, has been promised an appointment as U.S. Ambassador to NATO in exchange for his vote.”
Keith’s note: White House Press Secretary Gibbs squashed this silly rumor flat.
“Q The Republicans put something out saying that Bart Gordon and John Tanner have been promised cushy government positions in exchange for their votes.
MR. GIBBS: And what were those positions?
Q Those positions are NASA administrator and U.S. ambassador to NATO. (Laughter.)
MR. GIBBS: Well, that’s —
Q At some point.
MR. GIBBS: I think those are — I think those jobs are currently filled, but — and I’m not sure that anybody would think — certainly the current occupants — that those are otherwise cushy jobs. So that’s just not true.”
Rep. Gordon dismisses rumor he traded healthcare vote for NASA job, The Hill
“If it was offered to me, I would not accept,” Gordon told the chamber, praising current NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and stressing his decision to support Democrats’ healthcare bill, which he announced Thursday, was his own. But Gordon also took a shot at Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) on Friday, to whom Gordon sourced the rumor that he had traded his healthcare vote for a NASA sweetener. He repeatedly pressed Chaffetz to explain “why he said what he did and where he got that information.”