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Gibbs: Don't try to overtalk the president

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WASHINGTON, March 18 (UPI) -- Note from the White House spokesman to reporters wanting to interview U.S. President Barack Obama: Let him answer uninterrupted.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs had a Miss Manners moment Thursday when asked about Obama's seeming frustration about being interrupted repeatedly during an interview with Fox News Channel anchor/reporter Bret Baier.

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"I will simply say that I think it's always better ... when you interview the president that you let the president give his answer," Gibbs said during his regular media briefing. "I've always found that to be the most effective way to conduct an interview."

During the interview that aired Wednesday, Obama said "let me finish" three times. By some counts, Baier interrupted Obama 18 times.

Near the end of the nearly 11-minute interview, Baier apologized "for interrupting you, sir. I tried to get the most for our buck here."

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