(Updated) "White House unloads anger over criticism from 'professional left’"

UPDATE: Glenn Greenwald has now delivered a full-on smack down, including suggestions about who will need to be drug-tested if Gibb's rant is to be enforced:

Talking Points Memo reporters, Charlie Savage, the lawyers from EFF, Bob Herbert, Anthony Romero, Russ Feingold, and The New York Times Editorial Board.

Sam Youngman (The Hill):

The White House is simmering with anger at criticism from liberals who say President Obama is more concerned with deal-making than ideological purity.

During an interview with The Hill in his West Wing office, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs blasted liberal naysayers, whom he said would never regard anything the president did as good enough.

“I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested,” Gibbs said. “I mean, it’s crazy.”

The press secretary dismissed the “professional left” in terms very similar to those used by their opponents on the ideological right, saying, “They will be satisfied when we have Canadian healthcare and we’ve eliminated the Pentagon. That’s not reality.”

Of those who complain that Obama caved to centrists on issues such as healthcare reform, Gibbs said: “They wouldn’t be satisfied if Dennis Kucinich was president.” MORE...

Howie P.S.: I consider myself a supporter of this President. Afghanistan, financial reform and the public option are still all big, f****ing deals, Robert. Glenn Greenwald Tweets:

In 18 short months, we went from "hold me accountable" to "get drug tested."

Ezra Klein:

I understand why the WH is frustrated by liberal dissatisfaction, but not why they complain about it in interviews.

Bob Cesca:

Sherrod was fired when the far-right freaked out. When some on the left criticize POTUS you say they're on drugs. Explain?