As you point out: while it wouldn't be prudent to go into politics for the direct money, the modern reality is that politics is a route to a staggering amount of future money. Not unlike paying vast sums to go to an Ivy League school; not because the education is so much better, but because future opportunities will be.
In that light, I don't see a huge line between his decision to 'cash-out' at this particular point in time and the statement 'because his salary was too low'.
I like that angle. Four years as communications director of one of the most spectacular presidential campaigns of all times, two years as White House Press Secretary, that certainly opens a lot of doors (and should definitely land him a book deal).
It’s certainly understandable that when you then feel burnt out after six years of stress the thought of leaving must be very attractive. It’s still a bit strange that Obama makes a reference to his modest compensation.
I've got to imagine he's adjusting expectations and trying to frame the conversation before the likely stories about how much Gibbs is going to make in the private sector.
After Peter Orszag's move to the private sector generated a non-trivial brouhaha, it'd be more surprising if he didn't.
In that light, I don't see a huge line between his decision to 'cash-out' at this particular point in time and the statement 'because his salary was too low'.