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Today's Q for O's WH - 4/30/2009
April 30, 2009 2:41 PM
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs started the briefing by telling us about an advance staffer for Energy Secretary Chu who had contracted flu in Mexico City.
TAPPER: I have a question and a follow up. Do you have any idea how this individual may have contracted...
GIBBS: No. It's -- again, without knowing the precise time in which he began to feel ill on the 16th, we didn't land until the afternoon of the 16th. It's based on the fact that there's an incubation period, you know, it's likely he began to get sick before -- days before the team landed on the day of the visit.
TAPPER: And my other question has to do with remarks that Vice President Biden made this morning on television. Representatives of the travel industry have accused the vice president of coming close to fear mongering because of these comments. I'm wondering if you wanted to clarify or correct or apologize for the remarks that he made.
GIBBS: Well, I think the -- what the vice president meant to say was the same thing that, begun, many members have said in the last few days. And that is if you feel sick, if you are exhibiting symptoms -- flu-like symptoms, coughing sneezing, runny nose, that you should take precautions, that you should limit your travel, and I think he just -- what he said and what he meant to say.
TAPPER: With all due respect, I sympathize with you trying to explain the vice president's comments, but that's not even remotely close to what he said. He was asked about if a members of his family...
GIBBS: Look, I understand what he said, and I'm telling you what he meant to say, which was that... (LAUGHTER BY REPORTERS) ... if somebody is experiencing symptoms -- you heard the president say this last night -- iIf somebody is feeling sick, if somebody is exhibiting symptoms of being sick, then they should take all necessary precautions. Obviously, if anybody was unduly alarmed for whatever reason, we -- we would apologize for that. And I hope that my remarks and remarks of people at CDC and Secretary Napolitano have appropriately cleared up what he meant to say.
-- jpt
April 30, 2009 in Today's Qs for Obama's WH | Permalink | Share | User Comments (36)
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This swine flu stuff is an excellent example of media driven (and Biden), mass hysteria. A lot of fuss over not much at all.
Posted by: DonG | May 1, 2009 2:12:54 PM
Jake,
Next time your at a presser... switch your question or let another reporter ask a question instead of you. I am wondering what would happen if Obama didn't know what question was coming.
Posted by: Nate Brink | Apr 30, 2009 8:28:36 PM
Gibbs is a real piece of work.
Now he's a mindreader who knows what Biden meant to say.
No, Gibbs is just a liar. Instead of being honest, he pulls an Obama.
No wonder Obama loves him.
Posted by: tanarg | Apr 30, 2009 8:08:04 PM
Is Joe Biden related to Homer Simpson? I wonder? Gibbs is equally colorful - perhaps Bart?
Posted by: Buzz Murdock | Apr 30, 2009 7:27:59 PM
the left wants more pub transportation, and the vp is telling us to stay away from it..hahahah
who elected these morons?
Posted by: tom | Apr 30, 2009 6:44:45 PM
In Your Guts you Know Biden's Nuts! It's not the right or Fox news that is calling him on this stupid gaffe... it's the White House... wake up apologists... If everybody did what Biden said half the country would lose their job in a matter of weeks.
Posted by: FRedStates | Apr 30, 2009 6:42:18 PM
Are the Obama enablers feeling safe with Obama's extremely poor choice of doofus Joe Biden to be second in command?
Talk about poor judgement!
Funny how 99% of the media and all of Obama's supporters ripped Sarah Palin apart, yet they gave Obama a free pass on his horrendous VP choice.
Says alot about them.
Biden is the lovable crazy uncle you usually see on TV sitcoms, The Ted Baxter type, except Biden is real life.
Posted by: OxyCon | Apr 30, 2009 6:18:39 PM
VP Biden was specifically asked what he would recommend to his family. He was honest. I still don't see the problem with his comments. I think it's a just an excuse to call him out for another gaffe and I think that's what they were wanting when they asked the question. Heaven forbid that they should just report news - they have to have some drama to include. That's why I watch the Daily Show for my news. At least I know what I'm getting there.
Posted by: MaryE | Apr 30, 2009 6:02:37 PM
Bidens's comments make more sense that the junk coming out of Obama last night.
Obama said he doesn't want big government. What a joke. Even France thinks we are too radical.
Obama said he has saved 150,000 jobs but offered no proof. And how much did it cost us per job?
And I feel safer knowing Obama isn't willing to do everything he can to keep us safe.
Biden makes more sense than the brilliant president.
Posted by: nick | Apr 30, 2009 5:16:29 PM
"And this is still all hypothetical - get back to me when a single one has been released in the US and it might sound less like deranged partisan ranting."
Where else are they going to go? France has agreed to take one (1). Not many other EU countries are jumping on-board:
LUXEMBOURG (AP) (4/6/09):
Austria was worried about the security threat to the European Union posed by the detainees, Interior Minister Maria Fekter told a meeting of her European counterparts.
"If the detainees are no longer dangerous, why don't they stay in the U.S.," Fekter told the meeting. "For Austria, I cannot accept Guantanamo inmates."
Obama repeated his request Sunday for European countries to take some of the 60 inmates who will have to go to another country as they could face abuse, imprisonment or death if returned to their homelands. He has ordered the center to close within a year of his taking office.
Several EU countries, including the Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU presidency, have already declined to take inmates.
=================================
Where's the love, Europe? We voted in The One!
Posted by: tjp612 | Apr 30, 2009 4:49:39 PM
tjp612:"I don't think it's a stretch to believe that these (soon to be former) detainees will migrate to (or be recruited by) radical elements within the U.S., which will strengthen jihadist efforts here at home."
Wouldn't that be awful. I mean, it's not like we know exactly who they are and could be keeping tabs on them and where they associate.
And this is still all hypothetical - get back to me when a single one has been released in the US and it might sound less like deranged partisan ranting.
Posted by: jhw539 | Apr 30, 2009 4:40:46 PM
Leave it to Jake to obsess over what Biden said ALL DAY LONG!
They cleared it up in a release. Instead of trying to cause a health panic, would it not be more prudent to say he said it wrong this AM?
But, nope, Jake's gonna make Gibbs pay for Biden's statement!
Way to go Jake!! You stick it to 'em, buddy!
Posted by: mk3872 | Apr 30, 2009 4:35:50 PM
Dr John - Bad news for your ratings breakdown: that means that more people watched Obama than Lie To Me. That's because O's viewership was split among many other channels so you have to add them up. The # watching Obama BLOWS AWAY Fox's viewers. Nice try, tho.
Posted by: mk3872 | Apr 30, 2009 4:34:42 PM
@ drjohn | Apr 30, 2009 4:15:43 PM:
"This is hilarious. Fox did not cover Obama but they had their own version of his speech, and it rated better than anyone else:
FOX Lie to Me 2.4/7 2.1/7 7.88
CW Top Model 1.8/6 2.1/7 4.00
ABC Obama 1.6/5 1.4/5 6.12
CBS Obama 1.5/5 0.9/3 6.01
NBC Obama 1.6/5 1.1/4 6.68
UNI Obama 1.3/4 1.3/4 3.224
=====================================
I didn't realize Fox didn't cover the speech...I thought "Lie to Me" WAS the The One's speech...
Posted by: tjp612 | Apr 30, 2009 4:29:14 PM
"Distraction" is the Word of the Year, innit? Well, Joe Biden really IS a distraction.
Posted by: L.R. | Apr 30, 2009 4:25:44 PM
@ Coming Soon to Your Town | Apr 30, 2009 3:24:29 PM
It's bad enough that a portion (TBD) of Gitmo detainees will be released into the U.S. (and supported at taxpayer expense), but I don't think it's a stretch to believe that these (soon to be former) detainees will migrate to (or be recruited by) radical elements within the U.S., which will strengthen jihadist efforts here at home.
But, hey, no worries. As long as we keep an eye on returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and those with anti-abortion and Ron Paul bumper stickers, all will be fine.
Posted by: tjp612 | Apr 30, 2009 4:23:59 PM
"And I hope that my remarks and remarks of people at CDC and Secretary Napolitano have appropriately cleared up what he meant to say."
Sure, Bobby.
It sounds a lot like the joke about the definition of a Freudian slip.
"I sat down for breakfast with my wife and when I meant to 'Good morning' I said......"
Posted by: drjohn | Apr 30, 2009 4:20:28 PM
Gibbs does pretty good for someone that had a lobotomy a few months back.
Posted by: Sally J | Apr 30, 2009 4:18:30 PM
This is hilarious. Fox did not cover Obama but they had their own version of his speech, and it rated better than anyone else:
FOX Lie to Me 2.4/7 2.1/7 7.88
CW Top Model 1.8/6 2.1/7 4.00
ABC Obama 1.6/5 1.4/5 6.12
CBS Obama 1.5/5 0.9/3 6.01
NBC Obama 1.6/5 1.1/4 6.68
UNI Obama 1.3/4 1.3/4 3.224
Posted by: drjohn | Apr 30, 2009 4:15:43 PM
"And if there was evidence they had "trained to kill you" then why didn't Bush deal with them?"
I guess Obama will deal with them, sort of. He'll likely expose all the agents involved and their covers because he's Mr. Transparency. Either that or they buggers go free because of the compromise it would mean for US intelligence services.
My money's on the former.
Posted by: drjohn | Apr 30, 2009 4:04:23 PM
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