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Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

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Today’s Qs for O’s WH – 7/13/2009

July 13, 2009 2:49 PM

TAPPER:  The president has said that health care reform, he'd like it on his desk by the August recess* and thinks that...
  
GIBBS:  Well, I think -- I think the president has talked about moving a bill forward.  I don't -- I don't think anybody was under the illusion that the whole process would be wrapped up by -- by the beginning of August.
  
TAPPER:  What does he want done by the beginning of August?
  
GIBBS:  Well, I think we can get a bill through -- bill through the House and bill through -- hopefully a bill through the Senate. But I don't think anybody's under the illusion that all of it's going to be wrapped up in just a couple of weeks, but that we can make a lot of progress towards that goal.
  
TAPPER:  OK.  I guess maybe I misunderstood.  Other people did, too.  But so -- so by August recess he would like to have it through the House and the Senate or through the House and maybe the Senate?
  
GIBBS:  Well, I -- I'll take either one, but, obviously, we'd like to see it through both houses, but understanding that there's a lot of work to be done.
  
TAPPER:  Is that moving the goalposts a little bit?  Did you just kind of -- you sound a little bit more pessimistic about -- I shouldn't say pessimistic.  You sound...
  
GIBBS:  Did somebody bring in goalposts?
  
TAPPER:  ... a little -- well, all the baseball metaphors on Capitol Hill today, I thought I'd change the sport.
  
GIBBS:  Oh, OK.  I was going to say...
 
(CROSSTALK)
  
TAPPER:  The...
  
GIBBS:  Maybe that's...
  
(CROSSTALK)
  
TAPPER:  You sound a little less optimistic about this than...
  
(CROSSTALK)
  
GIBBS:  No, I...

(CROSSTALK)
  
TAPPER:  You said, "Maybe.  I don't know," when just asked if it was going to be...
  
GIBBS:  Well, you know, I -- while you were moving in your -- your goalposts, I left my crystal ball back in.  I think you heard the president say...
  
(CELL PHONE RINGS)
  
Is that the president now?  It's all right.  Got to love it.
  
I think as you heard the president say -- I think as you heard the president say just the end of last week, that's his strong hope, that we get something moving through by August.
  
TAPPER:  OK.  And, also, there are some meetings today with Jewish leaders.  I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit more about that.
  
GIBBS:  We will give you a readout off of that.  I know a number of people, many of whom the president has known for quite some time, Lee Rosenberg, Alan Solow, and others, are in to -- to talk about issues that they're concerned about, particularly long-term peace in the Middle East.  But we'll give you a readout of who's in there and -- and what they discuss.

-jpt

July 13, 2009 in Today's Qs for Obama's WH | Permalink | Share | User Comments (14)

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What PBO should do is reverse Cap and Trade, sign the Fair Tax Act; Push for the legalization of Marihuana Act; Authorize the F-22 to 300 planes, Authorized 30 new nuclear power plants, authorize off shore oil drilling, authorize drilling in Alaska, authorize the mining of natural gas everywhere it is discovered in the United States, cut the corporate tax rate to 5% and execute the prisoners at Guatanimo Bay secretly.

Where is Sarah Palin when we need her?

Posted by: Lawrence | Jul 13, 2009 11:52:12 PM

Tidbits about President Bush's 4 Press Secretaries:

2001–2003 Ari Fleischer
Fleischer is credited with having been the first to introduce the phrase "homicide bombing" to describe what has also been called suicide bombing, in April 2002, to emphasize the terrorist connotations of the tactic.

2003–2006 Scott McClellan
McClellan has responded by stating that his role as White House Press Secretary was not to make policy, that he was inclined to give the Administration the "benefit of the doubt", and did not fully appreciate the circumstances until after leaving the "White House bubble."

2006–2007 Tony Snow
Reacting to Snow's death, President George H. W. Bush lauded what he felt was Snow's ability to bring "a certain civility to this very contentious job.

2007–2009 Dana Perino
On December 14, 2008, a TV journalist, Muntadar al-Zeidi threw two shoes at Bush during a Baghdad press conference. Bush successfully dodged both, but Perino's eye was injured by a microphone stand during the commotion of al-Zeidi's arrest. When pressed Perino said, "Sure I would take a shoe for the President".

Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | Jul 13, 2009 10:27:40 PM

Okay, I'm going to come down on the side opposite from Mr. Gibbs.

Unless the answers he gives Jake Tapper are an aberration and not indicative of the other answers he gives, I think this guy mumbles way too much and skates around too much.

I remember the previous press secretaries under the Bush administration being way too SLICK and way too EVASIVE, (of course they had to cover for President Bush who refused to answer questions for months at a time) but Gibbs generally just doesn't seem to come across well in these printed transcripts.

Posted by: danita | Jul 13, 2009 8:38:14 PM

The cutesy Mr Gibbs gets another pass. This guy is an embarrassment to the country. No feathers on that dart!

Posted by: Ralph | Jul 13, 2009 6:30:41 PM

Posted by: bkm | Jul 13, 2009 5:20:38 PM

You forgot:

Gibbs - You need to contact the White House.

Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | Jul 13, 2009 5:40:19 PM

Jake: Could you tell us if you..
Gibbs: Don't know...
Jake: Whether you can...
Gibbs: Get back to everyone...
Jake: On anything of real value?
Gibbs: Well, maybe.

A real comedy team they are. Abbott and Costello had nothing on them.

Posted by: bkm | Jul 13, 2009 5:20:38 PM

It appears that the daily WH press conference has devolved into a circus-like atmosphere...makes sense given the clown standing at the podium. Posted by: tjp612 | Jul 13, 2009 3:42:34 PM
____________________________________

It's like watching Frank Burns on M.A.S.H. and he pictures himself doing a wonderful job. The episode where they try to courtmartial Hawkeye and Frank tells his interpretation of the events. Classic Gibbs stuff!

Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | Jul 13, 2009 4:36:09 PM

I heard repeatedly from President Obama that "doing nothing" is not an option. However, now I am confused by Gibb's responses, because there is no deadline for not "doing nothing".

Posted by: Mike | Jul 13, 2009 4:32:05 PM

Start question...
Gibbs interrupts.
Continue question...
Gibbs giggles.
Try again...
Gibbs gets sarcastic.
One more time...
Gibbs gets snotty.

Rinse and repeat, next question, next day, next...

Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | Jul 13, 2009 4:16:42 PM

A little rope-a-dope for the fans out there. Health care reform being the rope - Gibbs being the dope.

Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | Jul 13, 2009 4:14:28 PM

Gibbs: Jake your job is to lay cover for our president.. not to ask pertinent questions..GOT IT???

Posted by: Obamas brownnosing media network | Jul 13, 2009 4:04:45 PM

This was a painful read...

It appears that the daily WH press conference has devolved into a circus-like atmosphere...makes sense given the clown standing at the podium.

Posted by: tjp612 | Jul 13, 2009 3:42:34 PM

These WH Q's for O are becoming a joke. Media is once again laying down on all issues and not asking any tough questions. Where is the skepticism that is supposed to be a pre-requisite of the job? Thanks for nothing Jake.

Posted by: Mike in Costa Mesa | Jul 13, 2009 3:33:56 PM

POLITICS or POLL-ITICS


Polls are the barometer of politicians.
It seems like they only look at the polls to take real decisions.

Latest polls showed an underperforming in Obama´s economic policies, and therefore we have breakfast today with "CHENEY and the secret CIA files".

But, ... are we talking about economy or about Mr Cheney ???
Are we talking about saving the US of a deep economic hole or are we trying to remember again Bush admon practices ???

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have voted for a change. Let´s look into the future and solve current problems. Stop looking back and blaming others. Concentrate please on the real issues affecting us now !!!

Ohio unemployment rate is at 10,8%, together with Indiana, the highest since the 80s.
700 billion dollar stimulus plan is not reacting in a quick manner, and some analysts wonder if a new one is coming ...
We are running out of time, since that huge amount of money put into the system, is not to be having effect in 4 years time. It is a shock plan to react now !!!... At least, that is what mr Obama said to the congress to be approved not that long time ago.

Are we again playing media games to tell people..." Maybe I am not that good predicting economy holes, but look how I try to close GUANTANAMO or how I blame Cheney for those past terms ".

Mr Obama, you received thousands of new democrat votes to do 2 things:

- Improve the economic chaos we are in now.
- Improve our international relations with arabs, russia and China.

Well, till now. You get a C- in all your semester marks.

Let´s hope you receive B or A+ in the next months. But concentrate please on real issues, not in POLLS that make you nervous and make you become as those you criticised so much during your campaign.


Jose Luis Revilla Escudero
Chairman & CEO
WWShares, Inc
-Global Wealth Management-
www.worldwideshares.blogspot.com

Posted by: JOSE LUIS REVILLA ESCUDERO | Jul 13, 2009 3:04:11 PM

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