Report Card on Obama’s First Presidential News Conference
EmailThe Sale: A In his first presidential news conference tonight, President Obama was able to spend most of an hour talking to most of the country, mostly about the economy. Yet in those long answers, which were like five-minute mini-essays or speeches all about the economy, he was able to explain from his perspective how bad the situation is, how we got into this mess, and how his stimulus package will fix it. So from that perspective, he was able to really get his message across tonight. And, of course, that bully-pulpit is something he has that his opponents just can’t match. Reaching Out: B On reaching out to the Republicans, I think you give him a "B." If you look over the course of the last four weeks, the president has been able to pick Republicans for his cabinet. But he certainly hasn’t been able to achieve the goal of getting majority Republican votes — 80 votes he once said he wanted — on his stimulus package. He was able to make his point tonight how basically, that isn’t his fault. That’s what he was trying to say tonight. That he’s reached out but he hasn’t has a response from the Republican side. But I think what you saw is that there’s a real, inherent tension between the president’s promise of bipartisanship, of reaching out the other side, and his promise of fundamental policy change. And, he didn’t really sugar coat the differences tonight that he and the majority of Republicans have over how to address this economic problem right now. He expressed that these aren’t issues that can be bridged by cocktail parties or phone calls to cell phones. Overall: Incomplete On his first four weeks, you have to give the president an "Incomplete." The president has been able to make his case in his first four weeks. But he’s also had the kind of stumbles that most presidents have in their early days. He lost the cabinet appointment of Tom Daschle for Health and Human Services Secretary. But how he’s doing, how he will be seen, is all dependent on two things that are likely to unfold later this week. One, is he actually successful in passing the stimulus package, in getting it through the House and the Senate and signing it into law by that deadline that he set of President’s Day? And, will it work? Two, the bank bailout plan they are unveiling Tuesday. He said he didn’t wan to pre-empt his Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner who is expected to announce the next phase of this financial stabilization plan. That probably has as much to do with his ultimate success as the stimulus package does. The president even acknowledged that he can’t even say yet whether he’s going to have to come back and ask the country for more money, or whether this is going to work. You can’t come up with a grade for this president until we know how those two big programs work out. –George Stephanopoulos
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
George Stephanopoulos get a new hair piece. Its sicking your love affair with Obama. Your a man for god sakes at least you look like one so act like one. GROW A PAIR.
Posted by: hammlet | February 10, 2009, 12:39 am 12:39 am
“That he’s reached out but he hasn’t has a response…”
“…He said he didn’t wan to pre-empt his Treasury Secretary…”
Grammar check your story, please.
Posted by: Peter Horn | February 10, 2009, 1:26 am 1:26 am
“Do you love your country as much as Rev. Wright?”
Now George, what grade did you assign
that debacle of a debate you perpetrated on the American electorate?
Flawed logic is the father of feckless
posits. You’ve earned an A+ in ineptitude.
If one reaches out, and no one recipricates, did the tree fall or does it remain standing tall?
Posted by: Michael | February 10, 2009, 2:28 am 2:28 am
Overall – incomplete
Well George. I can give you a better grade. Complete. As in complete idiot. For crying out loud, in three weeks Pres Obama has accomplished more than most presidents in memory. Thankfully, although you media constantly want to tear him down, the American people are ignoring you and your cohorts. You are becoming insignificant.
Posted by: sharon | February 10, 2009, 3:45 am 3:45 am
Come on guys; why the personal attacks on George? If you get that worked up by him tune up your radio to Rush. I’m sure he will be more simpathetic to your plight. Why attack the message bearer? Do you have an opinion of the story? Post it. Better ideas? Post those. We who read your comments only perceive your raw hate and not your ideology. Make us think, not tune you out.
Posted by: Regina | February 10, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Hey, there was actually some constructive dialogue in that other thread! You guys burned the wrong one.
Posted by: silky | February 10, 2009, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
George what you might call a stumble, I call a genius way to show the American people the GOP’s true colors….
Party First. Corporations second. Americans last.
Posted by: Becky | February 10, 2009, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Watch out George, the phonecalls every morning from Rahm E. might stop.
Posted by: Lizzie | February 10, 2009, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
Stumbles? Are you serious? First of all he isn’t like most presidents, he is articulate. He actually can formulate sentences, imagine that! This president has been relentless from the get go, yes, on day one, on getting this nation back on track. For that, I give him an A+.
Posted by: Dale G | February 10, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
What is going on with the “leftist”,mainstream media?
Or is that it? Are you guys so bent on not appearing to be what you have been called.
This President hasn’t even been in office for more than a few weeks.
He was not my first choice but I am willing to give him some time. I don’t think anyone can do more than try different plans to correct this mess in which we find ourselves.
As far as reaching out to Republicans, well, he has tried and they are just not in the mood-yet. They probably won’t get in the mood until they figure out they don’t have a chance again for a long time.
Posted by: Linus | February 10, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
George — looks like you are still on the payroll for the Democrats or maybe all of ABC is on the payroll or maybe you are getting stimulus money. You should all be ashamed for selling the taxpayer this bag of rocks.
Posted by: BJ | February 10, 2009, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
What kind of a fantasy world is sharon living in? “you media all want to tear him down?” What an infantile statement. The media have their lips permanently planted on his arse. When he(Hussein) leaves politics the surgery to remove them will take at least a week.
Posted by: JB | February 10, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
Who’s watch did this all start under? Please don’t talk in circles, that’s not solving the problem.
Who’s assembled the smartest minds in an attempt to fix the economy?
Employing the KISS principle makes it clear. Anti-Middle-Class republicans are threatening everything we know. No sensible, calculable ideas. Just pitting against and playing Americans as stupid.
As if the election of November never happened. What is wrong with those republicans (both those in congress and the consituents that email, phone, social events, etc. to prod them into this behavior)?
Are elections irrelevant to them? Mess with the elections is messing with democracy. Are they attacking democracy while denying it?
Posted by: Maurice | February 10, 2009, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
The Borgen Project has some good info on the cost of addressing global poverty.
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget
Posted by: Abel Tsegga | February 10, 2009, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
Sharon the only thing obama has done is assured that your kids and grandkids will be working off this debt for china. THIS COUNTRY IS BROKE and he just keeps spending. well remeber this when hyper-inflation hits. remember this when you are paying 80 percent taxes.
Posted by: Chris Nie | February 10, 2009, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
Maurice actually if you do just a little research and open your eyes this was caused by clinton and the community reinvestment act he pushed through that allowed these sloppy lending practices. The republicans tried several times to address this but people like democrat chris dood who got a free loan while sitting on the banking commitee said everything was OK and they shot down every attempt to fix this before it exploded. I just love how people just regurgitate what they hear and dont do any research.
Posted by: Chris Nie | February 10, 2009, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
Chris Nie, speaking of vomit. . . The CRA was a sensible program to overcome redlining by banks. It opened the door for home ownership for Americans who otherside would not have been given the opportunity. It was the deregulation of banking practices that gave rise to the teaser rates and balloon payments (like the onorous credit card rules). The original CRA had mortgage interest rates drop by a percent as a reward for diligent payments. Sloppy lending came only after bundling and derivitives were suddenly considered “normal” banking practice. The subsequent shift into corporate casino came from banking lobbyists who wanted to make money off of naive Americans. If you do not understand the massive shift in wealth to the top that has just occurred, particularly with Paulson/Bush’s last steal, then you are woefully behind the 8 ball spewing your own brand of nonsense. Republicans do NOT have the country’s best interest at heart, you can take that to the bank.
Colin
Posted by: Colin | February 10, 2009, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
Chris Nie – I think you need to take your own advice. You need to stop regurgitate what you have hear and do a better job of research. You state things like democrat Dobbs stopped the republicans many times for reforming what Clinton did. Why don’t you state that the republican controlled both the house and senate for six years and had a republican president that almost never vetoed anything they put through. Now the advice they are giving the democratic president and democratic members of Congress is advice that they did not use when they were in control. There is no difference in republican and democrats. They both serve their parties first and put the taxpayers last. They don’t want taxpayers advice, they just want the taxpayers money. They tell us citizen that we are unrealistic to believe housing prices would go up forever and that we are irresponsible for spending more than we earn. Notice they don’t follow their advice on that one either. This describes 95% of both parties. Anyone who brags about either party is a fool avoiding the truth.
Posted by: MikeMo1947 | February 10, 2009, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
Lots of pork being added to the amended versions of the final stimulus plan. Senate, Congress and the Executive branch have ignored various emails and solicitations to support the one addendum that would place the taxpayers in the drivers seat “PROPOSITION 3V”. It’s the taxpayers that will footing the bill for the overall bailout, not international investors and bankers on Wall Street.
Details are on the website http://www.the3rdvoice.com
This site was created to invite both parties to respond to the negligence they have displayed towards the taxpayers thoughts. They continue to decline comment.
The ideas may be a bit radical, but it’s the concept that is important:
Why would we only bailout big business, and not the taxpayers themselves?
How can 3 million jobs affect a population of over 303 million people, only 1% of the population, when the unemployment rate is 7.6%?
Why do our lawmakers continue to stay vague on where the funds will go?
Posted by: The_3rd_Voice | February 11, 2009, 9:38 am 9:38 am
Obama stated that the leading economists agree that something must be done. In 2000 I was warning friends that the blind lending would cause a collapse in the housing market. By 2003 I was warning friends that it could cause the next depression. My friends laughed at me and said “the economists” say that could never happen. They don’t laugh at me anymore and now ask for my advice which usually starts with never listen to an economist. They have no basis for there opinions. I voted for Obama and I can tell you that his plan is not the answer. The answer is simple and I have sent it to just about every elected official I can. I’m still glad I voted for him and his plan is not as disastrous as The Whiner & Palin’s. But, they need to stop listening to economists. It’s like a religion or psychology, a set of beliefs with no basis if fact. Everyone is just guessing and not doing what will work.
Posted by: john | February 11, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Let’s not forget some important facts:
1. Very few economist believe in Oboma’s plan…even his own.
2. His plan creats jobs that won’t build the “value” of the economy. So it’s wellfair.
3. The american people need debt relief so they will start spending. This is not part of the plan.
4. American’s are saving…so the money supply is missleading.
5. the new “bank” plan does nothing to stimulate lending. Was i the only one who noticed the 400 point drop in the market after the plan was unveiled?
The presidents news conference was flooded with far left media who were given preferential treatment. None of these “professionals” asked follow up questions, even if the original question wasn’t answered. Bush never allowed this at his conferences.
However, conservative or liberal, we should be all praying that Obama and congress get this right, PERIOD.
Posted by: Randy | February 11, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
George works for the Democratic party and was a consultant for the DCC during the entire Obama campaign. Talk about conflict of interest. ABC is biased towards Obama and George is just adding icing to the cake.
Posted by: bkelly | February 11, 2009, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
You’re going to be needing a new gig. The whole planet knows your in the tank. Even the Dems will figure out you’re outliving your usefulness and they will get a new sock-puppet until he loses his credibility and on down the line it goes, Georgie-boy. Your toast, that’s why you delete me.
Posted by: Hey Sock Puppet | February 11, 2009, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
Obama needs to start telling the truth about his Deficit Stimulus Plan. Can he explain the socialist healthcare language that is in the plan? And what does that have to do with stimulating the economy?
http://conservativeamerican.org/dems-libs-socialists/obama/stimulus-includes-healthcare/
He was awful at the press conference, rambling, long-winded responses that never answered questions like, “Why do you say we may ‘never recover’ from this?”
Check the Official Obama Administration Scandals List at:
http://conservativeamerican.org/dems-libs-socialists/obama/obama-administration-scandals-list/
Posted by: Peter Andrew | February 11, 2009, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
Where are all the comments. You are going to be needing that McDonald’s guy’s job soon. Good thing Obama will help Jose. But what will Obama do for you Georgie-boy. You are through as a respected journalist, you DO relaize by now, don’t you?
You did it to yourself, destroying your integrity and objectivity with your slobbering love affair with Obama! Have a great day, Georgie-boy. Maybe ABC won’t fire you because no one wants to read Rahm’s propaganda anymore.
Posted by: Hey Sock Puppet | February 12, 2009, 6:13 am 6:13 am
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Hey George:
I watched the President’s First Press Conference on Monday. I thought it was okay.
The grades you gave him were pretty high. Thank you
Posted by: Terry Marvin, Dallas, Texas | February 12, 2009, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Hey George:
I watched the President’s First Press Conference on Monday. I thought it was okay.
The grades you gave him were pretty high. Thank you
Posted by: Terry Marvin, Dallas, Texas | February 12, 2009, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm
George is an easy sale. The rest of the world, u.a. investers, economist, the COB, and the former Comptroller General didn’t buy it.
Reach out where. Anyone that voted 96% down party lines his whole career only fains to reach out.
George, like Chris Matthews has chill running…….you know where.
Posted by: Dave | February 12, 2009, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
Everyone talks the media the newspapers even obama about how bad the wall street is and how there going to solve the problem well all the talking needs to stop and action needs to be in order. I do not understand how the goverment can issue more money out to the america people when even the america people are losing there jobs there homes. Have no money, but yet the goverment thinks there a way to help the america people by given them money that the government does not even have. What if his plans fails what than? Is there a back up plan? I know one things they need to stop there jobs out of country. They should at least bring them back into the country so citzen can make a living. Drop price like food other products. Stop import gas from other country. Stop making stupid decsions! Congress needs to do listern to america people.
Posted by: susan | February 12, 2009, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm
Hi George, Why are Senate, Congress putting things in the stimulus bill and putting in a lot pork being added to the final Stimulus Plan. I that President Obama wasn’t going for pork being in the Stimulus Plan. How can someone send a email to the President?
President Obama first Press Conference
get a high grade.and is there plan to watch those companies on how they are spending the money and the money is getting to the right people and people having a big trouble with their home.
Posted by: Virginia Rogers | February 13, 2009, 9:05 am 9:05 am
The President’s press conference was an A+.The rush dittoheads cannot grasp this much intelligence, elequence, class,and knowledge. Their brains went into overload and started spitting out hate words. and namecalling, and conspiracy theories which they have been conditioned to do. They will never be able to contribute to an intelligent dialog or discussion. I suggest they take advantage of a good education under President Obama’s plan.
Posted by: sallie2 | February 13, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am
I give Premier Obama a B+, arguably an A-. He has been successful in passing the largest spending bill in history, at least in US history, without people (including the voters in the House and Senate) the ability to read the bill. Soetoro, sorry Obama, doesn’t get an A+ because unlike others in history he didn’t get his agenda passed, without reading of the legislation, by everyone in the legislatures. Hopefully he will soon be able to get everyone to bend to his will without knowledge of the details, costs, or effects of his spending agenda!
Posted by: Ed | February 14, 2009, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
He deserves a high grade. That was smooth. I know by the time he was done, I was convinced he’d make the trains run on time…
Posted by: devilof76 | February 15, 2009, 11:55 pm 11:55 pm
George, do you really believe America should nationalize the banking system? That we should go to a social-democratic system along the lines that has been put through by the left-wing parties of Europe and which the conservative parties have had, for the most part, to live with?
Also, do you believe that you can be a constructive journalist while also being a cheerleader for the Obama administration? Please: inviting the Republicans over for cookies or cocktails is a meaningless piece of atmospherics. Since you’re too smart not to know that, and your intelligence is not in doubt, the question must be your integrity.
Kindly report that the Democrats’ original package was around $800 billion. With earmarks–and please, the rail line from Los Angeles to Las Vegas wasn’t an earmark?–the Democrats were over $900 billion. The Republican package was around $480 billion. With great difficulty, three moderate Republican senators, with assistance from a few Democrats, got the package down to $780 billion. Then Charles Schumer goes on TV and talks about how the Democrats met the Republicans half way. Did you challenge him on that? Did you even pose the question to anyone about that? Meeting the Republicans halfway would have been something like a $650 billion package. That was never on the table. So Schumer lies, you lie, and the whole presentation of the news is a pack of lies.
This, I suppose is bipartisanship: the Democrats say “my way or the highway”, a couple of liberal Republicans go along, the President flies all over the country campaigning for his bill, and the media oohs and aahs all over him.
No wonder I gave up on politics years ago.
Ken Howes
Chicago, IL
Ken Howes
Oak
Posted by: Ken Howes | February 19, 2009, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
George–why does Pres.Obama think that the automobile was inventented in the US? (Presumably, he thinks by Henry Ford). Mr. Benz did so in Germany. Mr. Ford invented the assembly line for auto production!!!
Posted by: Lois Harradine | February 24, 2009, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm
I give the president a A plus. Never has there ever been a president who was to up front with the American people. If you don’t understand his stand on all the problems than its because you really don’t want to understand as most of all the Republicans.
Posted by: Jerri Jarosik | April 29, 2009, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm