Today’s Qs for O’s WH – 8/31/2009
EmailTAPPER: A couple of questions, Robert. One, just teeing off of Ed's* question about health care, have you guys seen this fundraising letter from Senator Chuck Grassley in which he goes after — "The simple truth is that I am and always have been opposed to the Obama administration's plans to nationalize health care … I'm deeply concerned about rising health care costs … but the reality is…" — it just goes after President Obama and Democrats' effort on health care reform.
GIBBS: I have not seen it.
TAPPER: It would seem to belie any indication that Senator Grassley is actually a partner with the administration or with Senator Baucus in creating the plan that you guys would support. Are you still firmly committed to working with the three Republicans who are still in the negotiating phase?
GIBBS: I'll say this, Jake. The President is firmly committed to working with Democrats, Republicans, independents, anybody that wants to see progress on health care reform. I will say this. I haven't seen the contents of that letter. Certainly, I think the radio address over the weekend by Senator Enzi repeating many of the generic Republican talking points that Republicans are using that have bragged about being opposed to health care are tremendously unfortunate but in some ways illuminating. It appears that at least in Senator Enzi's case, he doesn't believe there's a pathway to get bipartisan support, and the President thinks that's wrong. I think that Senator Enzi has clearly turned over his cards on bipartisanship, and decided that it's time to walk away from the table. I think what somebody has to ask Senator Enzi and ask others, every member of Congress, is, are you satisfied with the way the system is working right now? Are you satisfied that premiums are doubling every nine years? Are you satisfied that out-of-pocket expenses are skyrocketing? Are you satisfied that small businesses are dropping their coverage? Are you satisfied that every day 14,000 Americans wake up and find themselves without health insurance coverage? I think many may believe that we can't afford to do anything. I think this President believes we can't afford not to.
TAPPER: Well, let me ask you, are you satisfied with the ability that the White House has shown in getting that message out, as opposed to what the opponents of health care reform are saying? Have you guys been doing –
GIBBS: Notwithstanding Ed's question about what the President is doing right now.
TAPPER: Do you think — I mean, we've all now — the congressional recess has been going on and some of us have left Washington, D.C. Do you think you're doing a good job in getting the message out as to what health care reform should be?
GIBBS: I think we looked at and we discussed when we last met in here — I think the President has made progress on turning around some of the very specific yet untrue allegations about this bill. It doesn’t help — I'll give you, Jake, it doesn’t help to have Republicans who say they're for bipartisanship and say they're at the table to try to find a solution repeating Republican Party talking points about what they know is not true in the bill. I don't think that's helpful and I think that it's unfortunate — again, it's tremendously unfortunate that it looks like Republicans are stepping away from seeking a bipartisan solution. I think that's — it's bad for this town, but it's much worse for this country.
TAPPER: And last, I just wanted to know if you have any comment on remarks that former Vice President Cheney made yesterday. I just think it's — about the preliminary review of whether CIA officers broke any laws: "I think it's an outrageous precedent to set to have this kind of intensely partisan, politicized look-back at the prior administration." He said it would create a chilling effect at the CIA and that the actions are not making the country safer.
GIBBS: Yes, this is the same song and dance we've heard since literally the first day of our administration. So I don't have a lot to say. I think the Vice President — if you watch some of his interview — was clearly — clearly had his facts on a number of things wrong.
TAPPER: Such as?
GIBBS: The notion that somehow this White House is going to be making interrogation decisions, not the High-value detainee Interrogation Group that's stationed at the FBI and will be — have participants from all different intelligence and law enforcement agencies within our government — which has allowed people like Fran Townsend to compliment the creation of this group, somebody who, as you know, is tasked with homeland security in the previous administration. I think what was also illuminating, Jake, were Senator McCain's comments yesterday about whether — the impact that these enhanced interrogation techniques that the President looked at and has now outlawed, the effect that they’ve had on our standing in the world in our foreign policy.
I think — he certainly doesn't agree with us on every issue as it relates to this; I understand that. But I thought, given his experience, I think they are tremendously illuminating. I will add this. I'm not entirely sure that Dick Cheney's predictions on foreign policy have borne a whole lot of fruit over the last eight years in a way that have been either positive or, to the best of my recollection, very correct.
*Ed Henry of CNN
-jpt
Obama: 'Now Is the Time For Common Sense Action' 
Romney Takes Aim at Conservatives
Hello? 600,000 summer jobs? It’s August 31st? Anyone going to ask when the statistics will be released on this promise?
Posted by: Are my pants actually on fire? | August 31, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
An unusually frank answer from Gibbs. Perhaps this signals that Obama is finally going to pick up the ball and run with it.
Posted by: Flash Override | August 31, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
An administration that has clearly lost its way.
Loads of fun.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | August 31, 2009, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm
“The notion that somehow this White House is going to be making interrogation decisions, not the High-value detainee Interrogation Group that’s stationed at the FBI…”
Funny.
All news services were reporting that the interrogation control was going directly to the White House.
Posted by: drjohn | August 31, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
the dog was taken to a canine FEMA re-education camp and forced to learn to bark correctly
Posted by: TJ | August 31, 2009, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
“I think that Senator Enzi has clearly turned over his cards on bipartisanship”
I think Obama has clearly turned over his cards on bipartisanship: “I Won.”
It doesn’t help to have Democrats who say they’re for bipartisanship and say they’re at the table to try to find a solution repeating Democrat Party talking points about what they know is not true in the bill. I don’t think that’s helpful and I think that it’s unfortunate.
Posted by: tjp612 | August 31, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
“All news services were reporting that the interrogation control was going directly to the White House.”
drjohn | Aug 31, 2009 4:37:35 PM
This is different than in EVERY OTHER ADMINISTRATION, EVER, how exactly? Perhaps you should take a look at the Constitution if all the org charts and headlines are confusing you.
Posted by: jhw539 | August 31, 2009, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Don’t believe the lies from the apologists for big Tort. They cling to their CBO report like a cracker to a rifle.
“an estimated 10 cents of every health care dollar paid by individuals and companies goes for litigation and defensive medicine. ” – Senator Bill Bradley arguing for a health care compromise in a 8/29/09 NYTs editorial.
That’s 250 billion dollars annually and it is a disgrace that the Dems are letting political favoritism take that money off the table.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | August 31, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
I have lost all faith in this administration. Please please give me my vote back. Hillary is looking better with each passing day! Obama is even starting to make McCain look good. Yikes, did I say that?
Posted by: jeff | August 31, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
“”an estimated 10 cents of every health care dollar paid by individuals and companies goes for litigation and defensive medicine. ” – Senator Bill Bradley arguing for a health care compromise in a 8/29/09 NYTs editorial.”
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Aug 31, 2009 4:53:50 PM”
The whole relevant section since the honesty challenged right wing can’t be bothered.
Bradley NYT:”Since the days of Harry Truman, Democrats have wanted universal health coverage, believing that if other industrialized countries can achieve it, surely the United States can. For Democrats, universal coverage speaks to America’s sense of decency and compassion. Democrats also believe that it will lead to a healthier and more productive country.
Since the days of Ronald Reagan, Republicans have wanted legal reform, believing that our economic competitiveness is being shackled by the billions we spend annually on tort costs; an estimated 10 cents of every health care dollar paid by individuals and companies goes for litigation and defensive medicine. For Republicans, tort reform and its health care analogue, malpractice reform, speak to the goal of stronger economic growth and lower costs.
The bipartisan trade-off in a viable health care bill is obvious: Combine universal coverage with malpractice tort reform in health care.”
Posted by: Ryan C | August 31, 2009, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
The whole relevant section since the honesty challenged right wing can’t be bothered.
Posted by: Ryan C |
I cite author and source and date so that anyone could google and you accuse me of hiding something?
And what exactly was the point of your extended post?
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | August 31, 2009, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
Back from vacation and Obama spends the first afternoon playing golf????
Could it be that the pressure of the office is too much for the One?
Everything is going to hell for Obama (and the US – because of Obama) and his answer is more golf? And another vacation coming up later this week?
Posted by: Walt | August 31, 2009, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
Jake,
You are framing your questions in an increasingly editorial way and making your own position on the issue of HC (among others) pretty transparent lately. The link you posted to the Grassley letter was actually an editorial by Ezra Klein (which included a link to the letter). The bottom line is that Grassley has stated from the very beginning that he is against the so-called “public option” which many analysts (including but not limited to the CBO) have determined would lead to an ever increasing amount of government control, not to mention increasing deficits – thus driving out private insurers. What is so difficult for Democrats to understand here? A “public option” is simply a non-starter for Repbulicans and bi-partisanship does not mean caving in on their most important issue in order to get a bill passed. They do not want another trillion dollar entitlement, which any sane person understands will likely cost significantly more, when the other entitlements are so grossly underfunded and mis-managed. There are a number of other very logical proposals from Grassley and other Republicans which you and Democrats simply do not want to debate or discuss, including but not limited to allowing citizens to buy insurance across state lines, giving the tax deduction to employees vs employers for purchasing HC, tort reform, and reforming Medicare. Why is that you are not asking Gibbs his positions on the alternative proposals in order to engage meaningful debate? As it stands, you are doing nothing more than stoking partisanship with your line of questioning, which leads to deeper and deeper lines being drawn in the sand. You are pitting individuals against one another rather than ideas.
Shame on you Jake Tapper.
Posted by: Mike in Costa Mesa | August 31, 2009, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
Anybody watch “Morning Joe” today? Why won’t somebody ask a question about whether the U.S. gave the U.K. the OK to release the Lockerbie murderer? I find it impossible to believe that he would have been released if the President had strongly objected.He certainly didn’t lead on this one.
Posted by: Nephron | August 31, 2009, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
These Press Auditions are a waste of time and money. Corroborate the classical saying of the blind leading the blind. Good job Jake,see you tomorrow..
Posted by: Uninformed | August 31, 2009, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
Jake, Please question Gibbs about Van Jones (Green Czar) and Mark Lloyd (FCC advisor). These are just 2 of a distinctly Communist inner circle. We need a new “All the President’s Men” and I’m afraid what’s brewing is infinitely “Worse than Watergate”.
Posted by: Suzanne | August 31, 2009, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
“This is different than in EVERY OTHER ADMINISTRATION, EVER, how exactly?”
In day-to-day control, as opposed to ultimate responsibility. The constitution tells us only that the chief executive is ultimately responsible for the executive branch, and that by itself does not address the issue.
No White House has ever exercised day-to-day control over foreign-intelligence operations since the founding of the OSS. This procedure is a sharp departure from historical precedent.
Think of it as analogous to the relationship between the president and the attorney general. Although the AG works for the president and serves at his pleasure, the president can disavow all responsibility for the AG’s proceeding to investigate the CIA.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | August 31, 2009, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm
“Posted by: Suzanne | Aug 31, 2009 5:57:30 PM”
Oh look a Glen Beck sucker has wandered in.
Posted by: Ryan C | August 31, 2009, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm
I wish just one person could explain WHY it was such a big deal to do whatever needed to be done to get information out of the detainees? I’ve heard all the talking points about how “we wouldn’t want our people being treated that way” and “the rest of the world doesn’t like the way we did it” and so on. Look, if our military went into another country and took down buildings and thousands of lives, put everything there into turmoil, etc. for NO REASON, then we’d deserve what we get. Is that understandable? But the bastards who did this to us are #1) NOT even military. #2) DETERMINED to kill us for no apparent reason other than hatred of our ways and freedoms. #3) READY to BEHEAD anyone they capture at will and film it for all to see. And you think waterboarding is bad? PLEASE!!WE did not ask to be terrorized. WE did not provoke them to do this. IT WAS THEIR CHOICE!! It was then OUR RESPONSIBILITY to get the information from them at any cost. You people who comdemn this country for protecting us are beyond belief.
And as for Robert Gibbs…please go find yourself a frat house to reside in. It would suit you much better than where you are now.
Posted by: Shoe | August 31, 2009, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
“for NO REASON”
Al Qaeda had three specific ‘demands’ but they were seldom covered in the American media and instead this nonsense about ‘hating our freedom’ was put forward.
The demands were, 1) a Palestinian state, 2) all foreign troops off of Islamic homelands, and 3) the end of the house of Saud.
Posted by: julieterra | August 31, 2009, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
“AG works for the president”
This is a very serious misreading of the facts.
The AG is appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and works for the people.
Posted by: Flash Override | August 31, 2009, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
Are you kidding me? Al Qaeda had “demands” from us, and since we didn’t cave in to terrorists they figure it’s okay to take out over 3,000 lives?? They are TERRORISTS!! What is not understandable about that??? They don’t want foreign troops on Islamic homeland? Well we didn’t particularly want their radical sorry asses over here killing innocent people either!! God help us.
Posted by: Shoe | August 31, 2009, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
He has been on vacation for the last 6 mos. What is a few more days. Let the man play golf. The more he is out of the white house the better off we will be.
Posted by: kk | August 31, 2009, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
Holy smokes! Democrat pollster John Zogby now has Obama’s approval at 42%!
Since last month, he’s down 13 points among Democrats, nine points among liberals, and 18 points among voters 18 to 29.
This produces something of a state of ecstasy.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | August 31, 2009, 10:00 pm 10:00 pm
Poor Bob Gibbs….First, we were to no longer call any of this fighting in the Muslim world a “War on Terror”. No way, no how, never again….So, what phrase does Mr. Gibbs use today when discussing our conflict, fighting or whatever we need to call it in Afghanistan? You guessed it – “War on Terror”. Perhaps he didn’t get the memo….
Posted by: NMark W | August 31, 2009, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
“This produces something of a state of ecstasy.”
Men get their kicks from thumbing through Playboy or Penthouse. Fascist animals paw through Zogby or Rasmussen and howl with delight.
Posted by: Good for the Goose | September 1, 2009, 4:29 am 4:29 am
I guess this week’s word is, “illuminating.”
Posted by: jennifert7 | September 1, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
“This produces something of a state of ecstasy.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Aug 31, 2009 10:00:45 PM”
Creepy.
But its funny you rely on Zogby Interactive since they’ve been the worst polling outfit for 3 elections running.
Polling results will tend to stink when you use the same pool of people who all volunteered to take your surveys.
Posted by: Ryan C | September 1, 2009, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
“I guess this week’s word is, “illuminating.”
Illuminating. I’ll denote that.
Posted by: R Gibbs | September 2, 2009, 2:46 am 2:46 am