Today’s Qs for O’s WH – 2/3/2010
EmailTAPPER: Were Admiral Blair and FBI Director Mueller not supposed to say in the hearing yesterday that Abdulmutallab was still talking? Was that inadvertent, sharing that information?
DEPUTY WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY BILL BURTON: You would have to ask them about what was inadvertent and not inadvertent. We feel like we've done a good job at sharing with the American people what we're doing to keep them safe and we're going to continue to do that.
TAPPER: But my impression is that the reason that the briefing happened last night was because this information was starting to get out there, so the administration wanted to share the story to correct the record, but also because the information has already been disclosed that he was cooperating again. And my impression is that Blair and Mueller were the ones who let that information be known, unless, unless there's some other story…
(CROSSTALK)
BURTON: Well, as I said, there's a lot of information that's getting out there from all corners. There was importance in contextualizing some of that information that was out there from the White House. But I don't agree with your characterization of their testimony. But we do feel like we did a good job of letting folks know exactly what we're up to.
TAPPER: I don't think I characterized. I think I just asked –
BURTON: Seemed like a characterization.
TAPPER: Well, the other question I have has to do with a statement President Obama made last week when he was speaking to Republican retreat, the House Republican Conference. He said — he was referring to the "stray cats and dogs" in the health care legislation and he said, as examples — he said, quote, "We said from the start it was going to be important for us to be consistent in saying to people, if you want to keep the health insurance, you've got to keep it, and you're not going to have anybody getting in between you and your doctor in your decision- making. And I think that some of the provisions that got snuck in might have violated that pledge." And he said that you guys were in the process of eliminating those provisions. What are those provisions?
BURTON: I'm not sure. I'll have to get back to you.
(LATER)
TAPPER: I'm sorry, Major, but whether it's Brennan's letter to the Hill, Holder's letter to McConnell today, the briefing yesterday — there's been a much more aggressive case being made by the White House and the administration on how you guys are waging the war on terror and fighting for national security. What changed in the last couple days to prompt this reaction?
BURTON: I don't know if I necessarily agree that it's a much more aggressive case being made. The president has made speeches about Afghanistan. Holder's been out there. Brennan's been out there. I think that we've seen a pretty coordinated effort to make sure that the American people know what's happening inside the administration and how hard the president is working to keep them safe.
-jpt
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“Holder’s been out there.”
I agree with this- Holder is out there, but he hasn’t been present.
Or maybe he’s been voting present.
Holder is a gutless incompetent.
Posted by: drjohn | February 3, 2010, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
If you thought Gibbs was glib, Burton is downright combative. He’s the worst.
Posted by: lynn | February 3, 2010, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
Is there any one at the White House with the maturity level and knowledge base higher than that of an 8th grade student? (no offense to 8th grade students). Seriously, maybe they should let one of the Obama children run these briefings. I’d trust them more, I know that for sure.
Posted by: jennifert7 | February 3, 2010, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
So this is what a special olympics presidency looks like.
Posted by: Hunch | February 3, 2010, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
I guess we’re going to have ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ ongoing in the daily pressers. Tapper should get a job doing Gibbs’ pre-press exercise sessions.
Have a few donuts and skinny caps.. then get down on how to answer a few silly questions that some other erstwhile w.h. reporter might launch..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | February 3, 2010, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
I remember well how the Libs went after
Ashcroft, relentlessly. Turnabout is
fair play. This effete, progressive
Holder is a danger to the country on
many levels. When Obama named him AG,
I was mildly queasy. After watching
him for a year+,it’s more like nausea.
Posted by: Sir Toby Belch | February 3, 2010, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
Oh yes. Bill Burton. What a sweetheart he is. I remember him from the election. I’d like to see him star in a remake of Deliverence (he would play Ned Beatty’s role of course).
Posted by: Live! From DC! It's Saturday Night! | February 3, 2010, 7:18 pm 7:18 pm
I would love to see Obama answer some of these questions.
But he is hiding out from the press.
A townhall with adoring fans is much safer and helps his bruised ego.
His last press conference ended with “the Cambridge police actyed stupidly”. That’s why BO is hiding.
Posted by: mick | February 3, 2010, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
I would love to see Obama answer some of these questions.
But he is hiding out from the press.
A townhall with adoring fans is much safer and helps his bruised ego.
___________________________________
The President just went head to head with the Republican caucus in a direct Q&A on Friday. The Repubicans could have asked him any kind of questions they chose.
And they did ask him tough, accusatory questions – and the President handled them all. In fact, the Republicans made themselves and their ‘facts’ look ridiculous.
You can see the entire Q&A on video or text at the White House web site. G**gle it.
Posted by: tierra | February 3, 2010, 8:09 pm 8:09 pm
And they did ask him tough, accusatory questions – and the President handled them all. In fact, the Republicans made themselves and their ‘facts’ look ridiculous.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOL. That’s what OFA, MM and the Obama White House keep telling you~~not that they were trying to score poltical points or anything, cuz Obama said that’s a no-no from now on. No one else thinks that. He acted like a spoiled, uninformed brat. But go ahead, keep believing your talking points memo. I think it came out within an hour of the event, didn’t it?
Posted by: jennifert7 | February 3, 2010, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm
LOL. That’s what OFA, MM and the Obama White House keep telling you~~not that they were trying to score poltical points or anything, cuz Obama said that’s a no-no from now on
____________________________________
No, I’ve watched the Q&A with the Republican caucus in its entirety more than once, and the President made mincemeat of the Republican ‘facts’ and their attempts to accuse and embarrass him.
You can watch the entire Q&A on the White House web site. G**gle it.
Check it out. Don’t take my word for it or jennifert’s.
Posted by: tierra | February 3, 2010, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
tierra wrote: “and the President handled them all. In fact, the Republicans made themselves and their ‘facts’ look ridiculous.”
.
Then the White House must have cut out the part with Paul Ryan (and numerous others). oBama was blinking faster than Nancy Pelosi and stammering like Porky Pig. He definitely was missing his stunt double TOTUS(Teleprompter Of The United States).
Posted by: gk | February 3, 2010, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
“LOL. That’s what OFA, MM and the Obama White House keep telling you”
Actually in a rarity some right wing media types admitted the GOP got their ass handed to them.
FoxNews was so embarrassed they cut away to Peter King offering his usual boilerplate nonsense.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 3, 2010, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
You guys are too funny…I really would stop pushing the Q&A. It was no help to Obama. Only those who already think he walks on water thought he was amazing. It was just refreshing to see a dialogue. I hope that continues.
Posted by: wow | February 3, 2010, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
You guys are too funny…I really would stop pushing the Q&A. It was no help to Obama. Only those who already think he walks on water thought he was amazing.
_____________________________
It’s on the White House site. People can judge for themselves.
The Q&A showed the Republicans up for their ‘facts’ and their obvious attempts to accuse and embarrass the President. They failed miserably.
It revealed the Republicans for what they are – campaigners who don’t care about facts or the country – only about posturing for re-election.
Posted by: tierra | February 3, 2010, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm
Posted by: tierra | Feb 3, 2010 8:09:08 PM
First, I watched one clip and he rambled on so long, I forgot what the subject was and tried to choke myself halfway through it.
Second, I would rather he found me job instead of schooling a group of politicians. If he’s so great, why can’t he lower the unemployment rate? “Experts” are now starting to warn the unemployment rate will stay around 9.8% throughout 2010.
Third, is the President preparing the country for the commercial real estate bubble bursting in 2011? Probably not. Being a socialist at heart, I bet he’s looking forward to it.
2012 can’t come fast enough for the United States of America.
Posted by: For The Record | February 4, 2010, 10:11 am 10:11 am
FoxNews was so embarrassed they cut away to Peter King offering his usual boilerplate nonsense.
Posted by: Ryan C | Feb 3, 2010 10:06:20 PM
Yes, I’m sure that was it RyRy.
Top ten programs? Fox has 9 of them.
But I’m sure you know better than Fox execs (rolls eyes).
Posted by: For The Record | February 4, 2010, 10:13 am 10:13 am
“cut away to Peter King offering his usual boilerplate nonsense”
Posted by: Ryan C | Feb 3, 2010 10:06:20 PM
Maybe we should replay CNN fact-checking the Saturday Night Live skit!
BWAAAAHAAAHAAAA!
Posted by: Live! From DC! It's Saturday Night! | February 4, 2010, 10:15 am 10:15 am
campaigners who don’t care about facts or the country – only about posturing for re-election.
Posted by: tierra | Feb 3, 2010 11:10:08 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ooooh, that was a slip! You’re talking about the democrats Q&A with Obama, obviously! That was the opinion anyway of the reporters covering it.
Posted by: get real | February 4, 2010, 11:20 am 11:20 am
This corrupt administration has no problem governing “against” the will of the people of America.
Posted by: THINK ABOUT IT! | February 4, 2010, 11:59 am 11:59 am
“Yes, I’m sure that was it RyRy.”
What is more newsworthy?
A relatively civil exchange of ideas between Republican Congressmen and women and the President of the United States?
Or noted gas bag Peter King giving a press conference?
“Top ten programs? Fox has 9 of them.”
Number 1 being Professional Wrestling.
And at least professional wrestling lets you in on the gag of it being completely staged.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 4, 2010, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm