POTUS and TOTUS meet the press: Defensive about AIG, blame-card on debt, blows off charities
President Obama will hold a news conference tonight in a few minutes, starting at 8pm Eastern. TOTUS is fired up and ready to go, too — but after a few opening remarks, POTUS will fly without a net.
The White House sent out a preview:
President Barack Obama looked to steer the nation’s economic attention to the bigger picture Tuesday night and away from recent days’ micro-focus on outrage over executive bonuses, declaring signs of progress as his administration attacks the crisis “on all fronts.” “It’s a strategy to create jobs, to help responsible homeowners, to restart lending and to grow our economy over the long term,” Obama said in remarks released in advance of his prime-time news conference.
During a crowded week for the White House and furious debate that echoed from Main Street to Capitol Hill corridors, the president sought to take a step back. He summarized the steps taken so far by his administration to address the worst economic disaster in a quarter-century, framing them with optimism.“We will recover from this recession,” he said. “But it will take time, it will take patience and it will take an understanding that when we all work together — when each of us looks beyond our own short-term interests to the wider set of obligations we have to each other — that’s when we succeed.”
I’ll update with any gaffes or unusual occurrences (such as non-sycophantic questions from the press).
***
8:01pm Eastern. POTUS/TOTUS on economic crisis: “It took many failures to lead us here.”
And you will be victims of many more!
Obama touts the tax cuts he signed into law. ($13/week that won’t buy you earrings worth Michelle Obama’s time.)
Obama assails the “illusion of prosperity,” while he adds to the illusion.
Assails borrow and spend, while espousing more borrowing and spending.
Re. AIG bonuses: “I’m as angry as anybody.”
(But Geithner is doing a heckuva job, and I’m not letting him go!)
***
8:07pm Eastern. AP’s Jennifer Loven gets first question…why pushing for new government authority of financial institutions? “I think there’s going to be strong support for this authority.” AP: “Why should people trust govt to buy up toxic assets?”
BO basically says: Because they will.
Refers to IndyMac as a success story. Hello?
Talks about the “tools” he needs.
Tools = power/control.
***
8:15pm Eastern. Jake Tapper gets a question. Right now, Senate Dems are writing a budget not including middle class tax cut, cap and trade, and other measures. Will you sign a budget if it does not contain tax cut and cap and trade?
I expect health care reform, blah blah. “I am confident that the budget we put forward will have principles in place. Middle class tax cut will be there for next two years. Cap-n-trade – the broader principle is that we have to move to a new energy era.”
Refuses to talk more about it, since he hasn’t read it.
Basically, he’ll sign it.
***
Next q: What about the debt you are creating?
Obama goes back to his Bush’s fault card. I’m inheriting debt, so nyahnyah.
Blasts Republicans for not proposing an alternative.
But…
Here’s GOP Leader Boehner:
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today held a press briefing in advance of President Obama’s news conference scheduled for this evening. At the briefing, Boehner challenged the President’s assertions about Republicans and noted that the GOP has presented alternative ideas directly to the President on every major issue where there has been disagreement this year – and will offer a better budget solution later this week.
“I think a lot of Americans believe that our economy is in a crisis. Americans are looking to Washington for solutions. The President has offered a budget that will, in my opinion, hurt our economy and destroy the very jobs that we’re trying to save and to try to create. And I believe Republicans were offering better ideas to the President in hopes of building a better budget.
“This is today’s front page the Louisville Courier-Journal. If you read it you probably won’t be surprised that the President will probably say this again tonight in his press conference. With all due respect, Mr. President, the statement is not true, plain and simple. Your budget spends too much, it taxes too much and borrows too much from our kids and grandkids, and I believe Republicans are offering a better solution.
“Last week, I released a video — a YouTube video outlining our budget principles and laying the groundwork for the alternative budget that we will release later this week. Our alternative will create jobs by allowing American families and small businesses to keep more of what they earn, ensure that the federal budget doesn’t grow faster than the family budget, expand access to health care while preserving Social Security and Medicare, end the bailouts to protect taxpayers and reform the financial system, encourage an all-of-the-above energy strategy to make us energy independent, and to fight inflation so the prices of goods and services that American depend upon will remain stable.
“Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve offered better solutions, and the President knows that. Eric Cantor and I personally delivered to the President our stimulus proposal at the White House in January. Our plan would create twice as many jobs at half the cost as the President’s plan, and that’s even according to an economic analysis by his chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. And what was the response? The White House pretended they never even saw it.
“At a time when our economy is in serious recession, I think Americans deserve better. They need solutions, not distortions. The fact is the President’s budget spends too much, taxes too much and it borrows too much. It raises taxes on every American family and small business. It includes irresponsible levels of spending, reaching $5.1 trillion 10 years out. And if you look at the spending in this budget, you can begin to see how out of control this spending cycle is, and it doubles the debt on our kids and grandkids over the next six years. If you look at these debt figures, you can see this. This is all of the debt through 2008 that’s been accumulated in our country by 43 Presidents in 220 years in our history, and the President’s budget will double that over the next six years.
“I just think that this may be the most irresponsible piece of legislation I’ve seen in my legislative career. It’s an irresponsible plan that only makes the crisis we’re in worse. But when it’s all said and done, I think it’s time for a do-over. We need to start this budget process all over again. And I will hope that the President will work with us to build a responsible budget that will help strengthen our economy and put Americans back to work again.”
***
8:31pm Eastern. Question from Stars & Stripes on how to save money in defense budget.
Obama cites John McCain to back him up on procurement cuts.
But I thought McCain = 4 more years of Bush = Bad?
***
Q about AIG. Why is Andrew Cuomo doing more/getting more answers than you and Geithner, who were slow on the uptake? And what about debt you are creating that your daughters will inherit?
Obama ignores first question. Debt answer: It’s hard. Best way to tackle it is to reduce health care costs.
(By spending a few trillion dollars and engineering a massive govt takeover!)
Reporter follows up on AIG question, which BO didn’t answer. Why did it take you so long to respond?
Snippy: “It took a couple of days because I like to know what I’m talking about.”
Snorting. Out. Loud.
***
8:39pm Eastern. “I don’t believe we need a global currency.”
Politico asks about mortgage interest/charity deduction limits. Obama still supports. “It’s not gonna cripple them. They’ll still be well-to-do.”
Follow up: It’s not just the wealthy. It’s the charities.
Obama: They’re wrong.
***
8:46pm Eastern. Q: What about homelessness? Tent cities everywhere!
Obama: We’ll have more programs.
(But didn’t homelessness end with the Age of Obama?!)
***
Dumb question from Ann Compton: What about race?
Obama: I’ve been dealing with the economy.
***
8:56pm Eastern. Blahblahblah. Rambling last answer. Losing consciousness…
***
Fox News’ Bret Baier notes that NYTimes, WaPo, Times, Newsweek, big media all frozen out of q’s.
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Categories: Barack Obama
Pundit & Pundette
» Bishop Jenky, Nicki Minaj, and the "98%"JustOneMinute
» We Hear From The Department Of Good Ideas And False Choices
First one! Must be everyone is popping their popcorn for the “event”.
I’ll pass on watching. I still can’t stand to listen to the way he talks. I’m grateful for bloggers such as you who suffer the agony to tell me if anything interesting happens.
His walking up to the podium as President is the biggest “gaffe” America has ever made.
Stay away from my wallet, BroBama – I’ll manage on my own, thanks.
A little Chardonnay for the ride…
Ditto backwoods – I can’t stand to listen to him, especially when he says “aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand.”
Count the times he says “INVEST”
Wheres of teleprompter???
I think I will paly some chess for a while.
shouldnt it be the TOTUS and POTUS show. Since TOTUS is the real brains in the white house.
I made it 2 min before changing to “operation repo”. I’ll check back in for the questions.
I hope they have a backup generator for that Teleprompter in case of power outage…
Helen Thomas is already asleep.
I don’t hear any specifics.
How about stop putting me into more debt and let the free markets work this out , your just prolonging it . or dont you give a damn about the economy as long as you can ram rod your communist adgenda.
BITE MY SHINNY METAL A$$ OBAMA
My hearing isn’t good any more. At times like these I am greatful.
How about the “reckless speculation” of throwing our treasure into a black hole to buy worthless mortgage securities.
“when each of us looks beyond our short term interest”…Don’t you dare act as an individual and work hard and earn a good living…that is not in the interest of Mr. O.
We are in deep doo….
Is it me, or is his hair more gray?
grateful…sorry…my bad…can’t hear, can’t spell…can’t give it up for Obama.
Rush Limbaugh always states that there are no examples of socialism working. I think there are. Think of America during WWII: wage & price controls, rationing of gas, sugar, silk, rubber, etc. Hundreds of thousands of Americans employed, clothed, fed, and sheltered by the government (military). High taxes and fees and even more sacrifices asked for and made to buy war bonds.
Socialism can be made to work in America again – if everyone is willing to make the same level of sacrifices that were made in WWII. If you listen to Obama with this in mind, you can understand his world view and what he is really asking people to do. If his supporters only had an inkling of understanding what will be asked of them, they would be in tears.
If anyone can provide me an example of socialism that works, without some of the elements of sacrifice that I outlined above, I’d like to hear of it.
Another example of socialism working is the USSR for nearly 70 years. It was only when the people found out what they were missing out on that the whole thing collapsed.
Chuck Todd is an idiot….
Public should be sacrificing??? 401Ks have be sacrificed!!!
Chuck Todd has just slit his own throat. How dare you challenge Dear Leader for specifics!
been
One of the most scariest phrases of this speech:
“…by the end of my first term.”
He had to settle for theatrical spray tips. They were all out of powdered wigs.
I don’t want the government to invest in anything except a strong fense and the military.
“As I’ve said, we won, shut up Chuck…”
Explain all you want, Mr. President. I still don’t support you.
Tools…hammer and cycle…been there and done that.
Hussein is as intelligent as an earthworm on cement in the sun.
He’s nothing more than a talking head.
Ergo, the TOTUS.
“Another example of socialism working is the USSR for nearly 70 years. It was only when the people found out what they were missing out on that the whole thing collapsed.”
Say what?!
Are you serious?
Is that D-fense or Ah-fense?
Wait, hang on…. I would respond further but MY teleprompter wants to watch the news conference to see if he can catch a glimpse of TOTUS first.
I’ll be back.
Blame game.
He’s inheriting from republicans? Democrats have controlled the purse-strings for over two years now.
Spellcheck — fence, as in enforcing immigration laws.
Sacrifice in WWII an example of socialism working?
Again, are you serious?
People made the decision to do so, they weren’t forced to do so because of an oppressive government. Free people who make the choice to sacrifice are indeed an incredible force. Socialism forcing people to sacrifice the way socialism does destroys. This is what ALL countries who have tried it have learned.
Helen looks like she is in a stupor…
If I had a nickel for every time he says, “As I’ve said…”
Some one needs to wake dear Helen up.
What a gutless, whining POS. If he didn’t want the problems from previous administrations he should have stayed in Chicago
This guy is going to cut medicaid and medicare?
What about social security?
“Socialism can be made to work in America again – if everyone is willing to make the same level of sacrifices that were made in WWII.”
This is just offensive as hell. Do you think the thousands of men who died invading the beaches of France did so to hopefully see SOCIALISM take over the USA? Really? I mean REALLY?
Sustainable…. important word.
None of these grand plans are sustainable for the states that participate in the money spending.
It is tough — it is tough to understand and follow his logic.
Describing his budget, BO sounds like a kindergartner explaining default credit swaps.
I wonder if the reporters were able to submit more than one question for consideration? The is just televised debate prep.
Did anybody see that? He has a list of which reporters to call on! Prior to the Mexican border question he could not find the next person to call on and asked where she was. This is all canned.
looks like he used an on-camera TOTUS.
He always has a list. So did Bush.
Yuppers, he announced at the beginning he had a list to call on.
I have to read this thread because every time I see his face my ears plug up. Also his voice tends to make me sick.
I think he was using that example to criticize socialism.
I do pick my nose but Bush did it too…Barack Obama
He did this in his last press conference as well. Bush did the same thing.
30 minute mark — all I and think is “FAILED”
EEEEEEGADS my husband just turned him on. I’m throwing up in my mouth a little just watching him. What a goomba!
can think
For.crying.out.loud. My husband turns him on and then leaves the room. What is up with that?
cause Coumo is the hatchet man
9 uhhhs and one “as I said” in one sentence alone. Oh mighty Cicero, your lofty rhetoric amazes me.
Has “Spot the Snoozzzer” started yet?
aaaaahhhh! I get it. It wasn’t OK for Bush to increase the deficit, but it’s ok for Odumbo to do it. Well, (hand to forehead) why didn’t you say so.
He keeps saying so “we (government) can invest”…..does he never think about how letting more of us keep most of our money allows US to do that investing instead?
There were Black Market operators that could get a lot of those rationed things if you had the dough. Works the same in Socialist countries.
I just came in from a 12 hour day the last thing I want to see is ‘dear leader.” Thanks for the play-by-play. I can’t stand watching or listening to the TPOTUS anymore, plus it appears I haven’t missed much.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE (mo-lone lah-veh) Translation: Come and take them!
Not even watching this circus, and from the comments I’m not. Would probably throw something at the TV.
Mr Snippy has appeared….doesn’t like the pointed questions about his incompetence.
uhhhh…
and…
what we’ve said is…
as I’ve said…
let’s not forget…
oh, and he likes to know what’s he’s talking about before he speaks…
Called on Garrett … WOW
I can’t bear to watch it. Is it as foolishly incomprehensible as the Berlin speech or the Denver speech? Those were toxic (word of the millennium) to me so I couldn’t watch them either, but read the transcripts and was overcome with a strange mixture of astonished amusement and a cold sweat.
Do we need another drinking game for everytime Obama says “whole host of…”
I could have had a six pack by now.
US strongest economy in world….no thanks to you OBAMA
jsmiddleton4,
You misunderstand my point. In order for socialism to “work” it requires a lot of sacrifice. People were willing to sacrifice during WWII because they knew they were making an investment in their kids and grandkids futures. They also expected the socialism to end when the war did.
The USSR existed for 70+ years, and was a major superpower. People had to wait in lines for shoes, bread, etc. But the country did “work”. The people certainly had to make major sacrifices in order for it to continue to function (however poorly). They had no choice.
When Obama talks about sacrifice and hard work, this is what he is talking about. He may not realize the extent of sacrifice, but that is what it will take. My point is that when people get an understanding of what will be required of them they will not be willing to do so. I just hope that happens before it is too late to reverse this idiocy.
Difficult choiced for who? you or citizens?
*choices
I thought he preempted “The Biggest Loser”, turns out he is the biggest loser… On second thought the taxpayer is the biggest loser.
He must be the most ignorant person in his knowledge of history, economics, and the constitution we have had in this office. He makes Jimmy Carter look like a wise and great leader.
The richest top 5% do not keep their money in the cookie jar.
It is already in circulation.
TOTUS snuck him in — BO gives very short answer–next…..
what a load of convoluted CRAP
OK…now he’s big time lying.
Saying going back to Reagan’s rates? Excuse me? That means LOWERING the top tax rate to 28%, not just lowering the deductible rate.
He’s hiking the top rate, while lowering the deduction rate.
What does he think we are, idiots?
Typical Dems class warfare.
He points is finger at the top 5% like he is yelling at them for being successful.
“It ‘only’ affects 1%. They don’t mean anything to us. And they didn’t need it anyway.”
Aww, c’mon. He knows all about the profit/earnings ratio, and probably knows at least as much about history as Joe Biden, who watched FDR on TV.
We are in so much poo…
We have a complete amateur in the White House. Class warfare is alive and well in the White House.
Unfortunately Both Democrats & Republicans have violated the public trust for too many years. They have failed in oversight of Fannie/Freddie, the Banks, Investment firms and their Pork spending. The Bailouts are the largest betrayal of the public trust in my lifetime.
What children under bridges?
1 in 50 kids sleeping under bridges? Prove it.
Oh brother! It’s the black brother caring about America’s children…
baawwwwaaahhhhh!!!!
Oh brother! It’s the black brother caring about America’s children…
baawwwwaaahhhhh!!!!
Charitable giving… oh, you mean other than to the government? No you can’t do that anymore. In fact I never have. -not an exact BHO quote but close
homeless people don’t want a job…. messes up the welfare payments.
1 in 50 children are homeless? Yes, the streets are just festering with them! What kind of statistic is this? If they live in an apartment, are they homeless?
For which the penalty, in a civilized society, would be death.
Where are the tent cities popping up around the country?