TPMDC David Axelrod
Barack Obama
Touchy, Touchy: White House Still Pushing Full Jobs Package Despite Brief Confusion
President Obama
The White House is getting a tad bit sensitive about whether it would accept anything less than Congressional passage of the President's full job package.
It may be just for rhetorical strategy because there's no way Congress would accept the entire jobs bill lock, stock and barrel. Majority Leader Eric Cantor has already said he would jettison nearly all of the spending provisions. Still, Tuesday afternoon the White House took the unusual step of officially clarifying previous remarks its own spokesman made during a briefing.
Topics: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Economy, Eric Cantor, Jay Carney, Jobs, White House
White House
White House On Jobs Bill: 'What On Earth Are We Waiting For?'
The White House turned up the rhetorical heat on House Republicans Tuesday over passing the jobs bill, at one point asking Congress "what on earth are we waiting for?"
During a speech at a newly renovated high school in Speaker John Boehner's home state of Ohio, President Obama called out some House Republicans for pushing their leaders not to pass any of elements of the package in order to deny President Obama a political "win."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: American Jobs Act, Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Economy, House Republicans, Jay Carney, Jobs, John Boehner, White House
2012
David Axelrod Says He'll Fire Aides Who Call Romney 'Weird'
Campaign aides who call Mitt Romney "weird" will be kicked off President Obama's re-election team, according to senior adviser David Axelrod.
The term appeared numerous times in a Politico article quoting a number of named and unnamed Democratic strategists on how they planned to attack Romney in a general election.
Appearing on MSNBC on Friday, Axelrod challenged the report's assertion that the aides quoted were connected to the campaign. "No one on my team believes that," he said, calling the article "garbage."
Asked whether he would fire an aide who used the term, he replied "I would. If someone used words like 'weird,' I would certainly do that."
Despite his protestations, Axelrod was quoted in the Politico article offering up some of the Romney campaign trail stories that were cited as evidence of how playing up Mitt's "weirdness" factor might work in a national race. He never used the word himself, however.
"When he makes jokes about being unemployed or a waitress pinching him on the butt, it does snap your head back, and you say, 'What's he talking about?'" he said in the piece.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012, 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Mitt Romney
Sunday Shows
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Ryan: 'If You Want To Good At These Jobs, You've Got To Be Willing To Lose The Job'
Appearing on This Week, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) dismissed the potential political backlash against his proposals to drastically change and privatize Medicare. "And I hear this all the time from the political people, from the pundits and the pollsters that this could be -- this could hurt us politically. I don't care about that," said Ryan. "What I care about is fixing this country and getting this debt situation under control. Look, literally, Christiane [Amanpour], if all we fear about is our political careers, then we have no business having these jobs. If you want to good at these jobs, you've got to be willing to lose the job."
McCain Pans Obama For "Backseat Role" On Libya
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) accused President Obama of taking a "backseat role" on Libya. "I would like to remind you that NATO is an organization of 28 countries," said McCain. "With Italy there's now seven of them actually in the fight. They don't have the assets that the United States of America does. ...the United States is NATO. So the British and the French - God bless them and others - they don't have the assets. They are running out of some of their munitions." He also added: "We need to get back into the fight. We should be leading. We should not be following."
Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Birther, Chris Van Hollen, David Axelrod, Donald Trump, Gas Prices, John Barrasso, John McCain, Libya, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, Medicare, Muammar Qaddafi, Paul Ryan, Pres '12, Roundup, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Sunday Shows
Social Security
White House To Remain Mum In Social Security Fight -- Until Congress Comes Up With a Plan
The White House will not prominently inject itself into congressional negotiations on Social Security reform until after key legislators in both the House and Senate unveil their plans to reduce projected long-term deficits, according to administration officials.
That won't please Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, who have attacked Obama for remaining silent in this debate. And these 64 Senate Republicans and Democrats won't be too happy either. But it's part of a broader political and policy strategy the administration is employing to keep Obama's powder dry while Republicans struggle to reduce deficits without increasing revenues in any meaningful way.
The White House's reticence has been characterized by some as a symptom of a rift between Obama's economic and political advisers. Some, like Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, do in fact believe that a bipartisan deal on Social Security would result in real economic benefits, while others argue that Obama shouldn't embrace any plan that substantially cuts benefits at all.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Entitlement reform, Entitlements, Gene Sperling, House Republicans, Larry Summers, Medicare, Mitch McConnell, Republicans, Social Security, Timothy Geithner
Spending
Inside The White House's Plan To Beat Back GOP Spending Cuts
David Axelrod and President Obama
The Obama administration is keeping its powder dry on the question of how it'll manage the government if the GOP gets its way and cuts domestic spending by 20 percent. That's an outcome they'd obviously like to avoid. But as long as it remains a possibility, two things are clear: first, after laying out its own budget priorities, the White House will keep fairly quiet while waiting for the GOP to lay out its counter-proposal. And second, Obama won't let Republicans use the budget process as a backdoor to defanging or destroying the health care law.
At a roundtable meeting with reporters and bloggers Wednesday afternoon, White House political adviser David Axelrod outlined the administration's plan to bridge the spending impasse. But he declined to elaborate when asked if the administration could meet its priorities if Congress cuts spending dramatically.
"[W]e don't have to envision that right now because it's not our proposal," Axelrod said. "We're waiting for them to make -- they obviously envision it. And we're waiting to see how that could be accomplished."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Budget, David Axelrod, Health Care, Spending, Wall Street, White House
State Of The Union
Axelrod: Obama Will Enter Public Debate Over Gun Control
David Axelrod and President Obama
Conservatives, cling to your guns.
Well, not really. But during a roundtable discussion with reporters and liberal writers Wednesday afternoon, White House political adviser David Axelrod said President Obama will soon enter the gun control debate, his silence on the issue during State of the Union notwithstanding.
"There's no doubt that he will," Axelrod said in the West Wing's Roosevelt room -- it's just a question of how.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Gun Control, State Of The Union, White House
Robert Gibbs
Gibbs On Tenure As Press Secretary: It Was 'Opportunity Of A Lifetime'
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs held his regular press briefing today -- the first since he announced that he will be stepping down. And as such, the subjects of his departure and the overall changes in White House staffing were quite prominent among reporters' questions.
"It is -- and you all know this because you do this as well -- it is an honor and a privilege to stand here, to work inside this building, to serve your country, to work for a president that I admire as much as President Barack Obama," said Gibbs. "I have been a member of his staff for almost seven years, and again it's a remarkable privilege. It is in many ways the opportunity of a lifetime, one that I will be forever thankful and grateful for."
"What I am going to do next is step back a bit, recharge some. We've been going at this pace for at least four years. I will have an opportunity to give some speeches, I will continue to provide advice and counsel to this building and this president. And I look forward to continuing to do that."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, David Plouffe, Robert Gibbs
Barack Obama
Axelrod On Tax Cuts: Wrong For Dems To 'Cut Your Nose Off To Spite Your Face'
David Axelrod on CNN's State of the Union
White House senior adviser David Axelrod yesterday doubled down on President Obama's comments about "sanctimonious" and "purist" progressives who oppose his tax cut deal with the Republicans, telling them that "you can focus on what you don't like, and cut your nose off to spite your face, and that would be the wrong thing to do."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Tax Cuts
Bush Tax Cuts
White House Signals Intent To Cave To GOP On Bush Tax Cuts
David Axelrod and President Obama
The White House signaled last night that it will cave to the GOP and temporarily extend all of the Bush tax cuts.
"We have to deal with the world as we find it," David Axelrod, President Obama's top political adviser, told Huffington Post last night.
Let's go back to the beginning. The Bush tax cuts will expire at the end of the year. GOP leaders want to extend all of them permanently, or at least for as long as possible. The White House's plan was to permanently extend the tax cuts for a family's first $250,000 of income ($200,000 for individuals), but to let taxes on income above that level revert to Clinton-era rates.
Topics: Barack Obama, Bush Tax Cuts, David Axelrod, Tax Cuts, Taxes, White House
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Axelrod: We Didn't Do Enough to Sell Agenda
Roll Call reports: "White House senior adviser David Axelrod admitted Wednesday that the administration didn't do enough to help explain Democrats' legislative accomplishments to the public over the past two years. President Barack Obama 'didn't have time' to focus on messaging as he tackled major issues that 'came in rapid fire' as soon as he got to office, Axelrod told Roll Call during a West Wing interview."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with a Seattle family at 1 p.m. ET, and hold a discussion on women and the economy at their residence at 1:10 p.m. ET. He will deliver remarks at a 2:40 p.m. ET rally for Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). He will depart from Seattle at 4:20 p.m. ET, arriving at 6 p.m. ET in San Francisco. He will attend an 8:40 p.m. ET private event for Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for state Attorney General, and deliver remarks at a 10 p.m. ET dinner for the Democratic National Committee.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, David Axelrod, Fundraising, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Graham: 'We're Going To Have Some Bipartisanship On Tax Cuts And Replacing The Health Care Bill
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) predicted that Republican gains in Congress would result in more compromise from President Obama and the Democrats. "About bipartisanship after the election, I predict there will be a good bit of effort," said Graham. "There will be a bipartisan effort to extend the Bush tax cuts and not let them expire. 2012 and 2014, Democrats in swing states are going to get the message from independent voters to come to the middle. So I think we're going to have some bipartisanship when it comes to replacing the health care bill with a more moderate approach."
Axelrod: Whether Obama Can Work With GOP Is 'Up To Them'
Appearing on State of the Union, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod indicated that President Obama's approach to working with Republicans would not change, in terms of compromises on such key issues as the extension of the Bush tax cuts, if Republicans make significant gains in November. "It's up to us to extend our hand (to Republicans) as we have before," said Axelrod. "It's up to them to decide whether they're going to take it or whether they're going to do what they've done for the last 2 years."
Topics: 2010 elections, Chris Coons, Christine O'Donnell, DE-SEN, David Addington, David Axelrod, Health Care, John Cornyn, Lindsey Graham, Meghan McCain, Robert Gibbs, Roundup, Senate '10, Sunday Shows
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Axelrod: Corporate Spending On Election 'A Threat To Our Democracy'
Appearing on Face The Nation, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod continued to blast corporate spending in the current election season, including the charge made by Democrats that spending has included money from foreign sources. "This issue of this special interest spending is very important," said Axelrod. "It's never happened before that organizations are spending this kind of money. And the American people need to ask, 'Why is the oil industry, Wall Street and others spending this kind of money to defeat candidates and elect others in this sort of secretive way?' You know, that is a threat to our democracy."
Rove: Obama Has 'Enemies List Unrestrained By Any Facts Or Evidence'
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Karl Rove hit back at accusations from the White House and Democrats his group American Crossroads, and other conservative groups, are receiving foreign money. "They have not one shred of evidence to back up that baseless lie. This is a desperate and I think disturbing trend by the president of the United States to tar his political adversaries with some kind of, you know, enemies list unrestrained by any facts or evidence whatsoever."
Topics: 2010 elections, American Crossroads, CT-SEN, David Axelrod, Karl Rove, Kevin McCarthy, Linda McMahon, Richard Blumenthal, Roundup, Senate '10, Sunday Shows
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Hoyer: Colbert's Testimony 'Was Not Appropriate'
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) criticized the appearance of Stephen Colbert before a House subcommittee hearing on immigration this past Friday. "I think his testimony was not appropriate. I think it was an embarrassment for Mr. Colbert more than the House," said Hoyer. His views are contrary to those of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who defended the Colbert appearance on Friday.
Boehner: Dems Have Time For Colbert, But Not For Bush Tax Cuts
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) criticized Congressional Democrats for wasting time by inviting Stephen Colbert to testify before a subcommittee on immigration, instead of debating the extension of the Bush tax cuts. "Washington is spending more time with comedians than debating (our) economic future," Boehner said. "They have time to bring a comedian to Washington, D.C., but they don't have time to end the uncertainty."
Topics: 2010 elections, Bush Tax Cuts, David Axelrod, FL-SEN, Joe Lieberman, John Boehner, Marco Rubio, Mike Pence, Mitch McConnell, Roundup, Senate '10, Stephen Colbert, Sunday Shows
Bush Tax Cuts
Axelrod To TPM: It's The GOP's Fault Dems Punted On Tax Cuts Vote
David Axelrod
President Obama's senior adviser David Axelrod today dismissed the political "symbolism" of holding a vote to extend tax cuts for the middle class, telling TPM the Democrats' decision to punt on putting the matter to a vote before the election was the Republicans' fault.
"Our goal is to get these tax cuts passed. If we can't get it done before the election we're going to insist on it after," Axelrod said in response to a TPM question on a White House call arranged for reporters, bloggers and progressive political activists.
As the reporters on the call pressured him further, Axelrod didn't let up or lay any blame on Democratic leaders who bowed to concerns from members in tough reelection fights.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Bush Tax Cuts, David Axelrod, Republicans, Tax Cuts, White House
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Congress Returns to Gridlock
Roll Call reports: "Congressional Democrats return to Washington this week with just three or four weeks to try to change the narrative that's driving this election season, but they acknowledge that the gridlock they left behind in August is all but certain to re-emerge. Both Democrats and Republicans concede a surging GOP has no incentive to cooperate with the majority, particularly in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to pass almost everything. Given time constraints and election-year pressures, 'Our ability to do anything major is going to be limited,' Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said last week."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. He will deliver remarks at 10:30 a.m. ET, at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Reception. He will meet at 11 a.m. ET with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan. He will meet at 1:45 p.m. ET with a family at their home in Fairfax, Virginia, and hold a discussion on the economy at 2 p.m. ET. He will meet at the White House with seniors at 3:30 p.m. ET, and he will meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. He will deliver remarks to NCAA Champion Student Athletes at 5:45 p.m. ET.
Topics: 2010 elections, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, David Axelrod, David Plouffe, Joe Biden, Joe Sestak, Mitch McConnell, Pres '12, Roundup, Senate '10
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Boehner: I'll Drop Tax Cut for Rich If I Have To
Appearing on Face The Nation, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) indicated that a compromise on renewal of the Bush tax cuts -- to renew only the tax cuts for those making under $250,000, and allow the tax cuts for higher-incomes to expire -- could be possible. "I want to do something for all Americans who pay taxes," Boehner said. "If the only option I have is to vote for some of those tax reductions, I'll vote for it. But I've been making the point now for months that we need to extend all the current rates for all Americans if we want to get our economy going again, and we want to get jobs in America."
Goolsbee: U.S. Can't Afford Tax Cuts for High-End Earners
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Austan Goolsbee indicated the Obama administration's strong position against renewing the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000 per year. "The president strongly believes that ... after a decade of astounding squeeze on the middle class that was followed by the worst recession in our lifetime ... you cannot afford to raise taxes on the middle class. We should make that permanent," Goolsbee said. But he also added: "What we cannot afford to do is pass 700 billion additional dollars of tax cuts for the millionaires and billionaires at a time when we are just going to borrow that money."
Topics: 'Ground Zero Mosque', 2010 elections, Austan Goolsbee, Bush Tax Cuts, David Axelrod, Feisal Abdul Rauf, House '10, Roundup, Rudy Giuliani, Steny Hoyer, Sunday Shows
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Austan Goolsbee, Chief Economist on the Economic Recovery Advisory Board
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Austan Goolsbee, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.
• CBS, Face The Nation: House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), former 9/11 Commission Co-Chairman and former Gov. Tom Kean (R-NJ).
• CNN, State Of The Union: FreedomWorks Chairman and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R), former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS).
• Fox News Sunday: White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Austan Goolsbee, former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA).
• NBC, Meet The Press: Senior White House Adviser David Axelrod, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R)
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Austan Goolsbee, David Axelrod, Dick Armey, Feisal Abdul Rauf, FreedomWorks, John Boehner, Keith Ellison, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Sunday Shows, Tom Kean, Trent Lott
Immigration
Immigration Reform: The Hot Tamale No One Wants To Touch
Sign warning drivers of pedestrian crossing in Southern California along U.S.-Mexico border.
Attorney General Eric Holder Sunday denied that the timing of the Justice Department's lawsuit against Arizona's immigration law has anything to do with the looming midterm elections. But question remain about whether the Obama administration really did bring the lawsuit now to help Democrats with Latino voters and drive a wedge between Republicans this fall.
If so, the lawsuit is likely to be the only immigration policy action on which lawmakers will be able to campaign, if the Sunday show appearances by members of Congress are any indication of the lack of appetite for passing a comprehensive immigration reform measure this year.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Arizona, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Brian Bilbray, David Axelrod, Eric Holder, Immigration, Jan Brewer, Robert Gibbs, Trent Franks
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Gibbs: GOP Could Win House
Appearing on Meet The Press, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs acknowledged that the Republicans could potentially win the House of Representatives: " I think there's no doubt that there are a lot of seats that will be up, a lot of contested seats. I think people are going to have a choice to make in the fall. But I think there's no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause Republicans to gain control. There's no doubt about that. This will depend on strong campaigns by Democrats. And again, I think we've got to take the issues to them. You know, are--do you want to put in, in to the speakership of the House a guy who thinks that the, the financial calamity is, is tantamount to an ant? The guy who's the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Joe Barton, started his congressional testimony of the CEO of BP by apologizing, not to the people in the gulf, but to the CEO. I think that's a perfect window, not into what people are thinking, but the way they would govern. Joe Barton, John Boehner, those are the type of things you'll hear a lot, I think, from both the president and local candidates about what you'd get if the Republicans were to gain control."
Holder: DOJ Not Ruling Out Racial Profiling Suit Against Arizona Law
Also during his appearance on Face The Nation, Attorney General Eric Holder explained that the federal government was not ruling out opposing the Arizona illegal immigration law on the grounds of racial profiling, in addition to the federal preemption argument that is currently the basis for their lawsuit against the statute. "It doesn't mean that if the law, for whatever reason, happened to go into effect that six months from now, a year from now, we might not look at the impact the law has had and... see whether or not there has been that racial profiling impact," he said. "And if that was the case, we would have the tools, and we would bring suit on that basis."
Topics: 2010 elections, Arizona, Benjamin Netanyahu, David Axelrod, Eric Holder, Immigration, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Luis Gutierrez, Roundup, Sunday Shows
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA).
• CBS, Face The Nation: Attorney General Eric Holder.
• CNN, State Of The Union: Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), BP Victim Compensation Fund administrator Ken Feinberg.
• Fox News Sunday: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ).
• NBC, Meet The Press: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Benjamin Netanyahu, Bill Richardson, Brian Bilbray, David Axelrod, Eric Holder, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Jon Kyl, Ken Feinberg, Luis Gutierrez, Robert Gibbs, Sunday Shows
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama To Face BP's Leaders
President Obama will meet today with BP's top executives, in a high-stakes meeting in which he will demand the creation of an escrow account to handle damage claims. The Associated Press reports: "The cost of such a fund would be enormous. The White House insists is has the legal authority to make it happen. Still, administration officials also acknowledge a negotiation is at play here, and key issues remain unsolved. Among them: Who will oversee the escrow fund, who will make that decision, how large will the fund be and whether BP will pay the salaries of oil workers idled by a six-month moratorium on new deep-water oil drilling."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will attend a meeting with BP executives at 10:15 a.m. ET, will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10:35 a.m. ET, and will receive the economic daily briefing at 11:05 a.m. ET. Obama will deliver a statement to the press at 12:15 p.m. ET. He will have lunch with Biden at 12:30 p.m. ET. He will meet at 1:45 p.m. ET with senior advisers. He will meet at 2:30 p.m. ET with Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA). At 5:35 p.m. ET, he will deliver remarks at the American Nurses Association House of Delegates.
Topics: 2010 elections, American Medical Association, BP, Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Health Care, John Cornyn, NV-SEN, Roundup, Scott Brown, Sharron Angle
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Boehner: BP 'Should Be Held Responsible For Every Dime'
Appearing on This Week, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said that he would support completely lifting the liability cap on the oil spill for BP. "Absolutely," said Boehner. "They should be held responsible for every dime of this cost."
Hoyer: GOP is 'Holding Up Lifting The Cap In The Senate'
Also on This Week, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) shot back at Boehner. "First of all, the Republicans have been holding up lifting the cap in the Senate from the $75 million, minuscule sum, as we see, to $10 billion," said Hoyer, who also cast blame on the Bush administration for years of lax regulation: "The psychology of neglect in terms of regulatory oversight that was pursued in the Bush administration, which led to the banking failure, insurance prices going way up, and oil companies thinking they could do whatever they wanted because the "drill, baby, drill" crowd, all they wanted them to do was to drill."
Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Bob Riley, CA-SEN, Carly Fiorina, Charlie Crist, David Axelrod, FL-SEN, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, John Boehner, Oil Spill, Roundup, Steny Hoyer, Thad Allen
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
White House senior advisor David Axelrod
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (R-MD), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
• CBS, Face The Nation: Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL), Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), Gov. Bob Riley (R-AL).
• CNN, State Of The Union: Gov. Bob Riley (R-AL).
• Fox News Sunday: Senate nominee Carly Fiorina (R-CA), Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice; and Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush.
• NBC, Meet The Press: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Bob Riley, CA-SEN, Carly Fiorina, Charlie Crist, David Axelrod, FL-SEN, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Haley Barbour, Oil Spill, Senate '10, Sunday Shows, Susan Rice
Barack Obama
White House: Kagan Is A Worthy Successor To John Paul Stevens
Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan
The White House is moving quickly to portray Elena Kagan as a worthy successor to the retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, emphasizing that her "leadership qualities" are what set her apart from the other contenders on the Supreme Court short list. The implication is that the President sees in Kagan someone who can be an intellectual counterweight to Chief Justice John Roberts.
"You can't overnight replace 34 years of experience," presidential adviser David Axelrod told reporters, but Kagan "shows the prospect over time of stepping into those shoes and being a leader on the court."
Axelrod and White House Counsel Bob Bauer briefed a small group of reporters in the Old Executive Office Building next door to the White House about an hour after President Obama publicly unveiled Kagan in a ceremony in the East Room.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Bob Bauer, David Axelrod, Elena Kagan, Senate, Senate Judiciary Committee, Supreme Court, Supreme Court vacancy, White House
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: Congress Must Stop 'Potential Corporate Takeover Of Our Elections'
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama called upon Congress to pass a new set of campaign finance reforms in reaction to the Citizens United decision from the Supreme Court:
"Now, we can expect that these proposed changes will be met with heavy resistance from the special interests and their supporters in Congress. But I'm calling on leaders in both parties to resist these pressures," said Obama. "For what we are facing is no less than a potential corporate takeover of our elections. And what is at stake is no less than the integrity of our democracy. This shouldn't be a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. This is an issue that goes to whether or not we will have a government that works for ordinary Americans - a government of, by, and for the people."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Joe Biden, MI-GOV, Nancy Pelosi, Nuclear nonproliferation, Pete Hoekstra, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Jarrett On Health Care Reform: 'We Are Confident That The American People Will Support This. It's Good For Them'
Appearing on This Week, White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett predicted that public opinion on the new health care law will improve: "There has been a lot of negative rhetoric that we've heard around the country. But what we are sure of is that this is as the American people begin to understand what's in this package...we are confident that the American people will support this. It's good for them. As you go around and you start talking about the individual components of this bill, we're seeing overwhelming support.
DeMint: Obama 'Mocking Americans Who Continue To Be Against This Bill'
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) continued to push for repealing the new health care reform law. "All of us who believe in freedom in this country recognize that if this health care bill stands, it will not only destroy our health care system, we believe it will bankrupt our country. So to give up on repealing this bill will be giving up on our country, for me and, I think, for millions of Americans," said DeMint, who also added: "Bob, the president is mocking Americans who continue to be against this bill."
Topics: David Axelrod, Health Care, Jim DeMint, Lamar Alexander, Lindsey Graham, Michele Bachmann, Recess appointments, Roundup, Sunday Shows, Valerie Jarrett
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA), Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS).
• CBS, Face The Nation: Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN).
• CNN, State Of The Union: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).
• Fox News Sunday: Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL), former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-FL).
• NBC, Meet The Press: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Charlie Crist, Chuck Schumer, David Axelrod, Ed Rendell, FL-SEN, Haley Barbour, Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, Michele Bachmann, Sunday Shows, Tim Kaine, Valerie Jarrett
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
WaPo: Obama Plans Public Relations Push For Health Care Effort
The Washington Post reports that the Obama administration has planned a public relations blitz to turn around the image of the health care bill: "Planning inside the West Wing for the post-vote period has proceeded quietly, even as the president and his allies on Capitol Hill were fighting for the measure's passage. Reshaping the legislation's image will take place in three phases, White House aides said: the immediate aftermath; the seven months until the November midterm elections; and the several years that follow, during which many provisions in the measure will gradually take effect."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet at 11:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers.
Topics: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John McCain, John Thune, Kathleen Sebelius, Roundup
Health Care
White House Releases Final Talking Points: Reform Good For Average Person, GOP Good For Average Insurer
President Barack Obama's handwritten speech
A new set of White House talking points offers a preview of how the Democrats will frame health care reform once President Obama signs the legislation into law. Crafted by David Axelrod and already popping up in Obama's stump speech, the talking points are focused on two key themes - what will health care reform do for the average person, and a suggestion that Republicans are defending big insurance.
The 14-page PowerPoint presentation sent to House Democrats and obtained by TPMDC advises rank-and-file members to keep it simple and focus on the 85 percent of people with health insurance.
The talking points were delivered at a recent caucus meeting for House Democrats by Axelrod's senior adviser David Simas. Capitol Hill aides say members will try out the messaging during the next break and if they work, expect to hear them a lot in the fall.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, David Axelrod, Health Care, House Democrats, White House
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
• CBS, Face The Nation: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), America's Health Insurance Plans President Karen Ignagni.
• CNN, State Of The Union: House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod.
• Fox News Sunday: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), former Bush White House Senior Adviser Karl Rove.
• NBC, Meet The Press: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), former Bush White House Senior Adviser Karl Rove.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: AHIP, Chris Van Hollen, David Axelrod, Dick Durbin, Eric Cantor, James Clyburn, John Boehner, Karen Ignagni, Karl Rove, Lindsey Graham, Robert Gibbs, Sunday Shows
Health Care
Another Countdown: White House Pushing March 18 As New Health Care Deadline
David Axelrod and President Obama
Deadlines have long come and gone when it comes to the White House and health care, but top Obama administration officials have been saying today they think the House will hold a vote before the president leaves for his trip to Indonesia and Australia later this month.
"What happens in the next 10 days will be critical," President Obama's senior adviser David Axelrod told pro-reform advocacy groups today on a conference call hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement. Call-in details were provided to TPMDC.
"This is it, this is the big moment that we've been working for for a year," Axelrod said. "If we march together we can achieve it."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: David Axelrod, Health Care, Nancy-Ann DeParle, Robert Gibbs, White House
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
CPAC 2010 Event Kicks Off Today
The annual Conservative Political ACtion Conference begins today, with conservative activists and politicians gathered in Washington for the three-day event. Speakers include Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), Liz Cheney, Ann Coulter, and many more.
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:15 a.m. ET, and meet at 9:45 a.m. ET with the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson. Obama will deliver remarks at 10:10 a.m. ET, signing the executive order establishing the fiscal commission. He will meet at 11:15 a.m. ET with the Dalai Lama. He will depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 1:15 p.m. ET, en route to Aurora, Colorado. He will arrive in Aurora at 4:50 p.m. ET, deliver remarks at a 5:30 p.m. ET grassroots fundraiser for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), and deliver remarks at a 6:40 p.m. ET fundraising reception for Bennet. He will depart from Aurora at 7:35 p.m. ET, arriving at 9:15 p.m. ET in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Topics: Barack Obama, CPAC, Christopher Hill, Dalai Lama, David Axelrod, Iraq, Joe Biden, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Biden: I've Never Seen The Filibuster Be 'Standard Operating Procedure' Before
Vice President Biden is continuing his criticism of the increased use of the filibuster. "It's a useful tool, it is legitimate. But from my perspective, having served here, elected to the Senate seven times, I've never seen a time when it's become standard operating procedure. You want to get anything done, you have to have a supermajority," Biden told reporters, also adding: "Any President in the future, having to move through anything he or she wants, requiring a supermajority, it's not a good way to do business."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the economic daily briefing at 9 a.m. ET, and the presidential daily briefing at 9:15 a.m. ET. He will attend and deliver remarks at a memorial service at CIA Headquarters, at 10:30 a.m. ET. He will meet with a group of small business owners at 12:10 p.m. ET in Lanham, Maryland, and deliver remarks on job creation and small business initiatives. He will meet at the White House with the 2009 Little League World Champions, at 2:20 p.m. ET. He will meet at 2:45 p.m. ET with senior advisers.
Topics: Al Franken, Barack Obama, Chuck Grassley, David Axelrod, Joe Biden, Max Baucus, Parker Griffith, Roundup, Scott Brown
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Boehner: 'There Aren't That Many Places Where We Can Come Together'
Appearing on Meet The Press, House Minority Leader John Boehner downplayed the possibility of bipartisanship. "Listen, there aren't that many places where we can come together. The President-- is-- he was the most liberal member of the United States Senate. You don't get there by accident," said Boehner. "And if you look at the policies that we've seen over the course of this year from the Administration and -- his Democratic colleagues in Congress-- there are all these leftist proposals. And the people of Massachusetts, the people of Virginia, the people of New Jersey are sending a pretty loud signal, just like the other 47 states to -- to Washington, saying, 'Stop. This is -- this is way more than we ever want -- wanted Washington to do.'"
Gibbs: Health Care Reform 'Still Inside The Five-Yard Line'
Appearing on State of the Union, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that Democrats are "still inside the five-yard line" on health care reform. "We're one vote in the House of Representatives from making health care reform a reality," said Gibbs, though he was noncommittal on whether it was definite strategy to have the House of Representatives pass the Senate bill: "I don't think we know yet the answer on the process of this."
Topics: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Eric Holder, Haley Barbour, Health Care, John Boehner, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Lamar Alexander, Robert Gibbs, Roundup, Samuel Alito, Scott Brown
Obstructionism
Time For Republicans To 'Put Up Or Shut Up,' Axelrod Says
Senior White House Adviser David Axelrod
White House political adviser David Axelrod said Democrats "haven't shined a bright enough light" on Republican obstructionism, but said it's time for the GOP to step forward and be accountable.
It's a new message the White House has telegraphed this week first from Vice President Joe Biden to a Democratic party gathering, then President Obama during his State of the Union address. It's also a combative tone that the Democratic National Committee pushed even before Obama stopped speaking Wednesday night.
As Obama prepares to speak to the House Republicans during their annual retreat tomorrow in Baltimore, Axelrod spoke to reporters and opinion makers at the White House detailing a newly aggressive Democratic strategy.
He noted that House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) called for a jobs bill a few months ago and wondered if Republicans will continue support one now.
"It's time to put up or shut up," Axelrod said. "We will put the other party to the test and they will have to explain why they are standing in the way."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, David Axelrod, Filibuster, Obstructionism, Republicans, White House
Health Care
Axelrod: 'Great Political Mistake' To Walk Away From Health Care
White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod
President Obama's senior adviser David Axelrod said that despite saying jobs is his No. 1 priority and offering no deadline for getting health care passed, the president remains intent on getting a plan passed so Democrats can get on with campaigning on its merits.
Axelrod said today during a briefing with reporters and opinion-makers he would not entertain "what happens if it doesn't work," because it would be "a great political mistake to walk away from this issue."
"There were plenty of people who said before the speech last night, just stand up there and say 'It's over.' Say 'We tried,' and move on because it's too politically difficult," Axelrod said. "And that's not what he did and we are working closely with folks on the Hill to develop the way forward and get this done and that's all we're focused on, on health care, is getting it done."
Axelrod, who has worked with Obama for years, said the president wants to allow Democrats time to process the new political reality of 59 Senate seats but he wants them to "go back at it soon."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Health Care, White House
MA-SEN
White House Didn't Have MA-Sen Health Care Contingency Plan
David Axelrod and President Obama
The White House had no contingency plan for health care reform if Democrat Martha Coakley lost the special election in Massachusetts, and officials did not discuss the possibility a Democratic loss would dramatically imperil their legislative efforts, a top adviser said today.
President Obama's senior advisor David Axelrod said there "wasn't much discussion" about an alternative path to passing health care with just 59 Democrats in the Senate because there was "widespread assumption was that that seat was safe."
"The truth is the flares went up about 10 days before that election," Axelrod said during a briefing today with reporters and opinion-makers.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Health Care, MA-SEN, Scott Brown, White House
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Jarrett: Obama Making Phone Calls On Health Care
Appearing on Meet The Press, White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett said that President Obama is continuing to work on health care reform: "What he's doing and what happened over the course of the weekend is there've been a series of phone calls and conversations to try to see what, what the climate is, what's the art of the possible. But what the president is always going to do is try to push hard for the American people. He's not going to give up on that because of one election in Massachusetts. He's going to continue to work hard. We don't know what's going to happen. But what we do know is that we have a president committed to delivering for the American people."
Joe Biden: Beau 'Doesn't Want To' Run For Senate
In an interview with the Wilmington News Journal, Vice President Biden said that his son Beau Biden, the state Attorney General, does not want to run for Joe Biden's former Senate seat -- which would badly damage the Democrats' chances of keeping the seat. "If you run into Beau, talk him into running; he respects you," Biden told reporter Harry Themal. When Themal responded that he doesn't think Beau wants to run, Joe Biden said: "I don't think he does either. I know he doesn't want to."
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Beau Biden, Campaign Finance, DE-SEN, David Axelrod, Health Care, Joe Biden, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Robert Gibbs, Robert Menendez, Roundup, Valerie Jarrett
Barack Obama
Obama Pushes For Consumer Protection Agency, Tells Dodd It's 'Non-Negotiable'
President Barack Obama
President Obama met with retiring Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) yesterday and, according to the New York Times, pushed Dodd on the creation of a consumer protection agency.
Dodd, who chairs the Senate Banking Committee, has reportedly been discussing dropping the agency in order to get Republican support on other financial regulatory reforms. Dodd recently announced that he will retire after this term.
But aides told the Times that for Obama, the agency is "non-negotiable."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Barack Obama, Chris Dodd, David Axelrod, Health Care, Senate
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