Afghanistan

Gibbs on Afghanistan: 'We're Not Going To Be There Forever'

Christina Bellantoni | November 12, 2009, 7:09PM

Though President Obama hasn't reached a decision on the size of the troop surge he will send to Afghanistan, he "gets closer and closer every day."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters on Air Force One it is "probably likely" Obama will host a ninth meeting of his war council after he returns from abroad next Friday.

He said there have been discussions about "benchmarks" for success in Afghanistan but said there would be no announcement before the conclusion of Obama's Asia trip.

"We have been there for eight years. And we're not going to be there forever," Gibbs said. "It's important to fully examine not just how we're going to get folks in but how we're going to get folks out."

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Capitol Hill Tea Party

Gibbs Laments Images, Statements From Tea Party Crowd As 'Stunning'

Christina Bellantoni | November 6, 2009, 3:09PM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

David Corn from Mother Jones read an incendiary quote from yesterday's Capitol Hill Tea Party to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs this afternoon during the press briefing.

Gibbs used the question as an opportunity to lament the state of discourse in the U.S.

Here's the Gibbs exchange:

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2009 elections

Obama Has Made The Calls

Christina Bellantoni | November 4, 2009, 1:49PM

New Jersey Gov.-elect Chris Christie (R), President Barack Obama, Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell (R)

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs tells TPMDC that President Obama has phoned the winners from last night's competitive East Coast races.

Gibbs said Obama has called Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell (R-VA), Gov.-elect Chris Christie (R-NJ) and Rep.-elect Bill Owens (D-NY).

Obama also phoned New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, an independent who won reelection, and he left a message for Rep.-elect John Garamendi (D-CA).

As we reported earlier, Obama phoned the losing candidates last night.

The Washington Post has some more detail on the McDonnell call.

2009 elections

Obama Called Losers Last Night, Will Call Winners Today

Christina Bellantoni | November 4, 2009, 10:38AM

New Jersey Gov.-elect Chris Christie (R), President Barack Obama, Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell (R)

President Obama has not yet called Republican governors-elect Chris Christie in New Jersey or Bob McDonnell in Virginia.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in his gaggle today that Obama did not watch the returns last night, a trend which is not unusual since he didn't watch returns for his own races as they came in.

"He wanted them to enjoy their night with their families and supporters," Gibbs said.

Gibbs said he sent Obama some email updates throughout the night and spoke with him on the phone. (As for what the races mean, all politics is local, Gibbs said this morning.)

The president was "disappointed" that his "friend" Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) was defeated, Gibbs said.

The president did talk to Corzine and state Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-VA) last night.

Gibbs said Obama will call the victors today.

McDonnell is holding a press conference this afternoon.

2009 elections

Gibbs: Dem Losses In VA And NJ 'Didn't Involve The President'

Christina Bellantoni | November 4, 2009, 10:28AM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in his morning gaggle that Republican wins last night "demonstrate that voters" are working through "local issues that didn't involve the president."

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Afghanistan

Gibbs: Obama Wants To Tell Americans His Strategy When He Announces Troops Decision - Still 'Weeks' Away

Christina Bellantoni | November 3, 2009, 3:39PM

President Obama meets with national security team in Situation Room on Afghanistan, Oct. 30, 2009

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters President Obama is still "weeks away" from making his decision on whether to send up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

When Obama does decide, he wants to help Americans understand how he came to the conclusion, Gibbs said.

"The president has told us ... that it is important for the American people to understand why he made the decision that he's made," Gibbs said today in his briefing. "And I anticipate that the president will spend some time walking the American people through the process that we've undertaken and the decision points that he's made along the way to come to the ultimate conclusion that he's come to."

White House officials say they haven't discussed if that will be in the form of a speech or if it will come in an Oval Office address. Obama has held seven meetings with his war council in the Situation Room and last week attended a pre-dawn ceremony for troops that had been killed in Afghanistan.

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VA-GOV

White House Taking 'Long View' And Not Worried About Tuesday's Elections

Christina Bellantoni | October 30, 2009, 2:07PM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Whatever happens Tuesday in New Jersey and Virginia, that doesn't necessarily reflect on President Obama, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today.

Gibbs reminded reporters that Democrats won in both states in 2001 when Republican President George W. Bush had just taken office. At that time, Bush was at the height of popularity following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

But on Nov. 6, 2001 Democrat Mark Warner (now a U.S. senator) was elected in Virginia and Democrat Jim McGreevey won in New Jersey.

"I don't think anybody thought President Bush was significantly hampered by that ... Whatever the results are I don't think they portend a lot in dealing with the future," Gibbs said during the briefing.

"We continue to take the long view on what's going on in Washington and in the country," Gibbs said.

"We'll have time to dissect" the results after Tuesday, he said.

TPMDC hears that Obama is planning to be out of town on Wednesday at an event in the middle of the country.

Afghanistan

Gibbs, Eyes Glistening, Describes Dover AFB: "It's Hard Not To Be Overwhelmed"

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 11:02AM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs showed a rare flash of emotion this morning reflecting on his own experience at President Obama's side in the predawn hours at Dover Air Force Base as the bodies of 18 killed in Afghanistan arrived in the United States.

Eyes glistening, Gibbs told reporters during a gaggle in his West Wing office he'd never had such an experience.

"You get a real sense of gravity when you see the faces of those there to grieve for a loved one," Gibbs said after TPMDC asked him about his own reaction during the surprise visit.

"These were very recent deaths," he continued. "You can see the genuine anguish on their faces. It's hard not to be overwhelmed by what you see."

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Barack Obama

Obama Makes Surprise Overnight Visit To Dover To Honor Troops Killed In Afghanistan

Christina Bellantoni | October 29, 2009, 6:51AM

President Obama pays his respects to fallen American soldiers.

President Obama before dawn this morning paid tribute to the 18 U.S. military personnel killed in Afghanistan Monday, making a surprise trip to Dover Air Force Base as their bodies returned home to the United States.

The solemn visit - Obama's first such experience since taking office and lifting the ban on photographing the war dead - comes as he's wrestling with a decision to send up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

(See slideshow here.)

The White House pool was summoned just before midnight to witness the moment. TPMDC has the details.

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Health Care

White House Disputes Lieberman On The Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 28, 2009, 5:16PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

A lot of people in Sen. Joe Lieberman's former party are now stepping up to set the record straight, and say they don't agree with his analysis of the impact of the public option.

At the White House briefing today, a reporter asked Press Secretary Robert Gibbs whether he agrees with Lieberman, who says both that a public option will cost tax payers dearly, and drive up the cost of health insurance for everybody else--positions that are disputed widely by experts.

Gibbs was pretty direct: "I think we would disagree and I think elements of the Congressional Budget Office would disagree with the analysis that Senator Lieberman has made."

In making those statements, he joins other high profile Democrats who also dispute Lieberman's position. However, though Democrats don't agree with Lieberman, none have publicly chastised him for going rogue yesterday. According to Sam Stein of the Huffington Post, this is reflective of Senate leadership's strategy of winning over the Connecticut senator without pushing back too hard and, perhaps, entrenching his opposition to health care reform.

Health Care

Gibbs Says Obama Hasn't Talked To Reid And Calls Lieberman Questions 'Hypothetical'

Christina Bellantoni | October 28, 2009, 1:38PM

White House Press Sec. Robert Gibbs

President Obama hasn't talked to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the last few days since the votes for the health care bill seemed to fall away on Capitol Hill.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters this afternoon Obama last spoke with Reid last week when leadership huddled with him here.

Reporters - including TPMDC - sort of ganged up on Gibbs to pin him down, but he dismissed questions about Sen. Joe Lieberman's stance on the public option and a potential filibuster as hypotheticals.

"I'm not going to judge the end of this process by what people say today," Gibbs said.

He cited Lieberman (I-CT) saying today that he would vote for the motion to bring the health care bill to the floor, adding "That's the first part of the process."

Reporters reminded him the filibuster part is a bit more important, and Gibbs interrupted, "Can't get to the second before you get to the first."

Asked if Obama and Lieberman have spoken, Gibbs said he wasn't sure the last time.

"The legislative affairs team is in touch with many on Capitol Hill," he said.

Gibbs also went into where things stand with health care.

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Health Care

Gibbs On Filibuster Possibility: Dems And GOP Alike 'Will Be Held Accountable By Their Constituents'

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 3:33PM

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

On Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs wasn't sweating the news that Democrats and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) may not be coming through on the Senate health care bill.

Gibbs said he hadn't seen the reports about Lieberman saying he'd support a filibuster, but added, "I think Democrats and Republicans alike will be held accountable by their constituents who want to see health care reform enacted this year."

"I haven't seen the report from Senator Lieberman or why he's saying what he's saying," he said, citing polls showing support for health care. "And we know that if that doesn't happen, people say they'll be very disappointed by that, and we think people will make progress to ensure that this gets done."

Gibbs said President Obama hasn't been making specific calls yet but, "I'm sure we'll get involved in due time."

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Health Care

Gibbs: Obama Is 'Pleased' Public Option Included

Christina Bellantoni | October 26, 2009, 3:51PM

White House Press Sec. Robert Gibbs

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued a statement reacting to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's press conference on health care:

"The President congratulates Senator Reid and Chairmen Baucus and Dodd for their hard work on health insurance reform. Thanks to their efforts, we're closer than we've ever been to solving this decades-old problem. And while much work remains, the President is pleased that at the progress that Congress has made. He's also pleased that the Senate has decided to include a public option for health coverage, in this case with an allowance for states to opt out. As he said to Congress and the nation in September, he supports the public option because it has the potential to play an essential role in holding insurance companies accountable through choice and competition."

Health Care

The Big Huddle: Where Health Care Goes From Here

Christina Bellantoni | October 19, 2009, 6:30PM

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

Top Senate Democrats are huddling behind closed doors this evening with key White House advisors in hopes of crafting a health care bill that hits one big magic number: 60.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is the referee between Sen. Max Baucus' more conservative bill and Sen. Chris Dodd's more liberal one, and the White House deployed chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and presidential health care adviser Nancy-Ann DeParle.

It's a merger meeting extraordinaire.

The group has been quiet on goals for the evening, and the White House has taken a step back from official comments to let the Senate do its business. Aides know it's now in Reid's court to come up with a bill that can keep his caucus in line, though Hill staffers want President Obama to lay out his dealbreakers.

The group is under pressure to get a deal done quickly, but they also are attempting to avoid the media spotlight as dozens of reporters camp outside Reid's senate office.

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Nobel Peace Prize

Obama To Donate Nobel Prize Money To Multiple Charities, Process Still Developing

Christina Bellantoni | October 13, 2009, 3:45PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama is still deciding what to do with the $1.4 million in Peace Prize money from the Nobel Committee.

The White House said Friday the money would be donated to charity, but has offered no guidance since.

TPMDC asked White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs during his briefing today about how Obama is making his decision since there are plenty to choose from and whichever one he chooses will be scrutinized.

Our exchange with Gibbs, after the jump.

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Nobel Peace Prize

Gibbs: Obama Will Accept Award In Oslo

Christina Bellantoni | October 9, 2009, 12:42PM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

The White House had been dodging this question earlier, but White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters just now that Obama will travel to Oslo in December to pick up the Nobel Peace Prize.

Pressed if Obama will also attend the climate talks in Copenhagen - which the White House hasn't committed to yet - Gibbs wouldn't say. He did acknowledge the talks are close in distance and date to the Nobel ceremony.

Nobel Peace Prize

Gibbs Gets Wake Up Call Honors: Mr. President, You're A Winner

Christina Bellantoni | October 9, 2009, 7:01AM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs did the early morning duty today to let President Obama he'd won the Nobel Peace Prize.

A senior administration official tells TPMDC Gibbs called the White House just before 6 a.m. and woke Obama to share the news.

"The president was humbled to be selected by the committee," the official says.

There will be more coming out of the White House reacting to the news today.

Worth noting, Gibbs also had pre-dawn wake-up call duties during Obama's first trip abroad, telling Obama that North Korea had fired a test missile.

Health Care

Gibbs Dodges On Compromise Public Option Idea

Christina Bellantoni | October 8, 2009, 1:55PM

White House Press Sec. Robert Gibbs

Asked during the briefing just now about the idea of an opt-out public option, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was pointedly non-committal.

"I have not talked to them about that but I can certainly ask if that's something that's been evaluated," Gibbs said, presumably referring to the White House policy shop.

Asked again what President Obama thought about the idea, Gibbs offered one of his most frequent dodges: "I have not talked with him."

Gibbs added the White House is "pleased" with the progress on health care and said when the legislation finally makes it to the Senate floor, "There will be a lot in the legislation that we hope members representing a lot of different constituents can support. I think they will, and I think we'll get health care reform done this year."

White House aides haven't responded to questions about the new idea today.

Afghanistan

Gibbs: 'We're Getting There' On Troops Decision

Christina Bellantoni | October 7, 2009, 4:14PM

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters today that President Obama is getting closer to a decision on troop levels in Afghanistan.

"We're getting there," Gibbs said.

As I laid out earlier, Obama is in the Situation Room this afternoon talking Pakistan, and has another meeting Friday.

Gibbs wouldn't give a timeline, saying only that Obama has six hours of meetings scheduled over the next few days.

"It's not just a military question. It has to be looked at and focused on a number of different areas at a number of different levels. And that's what the president's intent on doing," Gibbs said. "We're still in the process of -- of working through this. I don't -- if the president's come to a decision, he hasn't told me."

Education

Gibbs: Attacks Against Stay-In-School Speech "A Sad State of Affairs"

Eric Kleefeld | September 7, 2009, 2:26PM

White House Press Sec. Robert Gibbs

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs today fired back at right-wing critics who have attacked President Obama's upcoming stay-in-school speech. From today's press gaggle:

"I think it's a sad, sad day that the political back and forth has intruded on anyone speaking to schoolchildren and teachers and parents about the responsibilities that they have as we enter a new school year. If one kid in one school hears one message and goes from being a D student to a C student, then the speech is worth it. If one kid decides not to drop out of school, then the speech is worth it. Right now nearly three in 10 kids in school will not walk across a stage and get a high school diploma. If anybody thinks that's the recipe for long-term economic growth, I've got news for them.

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Mike Enzi

Gibbs: Enzi's Flipped Over His Cards And Walked Away from the Health Care Table

Brian Beutler | August 31, 2009, 2:16PM

Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY)

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today that the "Gang of Six" health care negotiators on the Senate Finance Committee might now be the "Gang of Five."

During this week's GOP YouTube address, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY)--one of the three Republicans involved in bipartisan health care negotiations--trashed Democratic reform ideas.

"The bills would expand comparative effectiveness research that would be used to limit or deny care based on age or disability of patients," Enzi said, echoing the rationale used by those who falsely warn that Democrats plan to create "death panels."

For the White House, that appears to have been a bridge too far.

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Health Care

Is The White House Ready To Ditch Republicans And Turn to Reconciliation?

Brian Beutler | August 24, 2009, 9:37AM

After fruitlessly seeking a bipartisan compromise on health care reform for months, the White House seems to have finally realized that Republicans have no interest in compromising and that progressives are fed up with making nice. Now, the administration is preparing to go it alone, even if that means passing reform on a straight party-line vote.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, and even President Obama himself have all suggested that they don't think the GOP is serious about reaching a bipartisan health care reform compromise--and with key Republicans suggesting that they'll vote against a bill that doesn't also have the support of a majority of their own party, it's only one logical step to the conclusion that the administration has accepted that health care reform will be the latest initiative to move forward along party lines.

Over the weekend an anonymous source told Bloomberg that the White House is "devising a strategy to pass a measure by relying only on the Democratic majority in each house of Congress."

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