Obama Holding Presser Tomorrow, Hopefully About Health Care
Another presser from Barack Obama tomorrow: It's at 11 a.m. ET tomorrow. Obama is officially set to talk about the future of health care, and is expected to announce the selection of Tom Daschle to be Sec. of Health and Human Services.
Health care advocates have been cheered by a number of gestures from the Obama camp of late. For instance, there was Rahm Emanuel's declaration that Obama would "go long and deep," and Daschle's recent declaration that fixing health care is central to fixing the economy as a whole, a key talking point of reformists. People will be looking for similar signs -- and more -- from Obama himself tomorrow.
But something tells us health care won't be the dominant topic of the Q & A, if the assembled reporters have anything to say about it...
No shit, Sherlock (and Watson)
;)
December 10, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shame on the press if they think (and apparently they do!) the Blago thing is more important to ask Obama about than health care.
December 10, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
What planet do you live on? LOL!!!!
This is the American Press we're talking about here, right?
[just joshing with ya -]
December 10, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I concur with the sanity. Maybe Obama could address the press's fascination with scandals as something which detrimentally affects our health as a nation!
I am deeply interested in what Obama has to say about health care.
The foolishness related to the indictment of Ill's gov will be taken care of by the courts. But Obama should be able to address the needs of the nation. (He'll be in the executive branch. And he believes in separation of powers, I'm sure.)
December 10, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also being reported in several places: Steven Chu to be Energy secretary, Lisa Jackson will be EPA head and Carol Browner will be "energy czar", whatever that means. Also reports that Nancy Sutley will run the Council of Environmental Quality.
December 10, 2008 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is truly wonderful news that an actual scientist is likely to be named as the Energy secretary! Imagine that, someone with actual hard credentials for the position as opposed to ignorant, anti-science Republican political ideologues in the current national disgrace of an administration. Absolutely smashing good news!
December 10, 2008 7:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chu as Energy secretary is f***ing awesome news!
December 10, 2008 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama has a great Energy/EPA team.
I don't know how these investigations happen but isn't it best that Obama doesn't comment further until the investigation is over. Doesn't the press know that?
December 10, 2008 7:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
God forbid the press would focus on something that is actually important to our future as a nation.
December 10, 2008 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course the press are going to ask Blago questions, it's their job.
It is not at all smart for the Obama administration to duck Blago questions, it will just make them look like they're hiding something.
What I hope they're doing is finding out which of their people had contact with Blago's people (one or more clearly did). Then find out what was said and when it was said. Find out EVERY involvement anyone in the administration has recently had with Blago's peple, then dump it all on the press, all at once.
Obama himself shouldn't to do this, that's what he has a press secretary for. Let Gibbs run the til-they-drop press conference to answer all the questions. I suspect this is already in the Obama camp's plans, probably for 7:00 Friday evening, 'take out the trash day'. They should probably move things up to tomorrow.
The problem is that Obama's press conference tomorrow is first thing in the morning, so there's no time for Gibbs to hold a presser in advance. I suppose Obama could ask the press to hold all Blago questions for the later presser with Gibbs. Good luck with that...
He should probably postpone the HHS presser until the afternoon.
December 10, 2008 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is the press's job to tote water for the RNC?
December 10, 2008 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, but it certainly is the job of the press to ask valid questions. There are any number of valid questions not yet answered by the Obama camp.
The press should ask who exactly in the Obama administration told Blago's people that all they'd get was his "appreciation". That was on the tapes, it is more than news worthy.
They should ask about the reports that someone in the Obama camp turned in Blago to the feds. That is also news worthy. There's also the much less significant matter of David Axelrod claiming that Obama had spoken to Blago a few weeks ago, a statement now retracted. What exactly happened there?
Those questions are not Republican water carrying, they are valid reporting. No, it's certainly not what Obama wants to be talking about now. No, it's certainly not nearly the most important issue in America. But any politician of any stripes would be asked those same questions.
Which is why the Obama camp's press secretary very much needs to have a til-they-drop with the press to answer all their questions in one go, to get this behind them.
December 10, 2008 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like a great idea if there are no legal obstacles in the way - it being an "on-going investigation" and all; however, it won't be enough.
Obama gave one of those about Rezko for the Chicago Tribune (?) editorial board during the campaign and yet the comments and the innuendo and the "why won't he be more forthcoming?" questions continued. As someone else so rightly pointed out on this board earlier, just like the questions about his birth certificate, it doesn't matter how much info he gives....the nutters on the right will never be satisfied.
December 10, 2008 8:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, the til-they-drop presser Obama did with the Chicago newspapers regarding Rezko did accomplish the job it was supposed to. The news stories tying Obama and Rezko mostly dried up. There were simply no big questions left unanswered.
Sure, the Republican media kept on it, just as they'll keep on this. They'll always find something. The point is, the general mass media pretty much dropped the Obama-Rezko articles shortly after Obama's til-they-drop presser.
In this case, I don't think Obama needs to, or should do it himself. After the Obama camp questions the staff to see what contact there was, Gibbs can do the presser, it doesn't even have to be on video.
December 10, 2008 9:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is not valid journalism to highjack an announcement about health care with unrelated questions about a political scandal.
Blago is an ongoing criminal investigation and we aren't going to comment right now. Next question.
December 11, 2008 8:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, and the whole point that matters is there was no wrongdoing on Obama's side. Fitz stressed that, and no evidence suggests otherwise. Beyond that, what questions are valid to ask in a presser about health care?
December 11, 2008 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ack! Hopefully! No, no, nooooooooo!!!!!! You guys are wayyy too good writers for that.
/usage troll
December 10, 2008 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
AP is reporting this evening that Blago is ignoring Obama's and the Senate Dems' request for him to resign. Blago's spokesperson says it's business as usual for the Gov.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081211/ap_on_re_us/illinois_governor
December 10, 2008 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
can't wait for all those health care questions
When did you last see the Governor?
Have you talked to the Governor?
When did you talk to the Governor?
This "presser" should wait until early next week after things die down a bit.
December 10, 2008 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
How is the Blagojevich scandal affecting your administration's health; care to address any of FOX News' other questions on the matter?
See, they asked about health care.
December 11, 2008 7:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Heh.
December 11, 2008 8:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
With all due respect to Pres Elect Obama, he really needs to step up to the plate and do it immediately.
If the attorney general has asked him NOT to talk about the Blago case then REPORT that, otherwise, get the facts as HE knows them out about HIS TEAM'S side of the story if there is one.
Otherwise just watch how fast those nice ratings go down.
December 11, 2008 8:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama's numbers go down because he doesn't engage in an endless press circle jerk about something both Fitz and Blago have made clear he had no involvement in, then he's crippled before he begins.
December 11, 2008 9:03 AM | Reply | Permalink