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National Briefing

OBAMA

1. Family Friendly Audience

At his 7/1 town hall in Annandale, VA, Pres. Obama "cast his proposal as a cost-saver, rather than a giant expenditure, saying the economy was not likely to rally without reversing 'the crushing cost of health care'" (Zeleny, New York Times, 7/2). Asked whether a gov't-run, single-payer health care system "could work," Obama said no, explaining that most people are insured through employers that are private companies. But he "renewed his push for a so-called public option, which could compete with private insurers" and, Obama said: "keep insurers honest" (Page, USA Today, 7/2).

Obama "did not announce any changes in position or new initiatives" (Ward, Washington Times, 7/2) during the forum, which "lacked the energetic free-for-all quality of the town hall sessions Obama held during the campaign" (Page, USA Today, 7/2).

Obama said he wanted to cover nearly 50M "uninsured Americans," persuade "doctors to stress quality over quantity of care," and "cut billions of dollars from spending. But details on exactly how to do those things generally were lacking in his hour-long town-hall forum before a friendly, handpicked audience" in the DC suburb (Nolan, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/2).

Obama offered a "wonkish defense" of his health-care reform effort before an audience of about 200 people at Northern VA Community College's Annandale campus. In "the stage-managed event, questions for Obama came from a live audience selected" by the WH and the college, and from Internet questions chosen by the admin's new-media team. Of the seven questions Obama "answered, four were selected by his staff from videos submitted" to the WH website or from those responding to a request for "tweets" (Shear/Vargas, Washington Post, 7/2).

And the three people Obama randomly "called on from the audience all were affiliated with advocacy groups that support" the admin. WH press sec. Robert Gibbs "defended the event beforehand, saying the questions posed reflected 'a representative sample of the issues'" (USA Today, 7/2).

Conveys That Signature Clinton Bite-The-Bottom-Lip, Invite Sympathy Thing

The most dramatic moment of the forum was when Obama "played the comforter-in-chief" (McAuliff, New York Daily News, 7/2) to Debby Smith, 53, of Appalachia, VA, who was near tears as she described for Obama her fragile health, including a recently discovered tumor for which she cannot get treatment. Obama waved her over and hugged her, saying: "I don't want you to feel like you're all alone." He promised to "find out what we can do within existing law" and called Smith the "perfect example" of the kind of person his health plan is intended to help.

Afterward, Smith "seemed less than satisfied with Obama's reassurances, telling reporters that it was still unclear how she would get the treatment she needs before she becomes eligible for government aid in nine years" (Washington Post, 7/2). Although Smith did say: "He seemed concerned." Smith also "said after the town hall meeting that she had been invited to attend the session" by the WH. But Smith said she was working for Organizing for America "she had been advised she would probably not have the chance to ask a question.

The "exchange with Smith was vividly reminiscent of many encounters" then-candidate Bill Clinton had in '92 on the campaign trail, "when scores of patients told sad stories of being denied coverage or treatment for illnesses, despite having been once employed and insured" (Milligan, Boston Globe, 7/2).

Meanwhile, Corzine Is Having His Sweater Vest Pressed

While ex-VA Gov./Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), VA Gov. Tim Kaine (D) and a "who's who" of Northern VA Dem legislators all attended the 7/1 town hall (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/2), VA GOV hopeful Creigh Deeds (D) "passed on an opportunity to be alongside" Obama in Northern VA. In an interview, Deeds confirmed he had been invited, saying he "would have liked to be at the health care forum but had already agreed to address secondary school principals in Williamsburg" and then had other appointments in the Hampton Roads area. It "might have been a bit of a convenient scheduling conflict."

GOPers "have been busy trying to tie Deeds to" nat'l Dems--"demanding that he weigh in controversial federal issues like the union card check bill and cap-and-trade environmental legislation." Deeds: "I've got this thing I'm working on--I'm trying to be elected governor of Virginia. As much as I would have liked to be in Annandale with the president and the governor, I needed to be in Hampton Roads today" (Helderman, "Virginia Politics," Washington Post, 7/1).

A Time To Praise Your Senators And Your Basketball Coaches

After the town hall, Obama talked to "reporters from nine regional papers...during a 40-minute roundtable" at the WH. Obama: "We think that we can create a system that is uniquely original. The key now is just to make sure that we keep moving forward and avoid the kinds of delaying tactics and fear-mongering that has prevented a change from occurring in the past.

He also "told reporters...that he and his allies are not proposing" a gov't "takeover of health care, in spite of what he called the 'panic peddling' of opponents." Obama: "You hear this argument all the time, 'the government can't do anything and the private sector's doing a great job.' Well, if that's the case, the American people are going to be able to make that determination. If they're getting a better deal from these private insurers, then those are the ones they'll choose."

More Obama, on plans to avoid adding to the federal deficit: "We've already identified cost savings in the health-care system, as is, that would pay for two-thirds of the reforms we're proposing. So it's a matter of reallocating in a smarter way money that taxpayers are already paying into the health-care system."

He called the $80B deal "with key lawmakers and the" WH, "agreeing to pay for expanded drug coverage under Medicare for seniors who reach a gap in coverage...very significant." Obama: "They [drugmakers] recognize that the current ways of doing business are unsustainable. I think you will start seeing hospitals, doctors and others come to the table in a constructive way to see what can get done" (Eder, Wilmington News Journal, 7/2).

On the local tip:

• The Oregonian asked him "if he had any inside information on the future of his brother-in-law," Oregon State University bball coach Craig Robinson, "who may be more popular...than the president himself." Obama: "Oh, let me tell you, I'm happy to talk about that. Craig Robinson is an outstanding coach. I think he's shown that. I'm just stating facts. Anybody in Oregon and anybody who knows sports knows he turned it around. He loves Corvallis and I'm sure that as a young, successful coach he's going to start getting offers." When "asked if Robinson had sough his counsel or his career advice," Obama replied, "Not yet. But he seems to be very happy in Corvallis so maybe they can keep him" (Pope, Oregonian, 7/1).

• Obama also "praised" Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) "as a 'real thought leader' and ally on health care reform." However, "he said he could not support Wyden's controversial plan for providing medical insurance to virtually every American." Obama: "there are a lot of good concepts to what Ron's proposing." However, "despite his professed agreement with '90 percent' of Wyden's thinking, he said parts of the plan are too 'radical' for the country."

• Wyden's plan would maker workers "responsible for choosing their health insurance." In return, "employers would give workers a raise equivalent to the cost of the healthcare that was previously offered." Wyden "argues that linking health care costs to individuals will promote competition and drive down costs" (Lane, Oregonian, 7/1).

• New Orleans Times-Picayune asked Obama "about the wisdom of" the strategy of Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) coming "under attack in an ad campaign" for her "opposition" to the healthcare plan. Obama: "I can't answer for all the ads that are being run on both sides of the debate; I don't watch them. I'm focused on being in close contact with people like Mary, and I'm sure she's talking to her constituents. Let's be honest, some of the resistance here is the result of many years of panic-peddling when it comes to health care and gets caught up in old ideological debate, and you Louisiana is a culturally conservative and politically conservative state, and I think the specter of a government takeover of health care, of socialized medicine, whenever those phrases are thrown about, maybe they have more resonance."

• More Obama: "If we know that the status quo is not working for the people of Louisiana, then the way to persuade the Louisiana delegation is to support it is coming up wit ha plan that is going to be good for the people of Louisiana..." (Tilove, New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/2).

First, What He Prefers

Wall Street Journal's Meckler reports, Obama "is signaling flexibility on many of his previous stances as he tries to put a health-care deal together." Asked about the shift in positions, WH spokesperson Reid Cherlin said Obama "would prefer that Congress adopt his health-care plan. But 'there is recognition across the board that we can't wait another year to get this done'" (7/2).

During an appearance on "O'Reilly Factor," WH dep. press sec. Bill Burton was asked if Obama will break his campaign pledge to raise the money to pay for the new health care plan by taxing people who earn less than $250K a year on the health care benefits they get from their jobs.

Burton: "I want to be crystal clear about where we are right now in this moment negotiating out where health care reform is going to end up. The president has been clear that that is not what he prefers. He put his principles forth in the campaign. He's been talking about them as president. And right now, we're sitting down at the table with Republicans and Democrats, folks in the House and in the Senate, to try to find the best way forward. When he began this process, he didn't carve his plan into stone tablets."

NPR's Williams: "But Bill, this is a read my lips moment. Don't you think? This is something that he pledged during the campaign. ... So if he believes this, why doesn't he say this to the people who are working on the legislation?"

Burton: "For starters, you don't get more people to the table and more people to talk to you about reform by immediately closing people out of it, by waving your veto pen and saying things you're not for to begin with. People know exactly where the president stands. ... We want to keep this table as big as possible. We want to keep everybody in their chairs" (FNC, 7/1).

Weighing in:

• Karl Rove: "He's already broken it. ... If you decide you want to smoke like President Obama does, you go buy cigarettes, you're already paying higher cigarette taxes. The cap and trade bill, if it passes the Senate ... that would be taxes on everybody who uses energy and nothing happens in America without energy. And then health care, you know, they've got to pick up the tab some place. And you can only squeeze so much out of these so-called top 5 percent, you know, the people making more than $250,000 a year."

• More Rove: "How many times in the last couple of months have we seen him break these solemn promises that he made in the campaign? ... We're going to see a whole wide range of fronts that he's going to break his promises. ... He's a cold, calculating, ambitious politician who feels very comfortable saying one thing in the campaign and doing something entirely different" ("Hannity," FNC, 7/1).

• NPR's Liasson: "Not all broken campaign promises are created equal. Some of them are OK to break, or at least the consequences are not so terrible. This one is a pretty big one, and it is one that a lot of his political advisors don't think he should break, because even though it never rose to the level of 'read my lips,' it's pretty serious" ("Special Report," FNC, 7/1).

Lt. Dan Meets Forrest

The Pentagon signaled it was aiming for a temporary fix to "don't ask, don't tell" (see 7/1 Hotline), as an Arabic translator was dismissed from the Army 7/1 "for being openly gay." Lt. Dan Choi, "an Arabic translator who has been the public face for advocates who want to see 'don't ask, don't tell' overturned, was recommended to be discharged" 7/1 "under the policy banning gays from serving openly in the military. It must be approved by the Army before it is final" (Bellantoni, Washington Times, 7/2).

Choi appeared on "American Morning" this a.m. to discuss the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, under which he was dismissed from the military.

Choi, on a military review panel's decision recommendation to discharge him: "It's a setback. It hurts. I gave my all. I stood in front of the board, and I explained, 'I should stay. If you look at reality, there is no evidence of negative effects of good order and discipline or anything like that, morale or any of those arguments, there's absolutely zero evidence.' ... I went up in front of the board, and I recited the most famous Iraqi poem."

Choi, asked whether he plans to appeal the decision: "I plan on appealing to everybody. I mean, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of Defense and the Supreme Court. And my message to all my soldiers: even if you get set back, even if you get slapped in the face, or if you get knocked on the ground, it is not your job to give up. You do not have that right. You do not have the privilege of just quitting."

More Choi: "Look at reality on the ground. Every soldier in the military knows there's a gay guy or lesbian girl in their company, in their unit. And there's no problem. Our leaders need to wake up and realize that. They are selfless, patriotic, and we are at a time of war right now" ("CNN, 7/2).

Jon Favreau's Stimulus

The Obama WH on 7/1 released a list of the salaries of 487 WH staffers. According to a list, twenty-two of Obama's top aides make exactly" $172K, though "the vast bulk of the employees appear to earn between $40K and $55K per year. Some noteworthy gems:

• Obama makes $400K.

• Twenty-eight-year-old speechwriter Jon Favreau makes $172K just as much as CoS Rahm Emanuel, and Senior Advisor's David Axelrod and Valerie Jarret.

• Listed as making more than $172K: public health policy dir. David Marcozzi (Shear, Washington Post, 7/2).

• Social Sec. Desiree Rogers makes $113K and body man Reggie Love makes $102K (Hotline reading, 7/2).

If Only The Internet Ran Like The Acela Express

VP Biden outlined a $4.7B loan and grant program 7/1 "to develop the infrastructure needed to deliver broadband, or high-speed, Internet access to areas that are underserved or without access." Speaking to "about 200 people at Seneca High School, about 12 miles east" of Erie, PA, Biden said America "lags behind more than a dozen other countries in terms of Internet access and that has to change." The Commerce and Ag Depts on 7/1 "published the criteria they will use to judge funding applications" (Nephin, AP, 7/2).

Education Sec. Arne Duncan is releasing $2.7B "in stimulus dollars earlier than planned to help states confront increasingly tighter budgets." The money "comes from a fund for state government priorities that has very few strings attached. It doesn't have to be spent on education," although the admin. hopes it will be (AP, 7/2).

Hillary: A Hawk Who Can't Fly

Sec/State Hillary Clinton, who is recovering from surgery on a broken elbow, will not travel to Moscow with Obama next week (mult, 7/1). Meanwhile, commentary continued on the report that Clinton put pressure on Obama to be tougher on Iran:

Liz Cheney: "Assuming it to be true, I do find that unusual. I think if it's true, Secretary Clinton was right. There have been reports for a long time that she's more hawkish than the president is, and this would seem to be some evidence of that. I think the thing that's concerning about it is it's very hard to understand exactly how foreign policy is being made in this administration. And when they had to put somebody out publicly to talk about the policy, the person they put out was David Axelrod, who's a political strategist."

More Cheney: "It is causing people to have some concern about what role Secretary Clinton is able to play, what access she has, what role the national security adviser, Jim Jones, has, and whether the people that really have the president's ear on foreign policy tends to be more of his political analysts, his political strategists, rather than the people that one would normally expect to be playing a key role" ("On the Record," FNC, 7/1).

August And Everything After

U.S. News' Walsh writes, Obama "is heading into stormy waters. His healthcare plans have stalled on Capitol Hill; he is being faulted for a shaky response to the post-election violence in Iran; his job-approval ratings are dropping; and confidence in his handling of the economy is ebbing. The warning signs are enough to worry Democratic strategists that Obama "may be sinking into a trough that will sap his influence just when he needs it most." While "until now," Obama "has enjoyed a honeymoon with the country and the media," it appears that "the ground may be shifting. Over the past couple of weeks, Obama "has endured a surge of bad news, reversing his momentum. ... Clearly, some of Obama's luster is wearing off. The question is whether his setbacks will be temporary or mark the start of a long-term decline for his presidency" (7/2).

Christian Science Monitor's Feldmann writes that "by the end of the month, it should be clear whether" Obama's top legislative "initiatives -- healthcare reform and climate-change legislation -- are on track. They don't need to be signed and sealed, but both require significant progress in Congress during this next stretch before the August recess, analysts say" (7/2).

 

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