Reactions Differ To Obama Press Conference
(AP Photo)
Last night, President Obama went before the national press again to answer questions about the economy, sell his budget and deal with furor over AIG. As some media watchers have noted, the president passed over many major newspapers, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, instead choosing to answer questions from smaller publications like Univision and Stars and Stripes.
The fourth estate is today offering divergent views about Mr. Obama's style, substance and how convincing he was.
The New York Times and Associated Press saw an academic president who described his plans with competence and intellectual distance. AP used the line "Calm. Cool. Careful," while the Times said that Mr. Obama "showed his usual comfort with a wide array of subjects" but acted "placid and unsmiling," like a university lecturer.
David Ignatius of the Washington Post wrote that Mr. Obama acted as a "war president" based on the number of threats he made about what would happen if the budget doesn't get passed. Ignatius continued that "the president's words were, frankly, scary. Obama needed them to be."
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White House Plays Down Differences On Budget
(CBS)
Orszag told reporters that that 98 percent of the resolutions are the same as those in the Obama budget. In four key areas, including education, health care and energy, "they are exactly and fully in line," he said.
According to the New York Times, "The draft unveiled Tuesday by Senate Democrats reflected significant changes to Mr. Obama's proposal. It drops his appeal to set aside money for future bank bailouts, provides only a temporary fix for a mandatory income tax increasingly hitting the middle class and leaves open-ended the handling of major health care and energy initiatives."
Orszag conceded some differences between congressional and administration plans but sought to play them down, arguing that the "big story" is "how similar these things are rather than the small adjustments that were inevitable."
In an op-ed today, three moderate Democratic senators, part of a coalition of 16 moderates, wrote that they were pushing for fiscal responsibility and private-sector growth. "Many independents voted for President Obama and the contours of his change agenda, but they will not rubber-stamp it," they wrote. "They are wary of ideological solutions and are overwhelmingly pragmatic. Many of them live in our states and in the states of the other senators who have joined our group."
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Obama Begins Political Fundraising Tonight
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
He'll be attending two events this evening for the Democratic National Committee that are expected to raise as much as $3.5-million.
The first event, at the National Women in the Arts Museum, carries a ticket price of $30,400 per couple. Fifty couples are attending.
The second event, a Tony Bennett concert at the Warner Theater, has tickets going for $100, $250 and $1000. Some 2,000 tickets have been sold.
Both events are said to be sold out.
After President Bush took office, he waited until April 27th to do his first political fundraiser.
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Morning Bulletin – Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
Following a drama-free press conference last night where President Obama took the opportunity to repeat (and repeat) his call for health care reform, education reform and an energy plan in the next budget as necessary catalysts to help fix the economy, the president heads to Capitol Hill at 1pm ET to meet with Senate Democrats – some of whom have warned that his budget will look nothing like what he's proposed.
"Alarmed by rising deficit predictions, Congressional Democrats prepared Tuesday to pare spending in President Obama's budget and limit some middle-class tax cuts even as Republicans stepped up their criticism of the plan as irresponsible," report the New York Times' David M. Herszenhorn and Carl Hulse. "The draft unveiled Tuesday by Senate Democrats reflected significant changes to Mr. Obama's proposal. It drops his appeal to set aside money for future bank bailouts, provides only a temporary fix for a mandatory income tax increasingly hitting the middle class and leaves open-ended the handling of major health care and energy initiatives. Administration officials sought to play down any differences, saying they were satisfied with the emerging plans. Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota and chairman of the Budget Committee, said the base proposal he would present saved $608 billion over five years compared with the president's plan."
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(AP Photo)
"Alarmed by rising deficit predictions, Congressional Democrats prepared Tuesday to pare spending in President Obama's budget and limit some middle-class tax cuts even as Republicans stepped up their criticism of the plan as irresponsible," report the New York Times' David M. Herszenhorn and Carl Hulse. "The draft unveiled Tuesday by Senate Democrats reflected significant changes to Mr. Obama's proposal. It drops his appeal to set aside money for future bank bailouts, provides only a temporary fix for a mandatory income tax increasingly hitting the middle class and leaves open-ended the handling of major health care and energy initiatives. Administration officials sought to play down any differences, saying they were satisfied with the emerging plans. Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota and chairman of the Budget Committee, said the base proposal he would present saved $608 billion over five years compared with the president's plan."
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Day 65: President Obama's Schedule
President Obama heads to Capitol Hill on his 65th day in office to promote his budget plan to Senate Democrats.
Earlier, he will receive his daily and economic briefings in the Oval Office as well as meet with the NATO Secretary General .
This evening, the president and vice president will host an event commemorating Greek Independence Day.
Finally he will speak at his first two fundraisers since taking office for the Democratic National Committee. Here is more from the White House Press Office (all times eastern):
9:45AM President Obama receives the Economic Daily Briefing
10:45AM President Obama meets with the NATO Secretary General
11:35AM President Obama receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
12:40PM President Obama departs The White House en route The Capitol
1:00PM President Obama meets with the Senate Democratic Caucus
5:05PM President Obama and Vice President Biden deliver remarks to commemorate Greek Independence Day
6:55PM President Obama departs The White House en route National Women in the Arts Museum
8:15PM President Obama delivers remarks at DNC fundraiser
8:40PM President Obama departs National Women in the Arts Museum en route Warner Theater
9:00PM President Obama delivers remarks at DNC fundraiser
9:35PM President Obama returns to The White House
Earlier, he will receive his daily and economic briefings in the Oval Office as well as meet with the NATO Secretary General .
This evening, the president and vice president will host an event commemorating Greek Independence Day.
Finally he will speak at his first two fundraisers since taking office for the Democratic National Committee. Here is more from the White House Press Office (all times eastern):
9:45AM President Obama receives the Economic Daily Briefing
10:45AM President Obama meets with the NATO Secretary General
11:35AM President Obama receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
12:40PM President Obama departs The White House en route The Capitol
1:00PM President Obama meets with the Senate Democratic Caucus
5:05PM President Obama and Vice President Biden deliver remarks to commemorate Greek Independence Day
6:55PM President Obama departs The White House en route National Women in the Arts Museum
8:15PM President Obama delivers remarks at DNC fundraiser
8:40PM President Obama departs National Women in the Arts Museum en route Warner Theater
9:00PM President Obama delivers remarks at DNC fundraiser
9:35PM President Obama returns to The White House
Focus Group Rates Obama's Answers
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Not surprisingly, Republicans in the group, gathered in a room in Las Vegas, had mostly negative reactions to the president's answers while Democrats were generally positive.
Mr. Obama, however, earned bipartisan praise for his response to a question over his delayed reaction to news of AIG bonus payments: "It took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak," he said.
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Obama's Philosophy Of Persistence
(AP Photo)
He amply demonstrated his "philosophy of persistence" in responding to many of the 13 questions from the pre-selected group of White House reporters with the refrain that reforming health care, energy policy and education, and adopting his $3.6 trillion budget, will save America from economic disaster.
Between his opening remarks and answers to questions, Obama mentioned "health care" about 30 times.
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Ambinder Grades President Obama's Press Conference
CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder tells CBS News how he thinks the president did in his second press conference. From AIG to Mexican violence, some of his grading might surprise you.
Take A Look Below:
Full Coverage Of Obama's Press Conference:
Take A Look Below:
Full Coverage Of Obama's Press Conference:
- By Topic: Budget | AIG Outrage | Tax Increases | Race | Mexican Drug Cartels | Israel | Funding For Veterans | Sacrifice
- Full Transcript
- Fact Check: Obama Having It Both Ways?
- Analysis: Philosophy Of Persistence | Grades From Marc Ambinder | Instant Reaction | Focus Group Weighs In
- Video: | | | |
Obama Says Charitable Giving Not Affected By Tax Increases
(AP)
"I think it's the right thing to do, where we've got to make some difficult choices," Mr. Obama said before launching into an explanation of his tax policy.
He referenced the tax plans of three of his predecessors when describing his alteration to tax rates for the wealthy.
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Day 64: Obama Holds Prime Time News Conference
On his sixty-forth day in office, President Obama held a prime-time press conference designed to help him move past the outcry over the AIG bonuses and drum up support for his ambitious budget proposal.
"Bankers and executives on Wall Street need to realize that enriching themselves on the taxpayers' dime is inexcusable, that the days of outsized rewards and reckless speculation that puts us all at risk have to be over," he said. "At the same time, the rest of us can't afford to demonize every investor or entrepreneur who seeks to make a profit. That drive is what has always fueled our prosperity, and it is what will ultimately get these banks lending and our economy moving once more."
The president, accompanied by schoolchildren, also placed a call to space-shuttle astronauts.
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"Bankers and executives on Wall Street need to realize that enriching themselves on the taxpayers' dime is inexcusable, that the days of outsized rewards and reckless speculation that puts us all at risk have to be over," he said. "At the same time, the rest of us can't afford to demonize every investor or entrepreneur who seeks to make a profit. That drive is what has always fueled our prosperity, and it is what will ultimately get these banks lending and our economy moving once more."
(CBS)
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Obama Pushes Two State Solution For Israel and Palestinians
(CBS)
"We don't yet know what the Israeli government is going to look like, and we don't yet know what the future shape of Palestinian leadership is going to be comprised of," the president said. "What we do know is this: that the status quo is unsustainable, that it is critical for us to advance a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in their own states with peace and security."
He said that by assigning George Mitchell as the special envoy to the region the White House has "signaled" they are "serious" about enforcing the peace.
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Obama Promises Funding For Vets
(AP)
The questioner, from the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, noted that "so many items that seem destined for the chopping block are politically untenable."
"The budget that we've put forward reflects the largest increase in veterans funding in 30 years," Mr. Obama said, noting that all Americans want to see veterans rewarded.
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Instant Analysis: The Obama News Conference
(AP)
Steve Chaggaris is CBS News' Political Director.
Obama: Economy Trumps Race
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
It's been a while since President Obama has publicly addressed the topic of race.
Perhaps it's because the once ubiquitous question of "will America elect a black president" has been put to rest. It's also that the economic crisis – and the populist rage associated with things like the AIG bonuses – has come to dominate the public discourse.
That remained the case tonight, as nearly every question centered on the economy. But one questioner, Ann Compton of ABC News, did ask Mr. Obama how his race has affected his presidency so far.
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Obama Pledges To Help Stop Mexican Drug Cartels
(AP Photo)
President Obama said his administration will evaluate steps taken to monitor violence on the Mexican border and called on Americans to curb the financing and illegal guns flowing to the troubled regions.
"We are sending millions of dollars in additional equipment to provide more effective surveillance. We are providing hundreds of additional personnel that can help control the border, deal with customs issues," Mr. Obama said.
He said the government will then evaluate the effectiveness of these actions and consider alternative steps. "We will do more," he said if cause arises.
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