Obama's Bipartisan Economic Meeting

By: Allison O'Keefe
Topics: Barack Obama

From CBS News' Allison O'Keefe:

(WASHINGTON)– Barack Obama met behind closed doors with a bipartisan group of business and economic leaders today including Warren Buffett and former Bush Administration officials Paul O'Neill and William Donaldson.

Before the meeting began, Obama quipped, "This is going to be a working meeting but since I'm running for president, we have to invite the press."

He then said the reason for the meeting was "to discuss the deteriorating economic situation that we're in right now, from our automobile manufacturers and our banks to small business owners and the families sitting around the kitchen table wondering how they're going to pay the bills." He went on lay out his strategy for "short-term relief and long-term growth" and said he supports "a second round of economic stimulus."

Obama added that the group that was gathered is "a group that I will be convening periodically over the next few months because of the dynamic situation and one that the next president will need to be prepared to deal with the moment he takes office."

The list of attendees was long and impressive: Warren Buffett participated by phone; former Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J.; Gov. Jon Corzine, D-N.J.; JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, former SEC Chairman under President Bush, William Donaldson; Chairman of Pepsi, Indra Nooyi; Former Treasury Secretary under Bush, Paul O'Neill; Former Treasury Secretary under President Clinton, Robert Reich; Google CEO, Eric Schmidt; AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, among others.

Following the meeting, Donaldson, who served under Bush, told reporters that he is impressed with Obama.

"I think that obviously the country has a lot of problems and I believe that Sen. Obama brings a new approach to things." Donaldson went on to say that he wants to do help Obama in any way he can.

Meantime, speculation is running rampant that Obama is getting into serious veep vetting mode as he was spotted entering the office building where one of his veep vetters, Eric Holder, works. Also, several of his inner circle accompanied him to D.C. today including campaign manager David Plouffe and chief strategist David Axelrod.

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by mattcat25 July 29, 2008 1:07 PM EDT: America has deteriorated economically under the Conservative Agenda. The top 1% has made money, but everyone else down the line (pyamid) has lost. It%u2019s time to re-balance the pie.

I urge all Americans to please vote their better interests.; Reply to this comment


by edwinljones July 29, 2008 8:16 AM EDT: I pray that Senator Obama does not pick Evan Bayh as a running mate. He is a crook. As Governor of Indiana, Bayh perpetuated constitutional and civil rights violations in the following cases then crushed all attempts to publicize them. State of Indiana v. Edwin L. Jones, # 49G069001CF007921, Edwin L. Jones v. Indianapolis Police Department et al, U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, # Misc 90-134, Edwin L. Jones v. Indianapolis Police Department, et al, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, # 91-1594, . Edwin L. Jones v. Indianapolis Police Department, U.S. Supreme Court, # 91-7923. Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission Complaint against Attorney Ali Talib filed 9-18-92.; Reply to this comment


by standlee5 July 29, 2008 4:36 AM EDT: %u201CThis is going to be a working meeting but since I%u2019m running for president, we have to invite the press.%u201D

gag me.; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 July 29, 2008 3:50 AM EDT: Obama added that the group that was gathered is "a group that I will be convening periodically over the next few months because of the dynamic situation and one that the next president will need to be prepared to deal with the moment he takes office."
**********************************

Gosh, ya'' think. Of course, McCain''s ideas for the economy are, "The surge...the surge..."; Reply to this comment


by seah5 July 29, 2008 3:45 AM EDT: Obama is so Vain!

He is a high pressure salesman, with a marketing and PR team spending multi - Millions promoting him to be what he is not.; Reply to this comment


by seah5 July 29, 2008 2:00 AM EDT: I am a Democrat of 40 years. I have never seen from the Democratic party what I have seen them do over the past 2 years. They have used their power to make the people suffer. They have done it on purpose and for their own advantage. To Blame bush and the republican party In hope of gaining full control over the Government.
Their proposal for the country is not to help the people, but to instill programs that will control the people.
Universal Health Care, The government pays for the health care, meaning they control what health you get. Your Free choice and options will be gone. You will be at their mercy since they will be footing the bill.
Advanced Education, The Government will assist if you serve the government. From the peace corp to the Military, They pay, so they say where.
You will lose your free choice and freedoms you now enjoy with no strings. They will not end with a few. Next It will be Gun Control, Which will me a main one. So no one can resist what they say.
Mr Obama wants to change the Government. So where will he start? What will he change? He wants us to be more like the rest of the world. The rest of the world is jealous of our freedoms, that is why so many want to come here and live. How many freedoms will he take away?

He wants religion to be part of government, will we lose our freedom to have our own religion
I certainly do not like his religion, Black liberation Theology I can not believe in.; Reply to this comment


by theoatwa July 28, 2008 10:13 PM EDT: bs - you didn''t do anything except babble. the biggest deficit in history, no pay raise in 7 years, dollar is now half since w took office, tax cuts for rich while fighting two wars simultaneously and all you have is useless sentimental, emotional blather. enough already. grow up.; Reply to this comment