White House: Obama Can Walk and Chew Gum

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

At a press gaggle aboard Air Force One today, Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters that President Obama's focus on national security in the wake of the Christmas Day bombing attempt will not take his focus away from increasing employment levels and other issues.

"When you're President of the United States you've got to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, so you can anticipate there's going to be a very heavy push to get Americans back to work," Burton said.

He said that in addition to working "to get the economy as strong as it can be," the White House would remain focused on passing "health care [reform], financial regulatory reform, things like that."

Special Report: The Christmas Day Terror Attack

Burton added that counterterrorism and the situation in Yemen are not the only national security concerns in the wake of the apparent bombing attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

"…we've also got issues to deal with with Iran and North Korea and Pakistan," he said. "And you can bet that the president and his principals and deputies will all be taking on their full plates of work with rested minds hopefully and we'll be able to make some good progress here right out of the starting gate."

Burton made the comments as the president and White House press corps flew back to Washington from Mr. Obama's vacation in Hawaii. The president and his family arrived at the White House earlier today.

The president has no public events scheduled today, though Burton suggested he might make an appearance at some point.

More coverage from CBSNews.com:

Christmas Day Attack a Wake-Up Call for Obama
Travelers to U.S. Face Heightened Security
TSA Shuts Down Terminal After Breach
Schumer: Airlines Must be Firm on Security
Studying Arabic a Cover for Abdulmutallab?
U.S. Born Cleric Key Player in Bomb Plot?
Official: We Knew Al Qaeda Planned "Christmas Surprise"
U.S. Intel Lapses Helped Abdulmutallab

[gekkobear]

So he can work on health care and job creation at the same time? Why hasn't he done this so far? Hasn't he ignored job creation to work on health care up until now? Since he's capable of working on both; why hasn't he worked on both? Did he not care until unemployment cleared 10%, or is this a new talent he just discovered?

And exactly what has he done regarding health care? Has he pushed for any specific changes/additions/etc. in the bill? Or has he just stood on the sidelines and cheered for whoever happened to look like they were winning at the time?

Yeah, it'd be hard to do something else and that bit of useless nothing at the same time... color me impressed.

[CBSisCommunist2]

He can TAX and SPEND.

WOW!

[jimbom121]

And which taxes has he raised????

[FauxNews]

Sounds like Obama needs a new Deputy Press Secretary, one who is not impressed by walking and chewing gum at the same time.

[gboyd41]

I know one thing he does well-take my tax money and spend it like a drunken sailor. Got to redistribute that wealth before his one term is over.

[jimbom121]

And Bush did a better job of spending it? It only took 8 years to bankrupt this country. It'll take years to clean it up

[stormerF2]

Too bad he can not speak with out a telepromter.Obama puts us all in danger thinking he can reason with Evil.Does the Harvard Grad still smoke,that really shows good common sense. What else can Obama do,besides Campaign and spend the Tax payers money?

[GTR5]

Yes, and that is about all he can do right.

[NowBeWithThat]

"When you're President of the United States you've got to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time..."
___________________________

Pres. Obama's obsequious press toady probably thought that was a cool thing to say, and the President wishes that was all he had to do to get America back on track.

It ain't.

Based on all those promises he made, Americans have a right to expect a whole heckuva lot more than peripatetic mastication. So far Pres. Obama hasn't cut it.

[sjc_1]

President Obama has gotten more done in a year than Bush did in 8. He knows that there is a lot to be done and he is doing it. Bush said that he did not have to explain himself to anyone, he was president. I guess that included the American people that he was suppose to be working for.

[bumpedoff1]

Done helped bankrupt the country and did not take a year