Notes From Today's White House Gaggle

No big news from today’s Gaggle. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs focused a lot obviously on the tax vote, called it a “good agreement for Democrats.” Called the vote a “big win” for Obama. Said Dems clearly did not have the votes to pass a middle class-only extension. Said he was asleep when the actual vote occurred around midnight last night. Said VP Biden will introduce Obama later this afternoon before he signs the bill into law. Added that most folks in the media are probably surprised that the bill got done “with two weeks to spare…”

On START, Gibbs said he thinks the votes are there, and called Jim DeMint’s proposal to force an entire reading of the treaty “outrageous.” Of course, DeMint also threatened earlier this week to force an entire reading of the nearly 2,000-page omnibus spending bill that Harry Reid pulled the plug on late last night…

Speaking of which, on the omnibus defeat, Gibbs said the administration would have preferred to have it passed, but said Obama wanted a bill with no earmarks. Said the WH would now prefer Congress to pass a one-year clean resolution. This sentiment conflicts slightly with Robert Gates’ comment yesterday that he opposed a one-year CR, but Gibbs danced around the issue, repeating that the WH wants the 1-yr CR. Gibbs also downplayed a question on whether the omnibus defeat represented a defeat for Obama’s healthcare law (bill contained a ton of implementation funding for new law)…

On DADT, Gibbs said it’s clear that the votes are there to pass a repeal. Said Obama will be spending the next few days making calls to lawmakers urging them to support repealing DADT and passing the START treaty. He cautioned though that both bills are “not in the bag.” Gibbs guessed that Obama might leave town and head to Hawaii on Wednesday 12/22. However, he hedged a little, reminding reporters that he once predicted that Congress would finish healthcare reform 8 months before it actually happened.

On the 9/11 Responders bill, Gibbs said that although the WH hasn’t made a huge publicity push for it, they are “supportive” of it passing. Note: It is unclear whether that bill will be voted on before or after Christmas, but Reid said yesterday that he will bring it to the floor sometime before the lame-duck session ends…

Notable Quotes:

“What was the alternative plan?” (responding to a question of why the WH didn’t fight for a more progressive tax cut deal)

“I’m not the best understander of conservative grassroots.” (responding to question about the Tea Party’s role in defeating the omnibus package)