Tuesday
Mar092010
White House Press Briefing With Robert Gibbs
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 3:22PM
White House Press Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:
POTUS's MEETING WITH GREEK PM GEORGE PAPANDREOU
- Gibbs said that although POTUS will discuss global economic recovery today with the Greek PM, the White House believes Europe should be in charge of solving their crisis. "Europeans possess the power needed to solve their economic problems," Gibbs said.
HEALTHCARE REFORM
- Gibbs said POTUS has not yet made any calls to House Democrats, asking for their vote on healthcare reform. "If calls need to be made...he'll do that," said Gibbs, adding that the President will meet later this week with certain Members. In his speech in Missouri tomorrow the President will address waste, fraud and abuse present within the current healthcare system, according to Gibbs. On why President Obama is making so many speeches on healthcare in cities across the country, Gibbs said it is because POTUS "believes it is important to demonstrate to the American public why reform is important." Gibbs pointed out that the White House considers healthcare reform to be an economic issue. In terms of a vote on healthcare reform, Gibbs reiterated that one could take place before POTUS leaves for Indonesia on March 18, adding that the date arose from discussions White House officials had with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Gibbs said that as best he knows, the 18th is still the target date to get reform done. When asked to respond to the large protest held today in Washington by supporters of healthcare reform, in which several people were arrested, Gibbs said, "I don't know the public relations value of that." Interestingly, Gibbs was not asked to respond to Rep. Dennis Kucinich's statement that he will not vote for a healthcare bill that doesn't include a public option provision.
ERIC MASSA RESIGNATION
- Gibbs implied that folks should be skeptical of the former Democratic Congressman's allegations that he resigned for political reasons. Gibbs said Massa changed his story on why he was resigning three days in a row, citing health issues, then saying it was possibly due to using what Gibbs described as "salty language" toward a House staffer, then finally saying he was pressured to resign because he opposed healthcare reform. "I wouldn't give any weight to what [Massa] said on the fourth day," said Gibbs. The notion that the White House is behind Massa's resignation is incorrect, said Gibbs. In regards to a possible ethics violation by Massa, Gibbs said POTUS has championed ethics reform since his days as an Illinois State Senator. "This is an issue that the President has taken seriously for a very long time," said Gibbs.
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TRIP TO ISRAEL
- With regards to Israel's decision to continue building homes in East Jerusalem, Gibbs said the White House "condemns" that decision, and said Vice President Joe Biden, who is currently in Israel, would be releasing an official statement expanding on the White House's position.
KSM
- Gibbs said the Department of Justice is "several or many weeks" away from reaching a decision on where to try 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Gibbs said President Obama wants to see that "justice is brought" to KSM.
OTHER
- Gibbs said he thinks it is "certainly possible" for a cap-and-trade provision to be included in the climate bill being looked at in the Senate.
- Gibbs said the White House has no confirmation that alleged American-al Qaeda member Adam Gadahn is in the custody of authorities.
- Gibbs said he will address immigration reform in briefings later this week, depending on when POTUS meets with members of Congress to discuss possible legislation.
- Gibbs said that like last year, POTUS will again fill out and release an NCAA Tournament bracket before he leaves for Indonesia on the 18th.
- Gibbs said the President has not yet received his Nobel Prize money. Gibbs said he wasn't sure where exactly the money is at this moment. "I was wondering why Bill [Burton, Gibbs's Deputy Press Secretary] offered to buy me lunch today," Gibbs joked.
POTUS's MEETING WITH GREEK PM GEORGE PAPANDREOU
- Gibbs said that although POTUS will discuss global economic recovery today with the Greek PM, the White House believes Europe should be in charge of solving their crisis. "Europeans possess the power needed to solve their economic problems," Gibbs said.
HEALTHCARE REFORM
- Gibbs said POTUS has not yet made any calls to House Democrats, asking for their vote on healthcare reform. "If calls need to be made...he'll do that," said Gibbs, adding that the President will meet later this week with certain Members. In his speech in Missouri tomorrow the President will address waste, fraud and abuse present within the current healthcare system, according to Gibbs. On why President Obama is making so many speeches on healthcare in cities across the country, Gibbs said it is because POTUS "believes it is important to demonstrate to the American public why reform is important." Gibbs pointed out that the White House considers healthcare reform to be an economic issue. In terms of a vote on healthcare reform, Gibbs reiterated that one could take place before POTUS leaves for Indonesia on March 18, adding that the date arose from discussions White House officials had with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Gibbs said that as best he knows, the 18th is still the target date to get reform done. When asked to respond to the large protest held today in Washington by supporters of healthcare reform, in which several people were arrested, Gibbs said, "I don't know the public relations value of that." Interestingly, Gibbs was not asked to respond to Rep. Dennis Kucinich's statement that he will not vote for a healthcare bill that doesn't include a public option provision.
ERIC MASSA RESIGNATION
- Gibbs implied that folks should be skeptical of the former Democratic Congressman's allegations that he resigned for political reasons. Gibbs said Massa changed his story on why he was resigning three days in a row, citing health issues, then saying it was possibly due to using what Gibbs described as "salty language" toward a House staffer, then finally saying he was pressured to resign because he opposed healthcare reform. "I wouldn't give any weight to what [Massa] said on the fourth day," said Gibbs. The notion that the White House is behind Massa's resignation is incorrect, said Gibbs. In regards to a possible ethics violation by Massa, Gibbs said POTUS has championed ethics reform since his days as an Illinois State Senator. "This is an issue that the President has taken seriously for a very long time," said Gibbs.
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TRIP TO ISRAEL
- With regards to Israel's decision to continue building homes in East Jerusalem, Gibbs said the White House "condemns" that decision, and said Vice President Joe Biden, who is currently in Israel, would be releasing an official statement expanding on the White House's position.
KSM
- Gibbs said the Department of Justice is "several or many weeks" away from reaching a decision on where to try 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Gibbs said President Obama wants to see that "justice is brought" to KSM.
OTHER
- Gibbs said he thinks it is "certainly possible" for a cap-and-trade provision to be included in the climate bill being looked at in the Senate.
- Gibbs said the White House has no confirmation that alleged American-al Qaeda member Adam Gadahn is in the custody of authorities.
- Gibbs said he will address immigration reform in briefings later this week, depending on when POTUS meets with members of Congress to discuss possible legislation.
- Gibbs said that like last year, POTUS will again fill out and release an NCAA Tournament bracket before he leaves for Indonesia on the 18th.
- Gibbs said the President has not yet received his Nobel Prize money. Gibbs said he wasn't sure where exactly the money is at this moment. "I was wondering why Bill [Burton, Gibbs's Deputy Press Secretary] offered to buy me lunch today," Gibbs joked.
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