I am totally loving this presser! There have been some rather awesome smackdowns.
First up to the plate, Major Garret of FAUX News:
Obama goes to Major Garrett, who notes POTUS has finally expressed "outrage" about Iran, asking: "What took you so long?"
Obama disputes that characterization, arguing: "We've been consistent about is saying that there are some universal principles, including freedom of aseembly, freedom of speech...We have been speaking out very clearly about that fact."
Then Chip Reid just couldn't help himself:
Chip Reid: "Were you influenced at all by John McCain or Lindsay Graham calling you timid and weak?"
Obama fires back: "What do you think?" After laughter, he continues, saying that McCain has "genuine passion" on international issues, but: "Only I am the president of the United States, and I've got responsibilities in making certain we are continually advancing our national security interests."
Then Chuck Todd just COULDN'T RESIST:
Chuck Todd asks: why not spell out the consequences for Iran? Obama holds his line: don't know how the situation will play out, yet.
Politico missed my favorite line in the Chuck Todd answer which was "You guys are on a 24-hour news cycle, I'm not."
He also had some rather awesome replies to the public option that I think will make folks on this site proud:
Presenting a public option on health care as just "one of the options for you to choose," Obama swings hard at its opponents: "Why would it drive private insurers out of business?...If they tell us they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government, which they say can't run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That's not logical."
Of course, his folly here is attempting to use LOGIC with this group
Asked about rising criticism of his health care plan, Obama blasts the straw man argument that the country can "stand pat" and stick with the "status quo." Also covers himself on fiscal discipline: "If any bill arrives from Congress that is not controlling costs, that's not a bill I can sign."
I'm thinking that's about as close as he'll come to saying he won't sign a bill without a public option because based on the rest of his answers, he thinks having a public option is the best way to drive down the costs in the private sector. I hope he uses these answers in that health care presser he'll be having on ABC soon (is it tomorrow?)
Oh, and he was also asked about smoking, that question was just dumb, but he handled it well :o)
What were your favorite smackdowns?
and the videos are coming in. Here's the Major Garret smackdown:
Chip Reid Smackdown:
Chucky T's smackdown (quick and efficient it was):
On Smoking:
Here is is getting a question from Nico Pitney (not a smackdown, but I guess in a way he's swatting at the MSM)
UPDATE From the comments:
I propose the "Ed Henry" award...
Presented to the reporter who asks the dipshittiest comment at any given Obama press conference.
And so I'm adding a poll, vote for your fav!
UPDATE Transcript!!
Here are the smackdowns:
Major:
[Obama]Major Garrett? Where's Major?
QUESTION: Right here, sir.
In your opening remarks, sir, you said about Iran that you were appalled and outraged. What took you so long?
(CROSSTALK)
MR. OBAMA: I don't think that's accurate. Track what I've been saying. Right after the election I said that we had profound concerns about the nature of the election, but that it was not up to us to determine what the outcome was.
As soon as violence broke out -- in fact, in anticipation of potential violence -- we were very clear in saying that violence was unacceptable, that that was not how governments operate with respect to their people.
So we've been entirely consistent, Major, in terms of how we've approached this. My role has been to say the United States is not going to be a foil for the Iranian government to try to blame what's happening on the streets of Tehran on the CIA or on the White House, that this is an issue that is led by and given voice to the frustrations of the Iranian people.
And so we've been very consistent the first day, and we're going to continue to be consistent in saying this is not an issue about the United States, this is about an issue of the Iranian people.
What we've also been consistent about is saying that there are some universal principles, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, making sure that governments are not using coercion and violence and repression in terms of how they interact with peaceful demonstrators. And we have been speaking out very clearly about that fact.
QUESTION: Are Iranian diplomats still welcome at the embassy on Fourth of July, sir?
MR. OBAMA: Well, I think as you're aware, Major, we don't have formal diplomatic relations with...
Chip Reid Smackdown:
MR. OBAMA: Chip?
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President.
Following up on Major's question, some Republicans on Capitol Hill, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, for example, have said that up to this point your response on Iran has been timid and weak.
Today it sounded a lot stronger. It sounded like the kind of speech John McCain has been urging you to give, saying that those who stand up for justice are always on the right side of history, referring to an iron fist in Iran, deplore, appalled, outraged.
Were you influenced at all by John McCain and Lindsey Graham accusing you of being timid and weak?
MR. OBAMA: What do you think?
(LAUGHTER)
Look, the -- you know, I think John McCain has genuine passion about many of these international issues. And, you know, I think that all of us share a belief that we want justice to prevail.
But only I'm the president of the United States. And I've got responsibilities in making certain that we are continually advancing our national security interests and that we are not used as a tool to be exploited by other countries.
I mean, you guys must have seen the reports. They've got some of the comments that I've made being mistranslated in Iran, suggesting that I'm telling rioters to go out and riot some more. There are reports suggesting that the CIA is behind all this. All of which patently false. But it gives you a sense of the narrative that the Iranian government would love to play into.
So the -- you know, members of Congress, they've got their constitutional duties, and I'm sure they will carry them out in the way that they think is appropriate. I'm president of the United States, and I'll carry out my duties as I think are appropriate.
Chuck Todd Smackdown:
MR. OBAMA: Chuck Todd?
QUESTION: Mr. President, I want to follow up on Iran. You have avoided, twice, spelling out consequences. You've hinted that there would be from the international community, if they continue to violate -- and you said "violate these norms." You seemed to hint that there -- there are human rights violations taking place.
MR. OBAMA: I'm not hinting. I think that when a young woman gets shot on the street when she gets out of her car, that's a problem.
QUESTION: Then why won't you spell out the consequences that the Iranian people...
MR. OBAMA: Because I think that we don't know yet how this thing is going to play out. I know everybody here is on a 24-hour news cycle. I'm not. OK?
QUESTION: Shouldn't -- I mean, shouldn't the world...
(CROSSTALK)
MR. OBAMA: I answered -- I answered...
QUESTION: ... present regime know that there are consequences?
MR. OBAMA: I answered your question, which is that we don't yet know how this is going to play out. OK?
(I almost felt bad for Todd reading the transcript ~lol~)
The Healthcare Smackdown:
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President.
Two of the key players in the insurance industry, America's Health Insurance Plans and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, sent a letter to the Senate this morning saying that a government health insurance plan would, quote, "dismantle," end quote, private insurers.
QUESTION: Why are they wrong?
[snip]
Why would it drive private insurance out of business? If -- if private -- if private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health care; if they tell us that they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government, which they say can't run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That's not logical.
Now, the -- I think that there's going to be some healthy debates in Congress about the shape that this takes. I think there can be some legitimate concerns on the part of private insurers that if any public plan is simply being subsidized by taxpayers endlessly that over time they can't compete with the government just printing money, so there are going to be some I think legitimate debates to be had about how this private plan takes shape.
But just conceptually, the notion that all these insurance companies who say they're giving consumers the best possible deal, if they can't compete against a public plan as one option, with consumers making the decision what's the best deal, that defies logic, which is why I think you've seen in the polling data overwhelming support for a public plan.
You can read the full transcript at that link.