Posted on 11/18/2013 12:07:05 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday that the White House must fire someone – or possibly even a group of people – over the “botched” ObamaCare rollout.
“I think longer term, in terms of credibility, I think they’re going to have to give people confidence, not just in healthcare, but in other aspects of government,” Gibbs said on NBC’s "Today." “I think they’re going to have to hold someone accountable for the botched rollout and the website not working – someone at HHS or a group of people at CMS.”
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), which is under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the primary agency tasked with implementing the Affordable Care Act.
Dozens of lawmakers have called for embattled HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to resign, and she’s had to join her colleagues at CMS, most notably administrator Marilyn Tavenner, on Capitol Hill for testimony in front of angry lawmakers.
But to date, no one has stepped down because of a direct connection to the bungled launch.
“I think if this were to happen in the private sector, somebody would have probably already lost their job,” Gibbs continued. “I think the only way to restore ultimate confidence going forward is to make sure whoever was in charge of this isn’t in charge the long-term health-care plan.”
On Sunday, ABC’s Jonathan Karl reported that the White House is likely to make changes once things are running smoother, but that President Obama believes acting now would be counter-productive.
Karl Rove ridiculed that strategy over Twitter on Monday.
Obama stuck with Daschle as long as he could. “The president has confidence that Sen. Daschle is the right person to lead the fight for healthcare reform,” press secretary, Robert Gibbs said. But Obama had demonized lobbyists during the campaign, and he saw that Daschle’s path through confirmation would be difficult and that the presidential honeymoon would be ruined by charges of hypocrisy. So Obama apologized and, in February 2009, Daschle withdrew, explaining that his appointment would be a “distraction” that could harm the goal of “affordable healthcare for every American.” Obama then turned to Sebelius.
On “Meet The Press” Sunday, David Gregory, discussing the horrendous rollout of ObamaCare, asked, "where is Bobby Kennedy? ... Who has got the muscle in the White House to get it [the website] done and make sure the president gets what he wants?”
Daschle had the muscle; Sebelius did not.
Who can resist asking, would things have been different if Daschle had paid his taxes in full and on time? I think yes. He would have asked the right questions, demanded answers; he would not have crossed his fingers and hoped the website worked when it was switched on Oct. 1.................................."
Start with the POTUS.
The confirmation hearings for Sebelius’ replacement would be an absolute blood-bath. THAT’S why nobody has been fired.
Obama should resign. Immediately.
They should resign.
We were gonna flush one of the janitors but found out they got a d@mn strong union....
D I T T O !!!
Start with the PP = POTUS and Pelosi.
You’re right. Period.
MEGA DITTOS TO THAT!When this bunch”F#CKS UP”,they don’t get FIRED;they get a PROMOTION!!
TDIDS....
Break out the picture.
I nominate Osama, the Put-In-Chief.
How about the man in charge resign over Obamacare?
In the old days a screw up this bad would require a suicide.
It’s hard to fire people who know you took bribes and kickbacks. They might turn on you.
If I may add..
and work your way down from there....
BINGO
I think longer term, in terms of credibility, I think they’re going to have to give people confidence, not just in healthcare, but in other aspects of government,” Gibbs said on NBC’s “Today.” “I think they’re going to have to hold someone accountable for the botched rollout and the website not working – someone at HHS or a group of people at CMS.”
Sensibly they should be long past that point if it were actually true that no one told Obama about the failed system tests.
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